AfghanistanAfghanistan was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Union in 1979. The USSR was forced to withdraw 10 years later by anti-communist mujahidin forces supplied and trained by the US, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others. Fighting subsequently continued among the various mujahidin factions, but the fundamentalist Islamic Taliban movement has been able to seize most of the country. In addition to the continuing civil strife, the country suffers from enormous poverty, a crumbling infrastructure, and widespread land mines.Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran33 00 N, 65 00 EAsia647,500 sq km647,500 sq km0 sq kmslightly smaller than Texastotal- 5,529 kmChina 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km0 km (landlocked)none (landlocked)arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summersmostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwestAmu Darya 258 mNowshak 7,485 mnatural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones12%0%46%3%39% (1993 est.)30,000 sq km (1993 est.)damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughtssoil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertificationDesertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test BanBiodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservationlandlocked26,813,057 (July 2001 est.) 42.2% (male 5,775,921; female 5,538,836) 55.01% (male 7,644,242; female 7,106,568) 2.79% (male 394,444; female 353,046) (2001 est.)3.48% (2001 est.) note- this rate reflects the continued return of refugees from Iran41.42 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)17.72 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)11.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female 1.12 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female (2001 est.)147.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 46.24 years 46.97 years 45.47 years (2001 est.)5.79 children born/woman (2001 est.)less than 0.01% (1999 est.)NANAAfghan(s)AfghanPashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Hazara 19%, minor ethnic groups (Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others) 12%, Uzbek 6%Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi a Muslim 15%, other 1%Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism age 15 and over can read and write 31.5% 47.2% 15% (1999 est.)Islamic State of Afghanistan; note - the self-proclaimed Taliban government refers to the country as Islamic Emirate of AfghanistanAfghanistanDowlat-e Eslami-ye AfghanestanAfghanestanRepublic of Afghanistanno functioning central government, administered by factionsKabul30 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, Zabol; note - there may be two new provinces of Nurestan (Nuristan) and Khowst19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)Independence Day, 19 August (1919)nonea new legal system has not been adopted but all factions tacitly agree they will follow Shari a (Islamic law)NA; previously males 15-50 years of agenone (landlocked)on 27 September 1996, the ruling members of the Afghan Government were displaced by members of the Islamic Taliban movement; the Islamic State of Afghanistan has no functioning government at this time, and the country remains divided among fighting factions note- the Taliban have declared themselves the legitimate government of Afghanistan; however, the UN still recognizes the government of Burhanuddin RABBANI; the Organization of the Islamic Conference has left the Afghan seat vacant until the question of legitimacy can be resolved through negotiations among the warring factions; the country is essentially divided along ethnic lines; the Taliban controls the capital of Kabul and approximately two-thirds of the country including the predominately ethnic Pashtun areas in southern Afghanistan; opposing factions have their stronghold in the ethnically diverse northnon-functioning as of June 1993upper courts were non-functioning as of March 1995 (local Shari a or Islamic law courts are functioning throughout the country)Taliban (Religious Students Movement) [Mullah Mohammad OMAR]; United National Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan or UNIFSA [Burhanuddin RABBANI, chairman; Gen. Abdul Rashid DOSTAM, vice chairman; Ahmad Shah MASOOD, military commander; Mohammed Yunis QANUNI, spokesman]; note - made up of 13 parties opposed to the Taliban including Harakat-i-Islami Afghanistan (Islamic Movement of Afghanistan), Hizb-i-Islami (Islamic Party), Hizb-i-Wahdat-i-Islami (Islamic Unity Party), Jumaat-i-Islami Afghanistan (Islamic Afghan Society), Jumbish-i-Milli (National Front), Mahaz-i-Milli-i-Islami (National Islamic Front)Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Australia, US, and elsewhere have organized politically; Mellat (Social Democratic Party) [leader NA]; Peshawar, Pakistan-based groups such as the Coordination Council for National Unity and Understanding in Afghanistan or CUNUA [Ishaq GAILANI]; tribal elders represent traditional Pashtun leadership; Writers Union of Free Afghanistan or WUFA [A. Rasul AMIN]AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO New Yorkthree equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a gold emblem centered on the three bands; the emblem features a temple-like structure with Islamic inscriptions above and below, encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bolder Islamic inscription above, all of which are encircled by two crossed scimitars note- the Taliban uses a plain white flag Afghanistan EconomyAfghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country, highly dependent on farming and livestock raising (sheep and goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to political and military upheavals during two decades of war, including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989). During that conflict one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan and Iran sheltering a combined peak of more than 6 million refugees. In early 2000, 2 million Afghan refugees remained in Pakistan and about 1.4 million in Iran. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over the past 20 years because of the loss of labor and capital and the disruption of trade and transport; severe drought added to the nation s difficulties in 1998-2000. The majority of the population continues to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and medical care. Inflation remains a serious problem throughout the country. International aid can deal with only a fraction of the humanitarian problem, let alone promote economic development. In 1999-2000, internal civil strife continued, hampering both domestic economic policies and international aid efforts. Numerical data are likely to be either unavailable or unreliable. Afghanistan was by far the largest producer of opium poppies in 2000, and narcotics trafficking is a major source of revenue.purchasing power parity - $21 billion (2000 est.)NA%purchasing power parity - $800 (2000 est.)53%28.5%18.5% (1990)NA%NA%NA%NA%10 million (2000 est.)agriculture 70%, industry 15%, services 15% (1990 est.)NA%$NA$NA, including capital expenditures of $NAsmall-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, and cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, oil, coal, copper420 million kWh (1999)35.71%64.29%0% 0% (1999)480.6 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)90 million kWh (1999)opium poppies, wheat, fruits, nuts; wool, mutton, karakul pelts$80 million (does not include opium) (1996 est.)opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gemsFSU, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, India, UK, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic$150 million (1996 est.)capital goods, food and petroleum products; most consumer goodsFSU, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Singapore, India, South Korea, Germany$5.5 billion (1996 est.)US provided about $70 million in humanitarian assistance in 1997; US continues to contribute to multilateral assistance through the UN programs of food aid, immunization, land mine removal, and a wide range of aid to refugees and displaced personsafghani (AFA)AFAafghanis per US dollar - 4,700 (January 2000), 4,750 (February 1999), 17,000 (December 1996), 7,000 (January 1995), 1,900 (January 1994), 1,019 (March 1993), 850 (1991); note - these rates reflect the free market exchange rates rather than the official exchange rate, which was fixed at 50.600 afghanis to the dollar until 1996, when it rose to 2,262.65 per dollar, and finally became fixed again at 3,000.00 per dollar in April 199621 March - 20 March Afghanistan Communications29,000 (1996) note- there were 21,000 main lines in service in Kabul in 1998NA very limited telephone and telegraph service in 1997, telecommunications links were established between Mazar-e Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through satellite and microwave systems satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); commercial satellite telephone center in GhazniAM 7 (6 are inactive; the active station is in Kabul), FM 1, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pushtu, Dari, Urdu, and English) (1999)167,000 (1999)at least 10 (one government run central television station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 30 provinces; the regional stations operate on a reduced schedule; also, in 1997, there was a station in Mazar-e Sharif reaching four northern Afghanistan provinces) (1998)100,000 (1999).af1 (2000)NA24.6 km broad gauge- 9.6 km 1.524-m gauge from Gushgy (Turkmenistan) to Towraghondi; 15 km 1.524-m gauge from Termiz (Uzbekistan) to Kheyrabad transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya21,000 km2,793 km18,207 km (1998 est.)1,200 km note- chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels with DWT up to about 500 (2001)petroleum products - Uzbekistan to Bagram and Turkmenistan to Shindand; natural gas 180 kmKheyrabad, Shir Khan45 (2000 est.) 10 3 4 2 1 (2000 est.) 35 4 15 4 12 (2000 est.)3 (2000 est.)NA; note - the military does not exist on a national basis; some elements of the former Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Forces, National Police Force (Sarandoi), and tribal militias still exist but are factionalized among the various groups22 years of agemales age 15-49- 6,645,023 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 3,561,957 (2001 est.)males- 252,869 (2001 est.)$NANA%international- support to Islamic militants worldwide by some factions; question over which group should hold Afghanistan s seat at the UNworld s largest illicit opium producer, surpassing Burma (potential production in 1999 - 1,670 metric tons; cultivation in 1999 - 51,500 hectares, a 23% increase over 1998); a major source of hashish; increasing number of heroin-processing laboratories being set up in the country; major political factions in the country profit from drug tradeAlbaniaIn 1990 Albania ended 44 years of xenophobic communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as corrupt governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, a dilapidated infrastructure, widespread gangsterism, and disruptive political opponents. International observers judged local elections in 2000 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but serious deficiencies remain to be corrected before the the 2001 parliamentary elections.Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia41 00 N, 20 00 EEurope28,748 sq km27,398 sq km1,350 sq kmslightly smaller than Marylandtotal- 720 kmGreece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Yugoslavia 287 km362 km200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation12 NMmild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wettermostly mountains and hills; small plains along coastAdriatic Sea 0 mMaja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 mpetroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel, hydropower21%5%15%38%21% (1993 est.)3,410 sq km (1993 est.)destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; droughtdeforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluentsBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandsnone of the selected agreementsstrategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)3,510,484 (July 2001 est.) 29.53% (male 536,495; female 500,026) 63.48% (male 1,073,351; female 1,155,115) 6.99% (male 107,476; female 138,021) (2001 est.)0.88% (2001 est.)19.01 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-3.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.08 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 0.78 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)39.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 71.83 years 69.01 years 74.87 years (2001 est.)2.32 children born/woman (2001 est.)less than 0.01% (1999 est.)less than 100 (2000 est.)less than 100 (1999 est.)Albanian(s)AlbanianAlbanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.) note- in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note- all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practiceAlbanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek age 9 and over can read and write 93% (1997 est.) NA% NA%Republic of AlbaniaAlbaniaRepublika e ShqiperiseShqiperiaPeople s Socialist Republic of Albaniaemerging democracyTirana36 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth) and 1 municipality* (bashki); Berat, Bulqize, Delvine, Devoll (Bilisht), Diber (Peshkopi), Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Has (Krume), Kavaje, Kolonje (Erseke), Korce, Kruje, Kucove, Kukes, Kurbin, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Malesi e Madhe (Koplik), Mallakaster (Ballsh), Mat (Burrel), Mirdite (Rreshen), Peqin, Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar (Corovode), Tepelene, Tirane (Tirana), Tirane* (Tirana), Tropoje (Bajram Curri), Vlore note- administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)Independence Day, 28 November (1912)a new constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998; note - the opposition Democratic Party boycotted the votehas not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction18 years of age; universal and compulsoryPresident of the Republic Rexhep MEIDANI (since 24 July 1997)Prime Minister Ilir META (since 29 October 1999)Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president president elected by the People s Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 24 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president Rexhep MEIDANI elected president; People s Assembly vote by number - total votes 122, for 110, against 3, abstained 2, invalid 7unicameral People s Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (155 seats; most members are elected by direct popular vote and some by proportional vote for four-year terms) last held 29 June 1997 (next held 24 June 2001, 2nd round 8 July 2001) percent of vote by party - PS 53.36%, PD 25.33%, PSD 2.5%, PBDNJ 2.78%, PBK 2.36%, PAD 2.85%, PR 2.25%, PLL 3.09%, PDK 1.00%, PBSD 0.84%; seats by party - PS 101, PD 27, PSD 8, PBDNJ 4, PBK 3, PAD 2, PR 2, PLL 2, PDK 1, PBSD 1, PUK 1, independents 3Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People s Assembly for a four-year term)Albanian National Front (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Abaz ERMENJI]; Albanian Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Albanian Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albania Workers Party) [Fatos NANO, chairman]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Zef BUSHATI]; Democratic Alliance or PAD [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Group of Reformist Democrats [Leonard NDOKA]; Liberal Union Party [Teodor LACO]; note - Teodor LACO of the Liberal Union Party was leader of the Social Democratic Union of Albania or PBSD; Movement of Legality Party or PLL [Nderim KUPI]; OMONIA [Vagjelis DULES]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQUIRI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil MELO, chairman]NAACCT (associate), BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Petrit BUSHATI 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 223-4942 [1] (202) 628-7342 Ambassador Joseph LIMPRECHT Rruga Elbasanit Labinoti 103, Tirana PSC 59, Box 100(A), APO AE 09624 [355] (42) 32875, 33520 [355] (42) 32222red with a black two-headed eagle in the center Albania EconomyPoor by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more open-market economy. The economy rebounded in 1993-95 after a severe depression accompanying the end of the previous centrally planned system in 1990 and 1991. However, a weakening of government resolve to maintain stabilization policies in the election year of 1996 contributed to renewal of inflationary pressures, spurred by the budget deficit which exceeded 12% of GDP. The collapse of financial pyramid schemes in early 1997 - which had attracted deposits from a substantial portion of Albania s population - triggered severe social unrest which led to more than 1,500 deaths, widespread destruction of property, and a 7% drop in GDP. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to revive economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by remittances from some 20% of the labor force that works abroad, mostly in Greece and Italy. These remittances supplement GDP and help offset the large foreign trade deficit. Most agricultural land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes. In 1998, Albania recovered the 7% drop in GDP of 1997 and pushed ahead by 8% in 1999 and by 7.5% in 2000. International aid helped defray the high costs of receiving and returning refugees from the Kosovo conflict. Privatization scored some successes in 2000, but other reforms lagged.purchasing power parity - $10.5 billion (2000 est.)7.5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2000 est.)55%24%21% (2000)19.6% (1996 est.)NA%NA%1% (2000 est.)1.692 million (including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed) (1994 est.)agriculture 50%, industry and services 50%16% (2000 est.) officially; may be as high as 25%$393 million$676 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower9% (2000 est.)5.332 billion kWh (1999)3.81%96.19%0% 0% (1999)5.379 billion kWh (1999)100 million kWh (1999)600 million kWh (2000)wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products$310 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobaccoItaly 67%, Greece 15%, Germany 5%, Austria 2%, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2% (2000)$1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicalsItaly 37%, Greece 28%, Turkey 6%, Germany 6%, Bulgaria 3% (2000)$1 billion (2000)$NA; aid for energy from China, Germany, Norway (2000)lek (ALL)ALLleke per US dollar - 146.08 (December 2000),143.71 (2000) 137.69 (1999), 150.63 (1998), 148.93 (1997), 104.50 (1996); note - leke is the plural of lekcalendar year Albania Communications87,000 (1997)3,100 (1999) Albania has the poorest telephone service in Europe with fewer than two telephones per 100 inhabitants; it is doubtful that every village has telephone service obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for every village; in 1992, following the fall of the communist government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and used it to build fences inadequate; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and GreeceAM 16, FM 3, shortwave 2 (1999)810,000 (1997)9 (plus 264 repeaters) (1995)405,000 (1997).al7 (2000)2,500 (2000)447 km447 km 1.435-m gauge (2001)18,000 km5,400 km12,600 km (1998 est.)43 km note- includes Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)crude oil 145 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural gas 64 km (1991)Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,797 GRT/26,324 DWTcargo 9 (2000 est.)11 (2000 est.) 3 3 (2000 est.) 8 1 1 2 4 (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.)Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards19 years of agemales age 15-49- 870,768 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 712,763 (2001 est.)males- 35,792 (2001 est.)$42 million (FY99)1.5% (FY99)international- the Albanian Government supports protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders but has downplayed them to further its primary foreign policy goal of regional cooperation; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Yugoslavia; Albanians in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs, and representation in governmentincreasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly expanding in EuropeAlgeriaAfter a century of rule by France, Algeria became independent in 1962. The surprising first round success of the fundamentalist FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) party in December 1991 balloting caused the army to intervene, crack down on the FIS, and postpone the subsequent elections. The FIS response has resulted in a continuous low-grade civil conflict with the secular state apparatus, which nonetheless has allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties. FIS s armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded itself in January 2000 and many armed militants surrendered under an amnesty program designed to promote national reconciliation. Nevertheless, residual fighting continues. Other concerns include large-scale unemployment and the need to diversify the petroleum-based economy.Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia28 00 N, 3 00 EAfrica2,381,740 sq km2,381,740 sq km0 sq kmslightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texastotal- 6,343 kmLibya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km998 kmexclusive fishing zone- 32-52 NM12 NMarid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summermostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plainChott Melrhir -40 mTahat 3,003 mpetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc3%0%13%2%82% (1993 est.)5,550 sq km (1993 est.)mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mud slidessoil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable waterBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, WetlandsNuclear Test Bansecond-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)31,736,053 (July 2001 est.) 34.21% (male 5,528,755; female 5,328,083) 61.72% (male 9,901,319; female 9,687,449) 4.07% (male 594,973; female 695,474) (2001 est.)1.71% (2001 est.)22.76 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)5.22 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-0.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.04 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.86 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)40.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 69.95 years 68.6 years 71.34 years (2001 est.)2.72 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.07% (1999 est.)NANAAlgerian(s)AlgerianArab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects age 15 and over can read and write 61.6% 73.9% 49% (1995 est.)People s Democratic Republic of AlgeriaAlgeriaAl Jumhuriyah al Jaza iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Sha biyahAl Jaza irrepublicAlgiers48 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen5 July 1962 (from France)Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996; note - referendum approving the revisions of 28 November 1996 was signed into law 7 December 1996socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials, including several Supreme Court justices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction18 years of age; universalexclusive fishing zone- 32-52 NMPresident Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)Prime Minister Ali BENFLIS (since 26 August 2000)Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 April 1999 (next to be held NA April 2004); prime minister appointed by the president Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA elected president; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA over 70%; note - his six opposing candidates withdrew on the eve of the election citing electoral fraudbicameral Parliament consists of the National People s Assembly or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (380 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Council of Nations (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; members serve six-year terms; the constitution requires half the council to be renewed every three years) National People s Assembly - last held 5 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); Council of Nations - last held 30 December 2000 (next to be held NA 2003) National People s Assembly - percent of vote by party - RND 40.8%, MSP 18.2%, FLN 16.8%, Nahda Movement 8.9%, FFS 5%, RCD 5%, PT 1.1%, Progressive Republican Party 0.8%, Union for Democracy and Liberty 0.3%, Social Liberal Party 0.3%, independents 2.8%; seats by party - RND 155, MSP 69, FLN 64, Nahda Movement 34, FFS 19, RCD 19, PT 4, Progressive Republican Party 3, Union for Democracy and Liberty 1, Social Liberal Party 1, independents 11; Council of Nations - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RND 79, FLN 12, FFS 4, MSP 1 (remaining 48 seats appointed by the president, party breakdown NA)Supreme Court or Cour SupremeDemocratic National Rally or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA, chairman]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ and Dr. Abassi MADANI (imprisoned), Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in Germany)]; Movement of a Peaceful Society or MSP [Mahfoud NAHNAH, chairman]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Boualem BENHAMOUDA, secretary general]; Progressive Republican Party [Khadir DRISS]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SAADI, secretary general]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Lahbib ADAMI]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exile in Switzerland)]; Union for Democracy and Liberty [Mouley BOUKHALAFA]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN] note- a party law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in March 1997NAABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) Ambassador Idriss JAZAIRY 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 265-2800 [1] (202) 667-2174 Ambassador Janet A. SANDERSON 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers [213] (21) 69-11-86, 69-12-55, 69-18-54, 69-38-75 [213] (21) 69-39-79two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color boundary; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion) Algeria EconomyThe hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the second largest gas exporter; it ranks fourteenth for oil reserves. Algiers efforts to reform one of the most centrally planned economies in the Arab world stalled in 1992 as the country became embroiled in political turmoil. Algeria s financial and economic indicators improved during the mid-1990s, in part because of policy reforms supported by the IMF and debt rescheduling from the Paris Club. Algeria s finances in 2000 benefited from the spike in oil prices and the government s tight fiscal policy, leading to a large increase in the trade surplus, the near tripling of foreign exchange reserves, and reduction in foreign debt. The government continues efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector, but has had little success in reducing high unemployment and improving living standards.purchasing power parity - $171 billion (2000 est.)5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $5,500 (2000 est.)11%37%52% (1999 est.)23% (1999 est.)2.8%26.8% (1995)2% (2000 est.)9.1 million (2000 est.)government 29%, agriculture 25%, construction and public works 15%, industry 11%, other 20% (1996 est.)30% (1999 est.)$15.8 billion$16 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.3 billion (2001 est.)petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing7% (1999 est.)23.215 billion kWh (1999)99.14%0.86%0% 0% (1999)21.613 billion kWh (1999)307 million kWh (1999)330 million kWh (1999)wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle$19.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%Italy 22%, US 15%, France 12%, Spain 11%, Brazil 8%, Netherlands 5% (1999)$9.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)capital goods, food and beverages, consumer goodsFrance 30%, Italy 9%, Germany 7%, Spain 6%, US 5%, Turkey 5% (1999)$25 billion (2000 est.)$100 million (1999 est.)Algerian dinar (DZD)DZDAlgerian dinars per US dollar - 74,813 (January 2001), 75.260 (2000), 66.574 (1999), 58.739 (1998), 57.707 (1997), 54.749 (1996)calendar year Algeria Communications2.3 million (1998)33,500 (1999) telephone density in Algeria is very low, not exceeding five telephones per 100 persons; the number of fixed main lines has been increased in the last few years to a little more than 2,000,000, but only about two-thirds of these have subscribers; much of the infrastructure is outdated and inefficient good service in north but sparse in south; domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic earth stations are planned) 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat (1998)AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)7.1 million (1997)46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995)3.1 million (1997).dz2 (2000)20,000 (2000)4,820 km3,664 km 1.435-m gauge (301 km electrified; 215 km double track)1,156 km 1.055-m gauge (1996)104,000 km71,656 km (including 640 km of expressways)32,344 km (1996 est.)nonecrude oil 6,612 km; petroleum products 298 km; natural gas 2,948 kmAlgiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys, Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 896,911 GRT/1,047,991 DWTbulk 9, cargo 25, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas 10, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 13, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 1 (2000 est.)135 (2000 est.) 51 9 24 12 5 1 (2000 est.) 84 3 23 40 18 (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.)National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie19 years of agemales age 15-49- 8,794,622 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 5,383,770 (2001 est.)males- 388,939 (2001 est.)$1.87 billion (FY99)4.1% (FY99)international- part of southeastern region claimed by Libya; Algeria supports exiled West Saharan Polisario Front and rejects Moroccan administration of Western SaharaAmerican SamoaSettled as early as 1000 B. C., Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand14 20 S, 170 00 WOceania199 sq km199 sq km0 sq km note- includes Rose Island and Swains Islandslightly larger than Washington, DC0 km116 km200 NM12 NMtropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season from November to April, dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variationfive volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)Pacific Ocean 0 mLata 966 mpumice, pumicite5%10%0%70%15% (1993 est.)NA sq kmtyphoons common from December to Marchlimited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelinesPago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean67,084 (July 2001 est.) 38.44% (male 13,278; female 12,512) 56.57% (male 18,784; female 19,163) 4.99% (male 1,779; female 1,568) (2001 est.)2.42% (2001 est.)24.88 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)3.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 1.13 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)10.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 75.32 years 70.89 years 80.02 years (2001 est.)3.5 children born/woman (2001 est.)NA%NANAAmerican Samoan(s)American SamoanSamoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English note- most people are bilingual age 15 and over can read and write 97% 98% 97% (1980 est.)Territory of American SamoaAmerican Samoa abbreviation- ASunincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the InteriorNAPago Pagonone (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Westernnone (territory of the US)Flag Day, 17 April (1900)ratified 1966, in effect 1967NA18 years of age; universalPresident George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1997) and Lieutenant Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 3 January 1997)NA US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004) Tauese P. SUNIA reelected governor; percent of vote - Tauese P. SUNIA (Democrat) 50.7%, Lealaifuaneva Peter REID (independent) 47.8%bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms) House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2002); Senate - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004) House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - only independents elected note- American Samoa elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2002); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat) reelected as delegate for a sixth termHigh Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)Democratic Party [leader NA]; Republican Party [leader NA]NAESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPCblue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club American Samoa EconomyThis is a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa conducts the great bulk of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to American Samoa s economic well-being. Attempts by the government to develop a larger and broader economy are restrained by Samoa s remote location, its limited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes. Tourism, a developing sector, has been held back by the recurring financial difficulties in East Asia.purchasing power parity - $500 million (2000 est.)NA%purchasing power parity - $8,000 (2000 est.)NA%NA%NA%NA%NA%NA%NA%14,000 (1996)government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)16% (1993)$121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants)$127 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97)tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels), handicraftsNA%130 million kWh (1999)100%0%0% 0% (1999)120.9 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock$500 million (1998)canned tuna 93%US 99.6%$471 million (1996)materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6%US 62%, Japan 9%, NZ 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji 4%, other 7%$NAimportant financial support from the US, more than $40 million in 1994US dollar (USD)USDthe US dollar is used1 October - 30 September American Samoa Communications13,000 (1997)2,550 (1997) NA good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular telephone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)57,000 (1997)1 (1997)14,000 (1997).as1 (2000)NA Railways- 0 km350 km150 km200 kmnoneAunu u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta u Merchant marine- none (2000 est.)4 (2000 est.) 2 1 1 (2000 est.) 2 2 (2000 est.) Military - note- defense is the responsibility of the USinternational- noneAndorraLong isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra has achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain42 30 N, 1 30 EEurope468 sq km468 sq km0 sq km2.5 times the size of Washington, DCtotal- 120.3 kmFrance 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km0 km (landlocked)none (landlocked)temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summersrugged mountains dissected by narrow valleysRiu Runer 840 mComa Pedrosa 2,946 mhydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead4%0%45%35%16% (1998 est.)NA sq kmsnowslides, avalanchesdeforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposalHazardous Wastesnone of the selected agreementslandlocked67,627 (July 2001 est.) 15.29% (male 5,425; female 4,917) 72.06% (male 25,654; female 23,078) 12.65% (male 4,299; female 4,254) (2001 est.)1.17% (2001 est.)10.29 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)5.41 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)6.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.07 male(s)/female 1.1 male(s)/female 1.11 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 1.1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)4.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 83.47 years 80.57 years 86.57 years (2001 est.)1.25 children born/woman (2001 est.)NA%NANAAndorran(s)AndorranSpanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998)Roman Catholic (predominant)Catalan (official), French, Castilian NA 100% NA% NA%Principality of AndorraAndorraPrincipat d AndorraAndorraparliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces representativesAndorra la Vella7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of France and Spain)Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)Andorra s first written constitution was drafted in 1991; approved by referendum 14 March 1993; came into force 4 May 1993based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction18 years of age; universalnone (landlocked)French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Frederic de SAINT-SERNIN (since NA); Spanish Coprince Episcopal Monseigneur Joan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971), represented by Nemesi MARQUES OSTE (since NA)Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne (since 21 December 1994)Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive Council president Executive Council president elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year term; election last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held NA 2001) Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council president; percent of General Council vote - 64%unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of the 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms) last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2001) percent of vote by party - UL 57%, AND 21%, IDN 7%, ND 7%, other 8%; seats by party - UL 16, AND 6, ND 2, IDN 2, UPO 2Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts; Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal Superior de Justicia d Andorra; Supreme Council of Justice or Consell Superior de la Justicia; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal ConstitucionalLiberal Union or UL [Marc Forne MOLNE] (renamed Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA); National Democratic Group or AND [Ladislau BARO SOLA]; National Democratic Initiative or IDN [Vincenc MATEU Zamora]; New Democracy or ND [Jaume BARTOMEU Cassany]; Union of the People of Ordino (Unio Parroquial d Ordino) or UPO [Simo DURO Coma] note- there are two other small partiesNACCC, CE, ECE, ICAO, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (observer) Ambassador (vacant) 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017 [1] (212) 750-8064 [1] (212) 750-6630 Paseo Reina Elisenda, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (3493) 280-2227; (3493) 205-7705three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield; similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem Andorra EconomyTourism, the mainstay of Andorra s tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra s duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra s comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited by a scarcity of arable land, and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1996 est.)NA%purchasing power parity - $18,000 (1996 est.)NA%NA%NA%NA%NA%NA%1.62% (1998)30,787 salaried employees (1998)agriculture 1%, industry 21%, services 78% (1998)0%$385 million$342 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, tobacco, bankingNA%NA%NA%NA% NA%NA kWhNA kWhNA kWh note- most electricity supplied by Spain and France; Andorra generates a small amount of hydropowersmall quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep$58 million (f.o.b., 1998)tobacco products, furnitureFrance 34%, Spain 58% (1998)$1.077 billion (c.i.f., 1998)consumer goods, food, electricitySpain 48%, France 35%, US 2.3% (1998)$NAnoneFrench franc (FRF); Spanish peseta (ESP); euro (EUR)FRF; ESP; EUReuros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996); Spanish pesetas per US dollar - 149.40 (1998), 146.41 (1997), 126.66 (1996)calendar year Andorra Communications32,946 (December 1998)14,117 (December 1998) NA modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges landline circuits to France and SpainAM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)16,000 (1997)0 (1997)27,000 (1997).ad1 (2000)5,000 (2000) Railways- 0 km269 km198 km71 km (1994 est.)nonenonenone (2000 est.) Military - note- defense is the responsibility of France and Spaininternational- noneAngolaCivil war has been the norm in Angola since independence from Portugal in 1975. A 1994 peace accord between the government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) provided for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the government and armed forces. A national unity government was installed in April of 1997, but serious fighting resumed in late 1998, rendering hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost in fighting over the past quarter century.Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo12 30 S, 18 30 EAfrica1,246,700 sq km1,246,700 sq km0 sq kmslightly less than twice the size of Texastotal- 5,198 kmDemocratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km (of which 220 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km1,600 km24 NM200 NM12 NMsemiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateauAtlantic Ocean 0 mMorro de Moco 2,620 mpetroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium2%0%23%43%32% (1993 est.)750 sq km (1993 est.)locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateauoveruse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable waterBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protectionnone of the selected agreementsCabinda is separated from rest of country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo10,366,031 (July 2001 est.) 43.31% (male 2,266,870; female 2,222,262) 53.98% (male 2,847,089; female 2,748,091) 2.71% (male 127,798; female 153,921) (2001 est.)2.15% (2001 est.)46.54 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)24.68 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.83 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)193.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 38.59 years 37.36 years 39.87 years (2001 est.)6.48 children born/woman (2001 est.)2.78% (1999 est.)160,000 (1999 est.)15,000 (1999 est.)Angolan(s)AngolanOvimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages age 15 and over can read and write 42% 56% 28% (1998 est.)Republic of AngolaAngolaRepublica de AngolaAngolaPeople s Republic of Angolatransitional government, nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential systemLuanda18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire11 November 1975 (from Portugal)Independence Day, 11 November (1975)11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets18 years of age; universalPresident Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and head of governmentPresident Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and head of governmentCouncil of Ministers appointed by the president President DOS SANTOS originally elected (in 1979) without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola s first multiparty elections 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA) DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI s National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) repudiated the results of the first election; the civil war resumedunicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms) last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA) percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%, others 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD 3, others 7Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao (judges are appointed by the president)Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA]; National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputed leadership- Lucas NGONDA, Holden ROBERTO]; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Jonas SAVIMBI], largest opposition party has engaged in years of armed resistance; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS] ruling party in power since 1975; Social Renewal Party or PRS [disputed leadership- Eduardo KUANGANA, Antonio MUACHICUNGO]; UNITA-Renovada [Eugenio NGOLO "Manuvakola", leader] note- about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but won few seats and have little influence in the National AssemblyFront for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N zita Henriques TIAGO; Antonio Bento BEMBE] note- FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda ProvinceACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKIDI 1615 M Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 785-1156 [1] (202) 785-1258 New York Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN number 32 Rua Houari Boumeddienne, Luanda international mail- Caixa Postal 6484, Luanda; pouch- American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550 [244] (2) 345-481, 346-418 [244] (2) 346-924two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle) Angola EconomyAngola is an economy in disarray because of a quarter century of nearly continuous warfare. Despite its abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world s lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 45% to GDP and 90% of exports. Violence continues, millions of land mines remain, and many farmers are reluctant to return to their fields. As a result, much of the country s food must still be imported. To fully take advantage of its rich resources - gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - Angola will need to end its conflict and continue reforming government policies. Despite the increase in the pace of civil warfare in late 1998, the economy grew by an estimated 5% in 2000. The government introduced new currency denominations in 1999, including 1 and 5 kwanza notes. Internal strife discourages investment outside of the petroleum sector, which is producing roughly 800,000 barrels of oil per day. Angola has entered into a Staff Monitored Program (SMP) with the IMF. Continued growth depends on sharp cuts in inflation, further economic reform, and a lessening of fighting.purchasing power parity - $10.1 billion (2000 est.)4.9% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2000 est.)7%60%33% (1999 est.)NA%NA%NA%325% (2000 est.)5 million (1997 est.)agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (1997 est.)extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (2000 est.)$928 million$2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963 million (1992 est.)petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing; brewing; tobacco products; sugar; textilesNA%1.475 billion kWh (1999)32.2%67.8%0% 0% (1999)1.372 billion kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish$7.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cottonUS 54%, South Korea 14%, Benelux 11%, China 7%, Taiwan 6% (1999)$2.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goodsSouth Korea 16%, Portugal 15%, US 13%, South Africa 10%, France 8% (1999)$10.8 billion (2000 est.)$493.1 million (1995)kwanza (AOA)AOAkwanza per US dollar - 17,910,800 (January 2001), 10,041,000 (2000), 2,790,706 (1999), 392,824 (1998), 229,040 (1997), 128,029 (1996); note - in December 1999 the kwanza was revalued with six zeroes dropped off the old valuecalendar year Angola Communications62,000 (1997)7,052 (1997) telephone service limited mostly to government and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military links limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)AM 34, FM 7, shortwave 9 (1999)630,000 (1997)7 (1999)150,000 (1997).ao1 (2000)12,000 (1999)2,771 km (inland, much of the track is unusable because of land mines still in place from the civil war)2,648 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2000)76,626 km19,156 km57,470 km (1997)1,295 kmcrude oil 179 kmAmbriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malongo, Mocamedes, Namibe, Porto Amboim, Soyo9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 39,305 GRT/63,067 DWTcargo 8, petroleum tanker 1 (2000 est.)247 (2000 est.) 31 4 8 12 6 1 (2000 est.) 216 2 5 30 96 83 (2000 est.)Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Police Force18 years of agemales age 15-49- 2,480,016 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 1,246,224 (2001 est.)males- 103,807 (2001 est.)$1.2 billion (FY97)22% (1999)international- noneincreasingly used as a transshipment point for cocaine and heroin destined for Western Europe and other African statesAnguillaColonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980 with Anguilla becoming a separate British dependency.Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico18 15 N, 63 10 WCentral America and the Caribbean91 sq km91 sq km0 sq kmabout half the size of Washington, DC0 km61 kmexclusive fishing zone- 200 NM3 NMtropical; moderated by northeast trade windsflat and low-lying island of coral and limestoneCaribbean Sea 0 mCrocus Hill 65 msalt, fish, lobster0%0%0%0%100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds)NA sq kmfrequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system12,132 (July 2001 est.) 25.55% (male 1,574; female 1,526) 67.47% (male 4,200; female 3,985) 6.98% (male 376; female 471) (2001 est.)2.68% (2001 est.)15.17 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)5.61 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)17.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.8 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female (2001 est.)24.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 76.31 years 73.41 years 79.29 years (2001 est.)1.79 children born/woman (2001 est.)NA%NANAAnguillan(s)AnguillanblackAnglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%English (official) age 12 and over can read and write 95% 95% 95% (1984 est.)noneAnguillaoverseas territory of the UKNAThe Valleynone (overseas territory of the UK)none (overseas territory of the UK)Anguilla Day, 30 MayAnguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990based on English common law18 years of age; universalexclusive fishing zone- 200 NMQueen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Peter JOHNSTON (since NA February 2000)Chief Minister Osbourne FLEMING (since 3 March 2000)Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assemblyunicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members and 2 appointed; members serve five-year terms) last held 3 March 2000 (next to be held NA March 2005) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UF 4, AUM 2, independent 1High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Hubert HUGHES]; The United Front or UF [Osbourne FLEMMING, Victor BANKS], a coalition of the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and the Anguilla National Alliance or ANANACaricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate), ECLAC (associate)blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background with blue wavy water below Anguilla EconomyAnguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. The economy, and especially the tourism sector, suffered a setback in late 1995 due to the effects of Hurricane Luis in September but recovered in 1996. Increased activity in the tourism industry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector, has contributed to economic growth. Anguillan officials have put substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector. A comprehensive package of financial services legislation was enacted in late 1994. In the medium term, prospects for the economy will depend on the tourism sector and, therefore, on continuing income growth in the industrialized nations as well as favorable weather conditions.purchasing power parity - $96 million (1999 est.)7% (1999 est.)purchasing power parity - $8,200 (1999 est.)4%18%78% (1997 est.)NA%NA%NA%2.5% (1998 est.)4,400 (1992)commerce 36%, services 29%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, manufacturing 3%, agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%7% (1992 est.)$20.4 million$23.3 million, including capital expenditures of $3.8 million (1997 est.)tourism, boat building, offshore financial services3.1% (1997 est.)NA kWhNA%NA%NA% NA%NA kWhsmall quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising$4.5 million (1998)lobster, fish, livestock, saltNA$57.6 million (1998)NANA$8.8 million (1998)$3.5 million (1995)East Caribbean dollar (XCD)XCDEast Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)1 April - 31 March Anguilla Communications5,000 (1997)NA NA modern internal telephone system microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)3,000 (1997)1 (1997)1,000 (1997).ai16 (2000)NA Railways- 0 km279 km253 km26 km (1998 est.)noneBlowing Point, Road Bay Merchant marine- none (2000 est.)3 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.) 2 2 (2000 est.) Military - note- defense is the responsibility of the UKinternational- nonetransshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and EuropeAntarcticaSpeculation over the existence of a "southern land" was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions began exploring the Peninsula region and areas south of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1838 was it established that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands. Various "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th century, including- 1902, first balloon flight (by British explorer Robert Falcon SCOTT); 1912, first to the South Pole (five Norwegian explorers under Roald AMUNDSEN); 1928, first fixed-wing aircraft flight (by Australian adventurer/explorer Sir Hubert WILKINS); 1929, first flight over the South Pole (by Americans Richard BYRD and Bernt BALCHEN); and 1935, first transantarctic flight (American Lincoln ELLSWORTH). Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific research on the continent. A number of countries have set up year-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have made territorial claims, but no other country recognizes these claims. In order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in 1959, it entered into force in 1961.continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle90 00 S, 0 00 EAntarctic Region14 million sq km14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72 million sq km ice-covered) (est.) note- fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the subcontinent of Europeslightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US0 km note- see entry on International disputes17,968 kmnone; twenty of 27 Antarctic consultative nations have made no claims to Antarctic territory (although Russia and the US have reserved the right to do so) and do not recognize the claims of the other nations; also see the Disputes - international entrysevere low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezingabout 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to 5,140 meters; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continentBentley Subglacial Trench -2,540 mVinson Massif 5,140 m note- the lowest known land point in Antarctica is hidden in the Bentley Subglacial Trench; at its surface is the deepest ice yet discovered and the world s lowest elevation not under sea wateriron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small uncommercial quantities; none presently exploited; krill, finfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries0%0%0%0%100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)0 sq km (1993)katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak; large icebergs may calve from ice shelfin 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light coming through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm one-celled antarctic marine plantsthe coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; mostly uninhabitableno indigenous inhabitants, but there are seasonally staffed research stations note- approximately 29 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, send personnel to perform seasonal (summer) and year-round research on the continent and in its surrounding oceans; the population of persons doing and supporting science on the continent and its nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the region covered by the Antarctic Treaty) varies from approximately 4,000 in summer to 1,000 in winter; in addition, approximately 1,000 personnel including ship s crew and scientists doing onboard research are present in the waters of the treaty region; Summer (January) population - 3,687 total; Argentina 302, Australia 201, Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Bulgaria 16, Chile 352, China 70, Finland 11, France 100, Germany 51, India 60, Italy 106, Japan 136, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 60, Norway 40, Peru 28, Poland 70, Russia 254, South Africa 80, Spain 43, Sweden 20, UK 192, US 1,378 (1998-99); Winter (July) population - 964 total; Argentina 165, Australia 75, Brazil 12, Chile 129, China 33, France 33, Germany 9, India 25, Japan 40, South Korea 14, NZ 10, Poland 20, Russia 102, South Africa 10, UK 39, US 248 (1998-99); year-round stations - 42 total; Argentina 6, Australia 4, Brazil 1, Chile 4, China 2, Finland 1, France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Norway 1, Poland 1, Russia 6, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Ukraine 1, UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 1 (1998-99); Summer-only stations - 32 total; Argentina 3, Australia 4, Bulgaria 1, Chile 7, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 3, NZ 1, Peru 1, Russia 3, Sweden 2, UK 5 (1998-99); in addition, during the austral summer some nations have numerous occupied locations such as tent camps, summer-long temporary facilities, and mobile traverses in support of research (July 2001 est.)noneAntarcticaAntarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica. The 23rd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Peru in May 1999. At the end of 2000, there were 44 treaty member nations- 27 consultative and 17 non-consultative. Consultative (voting) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 20 nonclaimant nations. The US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims. The US does not recognize the claims of others. Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations. Decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (within their areas) in accordance with their own national laws. The year in parentheses indicates when an acceding nation was voted to full consultative (voting) status, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory. Claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1983), Bulgaria (1998) China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989), Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan, South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989), Poland (1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988), Uruguay (1985), and the US. Non-consultative (nonvoting) members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1995), Ukraine (1992), and Venezuela (1999). Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel, cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations. Other agreements - some 200 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for Fauna and Flora (1964) which were later incorporated into the Environmental Protocol; Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but remains unratified; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through five specific annexes- 1) marine pollution, 2) fauna and flora, 3) environmental impact assessments, 4) waste management, and 5) protected area management; it prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research.Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations. Decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (within their areas) in accordance with their own national laws. US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may apply extra-territorially. Some US laws directly apply to Antarctica. For example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the following activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute- the taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protected areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importation into the US of certain items from Antarctica. Violation of the Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and one year in prison. The National Science Foundation and Department of Justice share enforcement responsibilities. Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, as amended in 1996, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room 5801, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more information, contact Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone- (703) 292-8030, or see their website at www.nsf.gov. Antarctica Economynone; twenty of 27 Antarctic consultative nations have made no claims to Antarctic territory (although Russia and the US have reserved the right to do so) and do not recognize the claims of the other nations; also see the Disputes - international entryFishing off the coast and tourism, both based abroad, account for the limited economic activity. Antarctic fisheries in 1998-99 (1 July-30 June) reported landing 119,898 metric tons. Unregulated fishing landed five to six times more than the regulated fishery, and allegedly illegal fishing in antarctic waters in 1998 resulted in the seizure (by France and Australia) of at least eight fishing ships. Companies interested in commercial fishing activities in Antarctica have put forward proposals. The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources determines the recommended catch limits for marine species. A total of 13,193 tourists visited in the 1999-2000 summer, up from the 10,013 who visited the previous year. Nearly all of them were passengers on 24 commercial (nongovernmental) ships and several yachts that made 143 trips during the summer. Most tourist trips lasted approximately two weeks. Antarctica Communications0 note- information for US bases only (2001)NA NA NA NAAM NA, FM 2, shortwave 1 note- information for US bases only (1998)NA1 (the US Navy Antarctic Support Group operates a cable system with six channels for the American Forces Antarctic Network-McMurdo) note- information for US bases only (2000)several hundred at McMurdo Sound note- information for US bases only (2001).aqNAthere are no developed ports and harbors in Antarctica; most coastal stations have offshore anchorages, and supplies are transferred from ship to shore by small boats, barges, and helicopters; a few stations have a basic wharf facility US coastal stations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E), Palmer (64 43 S, 64 03 W); government use only except by permit (see Permit Office under "Legal System"); offshore anchorage is sparse and intermittent19 note- 27 stations, operated by 16 national governments party to the Antarctic Treaty, have aircraft landing facilities for either helicopters and/or fixed-wing aircraft; commercial enterprises operate two additional aircraft landing facilities; helicopter pads are available at 27 stations; runways at 15 locations are gravel, sea-ice, blue-ice, or compacted snow suitable for landing wheeled, fixed-wing aircraft; of these, 1 is greater than 3 km in length, 6 are between 2 km and 3 km in length, 3 are between 1 km and 2 km in length, 3 are less than 1 km in length, and 2 are of unknown length; snow surface skiways, limited to use by ski-equipped, fixed-wing aircraft, are available at another 15 locations; of these, 4 are greater than 3 km in length, 3 are between 2 km and 3 km in length, 2 are between 1 km and 2 km in length, 2 are less than 1 km in length, and 4 are of unknown length; aircraft landing facilities generally subject to severe restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; aircraft landing facilities do not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the respective governmental or nongovernmental operating organization required for landing (2001 est.) 19 6 3 1 4 5 (2000 est.)27 stations have helicopter landing facilities (helipads) (2001 est.) Military - note- the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposesinternational- Antarctic Treaty freezes claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary in Government type entry); sections (some overlapping) claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and UK; the US and most other nations do not recognize the territorial claims of other nations and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia reserve the right to do so); no claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees westAntigua and BarbudaThe islands of Antigua and Barbuda became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. Some 3,000 refugees fleeing a volcanic eruption on nearby Montserrat have settled in Antigua and Barbuda since 1995.Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico17 03 N, 61 48 WCentral America and the Caribbean442 sq km (Antigua 281 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)442 sq km0 sq km note- includes Redonda2.5 times the size of Washington, DC0 km153 km24 NM200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin200 NM12 NMtropical marine; little seasonal temperature variationmostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areasCaribbean Sea 0 mBoggy Peak 402 mNEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism18%0%9%11%62% (1993 est.)NA sq kmhurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughtswater management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quicklyBiodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whalingnone of the selected agreements66,970 (July 2001 est.) 27.97% (male 9,527; female 9,203) 67.15% (male 22,450; female 22,519) 4.88% (male 1,360; female 1,911) (2001 est.)0.74% (2001 est.)19.5 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)5.87 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-6.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.71 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)22.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 70.74 years 68.45 years 73.14 years (2001 est.)2.31 children born/woman (2001 est.)NA%NANAAntiguan(s), Barbudan(s)Antiguan, Barbudanblack, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, SyrianAnglican (predominant), other Protestant, some Roman CatholicEnglish (official), local dialects age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling 89% 90% 88% (1960 est.)noneAntigua and Barbudaconstitutional monarchy with UK-style parliamentSaint John s6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip1 November 1981 (from UK)Independence Day, 1 November (1981)1 November 1981based on English common law18 years of age; universalQueen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993)Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March 1994)Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general chosen by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; prime minister appointed by the governor generalbicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) House of Representatives - last held 9 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2004) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ALP 12, UPP 4, independent 1Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction)Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD]; Barbuda People s Movement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; United Progressive Party or UPP [Baldwin SPENCER] (a coalition of three opposition parties - United National Democratic Party or UNDP, Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM, and Progressive Labor Movement or PLM)Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [William ROBINSON]; People s Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL]ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Ambassador Lionel Alexander HURST 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 [1] (202) 362-5211 [1] (202) 362-5225 Miamired, with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising sun in the black band Antigua and Barbuda EconomyTourism continues to be the dominant activity in the economy accounting directly or indirectly for more than half of GDP. The budding offshore financial sector has been seriously hurt by financial sanctions imposed by the US and UK as a result of the loosening of its money-laundering controls. The government has made efforts to comply with international demands in order to get the sanctions lifted. Antigua and Barbuda was listed as a tax haven by the OECD in 2000. The dual island nation s agricultural production is mainly directed to the domestic market; the sector is constrained by the limited water supply and labor shortages that reflect the pull of higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components. Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on income growth in the industrialized world, especially in the US, which accounts for about one-third of all tourist arrivals.purchasing power parity - $533 million (1999 est.)4.6% (1999 est.)purchasing power parity - $8,200 (1999 est.)4%12.5%83.5% (1996 est.)NA%NA%NA%1.6% (1999 est.)30,000commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry 7% (1983)7% (1999 est.)$122.6 million$141.2 million, including capital expenditures of $17.3 million (1997 est.)tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)6% (1997 est.)95 million kWh (1999)100%0%0% 0% (1999)88.4 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock$38 million (1998)petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, machinery and transport equipment 17%, food and live animals 4%, other 8%OECS 26%, Barbados 15%, Guyana 4%, Trinidad and Tobago 2%, US 0.3%$330 million (1998)food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oilUS 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%$357 million (1998)$2.3 million (1995)East Caribbean dollar (XCD)XCDEast Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)1 April - 31 March Antigua and Barbuda Communications28,000 (1996)1,300 (1996) NA good automatic telephone system 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands Antilles) and GuadeloupeAM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)36,000 (1997)2 (1997)31,000 (1997).ag16 (2000)8,000 (2000)77 km64 km 0.760-m gauge; 13 km 0.610-m gauge (used almost exclusively for handling sugarcane)1,165 km384 km781 km (1999 est.)noneSaint John s681 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,070,390 GRT/5,289,904 DWTbulk 15, cargo 424, chemical tanker 10, combination bulk 4, container 176, liquefied gas 4, multi-functional large-load carrier 6, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 29 note- includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience- Cyprus 2, Germany 4, Slovenia 2 (2000 est.)3 (2000 est.) 2 1 1 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.)Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force (includes Coast Guard)$NANA%international- noneconsidered a minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; more significant as a drug-money-laundering centerArctic OceanThe Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world s five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the recently delimited Southern Ocean). The Northwest Passage (US and Canada) and Northern Sea Route (Norway and Russia) are two important seasonal waterways. A sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes circumscribes the Arctic Ocean.body of water between Europe, Asia, and North America, mostly north of the Arctic Circle90 00 N, 0 00 EArctic Region14.056 million sq km note- includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary water bodiesslightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US45,389 kmpolar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature ranges; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snowcentral surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that averages about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure ridges may be three times that size; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight-line movement from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland and Iceland); the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonosov Ridge)Fram Basin -4,665 msea level 0 msand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually ice locked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing from October to Mayendangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepackmajor chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and western Russia; floating research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts about 10 months Arctic Ocean EconomyEconomic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US) Transportation - note- sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterwaysinternational- some maritime disputes (see littoral states)ArgentinaFollowing independence from Spain in 1816, Argentina experienced periods of internal political conflict between conservatives and liberals and between civilian and military factions. After World War II, a long period of Peronist dictatorship was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983, and numerous elections since then have underscored Argentina s progress in democratic consolidation.Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay34 00 S, 64 00 WSouth America2,766,890 sq km2,736,690 sq km30,200 sq kmslightly less than three-tenths the size of the UStotal- 9,665 kmBolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km4,989 km24 NM200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin200 NM12 NMmostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwestrich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western borderSalinas Chicas -40 m (located on Peninsula Valdes)Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 mfertile plains of the Pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium9%1%52%19%19% (1993 est.)17,000 sq km (1993 est.)San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the Pampas and northeast; heavy floodingenvironmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution note- Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse gas targetsAntarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, WhalingClimate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservationsecond-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage)37,384,816 (July 2001 est.) 26.54% (male 5,077,593; female 4,842,811) 63.04% (male 11,795,282; female 11,773,855) 10.42% (male 1,609,672; female 2,285,603) (2001 est.)1.15% (2001 est.)18.41 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)7.58 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.7 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)17.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 75.26 years 71.88 years 78.82 years (2001 est.)2.44 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.69% (1999 est.)130,000 (1999 est.)1,800 (1999 est.)Argentine(s)Argentinewhite (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo, Amerindian, or other nonwhite groups 3%nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French age 15 and over can read and write 96.2% 96.2% 96.2% (1995 est.)Argentine RepublicArgentinaRepublica ArgentinaArgentinarepublicBuenos Aires23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), and 1 autonomous city* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires Capital Federal*; Catamarca; Chaco; Chubut; Cordoba; Corrientes; Entre Rios; Formosa; Jujuy; La Pampa; La Rioja; Mendoza; Misiones; Neuquen; Rio Negro; Salta; San Juan; San Luis; Santa Cruz; Santa Fe; Santiago del Estero; Tierra del Fuego, Antartica e Islas del Atlantico Sur; Tucuman note- the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica9 July 1816 (from Spain)Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)1 May 1853; revised August 1994mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction18 years of age; universal and mandatoryPresident Fernando DE LA RUA (since 10 December 1999); Vice President Carlos "Chacho" ALVAREZ resigned 6 October 2000 and a replacement has not yet been named; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentPresident Fernando DE LA RUA (since 10 December 1999); Vice President Carlos "Chacho" ALVAREZ resigned 6 October 2000 and a replacement has not yet been named; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentCabinet appointed by the president president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2003) Fernando DE LA RUA elected president; percent of vote - 48.5%bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate (72 seats; formerly, three members appointed by each of the provincial legislatures; presently transitioning to one-third of the members being elected every two years to six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; one-half of the members elected every two years to four-year terms) Senate - transition phase will begin in the 2001 elections when all seats will be fully contested; winners will randomly draw to determine whether they will serve a two-year, four-year, or full six-year term, beginning a rotating cycle renovating one-third of the body every two years; Chamber of Deputies - last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2001) Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA%; seats by bloc or party - Peronist 40, UCR 20, Frepaso 1, other 11; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA%; seats by bloc or party - Alliance 124 (UCR 85, Frepaso 36, others 3), Peronist 101, AR 12, other 20Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the nine Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval by the Senate)Action for the Republic or AR [Domingo CAVALLO]; Front for a Country in Solidarity or Frepaso (a four-party coalition) [Carlos ALVAREZ]; Justicialist Party or PJ [Carlos Saul MENEM] (Peronist umbrella political organization); Radical Civic Union or UCR [Raul ALFONSIN]; several provincial partiesArgentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners association); business organizations; General Confederation of Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Peronist-dominated labor movement; Roman Catholic Church; studentsAfDB, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MTCR, NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Ambassador Guillermo Enrique GONZALEZ 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 238-6400 [1] (202) 332-3171 Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York Ambassador James D. WALSH Avenida Colombia 4300, 1425 Buenos Aires international mail- use street address; APO address- Unit 4334, APO AA 34034 [54] (11) 4777-4533/4534 [54] (11) 4511-4997three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face known as the Sun of May Argentina EconomyArgentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. However, when President Carlos MENEM took office in 1989, the country had piled up huge external debts, inflation had reached 200% per month, and output was plummeting. To combat the economic crisis, the government embarked on a path of trade liberalization, deregulation, and privatization. In 1991, it implemented radical monetary reforms which pegged the peso to the US dollar and limited the growth in the monetary base by law to the growth in reserves. Inflation fell sharply in subsequent years. In 1995, the Mexican peso crisis produced capital flight, the loss of banking system deposits, and a severe, but short-lived, recession; a series of reforms to bolster the domestic banking system followed. Real GDP growth recovered strongly, reaching 8% in 1997. In 1998, international financial turmoil caused by Russia s problems and increasing investor anxiety over Brazil produced the highest domestic interest rates in more than three years, halving the growth rate of the economy. Conditions worsened in 1999 with GDP falling by 3%. President Fernando DE LA RUA, who took office in December 1999, sponsored tax increases and spending cuts to reduce the deficit, which had ballooned to 2.5% of GDP in 1999. Growth in 2000 was a disappointing 0.8%, as both domestic and foreign investors remained skeptical of the government s ability to pay debts and maintain its fixed exchange rate with the US dollar. One bright spot at the start of 2001 was the IMF s offer of $13.7 billion in support.purchasing power parity - $476 billion (2000 est.)0.8% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $12,900 (2000 est.)6%32%62% (2000 est.)37% (1999 est.)NA%NA%-0.9% (2000 est.)15 million (1999)agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%15% (December 2000)$44 billion$48 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel1% (2000 est.)77.087 billion kWh (1999)60.3%30.7%8.75% 0.25% (1999)77.111 billion kWh (1999)1.08 billion kWh (1999)6.5 billion kWh (1999)sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock$26.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor vehiclesBrazil 24%, EU 21%, US 11% (1999 est.)$25.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal manufactures, plasticsEU 28%, US 22%, Brazil 21% (1999 est.)$154 billion (2000 est.)IMF offer of $13.7 billion (January 2001)Argentine peso (ARS)ARSArgentine pesos per US dollar - 1.000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)calendar year Argentina Communications7.5 million (1998)3 million (December 1999) by opening the telecommunications market to competition and foreign investment with the "Telecommunications Liberalization Plan of 1998", Argentina encouraged the growth of modern telecommunication technology; fiber-optic cable trunk lines are being installed between all major cities; the major networks are entirely digital and the availability of telephone service is being improved; however, telephone density is presently minimal, and making telephone service universally available will take some time microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network; more than 110,000 pay telephones are installed and mobile telephone use is rapidly expanding satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Atlantis II and Unisur submarine cables; two international gateways near Buenos Aires (1999)AM 260 (including 10 inactive stations), FM NA (probably more than 1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998)24.3 million (1997)42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997)7.95 million (1997).ar33 (2000)900,000 (2000)33,744 km (167 km electrified) broad gauge- 20,594 km 1.676-m gauge (141 km electrified)2,739 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified)10,154 km 1.000-m gauge; 257 km 0.750-m gauge (2000)215,434 km63,553 km (including 734 km of expressways)151,881 km (1998 est.)10,950 kmcrude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; natural gas 9,918 kmBahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario, Santa Fe, Ushuaia26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 185,355 GRT/281,475 DWTcargo 9, petroleum tanker 11, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 2 (2000 est.)1,359 (2000 est.) 143 4 25 57 48 9 (2000 est.) 1,216 2 2 56 601 555 (2000 est.)Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes Naval Aviation, Marines, and Coast Guard), Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Aeronautical Police Force20 years of agemales age 15-49- 9,404,434 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 7,625,425 (2001 est.)males- 335,085 (2001 est.)$4.3 billion (FY99)1.3% (FY99)international- claims UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims UK-administered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica partially overlaps British and Chilean claimsuse as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and the US; increasing use as a money-laundering center; domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers is increasingArmeniaAn Orthodox Christian country, Armenia was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated exclave, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the exclave in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution.Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey40 00 N, 45 00 ECommonwealth of Independent States29,800 sq km28,400 sq km1,400 sq kmslightly smaller than Marylandtotal- 1,254 kmAzerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km0 km (landlocked)none (landlocked)highland continental, hot summers, cold wintersArmenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valleyDebed River 400 mAragats Lerr 4,095 msmall deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina17%3%24%15%41% (1993 est.)2,870 sq km (1993 est.)occasionally severe earthquakes; droughtssoil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant without adequate (IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systemsAir Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, WetlandsAir Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutantslandlocked3,336,100 (July 2001 est.) 23.23% (male 394,194; female 380,911) 67.04% (male 1,094,646; female 1,141,760) 9.73% (male 135,477; female 189,112) (2001 est.)-0.21% (2001 est.)11.47 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)9.74 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-3.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.72 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)41.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 66.49 years 62.12 years 71.08 years (2001 est.)1.5 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.01% (1999 est.)less than 500 (1999 est.)less than 100 (1999 est.)Armenian(s)ArmenianArmenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989) note- as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from ArmeniaArmenian Orthodox 94%Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2% age 15 and over can read and write 99% 99% 98% (1989 est.)Republic of ArmeniaArmeniaHayastani Hanrapetut yunHayastanArmenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian RepublicrepublicYerevan10 provinces (marzer, singular - marz) and 1 city* (k aghak ner, singular - k aghak ); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark unik , Kotayk , Lorri, Shirak, Syunik , Tavush, Vayots Dzor, Yerevan*21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)Independence Day, 21 September (1991)adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995based on civil law system18 years of age; universalnone (landlocked)President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)Prime Minister Andranik MARKARYAN (since 12 May 2000)Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; special election last held 30 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003); prime minister appointed by the president Robert KOCHARIAN elected president; percent of vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 59.5%, Karen DEMIRCHYAN 40.5%unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members serve four-year terms) last held 30 May 1999 (next to be held in the spring of 2003) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - unity bloc 61 (Republican Party 41, People s Party of Armenia 20), Stability Group (independent Armenian deputies who have formed a bloc) 21, ACP 10, ARF (Dashnak) 8, Law and Unity Party 7, NDU 6, Law-Governed Party 6, independents 10, unfilled 2; note - seats by party change frequentlySupreme Court; Constitutional CourtArmenia Party [Myasnik ALKHASYAN]; Armenian Communist Party or ACP [Vladimir DARBINYAN]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARYAN]; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Azat ARSHAKYN, chairman]; Democratic Liberal Party [Ramkavar AZATAKAN, chairman]; Free Armenian s Mission [Ruben MNATSANIAN, chairman]; Law and Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman]; Law-Governed Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN, chairman]; Mission Party [Artush PAPOIAN, chairman]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National State Party [Samvel SHAGINIAN]; Pan-Armenian National Movement or PANM [Vano SIRADEGHYAN]; People s Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Shamiram Women s Movement or SWM [Gayane SARUKHYAN]; Social Democratic (Hnchakian) Party [Ernst SOGOMONYAN]; Stability Group [Vartan AYVAZIAN, chairman]; Union of National Self-Determination or NSDU [Paruir HAIRIKIAN, chairman]; Unity Bloc [Stepan DEMIRCHIAN and Andranik MARKARYAN] (a coalition of the Republican Party and People s Party of Armenia)NABSEC, CCC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) Ambassador Arman KIRAKOSIAN 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 319-1976 [1] (202) 319-2982 Los Angeles Ambassador Michael C. LEMMON 18 Marshal Bagramian Avenue, Yerevan American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7020 [374] (2) 52-16-11 [374] (2) 151-550three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange Armenia EconomyUnder the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic program that has resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-2000. Armenia also managed to slash inflation and to privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in recent years have been largely offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia s severe trade imbalance, importing three times its exports, has been offset somewhat by international aid, domestic restructuring of the economy, and foreign direct investment.purchasing power parity - $10 billion (2000 est.)5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2000 est.)40%25%35% (1999 est.)45% (1999 est.)NA%NA%1% (1999 est.)1.5 million (1999)agriculture 55%, services 25%, industry 20% (1999 est.)20% (1998 est.) note- official rate is 9.3% for 1998$360 million$566 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, gem cutting, jewelry manufacturing, software development, brandy5% (2000 est.)6.668 billion kWh (1999)45.56%23.25%31.19% 0% (1999)6.201 billion kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock$284 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)diamonds, scrap metal, machinery and equipment, brandy, copper oreBelgium 36%, Iran 15%, Russia 14%, US 7%, Turkmenistan, Georgia (1999)$913 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamondsRussia 17%, US 11%, Belgium 11%, Iran 10%, UK, Turkey (1999)$836 million (January 2001)$245.5 million (1995)dram (AMD)AMDdrams per US dollar - 554.29 (1 February 2001), 539.53 (2000), 535.06 (1999), 504.92 (1998), 490.85 (1997), 414.04 (1996)calendar year Armenia Communications568,000 (1997)6,220 (1997) system inadequate; now 90% privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipment are in Yerevan (this includes paging and mobile cellular service) Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additional international service is available by microwave radio relay and landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and through the Moscow international switch and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 1 IntelsatAM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)850,000 (1997)4 (1998)825,000 (1997).am1 (1999)30,000 (2000)852 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge- 852 km 1.520-m gauge (779 km electrified) (2001)8,431 km ()NANA (1997)NA kmnatural gas 900 km (1991)none7 (2000 est.) 7 1 2 3 1 (2000 est.)Army, Air Force and Air Defense Aviation, Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops)18 years of agemales age 15-49- 905,154 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 715,734 (2001 est.)males- 34,998 (2001 est.)$75 million (FY99)4% (FY99)international- Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding, separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; traditional demands regarding former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsidedillicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - to Western Europe and the US via Iran, Central Asia, and RussiaArubaDiscovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island s economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba s request in 1990.Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela12 30 N, 69 58 WCentral America and the Caribbean193 sq km193 sq km0 sq kmslightly larger than Washington, DC0 km68.5 km12 NMtropical marine; little seasonal temperature variationflat with a few hills; scant vegetationCaribbean Sea 0 mMount Jamanota 188 mNEGL; white sandy beaches7% (including aloe 0.01%)0%0%0%93% (1993 est.)0.01 sq kmlies outside the Caribbean hurricane beltNA70,007 (July 2001 est.) 21.29% (male 7,709; female 7,193) 68.52% (male 23,111; female 24,859) 10.19% (male 2,954; female 4,181) (2001 est.)0.64% (2001 est.)12.64 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)6.21 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)NEGL 1.05 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 0.71 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2001 est.)6.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 78.52 years 75.16 years 82.04 years (2001 est.)1.8 children born/woman (2001 est.)NA%NANAAruban(s)Aruban; Dutchmixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, JewishDutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish NA 97% NA% NA%noneArubapart of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairsparliamentary democracyOranjestadnone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)Flag Day, 18 March1 January 1986based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence18 years of age; universalQueen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992)Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29 July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Lili BEKE-MARTINEZCouncil of Ministers (elected by the Staten) the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election last held 12 July 1997 (next to be held by December 2001) Jan (Henny) H. EMAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA%; Lili BEKE-MARTINEZ elected deputy prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA%unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held by NA December 2001) percent of vote by party - AVP 43%, MEP 39%, OLA 9% PPA 4%, ADN 2%, PARA 1%, MAS 0.5%; seats by party - AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the monarch)Aruba Solidarity Movement or MAS [leader NA]; Aruban Democratic Party or PDA [Leo BERLINSKI]; Aruban Liberal Party or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People s Party or AVP [Tico CROES]; Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson ODUBER]; For a Restructured Aruba Now or PARA [leader NA]; National Democratic Action or ADN [Pedro Charro KELLY]NACaricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate) Consul General Barbara J. STEPHENSON J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao [599] (9) 461-3066 [599] (9) 461-6489blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner Aruba EconomyTourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country s oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba s small labor force and less than 1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.purchasing power parity - $2 billion (2000 est.)3.5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2000 est.)NA%NA%NA%NA%NA%NA%4.2% (2000 est.)41,501 (1997 est.)most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining0.6% (1999 est.)$NA$541 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refiningNA%450 million kWh (1999)100%0%0% 0% (1999)418.5 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)aloes; livestock; fish$2.2 billion (including oil reexports) (2000 est.)live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipmentUS 42%, Colombia 20%, Netherlands 12% (1999)$2.5 billion (2000 est.)machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffsUS 63%, Netherlands 11%, Netherlands Antilles 3%, Japan (1999)$285 million (1996)$26 million (1995); note - the Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)AWGAruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)calendar year Aruba Communications33,000 (1997)3,402 (1997) NA more than adequate 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay linksAM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)50,000 (1997)1 (1997)20,000 (1997).awNA4,000 (2000) Railways- 0 km800 km513 km287 km note- most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large tracts of the interior (1995)noneBarcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,120 GRT/3,635 DWTcargo 1 (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.)Royal Dutch Navy and Marines, Coast Guard Military - note- defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlandsinternational- nonedrug-money-laundering center and transit point for narcotics bound for the US and EuropeAshmore and Cartier IslandsThese uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983 it became a National Nature Reserve. Recent geological explorations have indicated promising petroleum formations.Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia12 14 S, 123 05 ESoutheast Asia5 sq km5 sq km0 sq km note- includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Islandabout eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC0 km74.1 km12 NM200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone- 200 NM3 NMtropicallow with sand and coralIndian Ocean 0 munnamed location 3 mfish0%0%0%0%100% (all grass and sand)0 sq km (1993)surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazardsNAAshmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983no indigenous inhabitants note- there are only seasonal caretakers (July 2001 est.)Territory of Ashmore and Cartier IslandsAshmore and Cartier Islandsterritory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territoriesthe laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, applythe flag of Australia is used Ashmore and Cartier Islands Economyno economic activitynonenone; offshore anchorage only Military - note- defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Forceinternational- noneAtlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world s five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). The Kiel Canal (Germany), Oresund (Denmark-Sweden), Bosporus (Turkey), Strait of Gibraltar (Morocco-Spain), and the St. Lawrence Seaway (Canada-US) are important strategic access waterways. The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth world ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south.body of water between Africa, Europe, the Southern Ocean, and the Western Hemisphere0 00 N, 25 00 WWorld76.762 million sq km note- includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, part of the Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, almost all of the Scotia Sea, and other tributary water bodiesslightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US111,866 kmtropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent from August to Novembersurface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm-water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern Atlantic, counterclockwise warm-water gyre in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basinMilwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 msea level 0 moil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stonesicebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from October to May; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to September; hurricanes (May to December)endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Seamajor chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean EconomyThe Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world s most heavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, the dredging of aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden) Transportation - note- Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways; significant domestic commercial and recreational use of Intracoastal Waterway on central and south Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of Mexico coast of USinternational- some maritime disputes (see littoral states)AustraliaAustralia became a commonwealth of the British Empire in 1901. It was able to take advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef. A referendum to change Australia s status, from a commonwealth headed by the British monarch to an independent republic, was defeated in 1999.Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean27 00 S, 133 00 EOceania7,686,850 sq km7,617,930 sq km68,920 sq km note- includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Islandslightly smaller than the contiguous 48 states of the US0 km25,760 km24 NM200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin200 NM12 NMgenerally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in northmostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeastLake Eyre -15 mMount Kosciuszko 2,229 mbauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum6%0%54%19%21% (1993 est.)21,070 sq km (1993 est.)cyclones along the coast; severe droughtssoil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resourcesAntarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, WhalingClimate Change-Kyoto Protocolworld s smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer19,357,594 (July 2001 est.) 20.64% (male 2,045,892; female 1,948,949) 66.86% (male 6,538,096; female 6,405,014) 12.5% (male 1,059,107; female 1,360,536) (2001 est.)0.99% (2001 est.)12.86 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)7.18 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)4.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.78 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)4.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 79.87 years 77.02 years 82.87 years (2001 est.)1.77 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.15% (1999 est.)14,000 (1999 est.)100 (1999 est.)Australian(s)AustralianCaucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%, non-Christian 11%English, native languages age 15 and over can read and write 100% 100% 100% (1980 est.)Commonwealth of AustraliaAustraliademocratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereignCanberra6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia Dependent areas- Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)Australia Day, 26 January (1788)9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations18 years of age; universal and compulsoryQueen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Rev. Peter HOLLINGSWORTH (since 29 June 2001)Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11 March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister John ANDERSON (since NA)Cabinet selected from among the members of Federal Parliament by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term note- government coalition - Liberal Party and National Partybicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12 from each of the six states and two from each of the two territories; one-half of the members elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (148 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve three-year terms; no state can have fewer than five representatives) Senate - last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held by October 2001); House of Representatives - last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held by October 2001) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 35, Australian Labor Party 29, Australian Democratic Party 9, Green Party 1, One Nation Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 80, Australian Labor Party 67, independent 1High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general)Australian Democratic Party [Meg LEES]; Australian Labor Party [Kim BEAZLEY]; Green Party [Bob BROWN]; Liberal Party [John Winston HOWARD]; National Party [John ANDERSON]; One Nation Party [Pauline HANSON]Australian Democratic Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)ANZUS, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC Ambassador Michael THAWLEY 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 797-3000 [1] (202) 797-3168 Atlanta, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco Ambassador Edward W. GNEHM, Jr. Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 APO AP 96549 [61] (02) 6214-5600 [61] (02) 6214-5970 Sydney consulate(s)- Melbourne and Perthblue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars Australia EconomyAustralia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP at the level of the four dominant West European economies. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for 57% of the value of total exports, so that a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets continues to be severe. While Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990s and during the recent financial problems in East Asia, the economy has expanded at a solid 4% annual growth pace in the last five years. Canberra s emphasis on reforms is a key factor behind the economy s resilience to the regional crisis and its stronger than expected growth rate. Growth in 2001 will depend on key international commodity prices, the extent of recovery in nearby Asian economies, and the strength of US and European markets.purchasing power parity - $445.8 billion (2000 est.)4.7% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $23,200 (2000 est.)3%26%71% (1999 est.)NA%2%25.4% (1994)1.4% (2000 est.)9.5 million (December 1999)services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5% (1997 est.)6.4% (2000)$94 billion$103 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel1.5% (1999 est.)191.727 billion kWh (1999)89.93%8.36%0% 1.71% (1999)178.306 billion kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry$69 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and transport equipmentJapan 19%, EU 14%, ASEAN 12%, US 9%, South Korea, NZ, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China (1999)$77 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum productsEU 24%, US 22%, Japan 14%, ASEAN 13% (1999)$220.6 billion (2000) Economic aid - donor- ODA, $1.43 billion (FY97/98)Australian dollar (AUD)AUDAustralian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996)1 July - 30 June Australia Communications9.58 million (1998)6.4 million (1998) excellent domestic and international service domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellular telephones submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean regions) (1998)AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)25.5 million (1997)104 (1997)10.15 million (1997).au264 (2000)7.77 million (2000)33,819 km (2,540 km electrified) broad gauge- 3,719 km 1.600-m gauge15,422 km 1.435-m gauge14,506 km 1.067-m gauge dual gauge- 172 km NA gauges (1999)913,000 km353,331 km (including 1,363 km of expressways)559,669 km (1996)8,368 km (mainly used by small, shallow-draft craft)crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural gas 5,600 kmAdelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport (Tasmania), Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceston (Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,558,371 GRT/2,038,776 DWTbulk 26, cargo 3, chemical tanker 5, container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 6 (2000 est.)411 (2000 est.) 271 10 12 118 122 9 (2000 est.) 140 17 112 11 (2000 est.)Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force17 years of agemales age 15-49- 4,990,107 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 4,303,966 (2001 est.)males- 138,971 (2001 est.)$6.9 billion (FY98/99)1.9% (FY98/99)international- territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory)Tasmania is one of the world s major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrateAustriaOnce the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies, Austria s 1955 State Treaty declared the country "permanently neutral" as a condition of Soviet military withdrawal. Neutrality, once ingrained as part of the Austrian cultural identity, has been called into question since the Soviet collapse of 1991 and Austria s increasingly prominent role in European affairs. A prosperous country, Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and the euro monetary system in 1999.Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia47 20 N, 13 20 EEurope83,858 sq km82,738 sq km1,120 sq kmslightly smaller than Mainetotal- 2,562 kmCzech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 km0 km (landlocked)none (landlocked)temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showersin the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently slopingNeusiedler See 115 mGrossglockner 3,798 miron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower17%1%23%39%20% (1996 est.)457 sq km (1995 est.)NAsome forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern EuropeAir Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, WhalingAir Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocollandlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere8,150,835 (July 2001 est.) 16.57% (male 691,925; female 658,375) 68.05% (male 2,802,019; female 2,744,536) 15.38% (male 478,498; female 775,482) (2001 est.)0.24% (2001 est.)9.74 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)9.8 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.62 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)4.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 77.84 years 74.68 years 81.15 years (2001 est.)1.39 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.23% (1999 est.)9,000 (1999 est.)less than 100 (1999 est.)Austrian(s)AustrianGerman 98%, Croatian, Slovene, other (includes Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Roma)Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant 5%, Muslim and other 17%German age 15 and over can read and write 98% NA% NA%Republic of AustriaAustriaRepublik OesterreichOesterreichfederal republicVienna9 states (bundeslaender, singular - bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien1156 (from Bavaria)National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the passage of the law on permanent neutrality1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction19 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential electionsnone (landlocked)President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992)Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (OeVP)(since 4 February 2000); Vice Chancellor Susanne RIESS-PASSER (FPOe) (since 4 February 2000)Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor president elected by direct popular vote for a six-year term; presidential election last held 19 April 1998 (next to be held in the spring of 2004); chancellor traditionally chosen by the president from the plurality party in the National Council; in the case of the current coalition, the chancellor was chosen from another party after the plurality party failed to form a government; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor Thomas KLESTIL reelected president; percent of vote - Thomas KLESTIL 63%, Gertraud KNOLL 14%, Heide SCHMIDT 11%, Richard LUGNER 10%, Karl NOWAK 2% note- government coalition - OeVP and FPOebicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (64 members; members represent each of the states on the basis of population, but with each state having at least three representatives; members serve a four- or six-year term) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) National Council - last held 3 October 1999 (next to be held in the fall of 2003) National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe 33.2%, OeVP 26.9%, FPOe 26.9%, Greens 7.4%; seats by party - SPOe 65, OeVP 52, FPOe 52, Greens 14Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or VerfassungsgerichtshofAustrian People s Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL]; Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Susanne RIESS-PASSER]; Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Alfred GUSENBAUER]; The Greens Alternative or GA [Alexander VAN DER BELLEN]Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist) or OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber; OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action; three composite leagues of the Austrian People s Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and farmersAfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Ambassador Peter MOSER 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 [1] (202) 895-6700 [1] (202) 895-6750 Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York Ambassador Kathryn Walt HALL Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna use embassy street address [43] (1) 313-39-2060 [43] (1) 313-39-2057three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red Austria EconomyAustria with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany s. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria s access to the single European market and proximity to EU aspirant economies. In 2000, Austria moved to further cut government spending and raise taxes to meet EMU deficit targets after facing unexpected difficulties in reducing the public deficit. To meet increased competition from both EU and Central European countries, Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy and continue to deregulate the service sector. Growth is expected to remain at about 3% in 2001.purchasing power parity - $203 billion (2000 est.)3.1% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2000 est.)2.2%30.4%67.4% (1999 est.)NA%2% (2000 est.)3.7 million (1999)services 68%, industry and crafts 29%, agriculture and forestry 3% (1999 est.)5.4% (2000 est.)$56.3 billion$60.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism4.2% (2000)59.283 billion kWh (1999)29.53%67.65%0% 2.82% (1999)53.231 billion kWh (1999)13.507 billion kWh (1999)11.605 billion kWh (1999)grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber$63.2 billion (2000 est.)machinery and equipment, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel; textiles, foodstuffsEU 64.2% (Germany 35.7%, Italy 8.7%, France 4.5%), Switzerland 5.9%, US 4.5%, Hungary 3.9% (1999)$65.6 billion (2000 est.)machinery and equipment, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffsEU 70.3% (Germany 42.5%, Italy 7.9%, France 5.3%), US 5.4%, Switzerland 3.0%, Hungary 2.8% (1999)$16 billion (1999) Economic aid - donor- ODA, $472 million (1999)Austrian schilling (ATS); euro (EUR) note- on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced the euro as a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in Austria at a fixed rate of 13.7603 Austrian shillings per euro and will replace the local currency for all transactions in 2002ATS; EUReuros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Austrian schillings per US dollar - 11.86 (January 1999), 12.91 (1999), 12.379 (1998), 12.204 (1997), 10.587 (1996)calendar year Austria Communications4 million (3,600,000 analog main lines plus 400,000 ISDN or Integrated Services Digital Network connections) (1999)4.5 million (2000) highly developed and efficient there are 48 main lines for every 100 persons and the system is nearly 100% digital; the fiber optic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internet services are available satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 2 Eutelsat (1999)AM 1, FM 61 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)6.08 million (1997)45 (plus 960 repeaters) (1995)4.25 million (1997).at37 (2000)2.6 million (2000)6,095.2 km (3,643.3 km electrified)5,564.2 km 1.435-m gauge (3,521.2 km electrified)497.1 km (33.9 km 1.000-m gauge - 28.1 km electrified, 497.1 km 0.760-m gauge - 94 km electrified) (2001)133,361 km133,361 km (including 1,613 km of expressways)0 km (1998)358 km (1999)crude oil 777 km; natural gas 840 km (1999)Linz, Vienna, Enns, Krems23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 86,905 GRT/117,417 DWTbulk 1, cargo 18, combination bulk 2, container 2 (2000 est.)55 (2000 est.) 24 1 5 1 3 14 (2000 est.) 31 1 3 27 (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.)Army (includes Flying Division)19 years of agemales age 15-49- 2,091,263 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 1,731,383 (2001 est.)males- 50,580 (2001 est.)$1.7 billion (FY98)1.2% (FY98)international- minor disputes with Czech Republic and Slovenia over nuclear power plants and post-World War II treatment of German-speaking minoritiestransshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western EuropeAzerbaijanAzerbaijan - a nation of Turkic Muslims - has been an independent republic since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a cease-fire, in place since 1994, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost almost 20% of its territory and must support some 750,000 refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous and the promise of widespread wealth from Azerbaijan s undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled.Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia40 30 N, 47 30 ECommonwealth of Independent States86,600 sq km86,100 sq km500 sq km note- includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region s autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991slightly smaller than Mainetotal- 2,013 kmArmenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)none (landlocked)dry, semiarid steppelarge, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian SeaCaspian Sea -28 mBazarduzu Dagi 4,485 mpetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina18%5%25%11%41% (1993 est.)10,000 sq km (1993 est.)droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising levels of the Caspian Sealocal scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, water, and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of DDT as a pesticide and also from toxic defoliants used in the production of cottonBiodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protectionnone of the selected agreementslandlocked7,771,092 (July 2001 est.) 28.95% (male 1,146,315; female 1,103,393) 63.93% (male 2,415,678; female 2,552,759) 7.12% (male 219,549; female 333,398) (2001 est.)0.32% (2001 est.)18.44 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)9.55 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-5.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.66 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)83.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 62.96 years 58.65 years 67.49 years (2001 est.)2.24 children born/woman (2001 est.)less than 0.01% (1999 est.)less than 500 (1999 est.)less than 100 (1999 est.)Azerbaijani(s)AzerbaijaniAzeri 90%, Dagestani 3.2%, Russian 2.5%, Armenian 2%, other 2.3% (1998 est.) note- almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh regionMuslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.) note- religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lowerAzerbaijani (Azeri) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.) age 15 and over can read and write 97% 99% 96% (1989 est.)Republic of AzerbaijanAzerbaijanAzarbaycan RespublikasinoneAzerbaijan Soviet Socialist RepublicrepublicBaku (Baki)59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities* (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar respublika); Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Ali Bayramli Sahari*, Astara Rayonu, Baki Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca Sahari*, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Mingacevir Sahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi**, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Saki Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*, Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Yevlax Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaidzhan, 28 May (1918)adopted 12 November 1995based on civil law system18 years of age; universalnone (landlocked)President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993)Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 26 November 1996)Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; election last held 11 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003); prime minister and first deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly Heydar ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Heydar ALIYEV 77.6%, Etibar MAMEDOV 11.8%, Nizami SULEYMANOV 8.2%unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held 4 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2005) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NAP and allies 108, APF 6, CSP 3, PNIA 2, Musavat Party 2, CPA 2, APF "traditionalist" 1, Compatriot Party 1Supreme CourtAlliance for Azerbaijan Party [Abutalyb SAMADOV]; Azerbaijani Democratic Party or ADP [Sardar JALAL]; Azerbaijani Independent Democratic Party or AMDP [Leyla YUNUSOVA]; Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF [Ali KERIMOV, leader of "reform faction"; Mirmahmud FATTAYEV, leader of "traditionalist" faction]; Civic Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLY]; Civic Union Party [Ayaz MUTALIBOV]; Communist Party of Azerbaijan or CPA [Ramiz AHMADOV]; Communist Party of Azerbaijan or CPA-2 [Firudin HASANOV]; Compatriot Party [Mais SAFARLI]; Democratic Enlightenment Party [Mammadhanifu MUSAYEV]; Democratic Party for Azerbaijan or DPA [Ilyus ISMAILOV and Rasul QULIYEV, co-chairman]; Democratic World Party of Azerbaijan [Mamnad ALIZADE]; Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shvkat HAJIYEVA]; Motherland Party [Fazail AGAMALI]; National Congress Party of Azerbaijan [Ihtiyar SHIRIN]; National Movement Party [Samir JAFAROV]; National Statehood Party [Sabir TARIVERDIYEV]; Musavat [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; New Azerbaijan Party or NAP [Heydar ALIYEV, chairman]; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan or PNIA [Etibar MAMMADOV, chairman]; People s Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or PDPA [Rafig TURABKHANOGLU]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or SDP [Zardusht ALIZADE, chairman] note- opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new partiesSadval, Lezgin movement; self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movementAsDB, BSEC, CCC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer) Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEV (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 or P. O. Box 28790, Washington, DC 20038-8790 [1] (202) 842-0001 [1] (202) 842-0004 Ambassador Ross WILSON Azadliq Prospekt 83, Baku 370007 American Embassy Baku, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7050 [9] (9412) 98-03-35, 36, 37 [9] (9412) 90-66-71three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band Azerbaijan EconomyAzerbaijan s most prominent products are oil, cotton, and natural gas. Azerbaijan s oil production declined through 1997 but has registered an increase every year since. Negotiation of 19 production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with foreign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion to oil field development, should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Oil production under the first of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company, began in November 1997. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the former Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. An obstacle to economic progress, including stepped up foreign investment, is the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance while trade is building up with Turkey, Iran, UAE, and the nations of Europe. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan s ability to manage its oil wealth.purchasing power parity - $23.5 billion (2000 est.)11.4% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2000 est.)22%33%45% (1999 est.)60% (2000 est.)NA%NA%1.8% (2000 est.)2.9 million (1997)agriculture and forestry 32%, industry 15%, services 53% (1997)20% (1999 est.)$777 million$995 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles6.9% (2000 est.)16.378 billion kWh (1999)86.46%13.54%0% 0% (1999)15.432 billion kWh (1999)600 million kWh (1999)800 million kWh (1999)cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats$1.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)oil and gas 75%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffsItaly, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Iran$1.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, metals, chemicalsRussia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, Iran$1 billion (2000)ODA, $113 million (1996)Azerbaijani manat (AZM)AZMAzerbaijani manats per US dollar - 4,579 (1 February 2001), 4,342 (October 1999), 4,373 (1999), 3,869 (1998), 3,985.38 (1997), 4,301.26 (1996)calendar year Azerbaijan Communications663,000 (1997)40,000 (1997) inadequate; requires considerable expansion and modernization; teledensity of 8.6 main lines per 100 persons is very low the majority of telephones are in Baku and other industrial centers - about 700 villages still do not have public telephone service; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still serviceable; a satellite connection to Turkey enables Baku to reach about 200 additional countries, some of which are directly connected to Baku by satellite providers other than Turkey (1997)AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)175,000 (1997)2 (1997)170,000 (1997).az2 (2000)8,000 (2000)2,125 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge- 2,125 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (1993)24,981 km23,057 km (these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, and include, in addition to conventionally paved roads, some that are surfaced with gravel or other coarse aggregate, making them trafficable in all weather)1,924 km (these roads are made of unstabilized earth and are difficult to negotiate in wet weather) (1998)nonecrude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural gas 1,240 kmBaku (Baki)56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 253,882 GRT/313,252 DWTbulk 1, cargo 12, petroleum tanker 40, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)52 (2000 est.) 9 5 4 (2000 est.) 43 7 8 28 (2000 est.)Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guards18 years of agemales age 15-49- 2,102,780 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 1,684,673 (2001 est.)males- 77,099 (2001 est.)$121 million (FY99)2.6% (FY99)international- Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding, separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistanlimited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; transshipment point for opiates via Iran, Central Asia, and Russia to Western EuropeBahamas, TheSince attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida24 15 N, 76 00 WCentral America and the Caribbean13,940 sq km10,070 sq km3,870 sq kmslightly smaller than Connecticut0 km3,542 km200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation200 NM12 NMtropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Streamlong, flat coral formations with some low rounded hillsAtlantic Ocean 0 mMount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 msalt, aragonite, timber, arable land1%0%0%32%67% (1993 est.)NA sq kmhurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood and wind damagecoral reef decay; solid waste disposalBiodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandsnone of the selected agreementsstrategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain297,852 note- estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.) 29.43% (male 44,179; female 43,486) 64.46% (male 94,329; female 97,674) 6.11% (male 7,618; female 10,566) (2001 est.)0.93% (2001 est.)19.1 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)7.14 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.02 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.72 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)17.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 70.46 years 67.27 years 73.71 years (2001 est.)2.3 children born/woman (2001 est.)4.13% (1999 est.)6,900 (1999 est.)500 (1999 est.)Bahamian(s)Bahamianblack 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants) age 15 and over can read and write 98.2% 98.5% 98% (1995 est.)Commonwealth of The BahamasThe Bahamasconstitutional parliamentary democracyNassau21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor s Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nicholls Town and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay10 July 1973 (from UK)Independence Day, 10 July (1973)10 July 1973based on English common law18 years of age; universalQueen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Orville TURNQUEST (since 2 January 1995)Prime Minister Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM (since 19 August 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Frank WATSON (since December 1994)Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister s recommendation none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor generalbicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-member body appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader for five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held 14 March 1997 (next to be held by March 2002) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FNM 35, PLP 5Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; magistrates courtsFree National Movement or FNM [Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]NAACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer) Ambassador Joshua SEARS 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 319-2660 [1] (202) 319-2668 Miami and New York Ambassador-designate J. Richard BLANKENSHIP Queen Street, Nassau local or express mail address- P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; stateside address- American Embassy Nassau, P. O. Box 599009, Miami, FL 33159-9009; pouch address- Nassau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-3370 [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 [1] (242) 356-0222three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side Bahamas, The EconomyThe Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs 40% of the archipelago s labor force. Moderate growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences led to an increase of the country s GDP by an estimated 3% in 1998, 6% in 1999, and 4.5% in 2000. Manufacturing and agriculture together contribute only 10% of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run will depend heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector and continued sturdy growth in the US, which accounts for the majority of tourist visitors.purchasing power parity - $4.5 billion (2000 est.)4.5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.)3%7%90% (1999 est.)NA%NA%NA%1.9% (2000 est.)156,000 (1999)tourism 40%, other services 50%, industry 5%, agriculture 5% (1995 est.)9% (1998 est.)$766 million$845 million, including capital expenditures of $97 million (FY97/98)tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipeNA%1.465 billion kWh (1999)100%0%0% 0% (1999)1.362 billion kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)citrus, vegetables; poultry$376.8 million (2000 est.)pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish, refined petroleum productsUS 22.3%, Switzerland 15.6%, UK 15%, Denmark 7.4% (1998)$1.73 billion (2000 est.)foodstuffs, manufactured goods, crude oil, vehicles, electronicsUS 27.3%, Italy 26.5%, Japan 10%, Denmark 4.2% (1998)$385.8 million (2000 est.)$9.8 million (1995)Bahamian dollar (BSD)BSDBahamian dollars per US dollar - 1.000 (fixed rate pegged to the dollar)1 July - 30 June Bahamas, The Communications96,000 (1997)6,152 (1997) modern facilities totally automatic system; highly developed tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997)AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)215,000 (1997)1 (1997)67,000 (1997).bs19 (2000)15,000 (2000) Railways- 0 km2,693 km1,546 km1,147 km (1997)noneFreeport, Matthew Town, Nassau1,049 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,000,221 GRT/44,601,471 DWTbulk 185, cargo 214, chemical tanker 36, combination bulk 15, combination ore/oil 22, container 66, liquefied gas 33, livestock carrier 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger 79, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 182, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 118, roll on/roll off 50, short-sea passenger 15, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 24 note- includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience- Algeria 2, Australia 1, Austria 1, Bermuda 6, Belgium 14, Canada 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 2, Denmark 17, Finland 7, France 9, Germany 9, Greece 89, Hong Kong 7, Indonesia 2, India 1, Israel 4, Italy 8, Japan 23, Jamaica 1, Kenya 1, Lebanon 2, Luxembourg 2, Monaco 15, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 16, Norway 139, Poland 3, Portugal 2, Russia 2, Saudi Arabia 5, Singapore 12, Spain 7, Sweden 14, Syria 1, Switzerland 7, UAE 1, Trinidad and Tobago 2, UK 67, Ukraine 3, US 50, British Virgin Islands 1, British Virgin Islands 1 (2000 est.)65 (2000 est.) 36 2 2 16 13 3 (2000 est.) 29 6 23 (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.)Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force$20 million (FY95/96)NA%international- nonetransshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; banking industry vulnerable to money launderingBahrainBahrain s small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Possessing minimal oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining, and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir is pushing economic and political reforms, and has worked to improve relations with the Shi a community. In 2001, the International Court of Justice awarded the Hawar Islands, long disputed with Qatar, to Bahrain.Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia26 00 N, 50 33 EMiddle East620 sq km620 sq km0 sq km3.5 times the size of Washington, DC0 km161 km24 NMextending to boundaries to be determined12 NMarid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summersmostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpmentPersian Gulf 0 mJabal ad Dukhan 122 moil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls1%1%6%0%92% (1993 est.)10 sq km (1993 est.)periodic droughts; dust stormsdesertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; no natural fresh water resources so that groundwater and sea water are the only sources for all water needsBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandsnone of the selected agreementsclose to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf which much of Western world s petroleum must transit to reach open ocean645,361 note- includes 228,424 non-nationals (July 2001 est.) 29.6% (male 96,697; female 94,330) 67.43% (male 257,360; female 177,839) 2.97% (male 9,721; female 9,414) (2001 est.)1.73% (2001 est.)20.07 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)3.92 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.45 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.29 male(s)/female (2001 est.)19.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 73.2 years 70.81 years 75.67 years (2001 est.)2.79 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.15% (1999 est.)NANABahraini(s)BahrainiBahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%Shi a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu age 15 and over can read and write 85.2% 89.1% 79.4% (1995 est.)State of BahrainBahrainDawlat al BahraynAl BahraynDilmunconstitutional monarchyManama12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah note- all municipalities administered from Manama15 August 1971 (from UK)National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date of independence from British protectionadopted late December 2000 (new constitution calls for a partially elected legislature, a constitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary)based on Islamic law and English common lawnoneAmir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969)Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since NA 1971)Cabinet appointed by the monarch none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarchunicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992; the National Action Charter created a bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum of 14 February 2001High Civil Appeals Courtpolitical parties prohibitedShi a activists fomented unrest sporadically 1994-97, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are activeABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Ambassador (vacant) 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 342-0741 [1] (202) 362-2192 New York Ambassador Johnny YOUNG #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 321, Zinj District, Manama American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail- American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama [973] 273-300 [973] 272-594red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side Bahrain EconomyIn Bahrain, petroleum production and refining account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil revenue granted as aid. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.purchasing power parity - $10.1 billion (2000 est.)5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $15,900 (2000 est.)1%46%53% (1996 est.)NA%NA%NA%2% (2000 est.)295,000 (1998 est.) note- 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.)15% (1998 est.)$1.8 billion$2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism2% (2000 est.)6.185 billion kWh (1999)100%0%0% 0% (1999)5.752 billion kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish$5.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000)petroleum and petroleum products 61%, aluminum 7%India 14%, Saudi Arabia 5%, US 5%, UAE 5%, Japan 4%, South Korea 4% (1999)$4.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000)nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%France 20%, US 14%, UK 8%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Japan 5% (1999)$2.7 billion (2000)$48.4 million (1995)Bahraini dinar (BHD)BHDBahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.3760 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)calendar year Bahrain Communications152,000 (1997)58,543 (1997) modern system modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (1997)AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)338,000 (1997)4 (1997)275,000 (1997).bh1 (2000)37,500 (2000) Railways- 0 km3,164 km2,433 km731 km note- there is a paved causeway connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia (1997)nonecrude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 kmManama, Mina Salman, Sitrah7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 175,609 GRT/207,652 DWTbulk 2, cargo 3, container 2 (2000 est.)3 (2000 est.) 2 2 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.)Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force15 years of agemales age 15-49- 222,141 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 121,833 (2001 est.)males- 5,926 (2001 est.)$318 million (FY99)5.2% (FY99)international- in March of 2001, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the Hawar Islands to Bahrain and also adjusted Bahrain s maritime boundary with QatarBaker IslandThe US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast.Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia0 13 N, 176 31 WOceania1.4 sq km1.4 sq km0 sq kmabout 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC0 km4.8 km200 NM12 NMequatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sunlow, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reefPacific Ocean 0 munnamed location 8 mguano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife0%0%0%0%100%0 sq km (1993)the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazardno natural fresh water resourcestreeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlifeuninhabited note- American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2001 est.)noneBaker Islandunincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge systemthe laws of the US, where applicable, applythe flag of the US is used Baker Island Economyno economic activitynonenone; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable (2000 est.) Transportation - note- there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast Military - note- defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guardinternational- noneBangladeshBangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of this extremely poor country annually floods during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development.Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India24 00 N, 90 00 EAsia144,000 sq km133,910 sq km10,090 sq kmslightly smaller than Wisconsintotal- 4,246 kmBurma 193 km, India 4,053 km580 km18 NMup to the outer limits of the continental margin200 NM12 NMtropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeastIndian Ocean 0 mKeokradong 1,230 mnatural gas, arable land, timber, coal73%2%5%15%5% (1993 est.)31,000 sq km (1993 est.)droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon seasonmany people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally-occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulationBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, WetlandsLaw of the Sea131,269,860 (July 2001 est.) 35.04% (male 23,550,607; female 22,451,006) 61.6% (male 41,432,123; female 39,434,633) 3.36% (male 2,389,639; female 2,011,852) (2001 est.)1.59% (2001 est.)25.3 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.19 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female (2001 est.)69.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 60.54 years 60.74 years 60.33 years (2001 est.)2.78 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.02% (1999 est.)13,000 (1999 est.)1,000 (1999 est.)Bangladeshi(s)BangladeshiBengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998)Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English age 15 and over can read and write 56% 63% 49% (2000 est.)People s Republic of BangladeshBangladeshEast Pakistanparliamentary democracyDhaka5 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi; note - there may be one additional division named Sylhet16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of BangladeshIndependence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many timesbased on English common law18 years of age; universalPresident Shahabuddin AHMED (since 9 October 1996); note - the president s duties are normally ceremonial, but with the 13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government Amendment"), the president s role becomes significant at times when Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed - at presidential direction - to supervise the electionsPrime Minister Sheikh HASINA (since 13 July 1996)Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 24 July 1996 (next to be held by NA October 2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president Shahabuddin AHMED elected president without opposition; percent of National Parliament vote - NA%unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad (330 seats; 300 elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies, 30 seats reserved for women; members serve five-year terms) last held 12 June 1996 (next to be held before 13 October 2001) percent of vote by party - AL 33.87%, BNP 30.87%; seats by party - AL 178, BNP 113, JP 33, JI 3, other 3; note - the elections of 12 June 1996 brought to power an Awami League government for the first time in twenty-one years; held under a neutral, caretaker administration, the elections were characterized by a peaceful, orderly process and massive voter turnout, ending a bitter two-year impasse between the former BNP and opposition parties that had paralyzed National Parliament and led to widespread street violenceSupreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are appointed by the president)Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party or BCP [Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIAur Rahman]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Azizol HAQ]; Jamaat-E-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya Party or JP [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]NAAsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador-designate A. Tariq KARIM 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 244-0183 Los Angeles and New York Ambassador Mary Ann PETERS Road 27, House 110, Banani, Dhaka G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000 [880] (2) 8824700 through 8824722 [880] (2) 8823744green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush countryside, and secondarily, the traditional color of Islam Bangladesh EconomyDespite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains one of the world s poorest, most densely populated, and least developed nations. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single most important product. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned enterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Reform is stalled in many instances by political infighting and corruption at all levels of government. Even so, Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA s Awami League government has made some headway improving the climate for foreign investors and liberalizing the capital markets. Progress on other economic reforms has been halting because of opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested interest groups.purchasing power parity - $203 billion (2000 est.)5.3% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,570 (2000 est.)30%18%52% (2000 est.)35.6% (FY95/96 est.)3.9%28.6% (1995-96 est.)5.8% (2000 est.)64.1 million (1998) note- extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia; workers remittances estimated at $1.71 billion in 1998-99agriculture 63%, services 26%, industry 11% (FY95/96)35.2% (1996)$4.9 billion$6.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00 est.)cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar6.1% (2000 est.)12.06 billion kWh (1999)93.7%6.3%0% 0% (1999)11.216 billion kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry$5.9 billion (2000)garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafoodUS 31.2%, Germany 9.95%, UK 8.06%, France 5.82%, Italy 4.42% (1999)$8.1 billion (2000)machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, raw cotton, food, crude oil and petroleum products, cementIndia 12.2%, Singapore 7.8%, Japan 6.7%, China 6.4%, US 5.3% (1999)$17 billion (2000)$1.575 billion (2000 est.)taka (BDT)BDTtaka per US dollar - 54.000 (January 2001), 52.142 (2000), 49.085 (1999), 46.906 (1998), 43.892 (1997), 41.794 (1996)1 July - 30 June Bangladesh Communications500,000 (2000)283,000 (2000) totally inadequate for a modern country modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some fiber-optic cable in cities satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2000)AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (1999)6.15 million (1997)15 (1999)770,000 (1997).bd10 (2000)30,000 (2000)2,745 km broad gauge- 923 km 1.676-m gauge1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2000)201,182 km19,112 km182,070 km (1997)up to 8,046 km depending on season note- includes 3,058 km main cargo routesnatural gas 1,250 kmChittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port, Narayanganj (2001)35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 268,566 GRT/375,110 DWTbulk 2, cargo 25, container 3, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2 (2000 est.)18 (2000 est.) 15 2 3 4 1 5 (2000 est.) 3 1 2 (2000 est.)Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Village Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps), Armed Police battalionsmales age 15-49- 36,005,553 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 21,362,279 (2001 est.)$559 million (FY96/97)1.8% (FY96/97)international- a portion of the boundary with India is indefinite; exchange of 151 enclaves along border with India subject to ratification by Indian parliament; dispute with India over South Talpatty/New Moore Islandtransit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countriesBarbadosThe island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Its economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela13 10 N, 59 32 WCentral America and the Caribbean430 sq km430 sq km0 sq km2.5 times the size of Washington, DC0 km97 km200 NM12 NMtropical; rainy season (June to October)relatively flat; rises gently to central highland regionAtlantic Ocean 0 mMount Hillaby 336 mpetroleum, fish, natural gas37%0%5%12%46% (1993 est.)NA sq kminfrequent hurricanes; periodic landslidespollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifersClimate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship PollutionBiodiversityeasternmost Caribbean island275,330 (July 2001 est.) 21.68% (male 30,122; female 29,572) 69.44% (male 93,283; female 97,915) 8.88% (male 9,432; female 15,006) (2001 est.)0.46% (2001 est.)13.47 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)8.53 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.01 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.63 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2001 est.)12.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 73.25 years 70.66 years 75.86 years (2001 est.)1.64 children born/woman (2001 est.)1.17% (1999 est.)1,800 (1999 est.)130 (1999 est.)Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)black 80%, white 4%, other 16%Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%English age 15 and over has ever attended school 97.4% 98% 96.8% (1995 est.)noneBarbadosparliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the CommonwealthBridgetown11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note - the city of Bridgetown may be given parish status30 November 1966 (from UK)Independence Day, 30 November (1966)30 November 1966English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts18 years of age; universalQueen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS (since 1 June 1996)Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6 September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6 September 1994)Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor generalbicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) House of Assembly - last held 20 January 1999 (next to be held by January 2004) House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - BLP 26, DLP 2Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services)Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [David THOMPSON]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Richard HAYNES]Barbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMMISSIONG]; People s Progressive Movement [Eric SEALY]; Worker s Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE]ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Ambassador Michael KING 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 939-9200 [1] (202) 332-7467 Miami and New York consulate(s)- Los Angeles Ambassador James A. DALEY Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055 [1] (246) 436-4950 [1] (246) 429-5246three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident) Barbados EconomyHistorically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. The start of the Port Charles Marina project in Speightstown helped the tourism industry continue to expand in 1996-2000. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners, and there is also a light manufacturing sector. The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, encourage direct foreign investment, and privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. Growth should remain steady in 2001, with new tourist facilities a plus factor.purchasing power parity - $4 billion (2000 est.)2.8% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $14,500 (2000 est.)4%16%80% (1998)NA%NA%NA%2% (2000 est.)136,000 (1998 est.)services 75%, industry 15%, agriculture 10% (1996 est.)11% (1999 est.)$725.5 million$750.6 million, including capital expenditures of $126.3 million (FY97/98 est.)tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export0.8% (1996)718 million kWh (1999)100%0%0% 0% (1999)667.7 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)sugarcane, vegetables, cotton$260 million (2000 est.)sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components, clothingUK 14.8%, US 11.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.6%, Venezuela 6.1%, Jamaica 5.8% (1998)$800.3 million (2000 est.)consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical componentsUS 30.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.2%, Japan 8.3%, UK 7.7%, Canada 2.2% (1998)$425 million (2000 est.)$9.1 million (1995)Barbadian dollar (BBD)BBDBarbadian dollars per US dollar - 2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)1 April - 31 March Barbados Communications108,000 (1997)8,013 (1997) NA island-wide automatic telephone system satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint LuciaAM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)237,000 (1997)1 (plus two cable channels) (1997)76,000 (1997).bb19 (2000)6,000 (2000) Railways- 0 km1,600 km1,578 km22 km (1998)noneBridgetown, Speightstown (Port Charles Marina)47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 671,545 GRT/1,125,635 DWTbulk 10, cargo 28, combination bulk 1, container 2, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1 note- includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience- Canada 2, Hong Kong 1 (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.)Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes Ground Forces and Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Forcemales age 15-49- 78,069 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 53,576 (2001 est.)$NANA%international- noneone of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for Europe and the USBassas da IndiaThis atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968.Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique21 30 S, 39 50 EAfrica0.2 sq km0.2 sq km0 sq kmabout one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC0 km35.2 km200 NM12 NMtropicalvolcanic rockIndian Ocean 0 munnamed location 2.4 mnone0%0%0%0%100% (all rock)0 sq km (1993)maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclonesNAuninhabited (July 2001 est.)noneBassas da Indiapossession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunionthe laws of France, where applicable, applythe flag of France is used Bassas da India Economyno economic activitynonenone; offshore anchorage only Military - note- defense is the responsibility of Franceinternational- claimed by MadagascarBelarusAfter seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration but, to date, neither side has actively sought to implement the accord.Eastern Europe, east of Poland53 00 N, 28 00 ECommonwealth of Independent States207,600 sq km207,600 sq km0 sq kmslightly smaller than Kansastotal- 3,098 kmLatvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 605 km, Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km0 km (landlocked)none (landlocked)cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritimegenerally flat and contains much marshlandNyoman River 90 mDzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 mforests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas29%1%15%34%21% (1993 est.)1,000 sq km (1993 est.)NAsoil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl in northern UkraineAir Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, WetlandsLaw of the Sealandlocked10,350,194 (July 2001 est.) 17.93% (male 947,820; female 908,210) 68.21% (male 3,428,920; female 3,631,290) 13.86% (male 473,992; female 959,962) (2001 est.)-0.15% (2001 est.)9.57 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)13.97 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female 0.49 male(s)/female 0.88 male(s)/female (2001 est.)14.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 68.14 years 62.06 years 74.52 years (2001 est.)1.28 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.28% (1999 est.)14,000 (1999 est.)400 (1999 est.)Belarusian(s)BelarusianByelorussian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish, Ukrainian, and other 7.4%Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)Byelorussian, Russian, other age 15 and over can read and write 98% 99% 97% (1989 est.)Republic of BelarusBelarusRespublika Byelarus noneBelorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist RepublicrepublicMinsk6 voblastsi (singular - voblasts ) and one municipality* (harady, singular - horad); Brestskaya (Brest), Homyel skaya (Homyel ), Horad Minsk*, Hrodzyenskaya (Hrodna), Mahilyowskaya (Mahilyow), Minskaya, Vitsyebskaya (Vitsyebsk); note - when using a place name with the adjectival ending skaya the word voblasts should be added to the place name note- voblasti have the administrative center name following in parentheses25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union30 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective 27 November 1996based on civil law system18 years of age; universalnone (landlocked)President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)Prime Minister Vladimir YERMOSHIN (since 18 February 2000); First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey KOBYAKOV (since 13 March 2000); Deputy Prime Ministers Mikhail DEMCHUK (since 14 July 2000), Mikhail KHORSTOV (since 27 November 2000), Valeriy KOKOREV (since 23 August 1994), Leonid KOZIK (since 4 February 1997), Gennadiy NOVITSKIY (since 11 February 1997), Aleksandr POPKOV (since 10 November 1998)Council of Ministers president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA; according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999, however LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via the November 1996 referendum); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president Aleksandr LUKASHENKO elected president; percent of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 85%, Vyacheslav KEBICH 15%bicameral Parliament or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists of the Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64 seats) and the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Pretsaviteley (110 seats) last held October 2000 (next to be held NA) party affiliation data unavailable; under present political conditions party designations are meaninglessSupreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Constitutional Court (half of the judges appointed by the president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives)Agrarian Party or AP [Semyon SHARETSKY, chairman]; Belarusian Communist Party or KPB [Viktor CHIKIN, chairman]; Belarusian Ecological Green Party (merger of Belarusian Ecological Party and Green Party of Belarus) [leader NA]; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR [Anatoliy BARANKEVICH, chairman]; Belarusian Popular Front or BNF [Vintsuk VYACHORKA]; Belarusian Social-Democrat or SDBP [Nikolay STATKEVICH, chairman]; Belarusian Social-Democratic Party Hromada [Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH, chairman]; Belarusian Socialist Party [Vyacheslav KUZNETSOV]; Civic Accord Bloc (United Civic Party) or CAB [Stanislav BOGDANKEVICH, chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDPB [Sergei GAYDUKEVICH, chairman]; Party of Communists Belarusian or PKB [Sergei KALYAKIN, chairman]; Republican Party of Labor and Justice or RPPS [Anatoliy NETYLKIN, chairman]; Social-Democrat Party of Popular Accord or PPA [Leanid SECHKA]; Women s Party Nadezhda [Valentina POLEVIKOVA, chairperson]NACCC, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer) Ambassador Valeriy TSEPAKLO 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 986-1604 [1] (202) 986-1805 New York Ambassador Michael KOZAK 46 Starovilenskaya St., Minsk 220002 use embassy street address [375] (17) 210-12-83 [375] (17) 234-7853red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side bears the Belarusian national ornament in red Belarus EconomyBelarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded the state s right to intervene in the management of private enterprise. In addition to the burdens imposed by extremely high inflation, businesses have been subject to pressure on the part of central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, and retroactive application of new business regulations prohibiting practices that had been legal. Further economic problems are two consecutive bad harvests, 1998-99, and persistent trade deficits. Close relations with Russia, possibly leading to reunion, color the pattern of economic developments. For the time being, Belarus remains self-isolated from the West and its open-market economies.purchasing power parity - $78.8 billion (2000 est.)4% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $7,500 (2000 est.)13%46%41% (1999 est.)22% (1995 est.)4.9%19.4% (1993)200% (2000 est.)4.8 million (2000)industry and construction NA%, agriculture and forestry NA%, services NA%2.1% officially registered unemployed (December 2000); large number of underemployed workers$4 billion$4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $180 million (1997 est.)metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earth movers, motorcycles, television sets, chemical fibers, fertilizer, textiles, radios, refrigerators5% (2000 est.)24.911 billion kWh (1999)99.9%0.1%0% 0% (1999)27.647 billion kWh (1999)2.62 billion kWh (1999)7.1 billion kWh (1999)grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk$7.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000)machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, textiles, foodstuffsRussia 66%, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Lithuania (1998)$8.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000)mineral products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, foodstuffsRussia 54%, Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Lithuania (1998)$1 billion (2000 est.)$194.3 million (1995)Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)BYB/BYRBelarusian rubles per US dollar - 1,180 (yearend 2000), 730,000 (15 December 1999), 139,000 (25 January 1999), 46,080 (second quarter 1998), 25,964 (1997), 15,500 (yearend 1996); note - on 1 January 2000, the national currency was redenominated at one new ruble to 2,000 old rublescalendar year Belarus Communications2.313 million (1997)8,167 (1997) the Ministry of Telecommunications controls all telecommunications through its carrier (a joint stock company) Beltelcom which is a monopoly local - Minsk has a digital metropolitan network and a cellular NMT-450 network; waiting lists for telephones are long; local service outside Minsk is neglected and poor; intercity - Belarus has a partly developed fiber-optic backbone system presently serving at least 13 major cities (1998); Belarus s fiber optics form synchronous digital hierarchy rings through other countries systems; an inadequate analog system remains operational Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line, and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); three fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stationsAM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998)3.02 million (1997)47 (plus 27 repeaters) (1995)2.52 million (1997).by4 (2000)10,000 (2000)5,523 km broad gauge- 5,523 km 1.520-m gauge (875 km electrified) (2000)63,355 km60,567 km (these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, and include, in addition to conventionally paved roads, some that are surfaced with gravel or other coarse aggregate, making them trafficable in all weather)2,788 km (these roads are made of unstabilized earth and are difficult to negotiate in wet weather) (1998)NA km; note - Belarus has extensive and widely used canal and river systemscrude oil 1,470 km; refined products 1,100 km; natural gas 1,980 km (1992)Mazyr136 (2000 est.) 33 2 19 1 11 (2000 est.) 103 3 10 11 14 65 (2000 est.)Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards18 years of agemales age 15-49- 2,729,956 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 2,138,743 (2001 est.)males- 86,396 (2001 est.)$156 million (FY98)1.2% (FY98)international- nonelimited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western EuropeBelgiumBelgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands50 50 N, 4 00 EEurope30,510 sq km30,230 sq km280 sq kmabout the size of Marylandtotal- 1,385 kmFrance 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km66 kmmedian line with neighbors exclusive fishing zone- median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)12 NMtemperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudyflat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeastNorth Sea 0 mSignal de Botrange 694 mcoal, natural gas24%1%20%21%34%NA sq kmflooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikesthe environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities- urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, intense animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have impeded progress in tackling environmental challengesAir Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, WetlandsAir Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocolcrossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of both the EU and NATO10,258,762 (July 2001 est.) 17.48% (male 916,957; female 876,029) 65.57% (male 3,390,145; female 3,336,908) 16.95% (male 709,212; female 1,029,511) (2001 est.)0.16% (2001 est.)10.74 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)10.1 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.69 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 77.96 years 74.63 years 81.46 years (2001 est.)1.61 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.15% (1999 est.)7,700 (1999 est.)less than 100 (1999 est.)Belgian(s)BelgianFleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%Dutch 58%, French 32%, German 10%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French) age 15 and over can read and write 98% NA% NA%Kingdom of BelgiumBelgiumRoyaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk BelgieBelgique/Belgiefederal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchBrussels10 provinces (French- provinces, singular - province; Flemish- provincien, singular - provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams Brabant, West-Vlaanderen; note - the Brussels Capitol Region is not included within the 10 provinces21 July 1831 (from the Netherlands)Independence Day, 21 July (1831)7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal statecivil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations18 years of age; universal and compulsoryKing ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarchPrime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999)Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved by Parliament none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch and then approved by Parliament note- government coalition - VLD, PRL, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLObicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held in NA 2003) Senate - percent of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, CVP 14.7%, PRL 10.6%, PS 9.7%, VB 9.4%, SP 8.9%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.1%, PSC 6.0%, VU 5.1%; seats by party - VLD 11, CVP 10, PS 10, PRL 9, VB 6, SP 6, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, PSC 5, VU 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD 14.3%, CVP 14.1%, PS 10.2%, PRL 10.1%, VB 9.9%, SP 9.5%, ECOLO 7.4%, AGALEV 7.0%, PSC 5.9%, VU 5.6%; seats by party - VLD 23, CVP 22, PS 19, PRL 18, VB 15, SP 14, ECOLO 11, PSC 10, AGALEV 9, VU 8, FN 1 note- as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments each with its own legislative assembly; for other acronyms of the listed parties see Political parties and leadersSupreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the monarch)AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Dos GEYSELS]; ECOLO (Francophone Greens) [no president]; Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP (Christian People s Party) [Stefaan DE CLERCK, president]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT, president]; Flemish Socialist Party or SP [Patrick JANSSENS, president]; Francophone Christian Democrats or PSC (Social Christian Party) [Joelle MILQUET, president]; Francophone Liberal Reformation Party or PRL [Daniel DUCARME, president]; Francophone Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO, president]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; Vlaams Blok or VB [Frank VANHECKE]; Volksunie or VU [leader vacant]; other minor partiesChristian and Socialist Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups representing immigrantsACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC Ambassador Alexis REYN 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 333-6900 [1] (202) 333-3079 Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York Ambassador (vacant) 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710 [32] (2) 508-2111 [32] (2) 511-2725three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France Belgium EconomyThis modern private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north, although the government is encouraging investment in the southern region of Wallonia. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. About three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Belgium s public debt is expected to fall below 100% of GDP in 2002, and the government has succeeded in balancing is budget. Belgium became a charter member of the European Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999. Economic growth in 2000 was broad based, putting the government in a good position to pursue its energy market liberalization policies and planned tax cuts.purchasing power parity - $259.2 billion (2000 est.)4.1% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $25,300 (2000 est.)1.4%26%72.6% (2000 est.)4%3.7%20.2% (1992)2.2% (2000 est.)4.34 million (1999)services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.)8.4% (2000 est.)$114.8 billion$117 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.6 billion (1999)engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal5.5% (2000 est.)79.829 billion kWh (1999)40.01%0.42%58.33% 1.24% (1999)75.089 billion kWh (1999)8.207 billion kWh (1999)9.055 billion kWh (1999)sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk$181.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000)machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal productsEU 76% (Germany 18%, France 18%, Netherlands 12%, UK 10%) (1999)$166 billion (c.i.f., 2000)machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and metal productsEU 71% (Germany 18%, Netherlands 17%, France 14%, UK 9%) (1999)$28.3 billion (1999 est.) Economic aid - donor- ODA, $764 million (1997)Belgian franc (BEF); euro (EUR) note- on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced the euro as a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in Belgium at a fixed rate of 40.3399 Belgian francs per euro and will replace the local currency for all transactions in 2002BEF; EUReuros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Belgian francs per US dollar - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.229 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996)calendar year Belgium Communications4.769 million (1997)974,494 (1997) highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 EutelsatFM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)8.075 million (1997)25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)4.72 million (1997).be61 (2000)2.7 million (2000)3,437 km (2,446 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)3,437 km 1.435-m gauge (1998)145,774 km116,182 km (including 1,674 km of expressways)29,592 km (1999)2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use)crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1,167 km; natural gas 3,300 kmAntwerp (one of the world s busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 32,912 GRT/53,161 DWTcargo 6, chemical tanker 9, petroleum tanker 6 (2000 est.)42 (2000 est.) 24 6 8 3 1 6 (2000 est.) 18 2 16 (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.)Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Medical Service19 years of agemales age 15-49- 2,517,596 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 2,079,624 (2001 est.)males- 63,247 (2001 est.)$2.5 billion (FY01)1.2% (FY99)international- nonegrowing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western EuropeBeninDahomey gained its independence from France in 1960; the name was changed to Benin in 1975. From 1974 to 1989 the country was a socialist state; free elections were reestablished in 1991.Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo9 30 N, 2 15 EAfrica112,620 sq km110,620 sq km2,000 sq kmslightly smaller than Pennsylvaniatotal- 1,989 kmBurkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km121 km200 NMtropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in northmostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountainsAtlantic Ocean 0 mMont Sokbaro 658 msmall offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber13%4%4%31%48% (1993 est.)100 sq km (1993 est.)hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winterinadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertificationBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandsnone of the selected agreementsno natural harbors6,590,782 note- estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.) 47.32% (male 1,574,124; female 1,544,741) 50.38% (male 1,607,900; female 1,712,360) 2.3% (male 64,756; female 86,901) (2001 est.)2.97% (2001 est.)44.23 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)14.51 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female 0.75 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)89.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 49.94 years 49.02 years 50.88 years (2001 est.)6.23 children born/woman (2001 est.)2.45% (1999 est.)70,000 (1999 est.)5,600 (1999 est.)Beninese (singular and plural)BenineseAfrican 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north) age 15 and over can read and write 37.5% 52.2% 23.6% (2000)Republic of BeninBeninRepublique du BeninBeninDahomeyrepublic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou; note - six additional provinces have been reported but not confirmed; they are Alibori, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, and Plateau; moreover, the term "province" may have been changed to "department"1 August 1960 (from France)National Day, 1 August (1960)December 1990based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction18 years of age; universalPresident Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentPresident Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentCouncil of Ministers appointed by the president president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; runoff election held 22 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2006) Mathieu KEREKOU reelected president; percent of vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 84.1%, Bruno AMOUSSOU 15.9% note- the four top-ranking contenders following the first round presidential elections were- Mathieu KEREKOU (incumbent) 45.4%, Nicephore SOGOLO (former president) 27.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (National Assembly Speaker) 12.6%, and Bruno AMOUSSOU (Minister of State) 8.6%; the second round balloting, originally scheduled for 18 March, was postponed four days because both SOGOLO and HOUNGBEDJI withdrew alleging electoral fraud; this left KEREKOU to run against his own Minister of State, AMOUSSOU, in what was termed a "friendly match"unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 30 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RB 27, PRD 11, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 9, MADEP 6, E toile 4, Alliance IPD 4, Car-DUNYA 3, MERCI 2, other 7Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of JusticeAfrican Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Sylvain Adekpedjou AKINDES]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and the National Union for Solidarity and Progress or UNSP [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Cameleon Alliance or AC [leader NA]; Car-DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; Communist Party of Benin or PCB [Pascal FANTONDJI, first secretary]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Jerome Sakia KINA]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Liberal Democrats Rally for National Reconstruction-Vivoten or RDL-Vivoten [Severin ADJOVI]; Movement for Citizens Commitment and Awakening or MERCI [Severin ADJOVI]; New Generation for the Republic or NGR [Paul DOSSOU]; Our Common Cause or NCC [Francois Odjo TANKPINON]; Party Democratique du Benin or PDB [Col. Soule DANKORO]; Rally for Democracy and Pan-Africanism or RDP [Dominique HOYMINOU, Dr. Giles Auguste MINONTIN]; Renaissance Party du Benin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union for National Democracy and Solidarity or UDS [Adamou N Diaye MAMA] note- the Coalition of Democratic Forces is an alliance of parties and organizations supporting President KEREKOU [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]NAACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNTAET, UPU, WADB, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 232-6656 [1] (202) 265-1996 Ambassador Pamela E. BRIDGEWATER Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou B. P. 2012, Cotonou [229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92 [229] 30-14-39, 30-19-74two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side Benin EconomyThe economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output averaged a sound 5% in 1996-99, but a rapid population rise offset much of this growth. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. Commercial and transport activities, which make up a large part of GDP, are vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly fuel shortages. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation in recent years. While high fuel prices constrained growth in 2000, increased cotton production - enabled by a major restructuring program - and an expansion of the Cotonou port, may lead to increased growth in 2001.purchasing power parity - $6.6 billion (2000 est.)5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,030 (2000 est.)37.9%13.5%48.6% (1999)37.2% (1999 est.)NA%NA%3% (2000 est.)NANA%$299 million$445 million, including capital expenditures of $14 million (1995 est.)textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction materials, petroleum6.9% (2000 est.)226 million kWh (1999)24.78%75.22%0% 0% (1999)510.2 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)300 million kWh (1999)corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock$396 million (f.o.b., 1999)cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoaBrazil 14%, Libya 5%, Indonesia 4%, Italy 4% (1999)$566 million (c.i.f., 1999)foodstuffs, tobacco, petroleum products, capital goodsFrance 38%, China 16%, UK 9%, Cote d Ivoire 5% (1999)$1.6 billion (1998 est.)$274.6 million (1997)Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African StatesXOFCommunaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per eurocalendar year Benin Communications36,000 (1997)4,295 (1997) NA fair system of open wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); submarine cableAM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)620,000 (1997)2 (one privately-owned) (1997)60,000 (1997).bj1 (2000)10,000 (2000)578 km (single track)578 km 1.000-m gauge (2000)6,787 km1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)5,430 km (1997 est.)streams navigable along small sections, important only locallyCotonou, Porto-Novo Merchant marine- none (2000 est.)5 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.) 4 1 1 2 (2000 est.)Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie18 years of agemales age 15-49- 1,455,433 females age 15-49- 1,489,947 note- both sexes are liable for military service (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 743,980 females age 15-49- 755,149 (2001 est.)males- 70,088 females- 73,618 (2001 est.)$27 million (FY96)1.2% (FY96)international- nonetransshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the USBermudaBermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times. Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of North Carolina (US)32 20 N, 64 45 WNorth America58.8 sq km58.8 sq km0 sq kmabout 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC0 km103 kmexclusive fishing zone- 200 NM12 NMsubtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winterlow hills separated by fertile depressionsAtlantic Ocean 0 mTown Hill 76 mlimestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism6%0%0%0%94% (55% developed, 39% rural/open space) (1997 est.)NA sq kmhurricanes (June to November)asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open spaceconsists of about 360 small coral islands with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land, reclaimed and otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to 199563,503 (July 2001 est.) 19.4% (male 6,091; female 6,230) 69.43% (male 21,783; female 22,309) 11.17% (male 3,073; female 4,017) (2001 est.)0.74% (2001 est.)12.16 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)7.42 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)2.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0.94 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.76 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)9.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 77.12 years 75.04 years 79.06 years (2001 est.)1.81 children born/woman (2001 est.)NA%NANABermudian(s)Bermudianblack 58%, white 36%, other 6%non-Anglican Protestant 39%, Anglican 27%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 19%English (official), Portuguese age 15 and over can read and write 98% 98% 99% (1970 est.)noneBermudaSomers Islandsoverseas territory of the UKparliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-governmentHamilton9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwicknone (overseas territory of the UK)Bermuda Day, 24 May8 June 1968, amended 1989English law18 years of age; universalexclusive fishing zone- 200 NMQueen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since NA June 1997)Premier Jennifer SMITH (since 10 November 1998)Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; governor invites leader of largest party in Parliament to form a government as premierbicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body appointed by the governor) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held 9 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2003) percent of vote by party - PLP 54%, UBP 44%, NLP 1%, independents 1%; seats by party - PLP 26, UBP 14Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate CourtsNational Liberal Party or NLP [Dessaline WALDRON]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Jennifer SMITH]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Pamela GORDON]Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Association or BPSA [Betty CHRISTOPHER]Caricom (observer), CCC, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC Consul General Lawrence D. OWEN consulate(s) general- Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-5300 [1] (441) 295-1342 Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton mailing address- P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-5300 telephone- [1] (441) 295-1342 FAX- [1] (441) 295-1592red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag Bermuda EconomyBermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing financial services for international firms and luxury tourist facilities for 360,000 visitors annually. The tourist industry, which accounts for an estimated 28% of GDP, attracts 84% of its business from North America. The industrial sector is small, and agriculture is severely limited by a lack of suitable land. About 80% of food needs are imported. International business contributes over 60% of Bermuda s economic output; a failed independence vote in late 1995 can be partially attributed to Bermudian fears of scaring away foreign firms. Government economic priorities are the further strengthening of the tourist and international financial sectors.purchasing power parity - $2.1 billion (2000 est.)1.5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $33,000 (2000 est.)1%10%89% (1995 est.)NA%NA%NA%2.7% (2000 est.)35,296 (1997)clerical 23%, services 22%, laborers 17%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 12%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1996)NEGL% (1995)$504.6 million$537 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (FY97/98)tourism, finance, insurance, structural concrete products, paints, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, ship repairingNA%550 million kWh (1999)100%0%0% 0% (1999)511.5 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products$56 million (2000 est.)reexports of pharmaceuticalsUK 29.5%, US 9.8% (1997)$739 million (2000 est.)machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animalsUS 34%, UK 9%, Mexico 8% (1997)$NA$27.9 million (1995)Bermudian dollar (BMD)BMDBermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)1 April - 31 March Bermuda Communications52,000 (1997)7,980 (1996) NA modern, fully automatic telephone system 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)82,000 (1997)3 (1997)66,000 (1997).bm20 (2000)25,000 (2000) Railways- 0 km225 km225 km0 km note- in addition, there are 232 km of paved and unpaved roads that are privately owned (1997)noneHamilton, Saint George105 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,836,538 GRT/9,728,045 DWTbulk 27, cargo 4, container 15, liquefied gas 7, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 16, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea passenger 3 note- includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience- Canada 10, Hong Kong 10, Japan 1, Nigeria 4, Saudi Arabia 1, Sweden 3, Switzerland 2, UK 10, US 7 (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.)Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary$NANA% Military - note- defense is the responsibility of the UKinternational- noneBhutanUnder British influence a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later a treaty was signed whereby the country became a British protectorate. Independence was attained in 1949, with India subsequently guiding foreign relations and supplying aid. A refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of these displaced persons are housed in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps. Maoist Assamese separatists from India, who have established themselves in the southeast portion of Bhutan, have drawn Indian cross-border incursions.Southern Asia, between China and India27 30 N, 90 30 EAsia47,000 sq km47,000 sq km0 sq kmabout half the size of Indianatotal- 1,075 kmChina 470 km, India 605 km0 km (landlocked)none (landlocked)varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayasmostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savannaDrangme Chhu 97 mKula Kangri 7,553 mtimber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide2%0%6%66%26% (1993 est.)340 sq km (1993 est.)violent storms coming down from the Himalayas are the source of the country s name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy seasonsoil erosion; limited access to potable waterBiodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test BanLaw of the Sealandlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes2,049,412 (July 2001 est.) note- other estimates range as low as 800,000 39.99% (male 424,832; female 394,725) 56.05% (male 591,152; female 557,498) 3.96% (male 41,125; female 40,080) (2001 est.)2.17% (2001 est.)35.73 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)14.03 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female (2001 est.)108.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 52.79 years 53.16 years 52.41 years (2001 est.)5.07 children born/woman (2001 est.)less than 0.01% (1999 est.)less than 100 (1999 est.)NABhutanese (singular and plural)BhutaneseBhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects age 15 and over can read and write 42.2% 56.2% 28.1% (1995 est.)Kingdom of BhutanBhutanmonarchy; special treaty relationship with IndiaThimphu18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang note- there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse8 August 1949 (from India)National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)no written constitution or bill of rights; note - Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the National Assembly; on 7 July 1998, a Royal edict was ratified giving the National Assembly additional powersbased on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdictioneach family has one vote in village-level electionsnone (landlocked)King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)Chairman of the Council of Ministers Sangay NGEDUP (since NA 1999)Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 give the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds voteunicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent government and other secular interests; members serve three-year terms) last held NA (next to be held NA) NASupreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch)no legal partiesBuddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled)AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO (observer) New Yorkdivided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side Bhutan EconomyThe economy, one of the world s smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 90% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India s through strong trade and monetary links. The industrial sector is technologically backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan s hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation s productive base and improving social welfare. Model education, social, and environment programs in Bhutan are underway with support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government s desire to protect the country s environment and cultural traditions. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.purchasing power parity - $2.3 billion (2000 est.)6% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2000 est.)38%37%25% (2000 est.)NA%NA%NA%7% (2000 est.)NA note- massive lack of skilled laboragriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%NA%$146 million$152 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.) note- the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan s budget expenditurescement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide9.3% (1996 est.)1.856 billion kWh (1999)0.05%99.95%0% 0% (1999)191.1 million kWh (1999)1.55 billion kWh (1999)15 million kWh (1999)rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs$154 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spicesIndia 94%, Bangladesh$269 million (c.i.f., 2000 est.)fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, riceIndia 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US$120 million (1998)$73.8 million (1995)ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)BTN; INRngultrum per US dollar - 46.540 (January 2001), 44.942 (2000), 43.055 (1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee which is also legal tender1 July - 30 June Bhutan Communications6,000 (1997)NA NA domestic telephone service is very poor with few telephones in use international telephone and telegraph service is by landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)37,000 (1997)0 (1997)11,000 (1997).btNA500 (2000) Railways- 0 km3,285 km1,994 km1,291 km (1996)nonenone2 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.)Royal Bhutan Army, National Militia, Royal Bhutan Police, Royal Body Guards, Forest Guards (paramilitary)18 years of agemales age 15-49- 504,342 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 269,251 (2001 est.)males- 21,167 (2001 est.)$NANA%international- refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 98,700 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) campsBoliviaBolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and counter-coups. Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in the 1980s, but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and drug production. Current goals include attracting foreign investment, strengthening the educational system, continuing the privatization program, and waging an anti-corruption campaign.Central South America, southwest of Brazil17 00 S, 65 00 WSouth America1,098,580 sq km1,084,390 sq km14,190 sq kmslightly less than three times the size of Montanatotal- 6,743 kmArgentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km0 km (landlocked)none (landlocked)varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiaridrugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon BasinRio Paraguay 90 mNevado Sajama 6,542 mtin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower2%0%24%53%21% (1993 est.)1,750 sq km (1993 est.)flooding in the northeast (March-April)the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigationBiodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, WetlandsEnvironmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protectionlandlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world s highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru8,300,463 (July 2001 est.) 38.46% (male 1,626,698; female 1,565,748) 57.07% (male 2,315,098; female 2,421,987) 4.47% (male 166,986; female 203,946) (2001 est.)1.76% (2001 est.)27.27 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-1.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.82 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)58.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 64.06 years 61.53 years 66.72 years (2001 est.)3.51 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.1% (1999 est.)4,200 (1999 est.)380 (1999 est.)Bolivian(s)BolivianQuechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, white 15%Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist)Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official) age 15 and over can read and write 83.1% 90.5% 76% (1995 est.)Republic of BoliviaBoliviaRepublica de BoliviaBoliviarepublicLa Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary)9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija6 August 1825 (from Spain)Independence Day, 6 August (1825)2 February 1967; revised in August 1994based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years of age, universal and compulsory (single)none (landlocked)President Hugo BANZER Suarez (since 6 August 1997); Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since 6 August 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentPresident Hugo BANZER Suarez (since 6 August 1997); Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since 6 August 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentCabinet appointed by the president president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 1 June 1997 (next to be held May or June 2002) Hugo BANZER Suarez elected president; percent of vote - Hugo BANZER Suarez (ADN) 22%; Jaime PAZ Zamora (MIR) 17%, Juan Carlos DURAN (MNR) 18%, Ivo KULJIS (UCS) 16%, Remedios LOZA (CONDEPA) 17%; no candidate received a majority of the popular vote; Hugo BANZER Suarez won a congressional runoff election on 5 August 1997 after forming a "megacoalition" with MIR, UCS, CONDEPA, NFR, and PDCbicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - some members are drawn from party lists, thus not directly elected) Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA June 2002) Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ADN 11, MIR 7, MNR 4, CONDEPA 3, UCS 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ADN 32, MNR 26, MIR 23, UCS 21, CONDEPA 19, MBL 5, IU 4Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges appointed for 10-year terms by National Congress); District Courts (one in each department); provincial and local courts (to try minor cases)Christian Democratic Party or PDC [leader NA]; Civic Solidarity Union or UCS [Johnny FERNANDEZ]; Conscience of the Fatherland or CONDEPA [Remedios LOZA Alvarado]; Free Bolivia Movement or MBL [Antonio ARANIBAR]; Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR [Jaime PAZ Zamora]; Nationalist Democratic Action or ADN [Hugo BANZER Suarez]; Nationalist Revolutionary Movement or MNR [Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA]; New Republican Force or NFR [leader NA]; Pachacuti Indigenous Movement [Filipe QUISPE]; United Left or IU [Marcos DOMIC] note- the ADN, MIR, and UCS comprise the ruling coalitionCocalero Groups; indigenous organizations; labor unionsCAN, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Marlene FERNANDEZ del Granado 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 483-4410 [1] (202) 328-3712 Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco Ambassador V. Manuel ROCHA Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032 [591] (2) 432254 [591] (2) 433854three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band; similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band Bolivia EconomyBolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries, has made considerable progress toward the development of a market-oriented economy. Successes under President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA (1993-97) included the signing of a free trade agreement with Mexico and joining the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur), as well as the privatization of the state airline, telephone company, railroad, electric power company, and oil company. His successor, Hugo BANZER Suarez has tried to further improve the country s investment climate with an anticorruption campaign. Growth slowed in 1999, in part due to tight government budget policies, which limited needed appropriations for anti-poverty programs, and the fallout from the Asian financial crisis. In 2000, major civil disturbances in April, and again in September and October, held down overall growth to 2.5%.purchasing power parity - $20.9 billion (2000 est.)2.5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2000 est.)16%31%53% (1999 est.)70% (1999 est.)2.3%31.7% (1990)4.4% (2000 est.)2.5 millionagriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%11.4% (1997) note- widespread underemployment$2.7 billion$2.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing4% (1995 est.)3.625 billion kWh (1999)56.61%41.6%0% 1.79% (1999)3.377 billion kWh (1999)4 million kWh (1999)10 million kWh (1999)soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; timber$1.26 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)soybeans, natural gas, zinc, gold, woodUK 16%, US 12%, Peru 11%, Argentina 10%, Colombia 7% (1998)$1.86 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)capital goods, raw materials and semi-manufactures, chemicals, petroleum, foodUS 32%, Japan 24%, Brazil 12%, Argentina 12%, Chile 7%, Peru 4%, Germany 3%, other 6% (1998)$6.6 billion (2000)$588 million (1997)boliviano (BOB)BOBbolivianos per US dollar - 6.4071 (January 2001), 6.1835 (2000), 5.8124 (1999), 5.5101 (1998), 5.2543 (1997), 5.0746 (1996)calendar year Bolivia Communications327,600 (1996)116,000 (1997) new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties; most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other cities; mobile cellular telephone use expanding rapidly primary trunk system, which is being expanded, employs digital microwave radio relay; some areas are served by fiber-optic cable; mobile cellular systems are being expanded satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)AM 171, FM 73, shortwave 77 (1999)5.25 million (1997)48 (1997)900,000 (1997).bo9 (2000)35,000 (2000)3,691 km (single track)3,652 km 1.000-m gauge; 39 km 0.760-m gauge (13 km electrified) (1995)49,400 km2,500 km (including 30 km of expressways)46,900 km (1996)10,000 km (commercially navigable)crude oil 1,800 km; petroleum products 580 km; natural gas 1,495 kmnone; however, Bolivia has free port privileges in maritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 141,017 GRT/211,058 DWTbulk 5, cargo 20, chemical tanker 3, container 1, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 3 (2000 est.)1,093 (2000 est.) 13 4 3 4 2 (2000 est.) 1,080 3 65 212 800 (2000 est.)Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval Boliviana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana), National Police Force (Policia Nacional de Bolivia)19 years of agemales age 15-49- 2,005,660 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 1,306,452 (2001 est.)males- 90,120 (2001 est.)$147 million (FY99)1.8% (FY99)international- has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Chile over Rio Lauca water rightsworld s third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru, a distant second) with an estimated 14,600 hectares under cultivation in 2000, a 33% decrease in overall cultivation of coca from 1999 levels; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported to or through Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to the US and other international drug markets; eradication and alternative crop programs have slashed illicit coca cultivation during the BANZER administration beginning in 1997Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina s declaration of sovereignty in October 1991, was followed by a referendum for independence from the former Yugoslavia in February 1992. The Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to form a "greater Serbia." In March 1994, Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties signed a peace agreement that brought to a halt the three years of interethnic civil strife (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Agreement retained Bosnia and Herzegovina s international boundaries and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government. This national government is charged with conducting foreign, economic, and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government comprised of two entities roughly equal in size- the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Federation and RS governments are charged with overseeing internal functions. In 1995-96, a NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia to implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFOR was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) whose mission is to deter renewed hostilities. SFOR remains in place at a level of approximately 21,000 troops.Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia44 00 N, 18 00 EBosnia and Herzegovina, Europe51,129 sq km51,129 sq km0 sq kmslightly smaller than West Virginiatotal- 1,459 kmCroatia 932 km, Yugoslavia 527 km20 kmNAhot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coastmountains and valleysAdriatic Sea 0 mMaglic 2,386 mcoal, iron, bauxite, manganese, forests, copper, chromium, lead, zinc, hydropower14%5%20%39%22% (1993 est.)20 sq km (1993 est.)destructive earthquakesair pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strifeAir Pollution, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protectionnone of the selected agreementswithin Bosnia and Herzegovina s recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority3,922,205 note- all data dealing with population are subject to considerable error because of the dislocations caused by military action and ethnic cleansing (July 2001 est.) 20.13% (male 405,713; female 383,850) 70.78% (male 1,422,796; female 1,353,410) 9.09% (male 150,802; female 205,634) (2001 est.)1.38% (2001 est.)12.86 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)7.99 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)8.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.07 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.73 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)24.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 71.75 years 69.04 years 74.65 years (2001 est.)1.71 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.04% (1999 est.)NAless than 100 (1999 est.)Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)Bosnian, HerzegovinianSerb 31%, Bosniak 44%, Croat 17%, Yugoslav 5.5%, other 2.5% (1991) note- Bosniak has replaced muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid confusion with the religious term Muslim - an adherent of IslamMuslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%, Protestant 4%, other 10%Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian NA NA% NA% NA%noneBosnia and HerzegovinanoneBosna i Hercegovinaemerging democracySarajevothere are two first-order administrative divisions - the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska; note - Brcko in northeastern Bosnia is a self-governing administrative unit under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina; it is not part of either the Federation or Republika Srpska1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia)National Day, 25 November (1943)the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995, included a new constitution now in forcebased on civil law system16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universalNAChairman of the Presidency Jozo KRIZANOVI (chairman since 14 June 2001, presidency member since NA March 2001 - Croat); other members of the three-member rotating (every 8 months) presidency- Zivko RADISIC (since 13 October 1998 - Serb) and Beriz BELKIC (since NA March 2001 - Bosniak); note - Ante JELAVIC was dismissed from his post by the UN High Representative in March 2001Chairman of the Council of Ministers Zlatko LAGUMDZIJA (since 18 July 2001)Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman; approved by the National House of Representatives the three members of the presidency (one Bosniak, one Croat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term; the member with the most votes becomes the chairman unless he or she was the incumbent chairman at the time of the election; election last held 12-13 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2002); the chairman of the Council of Ministers is appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the National House of Representatives percent of vote - Zivko RADISIC with 52% of the Serb vote was elected chairman of the collective presidency for the first 8 months; Ante JELAVIC with 52% of the Croat vote followed RADISIC in the rotation; Alija IZETBEGOVIC with 87% of the Bosniak vote won the highest number of votes in the election but was ineligible to serve a second term until RADISIC and JELAVIC had each served a first term as Chairman of the Presidency; IZETBEGOVIC retired from the presidency 14 October 2000 and was temporarily replaced by Halid GENJAC; Ante JELAVIC was replaced by Jozo KRIZANOVIC in March 2001 note- President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina- Karlo FILIPOVIC (since 27 February 2001); Vice President Safet HALILOVIC (since 27 February 2001); note - president and vice president rotate every year; President of the Republika Srpska- Mirko SAROVIC (since 11 November 2000)bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of the National House of Representatives or Predstavnicki Dom (42 seats - 14 Serb, 14 Croat, and 14 Bosniak; members elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) and the House of Peoples or Dom Naroda (15 seats - 5 Bosniak, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; members elected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation s House of Representatives and the Republika Srpska s National Assembly to serve two-year terms); note - as of 1 January 2001, Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have a permanent election law; a draft law specifies four-year terms for the state and first-order administrative division entity legislatures; officials elected in 2000 were elected to two-year terms on the presumption that a permanent law would be in place before 2002 National House of Representatives - elections last held 11 November 2000 (next to be held in the fall of 2002); House of Peoples - last constituted after the 11 November 2000 elections (next to be constituted in the fall of 2002) National House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA%; seats by party/coalition - SDP 9, SDA 8, SDS 6, HDZ-BiH 5, SBH 5, PDP 2, NHI 1, BPS 1, DPS 1, SNS 1, SNSD-DSP 1, DNZ 1, SPRS 1; House of Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA%; seats by party/coalition - NA note- the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature that consists of a House of Representatives (140 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 11 November 2000 (next to be held NA 2002); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party/coalition - SDA 38, SDP 37, HDZ-BiH 25, SBH 21, DNZ 3, NHI 2, BPS 2, DPS 2, BOSS 2, GDS 1, RP 1, HSS 1, LDS 1, Pensioners Party of FBiH 1, SNSD-DSP 1, HKDU 1, HSP 1; and a House of Peoples (74 seats - 30 Bosniak, 30 Croat, and 14 others); last constituted November 2000; the Republika Srpska has a National Assembly (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 11 November 2000 (next to be held NA 2002); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party/coalition - SDS 31, PDP 11, SNSD 11, SDA 6, DSP 4, SDP 4, SPRS 4, SBH 4, DNS 3, SNS 2, NHI 1, DSRS 1, Pensioners Party 1; as of 1 January 2001, Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have a permanent election law; a draft law specifies four-year terms for the state and first-order administrative division entity legislatures; officials elected in 2000 were elected to two-year terms on the presumption that a permanent law would be in place before 2002BiH Constitutional Court (consists of nine members- four members are selected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation s House of Representatives, two members by the Republika Srpska s National Assembly, and three non-Bosnian members by the president of the European Court of Human Rights) note- a new state court, established in November 1999, has jurisdiction over cases related to state-level law and appellate jurisdiction over cases initiated in the entities; the entities each have a Supreme Court; each entity also has a number of lower courts; there are ten cantonal courts in the Federation, plus a number of municipal courts; the Republika Srpska has five municipal courtsBosnian Party or BOSS [Mirnes AJANOVIC]; Bosnian Patriotic Party or BPS [Sefer HALILOVIC]; Civic Democratic Party of BiH or GDS [Ibrahim SPAHIC]; Croat Christian Democratic Union or HKDU BiH [Ante PASALIC]; Croatian Democratic Union of BiH or HDZ-BiH [leader vacant]; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP [Zdravko HRSTIC]; Croatian Peasants Party of BiH or HSS-BiH [Ilija SIMIC]; Democratic Action Party or SDA [Alija IZETBEGOVIC]; Democratic National Alliance or DNS [Dragan KOSTIC]; Democratic Party of Pensioners or DPS [Alojz KNEZOVIC]; Democratic Party of RS or DSRS [Dragomir DUMIC]; Democratic Peoples Union or DNZ [Fikret ABDIC]; Democratic Socialist Party or DSP [Nebojsa RADMANOVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Rasim KADIC]; New Croatian Initiative or NHI [Kresimir ZUBAK]; Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina or SBH [Haris SILAJDZIC]; Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Mladen IVANIC]; Party of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD [Milorad DODIK]; Pensioners Party of FBiH [Husein VOJNIKOVIC]; Pensioners Party of SR [Stojan BOGOSAVAC]; Republican Party of BiH or RP [Stjepan KLJUIC]; Serb Democratic Party or Serb Lands or SDS [Dragan KALINIC]; Serb National Alliance (Serb People s Alliance) or SNS [Biljana PLAVSIC]; Social Democratic Party BIH or SDP-BiH [Zlatko LAGUMDZIJA]; Socialist Party of Republika Srpska or SPRS [Zivko RADISIC]NABIS, CE (guest), CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNTAET, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) Ambassador Igor DAVIDOVIC 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 [1] (202) 337-1500 [1] (202) 337-1502 New York Ambassador Thomas J. MILLER Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo use street address [387] (33) 445-700 [387] (33) 659-722 branch office(s)- Banja Luka, Mostara wide medium blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle Government - note- The Dayton Agreement, signed in Paris on 14 December 1995, retained Bosnia and Herzegovina s exterior border and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government. This national government - based on proportional representation similar to that which existed in the former socialist regime - is charged with conducting foreign, economic, and fiscal policy. The Dayton Agreement also recognized a second tier of government, comprised of two entities - a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska (RS) - each presiding over roughly one-half the territory. The Federation and RS governments are charged with overseeing internal functions. The Dayton Agreement established the Office of the High Representative (OHR) to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. About 250 international and 450 local staff members are employed by the OHR. Bosnia and Herzegovina EconomyBosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture is almost all in private hands, farms are small and inefficient, and the republic traditionally is a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the socialist economic structure of Yugoslavia. TITO had pushed the development of military industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia hosted a large share of Yugoslavia s defense plants. The bitter interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by 80% from 1990 to 1995, unemployment to soar, and human misery to multiply. With an uneasy peace in place, output recovered in 1996-98 at high percentage rates from a low base; but output growth slowed appreciably in 1999 and 2000, and GDP remains far below the 1990 level. Economic data are of limited use because, although both entities issue figures, national-level statistics are not available. Moreover, official data do not capture the large share of activity that occurs on the black market. The marka - the national currency introduced in 1998 - has gained wide acceptance, and the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina has dramatically increased its reserve holdings. Implementation of privatization, however, has been slower than anticipated. Banking reform accelerated in early 2001 as all the communist-era payments bureaus were shut down. The country receives substantial amounts of reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid from the international community but will have to prepare for an era of declining assistance.purchasing power parity - $6.5 billion (2000 est.)8% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.)19%23%58% (1996 est.)NA%NA%NA%8% (2000 est.)1.026 millionagriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%35%-40% (1999 est.)$1.9 billion$2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining10% (2000 est.)2.585 billion kWh (1999)38.68%61.32%0% 0% (1999)2.684 billion kWh (1999)150 million kWh (1999)430 million kWh (1999)wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock$950 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)NACroatia, Switzerland, Italy, Germany$2.45 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)NACroatia, Slovenia, Germany, Italy$3.4 billion (2000 est.)$1 billion (1999 est.)marka (BAM)BAMmarka per US dollar - 2.086 (January 2001), 2.124 (2000), 1.837 (1999), 1.760 (1998), 1.734 (1997), 0.015 (1996)calendar year Bosnia and Herzegovina Communications303,000 (1997)9,000 (1997) telephone and telegraph network is in need of modernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average when compared with services in other former Yugoslav republics NA no satellite earth stationsAM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998)940,000 (1997)33 (plus 277 repeaters) (September 1995)NA.ba3 (2000)3,500 (2000)1,021 km (electrified 795 km; operating as diesel or steam until grids are repaired)1,021 km 1.435-m gauge; note - many segments still need repair and/or reconstruction (2000)21,846 km14,020 km7,826 km note- road system is in need of maintenance and repair (2001)NA km; large sections of the Sava blocked by downed bridges, silt, and debriscrude oil 174 km; natural gas 90 km (1992)Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (all inland waterway ports on the Sava), Orasje Merchant marine- none (2000 est.)28 (2000 est.) 9 4 2 3 (2000 est.) 19 1 7 11 (2000 est.)4 (2000 est.)Federation Army or VF (composed of both Croatian and Bosniak elements), Republika Srpska Army or VRS (composed of Bosnian Serb elements); note - within both of these forces air and air defense are subordinate commands19 years of agemales age 15-49- 1,127,146 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 895,780 (2001 est.)males- 29,757 (2001 est.)$NANA%international- noneminor transit point for marijuana and opiate trafficking routes to Western EuropeBotswanaFormerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. The economy, one of the most robust on the continent, is dominated by diamond mining.Southern Africa, north of South Africa22 00 S, 24 00 EAfrica600,370 sq km585,370 sq km15,000 sq kmslightly smaller than Texastotal- 4,013 kmNamibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km0 km (landlocked)none (landlocked)semiarid; warm winters and hot summerspredominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwestjunction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 mTsodilo Hills 1,489 mdiamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver1%0%46%47%6% (1993 est.)20 sq km (1993 est.)periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibilityovergrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resourcesBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandsnone of the selected agreementslandlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country1,586,119 note- estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.) 40.3% (male 321,164; female 318,007) 55.56% (male 423,954; female 457,227) 4.14% (male 26,691; female 39,076) (2001 est.)0.47% (2001 est.)28.85 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)24.18 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 0.68 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)63.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 37.13 years 36.77 years 37.51 years (2001 est.)3.7 children born/woman (2001 est.)35.8% (1999 est.)290,000 (1999 est.)24,000 (1999 est.)Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%English (official), Setswana age 15 and over can read and write 69.8% 80.5% 59.9% (1995 est.)Republic of BotswanaBotswanaBechuanalandparliamentary republicGaborone10 districts and four town councils*; Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Ngamiland, North-East, Selebi-Pikwe*, South-East, Southern30 September 1966 (from UK)Independence Day, 30 September (1966)March 1965, effective 30 September 1966based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction18 years of age; universalnone (landlocked)President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentPresident Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentCabinet appointed by the president president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004); vice president appointed by the president Festus MOGAE elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 54.3%bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs of the eight principal tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three members selected by the other 12) and the National Assembly (44 seats, 40 members are directly elected by popular vote and 4 appointed by the majority party; members serve five-year terms) National Assembly elections last held 16 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004) percent of vote by party - BDP 57.2%, BNF 26%, other 16.8%; seats by party - BDP 33, BNF 6, other 1High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates Courts (one in each district)Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Festus MOGAE]; Botswana National Front or BNF [Kenneth KOMA]; Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Michael DINGAKE]; Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO] note- main parties are- BDP, BNF, BCP; other minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim SETSHWAELO, chairman] but did not capture any parliamentary seats; the BAM parties are- the United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO], the Botswana Peoples Party, the Independence Freedom Party [Motsamai MPHO], and the Botswana Progressive Union [D. K. KWELE]NAACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Kgosi SEEPAPITSO IV 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 244-4990 [1] (202) 244-4164 Ambassador John E. LANGE address NA, Gaborone P. O. Box 90, Gaborone [267] 353982 [267] 356947light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center Botswana EconomyBotswana has maintained one of the world s highest growth rates since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $6,600 in 2000. Diamond mining has fueled much of Botswana s economic expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP and for three-fourths of export earnings. Tourism, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. The government must deal with high rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially is 19%, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the highest in the world and threaten Botswana s impressive economic gains.purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (2000 est.)6% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $6,600 (2000 est.)4%46% (including 36% mining)50% (1998 est.)47% (2000 est.)NA%NA%8.6% (2000 est.)235,000 formal sector employees (1995)100,000 public sector; 135,000 private sector, including 14,300 who are employed in various mines in South Africa; most others engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1995 est.)40% (2000 est.)$1.6 billion$1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $560 million (FY96)diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing6.2% (2000 est.)610 million kWh (1999)100%0%0% 0% (1999)1.517 billion kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)950 million kWh (1999)sorghum, corn, millet, pulses, groundnuts (peanuts), beans, cowpeas, sunflower seed; livestock$2.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)diamonds 72%, vehicles, copper, nickel, meat (1998)EU 77%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 18%, Zimbabwe 3% (1998)$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, textiles, petroleum productsSouthern African Customs Union (SACU) 76%, Europe 10%, South Korea 5% (1998)$455 million (2000)$73 million (1995)pula (BWP)BWPpulas per US dollar - 5.4585 (January 2001), 5.1018 (2000), 4.6244 (1999), 4.2259 (1998), 3.6508 (1997), 3.3242 (1996)1 April - 31 March Botswana Communications86,000 (1997)NA sparse system small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations two international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)AM 7, FM 15, shortwave 5 (1998)237,000 (1997)0 (1997)31,000 (1997).bw3 (2000)12,000 (2000)888 km888 km 1.067-m gauge (2000)18,482 km4,343 km14,139 km (1996)nonenone92 (2000 est.) 11 2 8 1 (2000 est.) 81 3 56 22 (2000 est.)Botswana Defense Force (includes Army and Air Wing), Botswana National Police18 years of agemales age 15-49- 380,152 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 199,995 (2001 est.)males- 19,479 (2001 est.)$61 million (FY99)1.2% (FY99)international- noneBouvet IslandThis uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom the island was named. No claim was made until 1825 when the British flag was raised. In 1928, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island the previous year. In 1971, Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the island.Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)54 26 S, 3 24 EAntarctic Region58.5 sq km58.5 sq km0 sq kmabout 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC0 km29.6 km4 NMantarcticvolcanic; maximum elevation about 800 m; coast is mostly inaccessibleSouth Atlantic Ocean 0 mOlav Peak 935 mnone0%0%0%0%100% (93% ice)0 sq km (1993)NANAcovered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserveuninhabited (July 2001 est.)noneBouvet Islandterritory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslothe laws of Norway, where applicable, applythe flag of Norway is used Bouvet Island Economyno economic activity; declared a nature reserve Bouvet Island Communications.bv Communications - note- automatic meteorological stationnonenone; offshore anchorage only Military - note- defense is the responsibility of Norwayinternational- noneBrazilFollowing three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil has overcome more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of the country to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of the interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, Brazil became Latin America s leading economic power by the 1970s. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem.Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean10 00 S, 55 00 WSouth America8,511,965 sq km8,456,510 sq km55,455 sq km note- includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Pauloslightly smaller than the UStotal- 14,691 kmArgentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia 1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km, Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km7,491 km24 NM200 NM200 NM12 NMmostly tropical, but temperate in southmostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal beltAtlantic Ocean 0 mPico da Neblina 3,014 mbauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber5%1%22%58%14% (1993 est.)28,000 sq km (1993 est.)recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in southdeforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers the existence of a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities note- President CARDOSO in September 1999 signed into force an environmental crime bill which for the first time defines pollution and deforestation as crimes punishable by stiff fines and jail sentencesAntarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, WhalingClimate Change-Kyoto Protocollargest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador174,468,575 note- Brazil took an intercensal count in August 1996 which reported a population of 157,079,573; that figure was about 5% lower than projections by the US Census Bureau, which is close to the implied underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.) 28.57% (male 25,390,039; female 24,449,902) 65.98% (male 56,603,895; female 58,507,289) 5.45% (male 3,857,564; female 5,659,886) (2001 est.)0.91% (2001 est.)18.45 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)9.34 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.68 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)36.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 63.24 years 58.96 years 67.73 years (2001 est.)2.09 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.57% (1999 est.)540,000 (1999 est.)18,000 (1999 est.)Brazilian(s)Brazilianwhite (includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and black 38%, black 6%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%Roman Catholic (nominal) 80%Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French age 15 and over can read and write 83.3% 83.3% 83.2% (1995 est.)Federative Republic of BrazilBrazilRepublica Federativa do BrasilBrasilfederative republicBrasilia26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins7 September 1822 (from Portugal)Independence Day, 7 September (1822)5 October 1988based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdictionvoluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of agePresident Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since 1 January 1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since 1 January 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentPresident Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since 1 January 1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since 1 January 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentCabinet appointed by the president president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 4 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002) Fernando Henrique CARDOSO reelected president; percent of vote - 53%bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; three members from each state or federal district elected according to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after a four year period, two-thirds elected after the next four-year period) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms) Federal Senate - last held 4 October 1998 for one-third of Senate (next to be held NA October 2002 for two-thirds of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 4 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002) Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PMDB 27, PFL 20, PSDB 16, PT 7, PPB 5, PSB 3, PDT 2, PPS 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PFL 106, PSDB 99, PMDB 82, PPB 60, PT 58, PTB 31, PDT 25, PSB 19, PL 12, PCdoB 7, other 14Supreme Federal Tribunal (11 ministers are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate); Higher Tribunal of Justice; Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are appointed for life)Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Jader BARBALHO, president]; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Roberto JEFFERSON]; Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Teotonio VILELA Filno]; Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Miguel ARRAES, president]; Brazilian Progressive Party or PPB [Paulo Salim MALUF]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Sergio Roberto Gomes SOUZA, chairman]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Leonel BRIZOLA, president]; Liberal Front Party or PFL [Jorge BORNHAUSEN, president]; Liberal Party or PL [Francisco Teixeira de OLIVEIRA]; Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Ciro GOMEZ, president]; Worker s Party or PT [Jose DIRCEU, president]left wing of the Catholic Church, Landless Worker s Movement, and labor unions allied to leftist Worker s Party are critical of government s social and economic policiesAfDB, BIS, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Rubens Antonio BARBOSA 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 238-2700 [1] (202) 238-2827 Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco Ambassador Anthony S. HARRINGTON Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia Unit 3500, APO AA 34030 [55] (061) 321-7272 [55] (061) 225-9136 Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo consulate(s)- Recifegreen with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress) Brazil EconomyPossessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil s economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. In the late eighties and early nineties, high inflation hindered economic activity and investment. "The Real Plan", instituted in the spring of 1994, sought to break inflationary expectations by pegging the real to the US dollar. Inflation was brought down to single digit annual figures, but not fast enough to avoid substantial real exchange rate appreciation during the transition phase of the "Real Plan". This appreciation meant that Brazilian goods were now more expensive relative to goods from other countries, which contributed to large current account deficits. However, no shortage of foreign currency ensued because of the financial community s renewed interest in Brazilian markets as inflation rates stabilized and the debt crisis of the eighties faded from memory. The maintenance of large current account deficits via capital account surpluses became problematic as investors became more risk averse to emerging market exposure as a consequence of the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the Russian bond default in August 1998. After crafting a fiscal adjustment program and pledging progress on structural reform, Brazil received a $41.5 billion IMF-led international support program in November 1998. In January 1999, the Brazilian Central Bank announced that the real would no longer be pegged to the US dollar. This devaluation helped moderate the downturn in economic growth in 1999 that investors had expressed concerns about over the summer of 1998. Brazil s debt to GDP ratio for 1999 beat the IMF target and helped reassure investors that Brazil will maintain tight fiscal and monetary policy even with a floating currency. The economy continued to recover in 2000, with inflation remaining in the single digits and expected growth for 2001 of 4.5%. Foreign direct investment set a record of more than $30 billion in 2000.purchasing power parity - $1.13 trillion (2000 est.)4.2% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2000 est.)9%29%62% (1999 est.)17.4% (1990 est.)1%47.6% (1996)6% (2000)79 million (1999 est.)services 53.2%, agriculture 23.1%, industry 23.7%7.1% (2000 est.)$151 billion$149 billion, including capital expenditures of $36 billion (1998)textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment6.9% (2000 est.)337.44 billion kWh (1999)5.28%90.66%1.12% 2.94% (1999)353.674 billion kWh (1999)5 million kWh (1999)39.86 billion kWh note- supplied by Paraguay (1999)coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef$55.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000)manufactures, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffeeUS 23%, Argentina 11%, Germany 5%, Netherlands 5%, Japan 5% (1999)$55.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000)machinery and equipment, chemical products, oil, electricityUS 24%, Argentina 12%, Germany 10%, Japan 5%, Italy 5% (1999)$232 billion (2000)NAreal (BRL)BRLreals per US dollar - 1.954 (January 2001), 1.830 (2000), 1.815 (1999), 1.161 (1998), 1.078 (1997), 1.005 (1996) note- from October 1994 through 14 January 1999, the official rate was determined by a managed float; since 15 January 1999, the official rate floats independently with respect to the US dollarcalendar year Brazil Communications17.039 million (1997)4.4 million (1997) good working system extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to MERCOSUR Brazilsat B3 satellite earth stationAM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated with AM stations) (1999)71 million (1997)138 (1997)36.5 million (1997).br50 (2000)8.65 million (2000)30,539 km (2,129 km electrified); note - excludes urban rail broad gauge- 5,679 km 1.600-m gauge (1199 km electrified)194 km 1.440-m gauge24,666 km 1.000-m gauge (930 km electrified) dual gauge- 336 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (1999 est.)1.98 million km184,140 km1,795,860 km (1996)50,000 kmcrude oil 2,980 km; petroleum products 4,762 km; natural gas 4,246 km (1998)Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus, Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos, Vitoria171 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,788,999 GRT/6,067,314 DWTbulk 33, cargo 26, chemical tanker 5, combination ore/oil 9, container 12, liquefied gas 11, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 56, roll on/roll off 12, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)3,264 (2000 est.) 570 5 21 141 370 33 (2000 est.) 2,694 68 1,279 1,347 (2000 est.)Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes naval air and marines), Brazilian Air Force, Federal Police (paramilitary)18 years of agemales age 15-49- 48,298,486 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 32,388,786 (2001 est.)males- 1,762,740 (2001 est.)$13.408 billion (FY99)1.9% (FY99)international- nonelimited illicit producer of cannabis, minor coca cultivation in the Amazon region, mostly used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed for the US and Europe; also used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market for Bolivian, Peruvian, and Colombian cocaineBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryEstablished as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier resident in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order which had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia.Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia6 00 S, 71 30 EWorld60 sq km60 sq km0 sq km note- includes the entire Chagos Archipelagoabout 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC0 km698 kmexclusive fishing zone- 200 NM3 NMtropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade windsflat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation)Indian Ocean 0 munnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 mcoconuts, fish, sugarcane0%0%0%NA%NA%0 sq km (1993)NANAarchipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facilityno indigenous inhabitants note- approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles around the time of the construction of UK-US military facilities; in 1995, there were approximately 1,700 UK and US military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors living on the island of Diego GarciaBritish Indian Ocean Territorynone abbreviation- BIOToverseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Londonthe laws of the UK, where applicable, applyexclusive fishing zone- 200 NMQueen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)Commissioner John WHITE (since NA); Administrator Louise SAVILL (since NA); note - both reside in the UKNA none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarchwhite with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag British Indian Ocean Territory EconomyAll economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing.NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US militaryNA kWh British Indian Ocean Territory CommunicationsNA separate facilities for military and public needs are available all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)NA1 (1997)NA.io1 (2000)NA kmshort stretch of paved road of NA km between port and airfield on Diego GarciaNA kmnoneDiego Garcia1 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.) Military - note- defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016international- the Chagos Archipelago is claimed by Mauritius and SeychellesBritish Virgin IslandsFirst settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were soon after (1672) annexed by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico18 30 N, 64 30 WCentral America and the Caribbean150 sq km150 sq km0 sq km note- includes the island of Anegadaabout 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC0 km80 kmexclusive fishing zone- 200 NM3 NMsubtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade windscoral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hillyCaribbean Sea 0 mMount Sage 521 mNEGL20%7%33%7%33% (1993 est.)NA sq kmhurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment)strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico20,812 (July 2001 est.) 22.77% (male 2,399; female 2,339) 72.31% (male 7,741; female 7,309) 4.92% (male 555; female 469) (2001 est.)2.22% (2001 est.)15.18 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)11.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.18 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female (2001 est.)20.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 75.64 years 74.74 years 76.59 years (2001 est.)1.72 children born/woman (2001 est.)NA%NANABritish Virgin Islander(s)British Virgin Islanderblack 90%, white, AsianProtestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah s Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)English (official) age 15 and over can read and write 97.8% (1991 est.) NA% NA%noneBritish Virgin Islands abbreviation- BVIoverseas territory of the UKNARoad Townnone (overseas territory of the UK)none (overseas territory of the UK)Territory Day, 1 July1 June 1977English law18 years of age; universalexclusive fishing zone- 200 NMQueen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Francis J. SAVAGE (since NA)Chief Minister Ralph T. O NEAL (since 15 May 1995)Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Councilunicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve five-year terms) last held 17 May 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - VIP 7, CCM 1, NDP 5Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate s Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary JurisdictionConcerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O NEAL]NACaricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful) British Virgin Islands EconomyThe economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1997. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. An estimated 250,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 1997. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.purchasing power parity - $311 million (2000 est.)6% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2000 est.)1.8%6.2%92% (1996 est.)NA%NA%NA%2% (2000)4,911 (1980)agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%3% (1995)$121.5 million$115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center4% (1985)42 million kWh (1999)100%0%0% 0% (1999)39.1 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish$6.2 million (2000 est.)rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sandVirgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US$220 million (2000 est.)building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machineryVirgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US$36.1 million (1997)$2.6 million (1995)US dollar (USD)USDthe US dollar is used1 April - 31 March British Virgin Islands Communications10,000 (1996)NA worldwide telephone service NA submarine cable to BermudaAM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)9,000 (1997)1 (plus one cable company) (1997)4,000 (1997).vg16 (2000)NA Railways- 0 km132 km132 km0 km (1997)noneRoad Town1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 70,285 GRT/6,946 DWTpassenger 1 (2000 est.)3 (2000 est.) 2 1 1 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.) Military - note- defense is the responsibility of the UKinternational- nonetransshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and EuropeBruneiThe Sultanate of Brunei s heyday occurred between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the less developed countries. The same family has now ruled in Brunei for over six centuries.Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia4 30 N, 114 40 ESoutheast Asia5,770 sq km5,270 sq km500 sq kmslightly smaller than Delawaretotal- 381 kmMalaysia 381 km161 km200 NM or to median line12 NMtropical; hot, humid, rainyflat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in westSouth China Sea 0 mBukit Pagon 1,850 mpetroleum, natural gas, timber1%1%1%85%12% (1993 est.)10 sq km (1993 est.)typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very rareseasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in IndonesiaEndangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollutionnone of the selected agreementsclose to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia343,653 (July 2001 est.) 30.77% (male 53,977; female 51,772) 66.52% (male 121,601; female 107,007) 2.71% (male 4,449; female 4,847) (2001 est.)2.11% (2001 est.)20.45 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)3.38 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)4.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.14 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female 1.1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)14.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 73.82 years 71.45 years 76.31 years (2001 est.)2.44 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.2% (1999 est.)less than 100 (1999 est.)NABruneian(s)BruneianMalay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and other 10%Malay (official), English, Chinese age 15 and over can read and write 88.2% 92.6% 83.4% (1995 est.)Negara Brunei DarussalamBruneiconstitutional sultanateBandar Seri Begawan4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong1 January 1984 (from UK)National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari a law supersedes civil law in a number of areasnoneSultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of governmentSultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of governmentCouncil of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises none; the monarch is hereditaryunicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the monarch) last held in March 1962 note- in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several yearsSupreme Court (chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms)Brunei Solidarity National Party or PPKB in Malay [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji Zainal Abidin, president]; the PPKB is the only legal political party in Brunei; it was registered in 1985, but became largely inactive after 1988, it was revived in 1995 and again in 1998; it has less than 200 registered party members; other parties include Brunei People s Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1965, deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988)NAAPEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, CCC, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato Haji PUTEH Ibni Mohammad Alam 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 342-0159 [1] (202) 342-0158 Ambassador Sylvia Gaye STANFIELD Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507 [673] (2) 229670 [673] (2) 225293yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands Brunei EconomyThis small, wealthy economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. Exports of crude oil and natural gas account for over half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei s leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion although it became a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general, a further widening of the economic base beyond oil and gas.purchasing power parity - $5.9 billion (2000 est.)3% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $17,600 (2000 est.)5%46%49% (1996 est.)NA%NA%NA%1% (1999 est.)144,000 (1995 est.); note - includes foreign workers and military personnel note- temporary residents make up 41% of labor force (1991)government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10% (1999 est.)4.9% (1995 est.)$2.5 billion$2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35 billion (1997 est.)petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction4% (1997 est.)2.445 billion kWh (1999)100%0%0% 0% (1999)2.274 billion kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo$2.55 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)crude oil, natural gas, refined productsJapan 42%, US 17%, South Korea 14%, Thailand 3% (1999)$1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicalsSingapore 34%, UK 15%, Malaysia 15%, US 5% (1999)$0$4.3 million (1995)Bruneian dollar (BND)BNDBruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.7365 (January 2001), 1.7240 (2000), 1.6950 (1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollarcalendar year Brunei Communications79,000 (1996)43,524 (1996) service throughout country is excellent; international service good to Europe, US, and East Asia every service available satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, Singapore, and Philippines (2001)AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)329,000 (1998)2 (1997)201,900 (1998).bn2 (2000)28,000 (2001)13 km (private line)13 km 0.610-m gauge1,712 km1,284 km428 km (1996)209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 mcrude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 kmBandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWTliquefied gas 7 (2000 est.)2 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.)3 (2000 est.)Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police18 years of agemales age 15-49- 106,725 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 61,640 (2001 est.)males- 3,005 (2001 est.)$343 million (FY98)5.1% (FY98)international- possibly involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but has not publicly claimed the islanddrug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penaltyBulgariaBulgaria earned its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878, but having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, it fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People s Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multi-party election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventual integration into NATO and the EU - with which it began accession negotiations in 2000.Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey43 00 N, 25 00 EEurope110,910 sq km110,550 sq km360 sq kmslightly larger than Tennesseetotal- 1,808 kmGreece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Yugoslavia 318 km, Turkey 240 km354 km24 NM200 NM12 NMtemperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summersmostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeastBlack Sea 0 mMusala 2,925 mbauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land43%2%14%38%3% (1999 est.)12,370 sq km (1993 est.)earthquakes, landslidesair pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastesAir Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, WetlandsAir Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocolstrategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia7,707,495 (July 2001 est.) 15.11% (male 597,765; female 567,030) 68.17% (male 2,588,805; female 2,665,736) 16.72% (male 543,665; female 744,494) (2001 est.)-1.14% (2001 est.)8.06 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)14.53 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-4.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.73 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)14.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 71.2 years 67.72 years 74.89 years (2001 est.)1.13 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.01% (1999 est.)NAless than 100 (1999 est.)Bulgarian(s)BulgarianBulgarian 83%, Turk 8.5%, Roma 2.6%, Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Gagauz, Circassian, others (1998)Bulgarian Orthodox 83.5%, Muslim 13%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Jewish 0.8%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 1% (1998)Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic breakdown age 15 and over can read and write 98% 99% 98% (1999)Republic of BulgariaBulgariaparliamentary democracySofia28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol3 March 1878 (from Ottoman Empire)Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)adopted 12 July 1991civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction18 years of age; universalPresident Petar STOYANOV (since 22 January 1997); Vice President Todor KAVALDZHIEV (since 22 January 1997)Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) Ivan KOSTOV (since 19 May 1997); Deputy Prime Minister Petur ZHOTEV (since 21 December 1999)Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 October and 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister Petar STOYANOV elected president; percent of vote - Petar STOYANOV 59.73%unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 17 June 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - National Movement for Simeon II 120, UDF 51, BSP 48, DPS 21Supreme Administrative Court; Supreme Court of Cassation; Constitutional Court (12 justices appointed or elected for nine-year terms); Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of the two Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 other members; responsible for appointing the justices, prosecutors, and investigating magistrates in the justice system; members of the Supreme Judicial Council elected for five-year terms, 11 elected by the National Assembly and 11 by bodies of the judiciary)Alliance for National Salvation or ANS (coalition led mainly by Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF) [Ahmed DOGAN]; Bulgarian Business Bloc or BBB [Georgi GANCHEV]; Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Georgi PURVANOV, chairman]; Democratic Left or DL (bloc led by BSP, includes Ecoglasnost Political Club and Bulgarian Agrarian National Union) [leader NA]; Euro-left [Aleksandur TOMOV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or UMRO [Aleksander KARAKACHNOV]; Kingdom of Bulgaria Federation [leader NA]; Movement for Rights and Freedom or DPS [Ahmed DOGAN]; National Movement for Simeon II [Simeon II, former king]; New Civic Party for Bulgaria [Bogomil BONEV]; People s Union or PU (includes Bulgarian Agrarian People s Union and Democratic Party) [Anastasiya MOZER]; St. George s Day [Lyuben DILOV]; Union of Democratic Forces or UDF (an alliance of pro-democratic parties) [Ivan KOSTOV]agrarian movement; Bulgarian Democratic Center; Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB; Democratic Alliance for the Republic or DAR; New Union for Democracy or NUD; Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendasACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Ambassador Philip DIMITROV 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 387-7969 [1] (202) 234-7973 consulate(s)- New York Ambassador Richard M. MILES 1 Suborna Street, Sofia American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5740 [359] (2) 980-52-41 [359] (2) 981-89-77three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the national emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe has been removed - it contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheat ears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing the dates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberation from Nazi control) Bulgaria EconomyBulgaria, a former communist country struggling to enter the European market economy, suffered a major economic downturn in 1996 and 1997, with triple digit inflation and GDP contraction of 10.6% and 6.9%. The current government - which took office in May 1997 after pre-term parliamentary elections - stabilized the economy and promoted growth by implementing a currency board, practicing sound financial policies, invigorating privatization, and pursuing structural reforms. Additionally, strong assistance from international financial institutions - most notably the IMF which approved a three-year Extended Fund Facility worth approximately $900 million in September 1998 - played a critical role in turning the economy around. After several years of tumult, Bulgaria s economy has stabilized. Its better-than-expected economic performance in 1999 - despite the impact of the Kosovo conflict, the 1998 Russian financial crisis, and structural reforms - and strong growth in 2000 portends solid growth over the next few years; this assumes continued fiscal restraint, additional structural reforms, aid from abroad, and prosperous times in the EU economy.purchasing power parity - $48 billion (2000 est.)5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2000 est.)15%29%56% (2000 est.)35% (2000 est.)3.4%22.5% (1995)10.4% (2000 est.)3.83 million (2000 est.)agriculture 26%, industry 31%, services 43% (1998 est.)17.7% (2000 est.)$4.85 billion$4.92 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)electricity, gas and water; food, beverages and tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel10.8% (2000 est.)36.217 billion kWh (1999)51.52%8.35%40.12% 0.01% (1999)33.182 billion kWh (1999)2.2 billion kWh (1999)1.7 billion kWh (1999)vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets$4.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuelsItaly 14%, Turkey 10%, Germany 9%, Greece 8%, Yugoslavia 8%, Belgium 6%, France 5%, US 4% (2000)$5.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)fuels, minerals, and raw materials; machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; food, textilesRussia 24%, Germany 14%, Italy 8%, Greece 5%, France 5%, Romania 4%, Turkey 3%, US 3% (2000)$10.4 billion (2000 est.)$1 billion (1999 est.)lev (BGL)BGLleva per US dollar - 2.0848 (January 2001), 2.1233 (2000), 1.8364 (1999), 1,760.36 (1998), 1,681.88 (1997), 177.89 (1996) note- on 5 July 1999, the lev was redenominated; the post-5 July 1999 lev is equal to 1,000 of the pre-5 July 1999 levcalendar year Bulgaria Communications3.255 million (2000)596,000 (2000) extensive but antiquated more than two-thirds of the lines are residential; telephone service is available in most villages; a fairly modern digital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most of the regions, the others are connected by digital microwave radio relay direct dialing to 58 countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 2 Intelsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions)AM 24, FM 93, shortwave 2 (1998)4.51 million (1997)96 (plus 1,030 repeaters) (1995)3.31 million (1997).bg26 (2000)200,000 (2000)4,294 km4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified; 917 km double track)245 km 0.760-m gauge (1998)36,724 km33,786 km (including 314 km of expressways)2,938 km (1999)470 km (1987)petroleum products 525 km; natural gas 1,500 km (1999)Burgas, Lom, Nesebur, Ruse, Varna, Vidin81 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 938,706 GRT/1,440,374 DWTbulk 44, cargo 16, chemical tanker 4, container 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 6, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1 (2000 est.)215 (2000 est.) 128 1 19 15 1 92 (2000 est.) 87 2 10 75 (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.)Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense Forces, Internal Troops19 years of agemales age 15-49- 1,891,498 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 1,581,697 (2001 est.)males- 56,104 (2001 est.)$344 million (FY00)2.4% (FY00)major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicalsBurkina FasoIndependence from France came to Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) in 1960. Governmental instability during the 1970s and 1980s was followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Several hundred thousand farm workers migrate south every year to Cote d Ivoire and Ghana.Western Africa, north of Ghana13 00 N, 2 00 WAfrica274,200 sq km273,800 sq km400 sq kmslightly larger than Coloradototal- 3,192 kmBenin 306 km, Cote d Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 548 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km0 km (landlocked)none (landlocked)tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summersmostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeastMouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 mTena Kourou 749 mmanganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver13%0%22%50%15% (1993 est.)200 sq km (1993 est.)recurring droughtsrecent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestationBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, WetlandsLaw of the Sea, Nuclear Test Banlandlocked12,272,289 note- estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.) 47.5% (male 2,937,285; female 2,892,107) 49.59% (male 2,903,153; female 3,183,121) 2.91% (male 150,688; female 205,935) (2001 est.)2.68% (2001 est.)44.79 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)17.05 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female 0.73 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)106.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 46.41 years 45.86 years 46.98 years (2001 est.)6.35 children born/woman (2001 est.)6.44% (1999 est.)350,000 (1999 est.)43,000 (1999 est.)Burkinabe (singular and plural)BurkinabeMossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulaniindigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population age 15 and over can read and write 19.2% 29.5% 9.2% (1995 est.)noneBurkina FasoUpper Volta, Republic of Upper VoltaparliamentaryOuagadougou30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houe, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo note- a new electoral code was approved by the National Assembly in January 1997; the number of administrative provinces was increased from 30 to 45 (Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komandjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koupelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala, Naumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Samentenga, Sanguie, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondomo, Zoundweogo), however, this change has not yet been confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names5 August 1960 (from France)Republic Day, 11 December (1958)2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adoptedbased on French civil law system and customary lawuniversalnone (landlocked)President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)Prime Minister Ernest Paramanga YONLI (since 6 November 2000)Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; the president may serve unlimited terms; election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 87.5% percent of the vote, 56% of voter turnout note- President COMPAORE faces an increasingly well-coordinated opposition; recent charges against a former member of his Presidential Guard in the 1998 assassination of a newspaper editor signify an attempt to defuse chronic areas of dissatisfactionbicameral; consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee des Deputes Populaires (111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the purely consultative Chamber of Representations or Chambre des Representants (178 seats; members are appointed to serve three-year terms) National Assembly election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDP 101, PDP 6, RDA 2, ADF 2Supreme Court; Appeals CourtAfrican Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or RDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Noyabtigungu Congo KABORE]; Party for African Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Union of Greens for the Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or HBDHP; Group of 14 February; National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communitiesACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Bruno ZIDOUEMBA 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 332-5577 [1] (202) 667-1882 Ambassador Jimmy J. KOLKER 602 Avenue Raoul Follerau, Koulouba, Secteur 4, Ouagadougou B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01 [226] 306723 [226] 303890two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia Burkina Faso EconomyOne of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. About 90% of the population is engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture which is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies, and exports and economic growth have increased. Maintenance of its macroeconomic progress in 2001-02 depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private investment.purchasing power parity - $12 billion (2000 est.)5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2000 est.)26%27%47% (1998)NA%2.2%39.5% (1994)1.5% (2000 est.)5 million (1999) note- a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employmentagriculture 90% (2000 est.)NA%$277 million$492 million, including capital expenditures of $233 million (1995 est.)cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold4.2% (1995)285 million kWh (1999)71.93%28.07%0% 0% (1999)265.1 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock$220 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)cotton, animal products, goldItaly 13%, France 10%, Indonesia 8%, Thailand 7% (1999)$610 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)machinery, food products, petroleumCote d Ivoire 30%, France 28%, Spain 3%, Benelux 3% (1999)$1.3 billion (1997)$484.1 million (1995)Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African StatesXOFCommunaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per eurocalendar year Burkina Faso Communications36,000 (1997)1,503 (1997) all services only fair microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)AM 2, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)370,000 (1997)1 (1997)100,000 (1997).bf1 (2000)4,000 (2000)622 km (517 km from Ouagadougou to the Cote d Ivoire border and 105 km from Ouagadougou to Kaya)622 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)12,506 km2,001 km10,505 km (1996)nonenone33 (2000 est.) 2 1 1 (2000 est.) 31 3 12 16 (2000 est.)Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, People s Militiamales age 15-49- 2,592,974 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 1,329,995 (2001 est.)$66 million (FY96)2% (FY96)international- noneBurmaDespite multiparty elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party winning a decisive victory, the military junta ruling the country refused to hand over power. Key opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG San Suu Kyi, under house arrest from 1989 to 1995, was again placed under house detention in September 2000; her supporters are routinely harassed or jailed.Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand22 00 N, 98 00 ESoutheast Asia678,500 sq km657,740 sq km20,760 sq kmslightly smaller than Texastotal- 5,876 kmBangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km1,930 km24 NM200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin200 NM12 NMtropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlandsAndaman Sea 0 mHkakabo Razi 5,881 mpetroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower15%1%1%49%34% (1993 est.)10,680 sq km (1993 est.)destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughtsdeforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to diseaseBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94none of the selected agreementsstrategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes41,994,678 note- estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.) 29.14% (male 6,245,798; female 5,992,074) 66.08% (male 13,779,571; female 13,970,707) 4.78% (male 895,554; female 1,110,974) (2001 est.)0.6% (2001 est.)20.13 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)12.3 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-1.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.81 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)73.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 55.16 years 53.73 years 56.68 years (2001 est.)2.3 children born/woman (2001 est.)1.99% (1999 est.)530,000 (1999 est.)48,000 (1999 est.)Burmese (singular and plural)BurmeseBurman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Mon 2%, Indian 2%, other 5%Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages age 15 and over can read and write 83.1% 88.7% 77.7% (1995 est.) note- these are official statistics; estimates of functional literacy are likely closer to 30% (1999 est.)Union of BurmaBurmaPyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar)Myanma NaingngandawSocialist Republic of the Union of Burmamilitary regimeRangoon (regime refers to the capital as Yangon)7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular - yin) and 7 states (pyine-mya, singular - pyine); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*, Bago*, Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*, Mon State, Rakhine State, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon*4 January 1948 (from UK)Independence Day, 4 January (1948)3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988); national convention started on 9 January 1993 to draft a new constitution; progress has since been stalledhas not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction18 years of age; universalPrime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note - the prime minister is both the chief of state and head of governmentPrime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note - the prime minister is both the chief of state and head of governmentState Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta, so named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18 September 1988 under the name State Law and Order Restoration Council; the SPDC oversees the cabinet none; the prime minister assumed power upon resignation of the former prime ministerunicameral People s Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NLD 392, SNLD 23, NUP 10, other 60remnants of the British-era legal system are in place, but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is not independent of the executiveNational League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, chairman, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary]; National Unity Party or NUP (proregime) [THA KYAW]; Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [U KHUN TUN OO]; Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (proregime, a social and political organization) [THAN AUNG, general secretary]; and other smaller partiesAll Burma Student Democratic Front or ABSDF; Kachin Independence Army or KIA; Karen National Union or KNU; National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB [Dr. SEIN WIN] consists of individuals legitimately elected to the People s Assembly but not recognized by the military regime; the group fled to a border area and joined with insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel government; several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSAARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador-designate U LINN MYAING 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 332-9044 [1] (202) 332-9046 New York Permanent Charge d Affaires Priscilla A. CLAPP 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521) Box B, APO AP 96546 [95] (1) 282055, 282182 [95] (1) 280409red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 14 administrative divisions Burma EconomyBurma has a mixed economy with private activity dominant in agriculture, light industry, and transport, and with substantial state-controlled activity, mainly in energy, heavy industry, and the rice trade. Government policy in the 1990s has aimed at revitalizing the economy after three decades of tight central planning. Private activity markedly increased in the early to mid-1990s, but began to decline in the past several years due to frustrations with the unfriendly business environment and political pressure from western nations. Published estimates of Burma s foreign trade are greatly understated because of the volume of black-market, illicit, and border trade. A major ongoing problem is the failure to achieve monetary and fiscal stability. Burma remains a poor Asian country and living standards for the majority have not improved over the past decade. Short-term growth will continue to be restrained because of poor government planning and minimal foreign investment.purchasing power parity - $63.7 billion (2000 est.)4.9% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2000 est.)42%17%41% (2000 est.)23% (1997 est.)2.8%32.4% (1998)18% (1999)19.7 million (FY98/99 est.)agriculture 65%, industry 10%, services 25% (1999 est.)7.1% (official FY97/98 est.)$7.9 billion$12.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7 billion (FY96/97)agricultural processing; textiles and footwear; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizerNA%4.813 billion kWh (1999)68.56%31.44%0% 0% (1999)4.476 billion kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)paddy rice, corn, oilseed, sugarcane, pulses; hardwood$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999)apparel 36%, foodstuffs 22%, wood products 21%, precious stones 5% (1999)India 13%, Singapore 11%, China 11%, US 8% (1999 est.) note- official trade statistics do not include trade in illicit goods - such as narcotics, teak, and gems - or the largely unrecorded border trade with China and Thailand$2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)machinery, transport equipment, construction materials, food productsSingapore 28%, Thailand 12%, China 10%, Japan 10%, South Korea 9% (1999 est.)$6 billion (FY99/00 est.)$99 million (FY98/99)kyat (MMK)MMKkyats per US dollar - official rate - 6.5972 (January 2001), 6.5167 (2000), 6.2858 (1999), 6.3432 (1998), 6.2418 (1997), 5.9176 (1996); kyats per US dollar - black market exchange rate - 435 (yearend 2000)1 April - 31 March Burma Communications250,000 (2000)8,492 (1997) meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and government; international service is good NA satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1998)4.2 million (1997)2 (1998)320,000 (2000).mm1 note- as of September 2000, Internet connections were legal only for the government, tourist offices, and a few large businesses (2000)500 (2000)3,991 km3,991 km 1.000-m gauge28,200 km3,440 km24,760 km (1996)12,800 km note- 3,200 km navigable by large commercial vesselscrude oil 1,343 km; natural gas 330 kmBassein, Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein, Myitkyina, Rangoon, Akyab (Sittwe), Tavoy37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 411,181 GRT/632,769 DWTbulk 11, cargo 20, container 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 2 note- includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience- Japan 2 (2000 est.)80 (2000 est.) 9 3 1 4 1 (2000 est.) 71 2 15 22 32 (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.)Army, Navy, Air Force18 years of agemales age 15-49- 12,050,964 females age 15-49- 12,070,017 note- both sexes liable for military service (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 6,425,514 females age 15-49- 6,419,677 (2001 est.)males- 470,667 females- 479,691 (2001 est.)$39 million (FY97/98)2.1% (FY97/98)international- sporadic border hostilities with Thailand over border alignment and ethnic Shan rebels operating in cross-border regionworld s second largest producer of illicit opium, after Afghanistan (potential production in 1999 - 1,090 metric tons, down 38% due to drought; cultivation in 1999 - 89,500 hectares, a 31% decline from 1998); surrender of drug warlord KHUN SA s Mong Tai Army in January 1996 was hailed by Rangoon as a major counternarcotics success, but lack of government will and ability to take on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment against money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrug effort; becoming a major source of methamphetamine for regional consumptionBurundiBetween 1993 and 2000, wide-spread, often intense ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions in Burundi created hundreds of thousands of refugees and left tens of thousands dead. Although some refugees have returned from neighboring countries, continued ethnic strife has forced many others to flee. Burundian troops, seeking to secure their borders, have intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo3 30 S, 30 00 EAfrica27,830 sq km25,650 sq km2,180 sq kmslightly smaller than Marylandtotal- 974 kmDemocratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km0 km (landlocked)none (landlocked)equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; wet seasons from February to May and September to November, and dry seasons from June to August and December to Januaryhilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plainsLake Tanganyika 772 mMount Heha 2,670 mnickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium, arable land, hydropower44%9%36%3%8% (1993 est.)140 sq km (1993 est.)flooding, landslides, droughtsoil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populationsBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer ProtectionLaw of the Sea, Nuclear Test Banlandlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed6,223,897 note- estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.) 46.82% (male 1,472,618; female 1,441,548) 50.37% (male 1,541,131; female 1,593,743) 2.81% (male 71,984; female 102,873) (2001 est.)2.38% (2001 est.)40.13 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)16.36 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.7 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)70.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 46.06 years 45.15 years 46.99 years (2001 est.)6.16 children born/woman (2001 est.)11.32% (1999 est.)360,000 (1999 est.)39,000 (1999 est.)Burundian(s)BurundiHutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 23%, Muslim 10%Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area) age 15 and over can read and write 35.3% 49.3% 22.5% (1995 est.)Republic of BurundiBurundiRepublika y u BurundiBurundiUrundirepublicBujumbura16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)Independence Day, 1 July (1962)13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural political system; supplanted on 6 June 1998 by a Transitional Constitution which enlarged the National Assembly and created two vice presidentsbased on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdictionNA years of age; universal adultnone (landlocked)President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27 September 1996, officially sworn in 11 June 1998), First Vice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA June 1998), Second Vice President Mathias SINAMENYE (since NA June 1998); note - the president is both chief of state and head of governmentPresident Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27 September 1996, officially sworn in 11 June 1998), First Vice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA June 1998), Second Vice President Mathias SINAMENYE (since NA June 1998); note - the president is both chief of state and head of governmentCouncil of Ministers appointed by president NA; current president assumed power following a coup on 25 July 1996 in which former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrownunicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (121 seats; note - new Transitional Constitution expanded the number of seats from 81 to 121 in 1998; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms) last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in 1998, but suspended by presidential decree in 1996) percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA 21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16, various other parties 40Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal (there are three in separate locations); Tribunals of First Instance (17 at the province level and 123 small local tribunals)Two national, mainstream governing parties are- Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Luc RUKINGAMA, president]; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president] note- A multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are- Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA [Terrence NSANZE]; Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development or RADDES [Joseph NZENZIMANA]; Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]; People s Reconciliation Party or PRP [Mathias HITIMANA]Loosely organized Tutsi militias, often affiliated with Tutsi extremist partiesACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Thomas NDIKUMANA Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 [1] (202) 342-2574 [1] (202) 342-2578 Ambassador Mary Carlin YATES Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura B. P. 1720, Bujumbura [257] 223454 [257] 222926divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two stars below) Burundi EconomyBurundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Its economic health depends on the coffee crop, which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports therefore rests largely on the vagaries of the climate and the international coffee market. Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of perhaps 250,000 persons and the displacement of about 800,000 others. Only one in four children go to school, and one in nine adults has HIV/AIDS. Foods, medicines, and electricity remain in short supply.purchasing power parity - $4.4 billion (2000 est.)1.8% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $720 (2000 est.)50%18%32% (1999 est.)36.2% (1990 est.)3.4%26.6% (1992)22% (2000 est.)1.9 millionNANA%$125 million$176 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing6.3% (1999 est.)141 million kWh (1999)0.71%99.29%0% 0% (1999)160.1 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)29 million kWh note- supplied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1999)coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides$32 million (f.o.b., 2000)coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hidesGermany 17%, Belgium 14%, US 8%, France 6%, Switzerland 4% (1999)$110 million (f.o.b., 2000)capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffsBelgium 20%, Zambia 11%, Kenya 8%, South Africa 5%, France 4% (1999)$1.12 billion (1999 est.)$1.344 billion (1999 est.)Burundi franc (BIF)BIFBurundi francs per US dollar - 782.36 (January 2001), 720.67 (2000), 563.56 (1999), 477.77 (1998), 352.35 (1997), 302.75 (1996)calendar year Burundi Communications16,000 (1997)619 (1997) primitive system sparse system of open wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)440,000 (1997)1 (1999)25,000 (1997).bi1 (2000)2,000 (2000) Railways- 0 km14,480 km1,028 km13,452 km (1996)Lake TanganyikaBujumbura4 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.) 3 3 (2000 est.)Army (includes naval and air units), paramilitary Gendarmerie16 years of agemales age 15-49- 1,394,273 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 728,326 (2001 est.)males- 79,360 (2001 est.)$57 million (FY97)6.1% (FY97)international- noneCambodiaFollowing a five-year struggle, communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh in 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all cities and towns; over 1 million displaced people died from execution or enforced hardships. A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside and touched off 13 years of fighting. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy, as did the rapid diminishment of the Khmer Rouge in the mid-1990s. A coalition government, formed after national elections in 1998, brought renewed political stability and the surrender of remaining Khmer Rouge forces.Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos13 00 N, 105 00 ESoutheast Asia181,040 sq km176,520 sq km4,520 sq kmslightly smaller than Oklahomatotal- 2,572 kmLaos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km443 km24 NM200 NM200 NM12 NMtropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variationmostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and northGulf of Thailand 0 mPhnum Aoral 1,810 mtimber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential13%0%11%66%10% (1993 est.)920 sq km (1993 est.)monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughtsillegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; toxic waste delivery from Taiwan sparked unrest in Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville) in December 1998Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, WetlandsLaw of the Sea, Marine Dumpinga land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap12,491,501 note- estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.) 41.25% (male 2,626,821; female 2,526,510) 55.28% (male 3,253,611; female 3,651,129) 3.47% (male 177,577; female 255,853) (2001 est.)2.25% (2001 est.)33.16 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)10.65 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.89 male(s)/female 0.69 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)65.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 56.82 years 54.62 years 59.12 years (2001 est.)4.74 children born/woman (2001 est.)4.04% (1999 est.)220,000 (1999 est.)14,000 (1999 est.)Cambodian(s)CambodianKhmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%Khmer (official) 95%, French, English age 15 and over can read and write 35% 48% 22% (1990 est.)Kingdom of CambodiaCambodiaPreahreacheanachakr KampucheaKampucheaKhmer Republic, Kampuchea Republicmultiparty liberal democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993Phnom Penh20 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural); Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb*, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Pailin*, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu* (Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev9 November 1953 (from France)Independence Day, 9 November (1953)promulgated 21 September 1993primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences of customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasing influence of common law in recent years18 years of age; universalKing Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993)Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 30 November 1998)Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch none; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council; prime minister appointed by the monarch after a vote of confidence by the National Assemblybicameral consists of the National Assembly (122 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61 seats; two members appointed by the monarch, two elected by the National Assembly, and 57 elected by "functional constituencies"; members serve five-year terms National Assembly - last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2003); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 41%, FUNCINPEC 32%, SRP 14%, other 13%; seats by party - CPP 64, FUNCINPEC 43, SRP 15; Senate - seats by party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the constitution and formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and lower courts) exercises judicial authorityBuddhist Liberal Party or BLP [IENG MOULY]; Cambodian Pracheachon Party or Cambodian People s Party or CPP [CHEA SIM]; Khmer Citizen Party or KCP [NGUON SOEUR]; National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH]; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP (formerly Khmer Nation Party or KNP) [SAM RANGSI]NAACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) Ambassador Roland ENG 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 [1] (202) 726-7742 [1] (202) 726-8381 Ambassador Kent M. WIEDEMANN 16-18 Mongkol lem St. 228, Phnom Penh Box P, APO AP 96546 [855] (23) 216-436 [855] (23) 216-437three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat outlined in black in the center of the red band Cambodia EconomyCambodia s economy slowed dramatically in 1997-98 due to the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political infighting. Foreign investment and tourism fell off. In 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, progress was made on economic reforms and growth resumed at 4%. GDP growth for 2000 had been projected to reach 5.5%, but the worst flooding in 70 years severely damaged agricultural crops, and high oil prices hurt industrial production, and growth for the year is estimated at only 4%. Tourism is Cambodia s fastest growing industry, with arrivals up 34% in 2000. The long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Fear of renewed political instability and corruption within the government discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid. On the brighter side, the government is addressing these issues with assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors.purchasing power parity - $16.1 billion (2000 est.)4% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2000 est.)43%20%37% (1998 est.)36% (1997 est.)2.9%33.8% (1997)1.6% (2000 est.)6 million (1998 est.)agriculture 80% (1999 est.)2.8% (1999 est.)$363 million$532 million, including capital expenditures of $225 million (2000 est.)garments, tourism, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textilesNA%147 million kWh (1999)59.18%40.82%0% 0% (1999)136.7 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)rice, rubber, corn, vegetables$942 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)timber, garments, rubber, rice, fishVietnam 18%, Thailand 15%, US 10%, Singapore 8%, China 5% (1997)$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)cigarettes, gold, construction materials, petroleum products, machinery, motor vehiclesThailand 16%, Vietnam 9%, Japan 7%, Hong Kong 5%, China 5% (1997)$829 million (1999 est.)$548 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2001 by international donorsriel (KHR)KHRriels per US dollar - 3,909.0 (January 2001), 3,840.8 (2000), 3,807.8 (1999), 3,744.4 (1998), 2,946.3 (1997), 2,624.1 (1996)calendar year Cambodia Communications21,800 (mid-1998)80,000 (2000) adequate landline and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; rural areas have little telephone service NA adequate but expensive landline and cellular service available to all countries from Phnom Penh and major provincial cities; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)AM 7, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1999)1.34 million (1997)5 (1999)94,000 (1997).kh2 (2000)NA603 km603 km 1.000-m gauge35,769 km4,165 km31,604 km (1997)3,700 km note- navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m or less; 282 km navigable to craft drawing as much as 1.8 mKampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh Kong, Phnom Penh295 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,305,932 GRT/1,853,487 DWTbulk 22, cargo 237, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 3, container 8, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 5, short-sea passenger 1 note- includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience- Cyprus 3, South Korea 1, Malta 1, Panama 1, Russia 1, Singapore 1 (2000 est.)19 (2000 est.) 6 2 2 2 (2000 est.) 13 2 11 (2000 est.)3 (2000 est.)Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), including Army, Navy, and Air Force - created in 1993 by the merger of the Cambodian People s Armed Forces and the two noncommunist resistance armies note- Khmer Rouge and royalist insurgent forces were integrated into the RCAF in 199918 years of agemales age 15-49- 2,877,137 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 1,610,761 (2001 est.)males- 162,643 (2001 est.)$112 million (FY01 est.)3% (FY01 est.)international- portions of boundary with Vietnam are disputed; parts of border with Thailand are indefinitepossible money laundering; narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police; possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine production; large producer of cannabis for the international marketCameroonThe former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy.Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria6 00 N, 12 00 EAfrica475,440 sq km469,440 sq km6,000 sq kmslightly larger than Californiatotal- 4,591 kmCentral African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km402 km50 NMvaries with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in northdiverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in northAtlantic Ocean 0 mFako 4,095 mpetroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower13%2%4%78%3% (1993 est.)210 sq km (1993 est.)recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gaseswater-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishingBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94Nuclear Test Bansometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa15,803,220 note- estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.) 42.37% (male 3,385,898; female 3,310,504) 54.28% (male 4,305,354; female 4,271,958) 3.35% (male 244,419; female 285,087) (2001 est.)2.41% (2001 est.)36.12 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)11.99 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA migrant(s)/1,000 population 1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.86 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female (2001 est.)69.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 54.59 years 53.76 years 55.44 years (2001 est.)4.8 children born/woman (2001 est.)7.73% (1999 est.)540,000 (1999 est.)52,000 (1999 est.)Cameroonian(s)CameroonianCameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official) age 15 and over can read and write 63.4% 75% 52.1% (1995 est.)Republic of CameroonCameroonFrench Cameroonunitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990) note- preponderance of power remains with the presidentYaounde10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)Republic Day, 20 May (1972)20 May 1972 approved by referendum; 2 June 1972 formally adopted; revised January 1996based on French civil law system, with common law influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction20 years of age; universalPresident Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGE (since 19 September 1996)Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted by the Prime Minister president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 12 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2004); prime minister appointed by the president President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 92.6%; note - supporters of the opposition candidates boycotted the elections, making a comparison of vote shares relatively meaninglessunicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term of the legislature) last held 17 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RDCP 109, SDF 43, UNDP 13, UDC 5, UPC-K 1, MDR 1, MLJC 1; note - results from 7 contested seats were cancelled by the Supreme Court, further elections on 3 August 1997 gave these seats to the RDPC note- the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be establishedSupreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Court of Justice (consists of nine judges and 6 substitute judges, elected by the National Assembly)Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou NDAM NJOYA]; Democratic Rally of the Cameroon People or RDCP [Paul BIYA]; Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [leader NA]; Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MLJC [Marcel YONDO]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA, chairman]; Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of Cameroonian Populations has two sections UPC-N [Ndeh NTUMAZAH] and UPC-K [Augustin Frederic KODOCK]Cameroon Anglophone Movement or CAM [Vishe FAI, secretary general]; Southern Cameroon National Council [Nfor Ngala NFOR, acting]ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, C, CCC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 265-8790 [1] (202) 387-3826 Ambassador John M. YATES Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch- American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 [237] 23-40-14, 22-25-89, 23-05-12, 22-17-94 [237] 23-07-53 branch office(s)- Doualathree equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia Cameroon EconomyBecause of its oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation s banks. In June 2000, the government completed an IMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however, the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget transparency and privatization. Higher oil prices in 2000 helped to offset the country s lower cocoa export revenues. A rebound in the cocoa market should increase growth to over 5% in 2001.purchasing power parity - $26 billion (2000 est.)4.4% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.)43.4%20.1%36.5% (1999 est.)48% (2000 est.)NA%NA%2% (2000 est.)NAagriculture 70%, industry and commerce 13%, other 17%30% (1998 est.)$2.1 billion$2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY00/01 est.)petroleum production and refining, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber4.2% (1999 est.)3.47 billion kWh (1999)2.59%97.41%0% 0% (1999)3.227 billion kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber$2.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cottonItaly 24%, France 18%, Netherlands 10% (2000 est.)$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)machines and electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, foodFrance 29%, Germany 7%, US 6%, Japan 6% (2000 est.)$10.9 billion (2000 est.)on 23 January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon s debt of $1.3 billion by $900 million; total debt relief now amounts to $1.26 billionCommunaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African StatesXAFCommunaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per euro1 July - 30 June Cameroon Communications75,000 (1997)4,200 (1997) available only to business and government cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)AM 11, FM 8, shortwave 3 (1998)2.27 million (1997)1 (1998)450,000 (1997).cm1 (2000)20,000 (2000)1,104 km1,104 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)34,300 km4,288 km30,012 km (1995)2,090 km (of decreasing importance)Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko49 (2000 est.) 11 2 4 3 1 1 (2000 est.) 38 7 21 10 (2000 est.)Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard18 years of agemales age 15-49- 3,762,369 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 1,903,149 (2001 est.)males- 174,308 (2001 est.)$118.6 million (FY00/01)1.4% (FY98/99)international- delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is complete and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; tripartite maritime boundary and economic zone dispute with Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria is currently before the ICJCanadaA land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Its paramount political problem continues to be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of the country.Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US60 00 N, 95 00 WNorth America9,976,140 sq km9,220,970 sq km755,170 sq kmslightly larger than the UStotal- 8,893 kmUS 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)243,791 km24 NM200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin200 NM12 NMvaries from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in northmostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeastAtlantic Ocean 0 mMount Logan 5,959 miron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower5%0%3%54%38% (1993 est.)7,100 sq km (1993 est.)continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country s rain and snowair pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activitiesAir Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, WetlandsAir Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservationsecond-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 85% of the population is concentrated within 300 km of the US/Canada border31,592,805 (July 2001 est.) 18.95% (male 3,067,102; female 2,918,839) 68.28% (male 10,846,151; female 10,725,800) 12.77% (male 1,715,071; female 2,319,842) (2001 est.)0.99% (2001 est.)11.21 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)7.47 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)6.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.74 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)5.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 79.56 years 76.16 years 83.13 years (2001 est.)1.6 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.3% (1999 est.)49,000 (1999 est.)400 (1999 est.)Canadian(s)CanadianBritish Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 40%, other 18%English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5% age 15 and over can read and write 97% (1986 est.) NA% NA%noneCanadaconfederation with parliamentary democracyOttawa10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*1 July 1867 (from UK)Independence Day/Canada Day, 1 July (1867)17 April 1982 (Constitution Act); originally, the machinery of the government was set up in the British North America Act of 1867; charter of rights and unwritten customsbased on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations18 years of age; universalQueen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Adrienne CLARKSON (since 7 October 1999)Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November 1993)Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons is automatically designated by the governor general to become prime ministerbicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (a body whose members are appointed to serve until reaching 75 years of age by the governor general and selected on the advice of the prime minister; its normal limit is 104 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (301 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) House of Commons - last held 27 November 2000 (next to be held 2005) percent of vote by party as of January 2001 - Liberal Party 42%, Canadian Alliance 22%, Bloc Quebecois 13%, New Democratic Party 4%, Progressive Conservative Party 4%; seats by party as of January 2001 - Liberal Party 172, Canadian Alliance 66, Bloc Quebecois 38, New Democratic Party 13, Progressive Conservative Party 12Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime minister through the governor general); Federal Court of Canada; Federal Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Court of Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Justice)Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Canadian Alliance [Stockwell DAY]; Liberal Party [Jean CHRETIEN]; New Democratic Party [Alexa MCDONOUGH]; Progressive Conservative Party [Joe CLARK]NAABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Ambassador Michael KERGIN 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 [1] (202) 682-1740 [1] (202) 682-7726 Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle consulate(s)- Miami, Princeton, San Francisco, and San Jose Ambassador Gordon D. GIFFIN 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8 P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430 [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470 [1] (613) 238-5720 Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouverthree vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band Canada EconomyAs an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. Real rates of growth have averaged nearly 3.0% since 1993. Unemployment is falling and government budget surpluses are being partially devoted to reducing the large public sector debt. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which included Mexico) have touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Two shadows loom, the first being the continuing constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking areas, which has been raising the possibility of a split in the federation. Another long-term concern is the flow south to the US of professional persons lured by higher pay, lower taxes, and the immense high-tech infrastructure.purchasing power parity - $774.7 billion (2000 est.)4.3% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $24,800 (2000 est.)3%31%66% (2000 est.)NA%2.8%23.8% (1994)2.6% (2000)16.1 million (2000)services 74%, manufacturing 15%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 3% (2000)6.8% (2000 est.)$126.1 billion$125.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $14.8 billion (2000)processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas4.5% (2000 est.)567.193 billion kWh (1999)26.38%60%12.31% 1.31% (1999)497.532 billion kWh (1999)42.911 billion kWh (1999)12.953 billion kWh (1999)wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish$272.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)motor vehicles and parts, newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, aluminum, telecommunications equipment, electricityUS 86%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China (1999)$238.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)machinery and equipment, crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods, electricityUS 76%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea (1999)$1.9 billion (2000) Economic aid - donor- ODA, $1.3 billion (1999)Canadian dollar (CAD)CADCanadian dollars per US dollar - 1.5032 (January 2001), 1.4851 (2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996)1 April - 31 March Canada Communications18.5 million (1999)4.207 million (1997) excellent service provided by modern technology domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)AM 535, FM 53, shortwave 6 (1998)32.3 million (1997)80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)21.5 million (1997).ca760 (2000 est.)13.28 million (1999)36,114 km; note - there are two major transcontinental freight railway systems- Canadian National (privatized November 1995) and Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service provided by government-operated firm VIA, which has no trackage of its own36,114 km 1.435-m gauge (156 km electrified) (1998)901,902 km318,371 km (including 16,571 km of expressways)583,531 km (1999)3,000 km (including Saint Lawrence Seaway)crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 kmBecancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, New Westminster, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), St. John s (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Sydney, Trois-Rivieres, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor121 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,767,259 GRT/2,633,290 DWTbarge carrier 1, bulk 67, cargo 13, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 1, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 17, railcar carrier 2, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1 (2000 est.)1,417 (2000 est.) 517 18 15 151 244 89 (2000 est.) 900 74 362 464 (2000 est.)18 (2000 est.)Canadian Forces (includes Land Forces Command or LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC, Communications Command or CC, Training Command or TC), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)17 years of agemales age 15-49- 8,325,084 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 7,114,851 (2001 est.)males- 215,627 (2001 est.)$7.5 billion (FY00/01)1.3% (FY00/01)international- maritime boundary disputes with the US (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island)illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US marketCape VerdeThe uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; they subsequently became a trading center for African slaves. Most Cape Verdeans descend from both groups. Independence was achieved in 1975.Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal16 00 N, 24 00 WWorld4,033 sq km4,033 sq km0 sq kmslightly larger than Rhode Island0 km965 kmmeasured from claimed archipelagic baselines24 NM200 NM12 NMtemperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erraticsteep, rugged, rocky, volcanicAtlantic Ocean 0 mMt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)salt, basalt rock, pozzuolana (a siliceous volcanic ash used to produce hydraulic cement), limestone, kaolin, fish11%0%6%0%83% (1993 est.)1,500 to 2,000 hectares (1999)prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically activeovergrazing of livestock and improper land use such as the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led to soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; overfishingBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumpingnone of the selected agreementsstrategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site405,163 (July 2001 est.) 42.79% (male 87,458; female 85,895) 50.76% (male 97,812; female 107,834) 6.45% (male 10,204; female 15,960) (2001 est.)0.92% (2001 est.)28.71 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)7.19 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-12.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female 0.64 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2001 est.)53.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 69.21 years 65.93 years 72.6 years (2001 est.)4.05 children born/woman (2001 est.)NA%NANACape Verdean(s)Cape VerdeanCreole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words) age 15 and over can read and write 71.6% 81.4% 63.8% (1995 est.)Republic of Cape VerdeCape VerdeRepublica de Cabo VerdeCabo VerderepublicPraia14 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal; note - there may be a new administrative structure of 16 districts (Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Nicolau, Sao Filipe, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal)5 July 1975 (from Portugal)Independence Day, 5 July (1975)new constitution came into force 25 September 1992; underwent a major revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the powers of the presidentderived from the legal system of Portugal18 years of age; universalmeasured from claimed archipelagic baselinesPresident Pedro PIRES (since 22 March 2001)Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1 February 1991)Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister from among the members of the National Assembly president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 11 and 25 February 2001 (next to be held NA February 2006); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president Pedro PIRES elected president; percent of vote - Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 49.43%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 49.42%; note- the election was won by only twelve votesunicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA December 2005) percent of vote by party - PAICV 47.3%, MPD 39.8%, ADM 6%, other 6.9%; seats by party - PAICV 40, MPD 30, ADM 2Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de JustiaAfrican Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Alliance for Change or ADM [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID); Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Jacinto SANTOS, president]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Antonio Gualberto do ROSARIO, president]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Dr. Oresimo SILVEIRA, president]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM, president]; Union for an Independent Democratic Cape Verde or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO, president]NAACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNTAET, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer) Ambassador Ferdinand Amilcar Spencer LOPES 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 [1] (202) 965-6820 [1] (202) 965-1207 Boston Ambassador Michael D. METELITS Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia C. P. 201, Praia [238] 61 56 16 [238] 61 13 55three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands Cape Verde EconomyCape Verde s low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for almost 70% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 1998 was only 13%, of which fishing accounts for 1.5%. About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances constitute a supplement to GDP of more than 20%. Economic reforms, launched by the new democratic government in 1991, are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Prospects for 2001 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government s development program.purchasing power parity - $670 million (2000 est.)6% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.)13%19%68% (1998)NA%NA%NA%4% (2000)NA24% (1999 est.)$188 million$228 million, including capital expenditures of $116 million (1996)food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repairNA%40 million kWh (1999)100%0%0% 0% (1999)37.2 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish$40 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)fuel, shoes, garments, fish, bananas, hidesPortugal, UK, Germany, Spain, France, Malaysia$250 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuelsPortugal, Netherlands, France, UK, Spain, US$260 million (2000)$111.3 million (1995)Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)CVECape Verdean escudos per US dollar - 123.080 (December 2000), 115.877 (2000), 102.700 (1999), 98.158 (1998), 93.177 (1997), 82.591 (1996)calendar year Cape Verde Communications45,644 (2000)19,729 (1997) effective system, being improved interisland microwave radio relay system with both analog and digital exchanges; work is in progress on a submarine fiber-optic cable system which was scheduled for completion in 1998 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)AM 0, FM 11 (and 14 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)73,000 (1997)1 (1997)2,000 (1997).cv1 (2000)5,000 (2000) Railways- 0 km1,100 km858 km242 km (1996)noneMindelo, Praia, Tarrafal5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,523 GRT/11,798 DWTcargo 4, chemical tanker 1 (2000 est.)8 (2000) 8 1 7 (2000)Army, Coast Guard/Marinesmales age 15-49- 89,543 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 50,615 (2001 est.)$4 million (FY96)1.8% (FY96)international- noneused as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western EuropeCayman IslandsThe Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica from 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent.Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras19 30 N, 80 30 WCentral America and the Caribbean259 sq km259 sq km0 sq km1.5 times the size of Washington, DC0 km160 kmexclusive fishing zone- 200 NM12 NMtropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefsCaribbean Sea 0 mThe Bluff 43 mfish, climate and beaches that foster tourism0%0%8%23%69% (1993 est.)NA sq kmhurricanes (July to November)no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchmentimportant location between Cuba and Central America35,527 (July 2001 est.) 22.21% (male 3,807; female 4,084) 69.74% (male 12,102; female 12,676) 8.05% (male 1,318; female 1,540) (2001 est.)2.12% (2001 est.)13.79 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)5.15 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)12.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) note- major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US 0.86 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.86 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)10.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 79.03 years 76.24 years 81.43 years (2001 est.)2.04 children born/woman (2001 est.)NA%NANACaymanian(s)Caymanianmixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other ProtestantEnglish age 15 and over has ever attended school 98% 98% 98% (1970 est.)noneCayman Islandsoverseas territory of the UKBritish crown colonyGeorge Town8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Westernnone (overseas territory of the UK)Constitution Day, first Monday in July1959, revised 1972 and 1992British common law and local statutes18 years of age; universalexclusive fishing zone- 200 NMQueen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Governor and President of the Executive Council Peter SMITH (since 5 May 1999)Kurt TIBBETTS (since November 2000)Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly) none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarchunicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three appointed members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) last held 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004) percent of vote - NA%; seats - NASummary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appealthere are no formal political parties but the following loose groupings act as political organizations; National Team; Democratic Alliance; Team CaymanNACaricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate)blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS Cayman Islands EconomyWith no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1997, including almost 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million visitors in 1997. About 90% of the islands food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.purchasing power parity - $930 million (1997 est.)4.9% (1999 est.)purchasing power parity - $24,500 (1997 est.)1.4%3.2%95.4% (1994 est.)NA%NA%NA%3% (1998)19,820 (1995)agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995)4.1% (1997)$265.2 million$248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furnitureNA%330 million kWh (1999)100%0%0% 0% (1999)306.9 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming$1.5 million (1998)turtle products, manufactured consumer goodsmostly US$507.6 million (1998)foodstuffs, manufactured goodsUS, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan$70 million (1996)$NACaymanian dollar (KYD)KYDCaymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)1 April - 31 March Cayman Islands Communications19,000 (1995)2,534 (1995) NA NA 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)36,000 (1997)NA7,000 (1997).ky16 (2000)NA Railways- 0 km406 km304 km102 kmnoneCayman Brac, George Town106 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,656,452 GRT/2,643,036 DWTbulk 21, cargo 5, chemical tanker 27, container 4, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1 note- includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience- Cyprus 2, Denmark 2, Finland 1, Greece 11, Norway 3, UK 3, US 3 (2000 est.)3 (2000 est.) 2 2 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.)Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF) Military - note- defense is the responsibility of the UKinternational- nonevulnerable to drug money laundering and drug transshipment to the US and EuropeCentral African RepublicThe former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - a civilian government was installed in 1993.Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo7 00 N, 21 00 EAfrica622,984 sq km622,984 sq km0 sq kmslightly smaller than Texastotal- 5,203 kmCameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km0 km (landlocked)none (landlocked)tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summersvast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwestOubangui River 335 mMont Ngaoui 1,420 mdiamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower3%0%5%75%17% (1993 est.)NA sq kmhot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are commontap water is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestationBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94Law of the Sealandlocked; almost the precise center of Africa3,576,884 note- estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.) 43.23% (male 778,885; female 767,414) 53% (male 929,717; female 965,947) 3.77% (male 59,364; female 75,557) (2001 est.)1.85% (2001 est.)37.05 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)18.53 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.79 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)105.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 43.8 years 42.17 years 45.48 years (2001 est.)4.86 children born/woman (2001 est.)13.84% (1999 est.)240,000 (1999 est.)23,000 (1999 est.)Central African(s)Central AfricanBaya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 1,500 French)indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11% note- animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majorityFrench (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili age 15 and over can read and write 60% 68.5% 52.4% (1995 est.)Central African RepublicnoneRepublique CentrafricainenoneUbangi-Shari, Central African Empire abbreviation- CARrepublicBangui14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga13 August 1960 (from France)Republic Day, 1 December (1958)passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995based on French law21 years of age; universalnone (landlocked)President Ange-Felix PATASSE (since 22 October 1993)Prime Minister Martin ZIGUELE (since 1 April 2001)Council of Ministers president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 19 September 1999 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president Ange-Felix PATASSE reelected president; percent of vote - Ange-Felix PATASSE 51.63%, Andre KOLINGBA 19.38%, David DACKO 11.15%unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - there were 85 seats in the National Assembly before the 1998 election) last held 22-23 November and 13 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2003) percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD 9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%, independents 6%; seats by party - MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 8, FPP 7, PSD 6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7 note- the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional Council or Conseil Economique et Regional; when they sit together they are called the Congress or CongresSupreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (all judges appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; Criminal CourtsAlliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Francois PEHOUA]; Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [the party of the president, Ange-Felix PATASSE]; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People s Union for the Republic or UPR [leader NA]; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]NAACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC (observer), OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 483-7800 [1] (202) 332-9893 Ambassador Robert C. PERRY Avenue David Dacko, Bangui B. P. 924, Bangui [236] 61 02 00 [236] 61 44 94four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band Central African Republic EconomySubsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry for nearly 54%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR s landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. The 50% devaluation of the currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on the CAR s economy. Diamond, timber, coffee, and cotton exports increased, leading an estimated rise of GDP of 7% in 1994 and nearly 5% in 1995. Military rebellions and social unrest in 1996 were accompanied by widespread destruction of property and a drop in GDP of 2%. The IMF approved an Extended Structure Adjustment Facility in 1998 and the World Bank extended further credits in 1999 and approved a $10 million loan in early 2001. The government has set targets of 3.5% GDP growth in 2001 and 2002. As of January 2001, many civil servants were owed as much as 30 months pay, leading them to go on strike and further damaging the economy.purchasing power parity - $6.1 billion (2000 est.)3.5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.)53%20%27% (1999 est.)NA%0.7%47.7% (1993)3% (2000 est.)NA6% (1993)$638 million$1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $888 million (1994 est.)diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcyclesNA%102 million kWh (1999)20.59%79.41%0% 0% (1999)94.9 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber$166 million (f.o.b., 2000)diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobaccoBenelux 64%, Cote d Ivoire, Spain, China, Egypt, France (1999)$154 million (f.o.b., 2000)food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial productsFrance 35%, Cameroon 13%, Benelux, Cote d Ivoire, Germany, Japan (1999)$790 million (1999 est.)$172.2 million (1995); note - traditional budget subsidies from FranceCommunaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African StatesXAFCommunaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per eurocalendar year Central African Republic Communications10,000 (1997)570 (1997) fair system network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)283,000 (1997)NA18,000 (1997).cf1 (2000)1,000 (2000) Railways- 0 km23,810 km429 km23,381 km (2000)900 km note- traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river, navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m or less; 282 km navigable to craft drawing as much as 1.8 mBangui, Nola52 (2000 est.) 3 1 2 (2000 est.) 49 1 10 23 15 (2000 est.)Central African Armed Forces (includes Army, Air Force, Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, Police Force)males age 15-49- 824,139 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 430,922 (2001 est.)$29 million (FY96)2.2% (FY96)international- noneChadChad, part of France s African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of ethnic warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government eventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-military groups, settled a territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable to Chad, drafted a democratic constitution, and held multiparty presidential and National Assembly elections in 1996 and 1997 respectively. In 1998 a new rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which continued to escalate throughout 2000. Despite movement toward democratic reform, power remains in the hands of a northern ethnic oligarchy.Central Africa, south of Libya15 00 N, 19 00 EAfrica1.284 million sq km1,259,200 sq km24,800 sq kmslightly more than three times the size of Californiatotal- 5,968 kmCameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197 km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km0 km (landlocked)none (landlocked)tropical in south, desert in northbroad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in southDjourab Depression 160 mEmi Koussi 3,415 mpetroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)3%0%36%26%35% (1993 est.)140 sq km (1993 est.)hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plaguesinadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertificationBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, WetlandsLaw of the Sea, Marine Dumpinglandlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel8,707,078 (July 2001 est.) 47.73% (male 2,091,724; female 2,064,514) 49.46% (male 2,035,099; female 2,271,389) 2.81% (male 101,579; female 142,773) (2001 est.)3.29% (2001 est.)48.28 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)15.4 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.04 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.9 male(s)/female 0.71 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)95.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 50.88 years 48.86 years 52.98 years (2001 est.)6.56 children born/woman (2001 est.)2.69% (1999 est.)92,000 (1999 est.)10,000 (1999 est.)Chadian(s)ChadianMuslims, commonly referred to as "northerners" or "gorane" (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba); non-Muslims, commonly referred to as "southerners" (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa) including nonindigenous 150,000 (of whom 1,000 are French) note- ethnicity and regional background more commonly used to identify Chadians than religious affiliationMuslim 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs (mostly animism) 25%French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango (in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic 48.1% 62.1% 34.7% (1995 est.)Republic of ChadChadRepublique du TchadTchadrepublicN Djamena14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile11 August 1960 (from France)Independence Day, 11 August (1960)passed by referendum 31 March 1995based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction18 years of age; universalnone (landlocked)President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990)Prime Minister Nagoum YAMASSOUM (since 13 December 1999)Council of State, members appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister president elected by popular vote to serve five-year term; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, the two candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a second round of voting; last held 20 May 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister appointed by the president Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY elected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 63%, Ngarlegy YORONGAR 16%, Saleh KEBZABO 7% note- government coalition - MPS, UNDR, and URDunicameral National Assembly (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); replaces the Higher Transitional Council or the Conseil Superieur de Transition National Assembly - last held in two rounds on 5 January and 23 February 1997 (next to be held in late 2001); in the first round of voting some candidates won clear victories by receiving 50% or more of the vote; where that did not happen, the two highest scoring candidates stood for a second round of voting percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MPS 65, URD 29, UNDR 15, RDP 3, others 13Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate CourtsNational Union for Development and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO]; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh AHMAT, chairman] (originally in opposition but now the party in power and the party of the president); Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lal Mahamat CHOUA]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]NAACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Hassaballah Abdelhadi Ahmat SOUBIANE 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 462-4009 [1] (202) 265-1937 Ambassador Christopher E. GOLDTHWAIT Avenue Felix Eboue, N Djamena B. P. 413, N Djamena [235] (51) 70-09, (51) 90-52, (51) 92-33 [235] (51) 56-54three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France Chad EconomyLandlocked Chad s economic development suffers from its geographic remoteness, drought, lack of infrastructure, and political turmoil. About 85% of the population depends on agriculture, including the herding of livestock. Of Africa s Francophone countries, Chad benefited least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies in January 1994. Financial aid from the World Bank, the African Development Fund, and other sources is directed largely at the improvement of agriculture, especially livestock production. The World Bank s decision to back the Doba oil field development and the Chad-Cameroon pipeline will add Chad to the group of already booming West African oil exporters. However, the rank and file may not benefit much from the oil development projects.purchasing power parity - $8.1 billion (2000 est.)4% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2000 est.)40%14%46% (1998)64% (1995 est.)NA%NA%3% (2000 est.)NAagriculture 85% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)NA%$198 million$218 million, including capital expenditures of $146 million (1998 est.)cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials5% (1995)90 million kWh (1999)100%0%0% 0% (1999)83.7 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels$172 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)cotton, cattle, textilesPortugal 38%, Germany 12%, Thailand, Costa Rica, South Africa, France (1999)$223 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textilesFrance 40%, Cameroon 13%, Nigeria 12%, India 5% (1999)$1 billion (1999 est.)$238.3 million (1995); note - $125 million committed by Taiwan (August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development BankCommunaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African StatesXAFCommunaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per eurocalendar year Chad Communications7,000 (1997)NA primitive system fair system of radiotelephone communication stations satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 5 (1998)1.67 million (1997)1 (1997)10,000 (1997).td1 (2000)1,000 (2000) Railways- 0 km33,400 km267 km33,133 km (1996)2,000 kmnone50 (2000 est.) 7 2 3 1 1 (2000 est.) 43 12 20 11 (2000 est.)Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, Air Force, and Gendarmerie), Republican Guard, Rapid Intervention Force, Police, Rural and Nomadic Guard (GNNT)20 years of agemales age 15-49- 1,814,578 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 949,997 (2001 est.)males- 82,003 (2001 est.)$39 million (FY96)3.5% (FY96)international- delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, has been completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and NigeriaChileA three-year-old Marxist government was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, which ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, first implemented by the PINOCHET dictatorship, led to unprecedented growth in 1991-97 and have helped secure the country s commitment to democratic and representative government. Growth slowed in 1998-99, but recovered strongly in 2000.Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru30 00 S, 71 00 WSouth America756,950 sq km748,800 sq km8,150 sq km note- includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomezslightly smaller than twice the size of Montanatotal- 6,171 kmArgentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km6,435 km24 NM200/350 NM200 NM12 NMtemperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in southlow coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in eastPacific Ocean 0 mNevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 mcopper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower5%0%18%22%55% (1993 est.)12,650 sq km (1993 est.)severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamisair pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewageAntarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, WhalingClimate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear Test Banstrategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage); Atacama Desert is one of world s driest regions15,328,467 (July 2001 est.) 27.25% (male 2,135,755; female 2,041,552) 65.39% (male 4,993,416; female 5,029,739) 7.36% (male 467,477; female 660,528) (2001 est.)1.13% (2001 est.)16.8 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)5.55 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.71 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)9.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 75.94 years 72.63 years 79.42 years (2001 est.)2.16 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.19% (1999 est.)15,000 (1999 est.)1,000 (1999 est.)Chilean(s)Chileanwhite and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL%Spanish age 15 and over can read and write 95.2% 95.4% 95% (1995 est.)Republic of ChileChileRepublica de ChileChilerepublicSantiago13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso note- the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica18 September 1810 (from Spain)Independence Day, 18 September (1810)11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981, amended 30 July 1989, 1993, and 1997based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction18 years of age; universal and compulsoryPresident Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentPresident Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentCabinet appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 12 December 1999, with runoff election held 16 January 2000 (next to be held NA December 2005) Ricardo LAGOS Escobar elected president; percent of vote - Ricardo LAGOS Escobar 51.32%, Joaquin LAVIN 48.68%bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (48 seats, 38 elected by popular vote and 10 appointed (all former presidents who served 6 years are senators for life); members serve eight-year terms - one-half elected every four years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) Senate - last held 11 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2001); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2001) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CPD (PDC 14, PS 4, PPD 2), RN 7, UDI 10, UCCP 1, independents 10; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CPD 50.55% (PDC 22.98%, PS 11.10%, PPD 12.55%, PRSD 3.13%), RN 16.78%, UDI 14.43%; seats by party - CPD 70 (PDC 39, PPD 16, PRSD 4, PS 11), RN 24, UDI 21, Socialist Party 1, right-wing independents 4Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the president and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the court itself; the president of the Supreme Court is elected by the 21-member court); Constitutional TribunalCenter-Center Union Party or UCCP [Francisco Javier ERRAZURIZ]; Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Ricardo HORMAZABAL]; Coalition of Parties for Democracy ("Concertacion") or CPD - including PDC, PS, PPD, PRSD; Independent Democratic Union or UDI [Pablo LONGUEIRA]; National Renewal or RN [Alberto CARDEMIL]; Party for Democracy or PPD [Guido GIRARDI]; Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Anselmo SULE]; Socialist Party or PS [Ricardo NUNEZ]revitalized university student federations at all major universities; Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country s five largest labor confederationsAPEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Andres BIANCHI 1140 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 785-1746 [1] (202) 887-5579 Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) Ambassador John O LEARY Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago APO AA 34033 [56] (2) 232-2600 [56] (2) 339-3710two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center; design was based on the US flag Chile EconomyChile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile s reputation as a role model for economic reform was strengthened when the democratic government of Patricio AYLWIN - which took over from the military in 1990 - deepened the economic reform initiated by the military government. Growth in real GDP averaged 8% during 1991-97, but fell to half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary policies implemented to keep the current account deficit in check and lower export earnings - the latter a product of the global financial crisis. A severe drought exacerbated the recession in 1999, reducing crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls and electricity rationing, and Chile experienced negative economic growth for the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effects of the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of 1999, exports and economic activity had begun to recover, and growth rebounded to 5.5% in 2000. Unemployment remains stubbornly high, however, putting pressure on President LAGOS to improve living standards. Meanwhile, Chile has launched free trade negotiations with the US.purchasing power parity - $153.1 billion (2000 est.)5.5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $10,100 (2000 est.)8%38%54% (2000)22% (1998 est.)1.2%41.3% (1998)4.5% (2000 est.)5.8 million (1999 est.)agriculture 14%, industry 27%, services 59% (1997 est.)9% (December 2000)$16 billion$17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles6% (2000 est.)38.092 billion kWh (1999)61%35%0% 4% (1999)35.426 billion kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber$18 billion (f.o.b., 2000)copper, fish, fruits, paper and pulp, chemicalsEU 27%, US 16%, Japan 14%, Brazil 6%, Argentina 5% (1998)$17 billion (f.o.b., 2000)consumer goods, chemicals, motor vehicles, fuels, electrical machinery, heavy industrial machinery, foodUS 24%, EU 23%, Argentina 11%, Brazil 6%, Japan 6%, Mexico 5% (1998)$39 billion (2000)ODA, $40 million (2001 est.)Chilean peso (CLP)CLPChilean pesos per US dollar - 571.12 (January 2001), 535.47 (2000), 508.78 (1999), 460.29 (1998), 419.30 (1997), 412.27 (1996)calendar year Chile Communications2.603 million (1998)944,225 (1998) modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)5.18 million (1997)63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)3.15 million (1997).cl7 (2000)625,000 (2000)6,701 km broad gauge- 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1317 km electrified)117 km 1.067-m gauge (28 km electrified); 3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (37 km electrified) (2000)79,800 km11,012 km68,788 km (1996)725 kmcrude oil 755 km; petroleum products 785 km; natural gas 320 kmAntofagasta, Arica, Chanaral, Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 606,506 GRT/884,023 DWTbulk 11, cargo 7, chemical tanker 8, container 4, liquefied gas 2, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 2 (2000 est.)366 (2000 est.) 69 6 6 22 21 14 (2000 est.) 297 1 4 11 62 219 (2000 est.)Army, Navy (includes Naval Air, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force, Carabineros of Chile (National Police), Investigations Police note- Carabineros and Investigations Police are normally administered by the Ministry of Interior, but in times of national emergency, they are considered part of the military19 years of agemales age 15-49- 4,057,466 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 3,003,134 (2001 est.)males- 136,830 (2001 est.)$2.5 billion (FY99)3.1% (FY99)international- Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Bolivia over Rio Lauca water rights; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claimsa growing transshipment country for cocaine destined for the US and Europe; economic prosperity has made Chile more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is risingChinaFor centuries China has stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences. But in the first half of the 20th century, China was beset by major famines, civil unrest, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established a dictatorship that, while ensuring China s sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping gradually introduced market-oriented reforms and decentralized economic decision making. Output quadrupled in the next 20 years and China now has the world s second largest GDP. Political controls remain tight even while economic controls continue to weaken.Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam35 00 N, 105 00 EAsia9,596,960 sq km9,326,410 sq km270,550 sq kmslightly smaller than the UStotal- 22,147.24 kmAfghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km, Hong Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea 1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 km, Mongolia 4,676.9 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605 km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km14,500 km24 NM200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin12 NMextremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in northmostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in eastTurpan Pendi -154 mMount Everest 8,850 m (1999 est.)coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world s largest)10%0%43%14%33% (1993 est.)498,720 sq km (1993 est.)frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughtsair pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal, produces acid rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; desertification; trade in endangered speciesAntarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, WhalingClimate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservationworld s fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US)1,273,111,290 (July 2001 est.) 25.01% (male 166,754,893; female 151,598,117) 67.88% (male 445,222,858; female 418,959,646) 7.11% (male 42,547,296; female 48,028,480) (2001 est.)0.88% (2001 est.)15.95 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)6.74 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.09 male(s)/female 1.1 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.89 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female (2001 est.)28.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 71.62 years 69.81 years 73.59 years (2001 est.)1.82 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.07% (1999 est.)500,000 (1999 est.)17,000 (1999 est.)Chinese (singular and plural)ChineseHan Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1%Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Muslim 2%-3%, Christian 1% (est.) note- officially atheistStandard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry) age 15 and over can read and write 81.5% 89.9% 72.7% (1995 est.)People s Republic of ChinaChinaZhonghua Renmin GongheguoZhong Guo abbreviation- PRCCommunist stateBeijing23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions* (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4 municipalities** (shi, singular and plural); Anhui, Beijing**, Chongqing**, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi*, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol*, Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai**, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin**, Xinjiang*, Xizang* (Tibet), Yunnan, Zhejiang; note - China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entries for the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch in Dynasty 221 BC; Qing or Ch ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12 February 1912; People s Republic established 1 October 1949)Founding of the People s Republic of China, 1 October (1949)most recent promulgation 4 December 1982a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are being made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law18 years of age; universalPresident JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993) and Vice President HU Jintao (since 16 March 1998)Premier ZHU Rongji (since 18 March 1998); Vice Premiers QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993), LI Lanqing (29 March 1993), WU Bangguo (since 17 March 1995), and WEN Jiabao (since 18 March 1998)State Council appointed by the National People s Congress (NPC) president and vice president elected by the National People s Congress for five-year terms; elections last held 16-18 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003); premier nominated by the president, confirmed by the National People s Congress JIANG Zemin reelected president by the Ninth National People s Congress with a total of 2,882 votes (36 delegates voted against him, 29 abstained, and 32 did not vote); HU Jintao elected vice president by the Ninth National People s Congress with a total of 2,841 votes (67 delegates voted against him, 39 abstained, and 32 did not vote)unicameral National People s Congress or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (2,979 seats; members elected by municipal, regional, and provincial people s congresses to serve five-year terms) last held NA December 1997-NA February 1998 (next to be held late 2002-NA March 2003) percent of vote - NA%; seats - NASupreme People s Court (judges appointed by the National People s Congress); Local Peoples Courts (comprise higher, intermediate and local courts); Special Peoples Courts (primarily military, maritime, and railway transport courts)Chinese Communist Party or CCP [JIANG Zemin, General Secretary of the Central Committee]; eight registered small parties controlled by CCPno substantial political opposition groups exist, although the government has identified the Falungong sect and the China Democracy Party as potential rivalsAfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM (observer), OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer), ZC Ambassador-designate YANG Jiechi 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 328-2500 Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco Ambassador Joseph W. PRUEHER Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002 [86] (10) 6532-3431 [86] (10) 6532-6422 Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyangred with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner China EconomyIn late 1978 the Chinese leadership began moving the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented system. Whereas the system operates within a political framework of strict Communist control, the economic influence of non-state managers and enterprises has been steadily increasing. The authorities have switched to a system of household responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a quadrupling of GDP since 1978. In 2000, with its 1.26 billion people but a GDP of just $3,600 per capita, China stood as the second largest economy in the world after the US (measured on a purchasing power parity basis). Agricultural output doubled in the 1980s, and industry also posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment helped spur output of both domestic and export goods. On the darker side, the leadership has often experienced in its hybrid system the worst results of socialism (bureaucracy and lassitude) and of capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation). Beijing thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals. The government has struggled to (a) collect revenues due from provinces, businesses, and individuals; (b) reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) keep afloat the large state-owned enterprises many of which had been shielded from competition by subsides and had been losing the ability to pay full wages and pensions. From 80 to 120 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time low-paying jobs. Popular resistance, changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres have weakened China s population control program, which is essential to maintaining growth in living standards. Another long-term threat to continued rapid economic growth is the deterioration in the environment, notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development. Weakness in the global economy in 2001 could hamper growth in exports. Beijing will intensify efforts to stimulate growth through spending on infrastructure--such as water control and power grids--and poverty relief and through rural tax reform aimed at eliminating arbitrary local levies on farmers.purchasing power parity - $4.5 trillion (2000 est.)8% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $3,600 (2000 est.)15%50%35% (2000 est.)10% (1999 est.)2.4%30.4% (1998)0.4% (2000 est.)700 million (1998 est.)agriculture 50%, industry 24%, services 26% (1998)urban unemployment roughly 10%; substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas (2000 est.)$NA$NA, including capital expenditures of $NAiron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles and apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers, footwear, toys, food processing, automobiles, consumer electronics, telecommunications10% (2000 est.)1.173 trillion kWh (1999)79.82%18.98%1.2% 0.01% (1999)1.084 trillion kWh (1999)7.2 billion kWh (1999)90 million kWh (1999)rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, cotton, oilseed; pork; fish$232 billion (f.o.b., 2000)machinery and equipment; textiles and clothing, footwear, toys and sporting goods; mineral fuelsUS 21%, Hong Kong 18%, Japan 17%, South Korea, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Singapore, Taiwan (2000)$197 billion (f.o.b., 2000)machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, plastics, iron and steel, chemicalsJapan 18%, Taiwan 11%, US 10%, South Korea 10%, Germany, Hong Kong, Russia, Malaysia (2000)$162 billion (2000 est.)$NAyuan (CNY)CNYyuan per US dollar - 8.2776 (January 2001), 8.2785 (2000), 8.2783 (1999), 8.2790 (1998), 8.2898 (1997), 8.3142 (1996) note- beginning 1 January 1994, the People s Bank of China quotes the midpoint rate against the US dollar based on the previous day s prevailing rate in the interbank foreign exchange marketcalendar year China Communications135 million (2000)65 million (January 2001) domestic and international services are increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and many towns interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular telephone systems have been installed; a domestic satellite system with 55 earth stations is in place satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions); several international fiber-optic links to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Russia, and Germany (2000)AM 369, FM 259, shortwave 45 (1998)417 million (1997)3,240 (of which 209 are operated by China Central Television, 31 are provincial TV stations and nearly 3,000 are local city stations) (1997)400 million (1997).cn3 (2000)22 million (January 2001)67,524 km (including 5,400 km of provincial "local" rails)63,924 km 1.435-m gauge (13,362 km electrified; 20,250 km double track)3,600 km 0.750-m and 1.000-m gauge local industrial lines (1998 est.) note- a new total of 68,000 km was estimated for early 1999 to take new construction programs into account (1999)1.4 million km271,300 km (with at least 16,000 km of expressways)1,128,700 km (1999)110,000 km (1999)crude oil 9,070 km; petroleum products 560 km; natural gas 9,383 km (1998)Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Huangpu, Lianyungang, Nanjing, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shantou, Tianjin, Xiamen, Xingang, Yantai, Zhanjiang1,745 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,533,521 GRT/24,746,859 DWTbarge carrier 2, bulk 324, cargo 825, chemical tanker 21, combination bulk 11, combination ore/oil 1, container 132, liquefied gas 24, multi-functional large-load carrier 5, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 45, petroleum tanker 258, refrigerated cargo 22, roll on/roll off 23, short-sea passenger 41, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 1 (2000 est.)489 (2000 est.) 324 27 88 147 30 32 (2000 est.) 165 1 1 29 56 78 (2000 est.)People s Liberation Army (PLA) - which includes Ground Forces, Navy (includes Marines and Naval Aviation), Air Force, Second Artillery Corps (the strategic missile force), People s Armed Police (internal security troops, nominally subordinate to Ministry of Public Security, but included by the Chinese as part of the "armed forces" and considered to be an adjunct to the PLA in wartime)18 years of agemales age 15-49- 366,306,353 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 200,886,946 (2001 est.)males- 10,089,458 (2001 est.)$12.608 billion (FY99); note - China s real defense spending may be several times higher than the official figure because a number of significant items are funded elsewhere1.2% (FY99)international- most of boundary with India in dispute; dispute over at least two small sections of the boundary with Russia remains to be settled, despite 1997 boundary agreement; portions of the boundary with Tajikistan are indefinite; 33-km section of boundary with North Korea in the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; maritime boundary agreement with Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin awaits ratification; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does Taiwanmajor transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem; source country for chemical precursors and methamphetamineChristmas IslandNamed in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. The phosphate mine, closed in 1987, was reopened four years later, but the need for an alternative industry has spurred investment in tourism. Old mining areas are being restored, and almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia10 30 S, 105 40 ESoutheast Asia135 sq km135 sq km0 sq kmabout 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC0 km138.9 km12 NM exclusive fishing zone- 200 NM3 NMtropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade windssteep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateauIndian Ocean 0 mMurray Hill 361 mphosphateNA%NA%NA%NA%NA% note- mainly tropical rainforest of which 60%-70% is in a national parkNA sq kmthe narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazardNAlocated along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean2,771 (July 2001 est.) NA% NA% NA%7.77% (2001 est.)NA births/1,000 populationNA deaths/1,000 populationNA migrant(s)/1,000 populationNA deaths/1,000 live births NA years NA years NA yearsNA children born/womanNA%NANAChristmas Islander(s)Christmas IslandChinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous populationBuddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991)English, Chinese, MalayTerritory of Christmas IslandChristmas Islandterritory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and TerritoriesNAThe Settlementnone (territory of Australia)none (territory of Australia)NAChristmas Island Act of 1958under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian lawQueen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor generalAdministrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999) elections- none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australiaunicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms) last held NA December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2001) percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate s Courtnonenonenonethe flag of Australia is used Christmas Island EconomyPhosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened by union workers. With the support of the government, Australian-based Casinos Austria International Ltd. built a $34 million casino on Christmas Island, which opened in 1993. As of yearend 1999, gaming facilities at the casino were temporarily closed but were expected to reopen in early 2000. Another economic prospect is the possible location of a space-launching site on the island.purchasing power parity - $NANA%purchasing power parity - $NANA%NA%NA%NA%NA%NA%NA%NAtourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995)NA%$NA$NA, including capital expenditures of $NAtourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)NA%NA kWhNA%NA%NA% NA%NA kWhNA$NAphosphateAustralia, NZ$NAconsumer goodsprincipally Australia$NA$NAAustralian dollar (AUD)AUDAustralian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996)1 July - 30 June Christmas Island CommunicationsNA0 (1999) NA NA satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex serviceAM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)1,000 (1997)NA600 (1997).cx2 (2000)NA Railways- 24 km to serve phosphate mines140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private industry)30 km110 km (1999)noneFlying Fish Cove Merchant marine- none (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.) Military - note- defense is the responsibility of Australiainternational- noneClipperton IslandThis isolated island was named for John CLIPPERTON, a pirate who made it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in 1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France, which took possession in 1935.Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico10 17 N, 109 13 WWorld7 sq km7 sq km0 sq kmabout 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC0 km11.1 km200 NM12 NMtropical, humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rains May-Octobercoral atollPacific Ocean 0 mRocher Clipperton 29 mfish0%0%0%0%100% (all coral)0 sq km (1993)NANAreef about 8 km in circumferenceuninhabited (July 2001 est.)noneClipperton IslandnoneIle Clippertonsometimes called Ile de la Passionpossession of France; administered by France from French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republicthe laws of France, where applicable, applythe flag of France is used Clipperton Island EconomyAlthough 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity is tuna fishing.nonenone; offshore anchorage only Military - note- defense is the responsibility of Franceinternational- noneCocos (Keeling) IslandsThe islands were discovered in 1609, but remained uninhabited until the 19th century. Annexed by the UK in 1857, they were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the two inhabited islands is split between the mostly Europeans on West Island and the Malays on Home Island.Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka12 30 S, 96 50 ESoutheast Asia14 sq km14 sq km0 sq km note- includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Islandabout 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC0 km2.6 kmexclusive fishing zone- 200 NM3 NMpleasant, modified by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year; moderate rainfallflat, low-lying coral atollsIndian Ocean 0 munnamed location 5 mfish0%0%0%0%100% (1993 est.)NA sq kmcyclones may occur in the early months of the yearfresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirstwo coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation633 (July 2001 est.) NA% NA% NA%-0.21% (2001 est.)NA births/1,000 populationNA deaths/1,000 populationNA migrant(s)/1,000 populationNA deaths/1,000 live births NA years NA years NA yearsNA children born/womanNA%NANACocos Islander(s)Cocos IslanderEuropeans, Cocos MalaysSunni Muslim 57%, Christian 22%, other 21% (1981 est.)English, MalayTerritory of Cocos (Keeling) IslandsCocos (Keeling) Islandsterritory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and TerritoriesNAWest Islandnone (territory of Australia)none (territory of Australia)NACocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955based upon the laws of Australia and local lawsNAexclusive fishing zone- 200 NMQueen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor generalAdministrator (non-resident) William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)NA none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australiaunicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (NA seats)Supreme Court; Magistrate s Courtnonenonenonethe flag of Australia is used Cocos (Keeling) Islands EconomyGrown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia.purchasing power parity - $NANA%purchasing power parity - $NANA%NA%NA%NA%NA%NA%NA%NAthe Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others$NA$NA, including capital expenditures of $NAcopra products and tourismNA%NA kWhNA%NA%NA% NA%NA kWhvegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts$NAcopraAustralia$NAfoodstuffsAustralia$NA$NAAustralian dollar (AUD)AUDAustralian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996)1 July - 30 June Cocos (Keeling) Islands CommunicationsNA (1999)0 (1999) NA NA telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of NA typeAM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)300 (1992)0 (1997)NA.cc2 (2000)NA Railways- 0 km15 kmNA kmNA km (2001)nonenone; lagoon anchorage only Merchant marine- none (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.) Military - note- defense is the responsibility of Australiainternational- noneColombiaColombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian Government escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by funds from the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, the movement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary to overthrow the government. While Bogota continues to try to negotiate a settlement, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders.Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama4 00 N, 72 00 WSouth America, Central America and the Caribbean1,138,910 sq km1,038,700 sq km100,210 sq km note- includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bankslightly less than three times the size of Montanatotal- 6,004 kmBrazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation200 NM12 NMtropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlandsflat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plainsPacific Ocean 0 mPico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m note- nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevationpetroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower4%1%39%48%8% (1993 est.)5,300 sq km (1993 est.)highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughtsdeforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissionsAntarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, WetlandsAntarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumpingonly South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea40,349,388 (July 2001 est.) 31.88% (male 6,507,282; female 6,354,454) 63.37% (male 12,452,182; female 13,117,707) 4.75% (male 859,967; female 1,057,796) (2001 est.)1.64% (2001 est.)22.41 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.81 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)23.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 70.57 years 66.71 years 74.55 years (2001 est.)2.66 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.31% (1999 est.)71,000 (1999 est.)1,700 (1999 est.)Colombian(s)Colombianmestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%Roman Catholic 90%Spanish age 15 and over can read and write 91.3% 91.2% 91.4% (1995 est.)Republic of ColombiaColombiaRepublica de ColombiaColombiarepublic; executive branch dominates government structureBogota32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Distrito Capital de Santa Fe de Bogota*, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada20 July 1810 (from Spain)Independence Day, 20 July (1810)5 July 1991based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations18 years of age; universalPresident Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998); Vice President Gustavo BELL Lemus (since 7 August 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentPresident Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998); Vice President Gustavo BELL Lemus (since 7 August 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentCabinet Cabinet consists of a coalition of the two dominant parties - the PL and PSC - and independents president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002); vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term in a new procedure that replaces the traditional designation of vice presidents by newly elected presidents; election last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002) no candidate received more than 50% of the total vote, therefore, a run-off election to select a president from the two leading candidates was held 21 June 1998; Andres PASTRANA elected president; percent of vote - 50.3%; Gustavo BELL elected vice president; percent of vote - 50.3%bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (163 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) Senate - last held 8 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2002); House of Representatives - last held 8 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2002) Senate - percent of vote by party - PL 50%, PSC 24%, smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 26%; seats by party - PL 58, PSC 28, smaller parties 16; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PL 52%, PSC 17%, other 31%; seats by party - PL 98, PSC 52, indigenous parties 2, others 11four, coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justical (highest court of criminal law; judges are selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms); Council of State (highest court of administrative law, judges are selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms); Constitutional Court (guards integrity and supremacy of the constitution, rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties); Higher Council of Justice (administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; members of the disciplinary chamber resolve jurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members are elected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)Conservative Party or PSC [Ciro RAMIREZ Anzon]; Liberal Party or PL [Luis Guillermo VELEZ]; Patriotic Union or UP is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and Colombian Communist Party or PCC [Jaime CAICEDO]; 19 of April Movement or M-19 [Antonio NAVARRO Wolff]two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - National Liberation Army or ELN and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC; largest paramilitary group is United Self-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUCBCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejia 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 387-8338 [1] (202) 232-8643 Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Washington, DC consulate(s)- Atlanta Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038 [57] (1) 315-0811 [57] (1) 315-2197three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center Colombia EconomyColombia is poised for muted growth in the next several years, marking continued recovery from the severe 1999 recession when GDP fell by about 4%. President PASTRANA s well-respected economic team is working to keep the economy on track, maintaining low interest rates, for example. In accordance with its IMF loan agreement, the administration also is taking steps to improve the public sector s fiscal health. However, many challenges to improved prosperity remain. Unemployment was stuck at a record 20% in 2000, contributing to the extreme inequality in income distribution. Two of Colombia s leading exports, oil and coffee, face an uncertain future; new exploration is needed to offset declining oil production, while coffee harvests and prices are depressed. The lack of public security is a key concern for investors, making progress in the government s peace negotiations with insurgent groups an important driver of economic performance. Colombia is looking for continued support from the international community to boost economic and peace prospects.purchasing power parity - $250 billion (2000 est.)3% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2000 est.)19%26%55% (1999 est.)55% (1999)1%44% (1999)9% (2000)18.3 million (1999 est.)services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)20% (2000 est.)$22 billion$24 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds11% (2000 est.)43.574 billion kWh (1999)22.27%76.19%0% 1.54% (1999)40.532 billion kWh (1999)27 million kWh (1999)35 million kWh (1999)coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp$14.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)petroleum, coffee, coal, apparel, bananas, cut flowersUS 50%, EU 14%, Andean Community of Nations 16%, Japan 2% (2000 est.)$12.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricityUS 35%, EU 16%, Andean Community of Nations 15%, Japan 5% (2000 est.)$34 billion (2000 est.)$40.7 million (1995)Colombian peso (COP)COPColombian pesos per US dollar - 2,241.43 (January 2001), 2087.90 (2000), 1,756.23 (1999), 1,426.04 (1998), 1,140.96 (1997), 1,036.69 (1996)calendar year Colombia Communications5,433,565 (December 1997)1,800,229 (December 1998) modern system in many respects nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking 50 cities satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat; 3 fully digitalized international switching centers; 8 submarine cablesAM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)21 million (1997)60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997)4.59 million (1997).co18 (2000)600,000 (2000)3,304 km150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines to maritime port at Bahia de Portete)3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (major sections not in use) (2000)110,000 km26,000 km84,000 km (2000)18,140 km (navigable by river boats) (April 1996)crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 kmBahia de Portete, Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 53,322 GRT/69,444 DWTbulk 5, cargo 4, container 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 2 (2000 est.)1,091 (2000 est.) 92 2 8 38 36 8 (2000 est.) 999 1 64 321 613 (2000 est.)Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)18 years of agemales age 15-49- 10,779,148 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 7,205,211 (2001 est.)males- 379,295 (2001 est.)$3 billion (FY00)3.4% (FY00)international- maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial disputes with Nicaragua over Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bankillicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis; world s leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 1999 - 122,500 hectares, a 20.3% increase over 1998); cultivation of opium in 1999 increased to 7,500 hectares from 6,100 hectares in 1998; potential production of opium in 1999 - 75 metric tons, a 25% increase over 1998; potential production of heroin in 1999 - nearly 8 metric tons, as compared with 6 tons in 1998; the world s largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of about 90% of the cocaine to the US and the great majority of cocaine to other international drug markets, and an important supplier of heroin to the US market; active aerial eradication programComorosUnstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He has pledged to resolve the secessionist crisis through the 2000 Fomboni Accord, a confederal arrangement that the Organization of African Unity has yet to recognize.Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique12 10 S, 44 15 EAfrica2,170 sq km2,170 sq km0 sq kmslightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC0 km340 km200 NM12 NMtropical marine; rainy season (November to May)volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hillsIndian Ocean 0 mLe Kartala 2,360 mNEGL35%10%7%18%30% (1993 est.)NA sq kmcyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcanosoil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestationBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandsnone of the selected agreementsimportant location at northern end of Mozambique Channel596,202 (July 2001 est.) 42.81% (male 127,955; female 127,267) 54.26% (male 159,560; female 163,949) 2.93% (male 8,326; female 9,145) (2001 est.)3.02% (2001 est.)39.52 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)9.35 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)NEGL migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)84.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 60.41 years 58.2 years 62.68 years (2001 est.)5.32 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.12% (1999 est.)NANAComoran(s)ComoranAntalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, SakalavaSunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) age 15 and over can read and write 57.3% 64.2% 50.4% (1995 est.)Federal Islamic Republic of the ComorosComorosRepublique Federale Islamique des ComoresComoresindependent republicMoroni3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou6 July 1975 (from France)Independence Day, 6 July (1975)20 October 1996French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code18 years of age; universalPresident AZALI Assoumani (since 6 May 1999); note - the interim government of President Tajiddine Ben Said MASSOUNDE, which had assumed power on 6 November 1998 upon the death of President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim, was overthrown in a bloodless coup on 30 April 1999Prime Minister Hamada MADI (since late November 2000)Council of Ministers appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6 and 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by the president note- President AZALI claimed a one-year term at the time of the coup; but elections, promised for spring 2000, were not held results of the last presidential election before the coup were- Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent of vote - 64.3%bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (15 seats- five from each island); members selected by regional councils for six-year terms) and a Federal Assembly or Assemblee Federale (43 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - the Federal Assembly was dissolved following the coup of 30 April 1999 Federal Assembly - last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to be held NA) Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RND 39, FNJ 3, independent 1 note- the constitution stipulates that only parties that win six seats in the Federal Assembly (two from each island) are permitted to be in opposition, but if no party accomplishes that, the second most successful party will be in opposition; in the elections of December 1996 the FNJ appeared to qualify as oppositionSupreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of the republic)Front National pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed Abdallah MOHAMED, Ahmed ABOUBACAR, Soidiki M BAPANOZA]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of the government) [Ali Bazi SELIM]NAACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant) Deputy Permanent Representative Mahmoud Mohamed ABOUD (acting) (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022 [1] (212) 972-8010 [1] (212) 983-4712green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its points facing downward; there are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the design, the most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992 Comoros EconomyOne of the world s poorest countries, Comoros is made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the leading sector of the economy. It contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.purchasing power parity - $419 million (2000 est.)0.5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $720 (2000 est.)40%4%56% (2000 est.)NA%NA%NA%3.5% (1999)144,500 (1996 est.)agriculture 80%20% (1996 est.)$48 million$53 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks-2% (1999 est.)17 million kWh (1999)88.24%11.76%0% 0% (1999)15.8 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)$7.9 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copraFrance 50%, Germany 25% (1998)$55.1 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipmentFrance 38%, Pakistan 13%, South Africa 8%, Kenya 8% (1998)$197 million (1997 est.)$28.1 million (1997)Comoran franc (KMF)KMFComoran francs per US dollar - 524.41 (January 2001), 533.98 (2000), 461.77 (1999), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996) note- prior to January 1999, the official rate was pegged to the French franc at 75 Comoran francs per French franc; since 1 January 1999, the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per eurocalendar year Comoros Communications6,000 (1997)NA sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and ReunionAM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)90,000 (1997)0 (1998)1,000 (1997).km1 (2000)800 (2000) Railways- 0 km880 km673 km207 km (1996)noneFomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,122 GRT/29,817 DWTcargo 2 (2000 est.)4 (2000 est.) 4 1 3 (2000 est.)Comoran Security Forcemales age 15-49- 141,120 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 83,920 (2001 est.)$NANA%international- claims French-administered Mayotte; the island of Anjouan (Nzwani) has moved to secede from ComorosCongo, Democratic Republic of theSince 1994 the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC; formerly called Zaire) has been rent by ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees from the fighting in Rwanda and Burundi. The government of former president MOBUTU Sese Seko was toppled by a rebellion led by Laurent KABILA in May 1997; his regime was subsequently challenged by a Rwanda- and Uganda-backed rebellion in August 1998. Troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed on 10 July 1999, but sporadic fighting continued. KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA was named head of state. The new president quickly began overtures to end the war.Central Africa, northeast of Angola0 00 N, 25 00 EAfrica2,345,410 sq km2,267,600 sq km77,810 sq kmslightly less than one-fourth the size of the UStotal- 10,744 kmAngola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 473 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km37 kmboundaries with neighbors12 NMtropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to Octobervast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in eastAtlantic Ocean 0 mPic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 mcobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower, timber3%0%7%77%13% (1993 est.)100 sq km (1993 est.)periodic droughts in south; volcanic activitypoaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees who arrived in mid-1994 were responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching in the eastern part of the country (most of those refugees were repatriated in November and December 1996)Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, WetlandsEnvironmental Modificationstraddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo river and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands53,624,718 note- estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.) 48.24% (male 12,988,488; female 12,878,232) 49.21% (male 12,931,886; female 13,459,109) 2.55% (male 575,113; female 791,890) (2001 est.)3.1% (2001 est.)46.02 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)15.15 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) note- one million refugees fled into Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo or DROC) in 1994 to escape the fighting between the Hutus and the Tutsis; fighting in the DROC between rebels and government forces in October 1996 caused 875,000 refugees to return to Rwanda in late 1996 and early 1997; an additional 173,000 Rwandan refugees disappeared in early 1997 and are assumed to have been killed by Zairian forces; fighting between the Congolese government and Uganda- and Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a regional war in DROC in August 1998, which left 1.8 million Congolese displaced in DROC and caused 300,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding countries 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.73 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)99.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 48.94 years 46.96 years 50.98 years (2001 est.)6.84 children born/woman (2001 est.)5.07% (1999 est.)1.1 million (1999 est.)95,000 (1999 est.)Congolese (singular and plural)Congolese or Congoover 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the populationRoman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs 10%French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba 77.3% 86.6% 67.7% (1995 est.)Democratic Republic of the CongononeRepublique Democratique du CongononeCongo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire abbreviation- DROCdictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to representative governmentKinshasa10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and one city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu30 June 1960 (from Belgium)Independence Day, 30 June (1960)24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978, amended April 1990; transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994; in November 1998, a draft constitution was approved by former President Laurent KABILA but it has not been ratified by a national referendumbased on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction18 years of age; universal and compulsoryJoseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note - the president succeeded his father Laurent Desire KABILA after his assassination on 16 January 2001; as president he is both chief of state and head of governmentJoseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note - the president succeeded his father Laurent Desire KABILA after his assassination on 16 January 2001; as president he is both chief of state and head of governmentNational Executive Council, appointed by the president before Laurent Desire KABILA seized power, the president was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 29 July 1984 (next was scheduled to be held in May 1997); formerly, the prime minister was elected by the High Council of the Republic; note - elections were not held in 1991 as called for by the constitution results of the last election were- MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without opposition note- Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga was president from 24 November 1965 until forced into exile on 16 May 1997 when his government was overthrown militarily by Laurent Desire KABILA, who immediately assumed governing authority; KABILA pledged to hold elections by April 1999, but in December 1998 announced that elections would be postponed until all foreign military forces attempting to topple the government had withdrawn from the country; KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and was succeeded by his son Joseph KABILAa 300-member Transitional Constituent Assembly established in August 2000 NA; members of the Transitional Constituent Assembly were appointed by former President KABILASupreme Court or Cour SupremeDemocratic Social Christian Party or PDSC [Andre BO-BOLIKO]; Popular Movement of the Revolution or MPR [leader NA]; Unified Lumumbast Party or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]; Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans or UFERI [Kouyoumba MUCHULI Mulembe]NAACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Faida MITIFU 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691 [1] (202) 234-2609 Ambassador William Lacy SWING 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa Unit 31550, APO AE 09828 [243] (12) 21804, 21807 [243] (88) 43805light blue with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center and a columnar arrangement of six small yellow five-pointed stars along the hoist side Congo, Democratic Republic of the EconomyThe economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with vast potential wealth - has declined drastically since the mid-1980s. The new government instituted a tight fiscal policy that initially curbed inflation and currency depreciation, but these small gains were quickly reversed when the foreign-backed rebellion in the eastern part of the country began in August 1998. The war has dramatically reduced national output and government revenue and has increased external debt. Foreign businesses have curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict and because of increased government harassment and restrictions. The war has intensified the impact of such basic problems as an uncertain legal framework, corruption, raging inflation, and lack of openness in government economic policy and financial operations. A number of IMF and World Bank missions have met with the government to help it develop a coherent economic plan but associated reforms are on hold.purchasing power parity - $31 billion (2000 est.)-15% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $600 (2000 est.)58%17%25% (1997 est.)NA%NA%NA%540% (2000 est.)14.51 million (1993 est.)agriculture 65%, industry 16%, services 19% (1991 est.)NA%$269 million$244 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.)mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cementNA%5.268 billion kWh (1999)2.05%97.95%0% 0% (1999)4.55 billion kWh (1999)404 million kWh (1999)55 million kWh (1999)coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products$960 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt, crude oilBenelux 62%, US 18%, South Africa, Finland, Italy (1999)$660 million (c.i.f., 2000 est.)foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuelsSouth Africa 28%, Benelux 14%, Nigeria 9%, Kenya 7%, China (1999)$13 billion (1998 est.)$195.3 million (1995)Congolese franc (CDF)CDFCongolese francs per US dollar - 50 (January 2001), 4.5 (January 2000), 4.02 (1999), 1.61 (1998), 1.31 (1997), 0.50 (1996) note- on 30 June 1998 the Congolese franc was introduced, replacing the new zairecalendar year Congo, Democratic Republic of the Communications21,000 (1997)8,900 (1997) NA barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)AM 3, FM 12, shortwave 1 (1999)18.03 million (1997)20 (1999)6.478 million (1997).cd2 (2000)1,500 (1999)5,138 km (1995) note- severely reduced route-distance in use because of damage to facilities by civil strife3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2000)157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways)(1996)NA kmNA km15,000 km (including the Congo and its tributaries, and unconnected lakes)petroleum products 390 kmBanana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka Merchant marine- none (2000 est.)232 (2000 est.) 24 4 3 15 2 (2000 est.) 208 20 96 92 (2000 est.)Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Presidential Security Groupmales age 15-49- 11,615,554 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 5,915,251 (2001 est.)$250 million (FY97)4.6% (FY97)international- the Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the grip of a civil war that has drawn in military forces from neighboring states, with Uganda and Rwanda supporting the rebel movements that occupy much of the eastern portion of the state; most of the Congo river boundary with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the river or its islands, except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area)illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumptionCongo, Republic of theUpon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government installed in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO.Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon1 00 S, 15 00 EAfrica342,000 sq km341,500 sq km500 sq kmslightly smaller than Montanatotal- 5,504 kmAngola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon 1,903 km169 km200 NMtropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equatorcoastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basinAtlantic Ocean 0 mMount Berongou 903 mpetroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, natural gas, hydropower0%0%29%62%9% (1993 est.)10 sq km (1993 est.)seasonal floodingair pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestationBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, WetlandsLaw of the Seaabout 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them2,894,336 note- estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.) 42.43% (male 618,411; female 609,633) 54.23% (male 765,501; female 804,125) 3.34% (male 38,772; female 57,894) (2001 est.)2.2% (2001 est.)38.24 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)16.22 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.67 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)99.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 47.57 years 44.38 years 50.85 years (2001 est.)5 children born/woman (2001 est.)6.43% (1999 est.)86,000 (1999 est.)8,600 (1999 est.)Congolese (singular and plural)Congolese or CongoKongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans NA%; note - Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997 civil war; may be half that of 1998, following the widespread destruction of foreign businesses in 1997Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo has the most users) age 15 and over can read and write 74.9% 83.1% 67.2% (1995 est.)Republic of the CongononeRepublique du CongononeMiddle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, CongorepublicBrazzaville9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha15 August 1960 (from France)Independence Day, 15 August (1960)Draft constitution approved by transitional parliament in September 2000based on French civil law system and customary law18 years of age; universalPresident Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October 1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentPresident Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October 1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentCouncil of Ministers appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 August 1992 (next was to be held 27 July 1997 but will be delayed for several years pending the drafting of a new constitution) Pascal LISSOUBA elected president in 1992; percent of vote - Pascal LISSOUBA 61.3%, Bernard KOLELAS 38.7%; note - LISSOUBA was deposed in 1997, replaced by Denis SASSOU-NGUESSOunicameral National Transitional Council (75 seats, members elected by reconciliation forum of 1,420 delegates on NA January 1998); note - the National Transitional Council replaced the bicameral Parliament National Transitional Council - last held NA January 1998 (next to be held NA 2001); note - at that election the National Transitional Council is to be replaced by a bicameral assembly National Transitional Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NASupreme Court or Cour Supremethe most important of the many parties are the Democratic and Patriotic Forces or FDP (an alliance of Convention for Alternative Democracy, Congolese Labor Party or PCT, Liberal Republican Party, National Union for Democracy and Progress, Patriotic Union for the National Reconstruction, and Union for the National Renewal) [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president]; Association for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Sebastian EBAO]Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC; General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC; Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC; Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSCACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (vacant); Charge d Affaires ad interim Serge MOMBOULI 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011 [1] (202) 726-5500 [1] (202) 726-1860 Ambassador David H. KAEUPER NA NA [243] (88) 43608 [243] (88) 41036 note- the embassy is temporarily collocated with the US Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (US Embassy Kinshasa, 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa)divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia Congo, Republic of the EconomyThe economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. Moreover, the government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to the government s shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994, but inflation has subsided since. Economic reform efforts continued with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. However, economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the Republic of the Congo s budget deficit. Even with the IMF s renewed confidence and high world oil prices, Congo is unlikely to realize growth of more than 5% in 2001-02. With the return to fragile peace, the IMF approved a $14 million credit in November 2000 to aid post-conflict reconstruction.purchasing power parity - $3.1 billion (2000 est.)3.8% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2000 est.)10%48%42% (1999 est.)NA%NA%NA%3.5% (2000 est.)NANA%$870 million$970 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)petroleum extraction, cement kilning, lumbering, brewing, sugar milling, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarette makingNA%302 million kWh (1999)0.66%99.34%0% 0% (1999)406.9 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)126 million kWh (1999)cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products$2.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000)petroleum 50%, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamondsUS 23%, Benelux 14%, Germany, Italy, Taiwan, China (1998)$870 million (f.o.b., 2000)petroleum products, capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffsFrance 23%, US 9%, Belgium 8%, UK 7%, Italy (1997 est.)$5 billion (1999 est.)$159.1 million (1995)Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African StatesXAFCommunaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per eurocalendar year Congo, Republic of the Communications22,000 (1997)1,000 (1996) services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out-of-order primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)341,000 (1997)1 (1999)33,000 (1997).cg1 (2000)500 (2000)894 km894 km 1.067-m gauge (2000)12,800 km1,242 km11,558 km (1996)1,120 km note- the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) rivers provide 1,120 km of commercially navigable water transport; other rivers are used for local traffic onlycrude oil 25 kmBrazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire33 (2000 est.) 4 1 3 (2000 est.) 29 7 12 10 (2000 est.)Army, Air Force, Navy, Gendarmerie20 years of agemales age 15-49- 684,922 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 347,946 (2001 est.)males- 32,350 (2001 est.)$110 million (FY93)3.8% (FY93)international- most of the Congo river boundary with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the river or its islands, except in the Stanley Pool/Pool Malebo area)Cook IslandsNamed after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965 residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems.Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand21 14 S, 159 46 WOceania240 sq km240 sq km0 sq km1.3 times the size of Washington, DC0 km120 km200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin200 NM12 NMtropical; moderated by trade windslow coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in southPacific Ocean 0 mTe Manga 652 mNEGL9%13%0%0%78% (1993 est.)NA sq kmtyphoons (November to March)NABiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the SeaClimate Change-Kyoto Protocol20,611 (July 2001 est.) NA% NA% NA%NA%NANACook Islander(s)Cook IslanderPolynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands Christian Church)English (official), Maori NA 95% NA% NA%noneCook IslandsHarvey Islandsself-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islandsself-governing parliamentary democracyAvaruanonenone (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)4 August 1965based on New Zealand law and English common lawNA years of age; universal adultQueen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Jon JONESSEN (since NA January 1998), representative of New ZealandPrime Minister Dr. Terepai MAOATE (since 18 November 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Norman GEORGE (since NA)Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister note- ten years of rule by the Cook Islands Party (CIP) came to an end 18 November 1999 with the resignation of Prime Minister Joe WILLIAMS; WILLIAMS had led a minority government since October 1999 when the New Alliance Party (NAP) left the government coalition and joined the main opposition Democratic Alliance Party (DAP); on 18 November 1999, DAP leader Dr. Terepai MAOATE was sworn in as prime ministerunicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held NA June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CIP 12, DAP 12, NAP 1 note- the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powersHigh CourtCook Islands People s Party or CIP [Tai CARPENTER]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP [Norman GEORGE]NAACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMOblue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag Cook Islands EconomyLike many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, the country lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated public service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of economic management, the encouragement of tourism, and a debt restructuring agreement, have rekindled investment and growth.purchasing power parity - $100 million (1999 est.)NA%purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1999 est.)18%9%73% (1995)NA%NA%NA%1.6% (1999 est.)6,601 (1993)agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% (1995) note - shortage of skilled laborNA%$25 million$23 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 99/00)fruit processing, tourism, fishingNA%21 million kWh (1999)100%0%0% 0% (1999)19.5 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry$3 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothingJapan 42%, New Zealand 25%, US 9%, Australia 9% (1999)$85 million (c.i.f., 1994)foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goodsNZ 70%, Australia 8% (1999)$141 million (1996 est.)$13.1 million (1995); note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater partNew Zealand dollar (NZD)NZDNew Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.2502 (January 2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996)1 April - 31 March Cook Islands Communications5,000 (1997)0 (1994) NA the individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)14,000 (1997)2 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)4,000 (1997).ck3 (2000)NA Railways- 0 km320 km (1992)NANAnoneAvarua, Avatiu1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,310 GRT/2,181 DWTcargo 1 (2000 est.)7 (2000 est.) 1 1 (2000 est.) 6 3 3 (2000 est.) Military - note- defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its requestinternational- noneCoral Sea IslandsScattered over some 1 million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on Willis Island. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia18 00 S, 152 00 EOceanialess than 3 sq kmless than 3 sq km0 sq km note- includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 1 million sq km, with the Willis Islets the most importantNA0 km3,095 kmexclusive fishing zone- 200 NM3 NMtropicalsand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)Pacific Ocean 0 munnamed location on Cato Island 6 mNEGL0%0%0%0%100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)0 sq km (1993)occasional tropical cyclonesno permanent fresh water resourcesimportant nesting area for birds and turtlesno indigenous inhabitants note- there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (July 2001 est.)Coral Sea Islands TerritoryCoral Sea Islandsterritory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territoriesthe laws of Australia, where applicable, applyexclusive fishing zone- 200 NMadministered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territoriesthe flag of Australia is used Coral Sea Islands Economyno economic activity Coral Sea Islands Communications Communications - note- there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainlandnonenone; offshore anchorage only Military - note- defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitorsinternational- noneCosta RicaCosta Rica is a Central American success story- since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural country, it has achieved a relatively high standard of living. Land ownership is widespread. Tourism is a rapidly expanding industry.Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama10 00 N, 84 00 WCentral America and the Caribbean51,100 sq km50,660 sq km440 sq km note- includes Isla del Cocoslightly smaller than West Virginiatotal- 639 kmNicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km1,290 km200 NM12 NMtropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlandscoastal plains separated by rugged mountainsPacific Ocean 0 mCerro Chirripo 3,810 mhydropower6%5%46%31%12% (1993 est.)1,200 sq km (1993 est.)occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoesdeforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; water pollution (rivers); coastal marine pollution; wetlands degradation; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollutionBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, WhalingClimate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation3,773,057 (July 2001 est.) 31.38% (male 605,728; female 578,128) 63.37% (male 1,209,084; female 1,181,754) 5.25% (male 92,314; female 106,049) (2001 est.)1.65% (2001 est.)20.27 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)4.3 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.87 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)11.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 76.02 years 73.49 years 78.68 years (2001 est.)2.47 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.54% (1999 est.)12,000 (1999 est.)750 (1999 est.)Costa Rican(s)Costa Ricanwhite (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, other Protestant 0.7%, Jehovah s Witnesses 1.3%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon age 15 and over can read and write 94.8% 94.7% 95% (1995 est.)Republic of Costa RicaCosta RicaRepublica de Costa RicaCosta Ricademocratic republicSan Jose7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose15 September 1821 (from Spain)Independence Day, 15 September (1821)7 November 1949based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction18 years of age; universal and compulsoryPresident Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998), Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998); note - president is both the chief of state and head of governmentPresident Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998), Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998); note - president is both the chief of state and head of governmentCabinet selected by the president president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 1 February 1998 (next to be held 3 February 2002) Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ elected president; percent of vote - Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 46.6%, Jose Miguel CORRALES (PLN) 44.6%unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held 1 February 1998 (next to be held 3 February 2002) percent of vote by party - PUSC 41%, PLN 35%, minority parties 24%; seats by party - PUSC 27, PLN 23, minority parties 7Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)Agricultural Labor Action or PALA [Carlos Alberto SOLIS Blanco]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Justo OROZCO]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Jose M. NUNEZ]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Alejandro MADRIGAL]; National Independent Party or PNI [Jorge GONZALEZ Marten]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National Liberation Party or PLN [Sonia PICADO]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Luis Manuel CHACON] note- mainly a two-party system - PUSC and PLN; numerous small parties share less than 25% of population s supportAuthentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate); Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; National Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association of Educators or ANDE; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert Brown]BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM Rosenstein 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 234-2945 [1] (202) 265-4795 Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Francisco, St. Paul, and Tampa consulate(s)- Austin Ambassador Thomas J. DODD Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose APO AA 34020 [506] 220-3939 [506] 220-2305five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white disk on the hoist side of the red band Costa Rica EconomyCosta Rica s basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has been put into place. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country s political stability and high education levels, and tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange. However, traditional export sectors have not kept pace. Low coffee prices and an overabundance of bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government continues to grapple with its large deficit and massive internal debt and with the need to modernize the state-owned electricity and telecommunications sector.purchasing power parity - $25 billion (2000 est.)3% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2000 est.)12.5%30.7%56.8% (1999)20.6% (1999 est.)1.3%34.7% (1996)11% (2000 est.)1.9 million (1999)agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.)5.2% (2000 est.)$1.95 billion$2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products4.3% (2000)5.805 billion kWh (1999)2.41%83.32%0% 14.27% (1999)5.303 billion kWh (1999)165 million kWh (1999)69 million kWh (1999)coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber$6.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipmentUS 54.1%, EU 21.3%, Central America 8.6% (1999)$5.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleumUS 56.4%, EU 9%, Mexico 5.4%, Japan 4.7%, (1999)$4.2 billion (2000 est.)Costa Rican colon (CRC)CRCCosta Rican colones per US dollar - 318.95 (2001), 308.19 (2000), 285.68 (1999), 257.23 (1998), 232.60 (1997), 207.69 (1996)calendar year Costa Rica Communications450,000 (1998) note- 584,000 installed in 1997, but only about 450,000 were in use 1998143,000 (2000) very good domestic telephone service point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); two submarine cables (1999)AM 50, FM 43, shortwave 19 (1998)980,000 (1997)6 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)525,000 (1997).cr3 (of which only one is legal) (2000)150,000 (2000)950 km950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified) (2000)37,273 km7,827 km29,446 km (1998 est.)730 km (seasonally navigable)petroleum products 176 kmCaldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,716 GRT/NA DWTpassenger 1 (2000 est.)152 (2000 est.) 29 2 1 19 7 (2000 est.) 123 28 95 (2000 est.)Coast Guard, Air Section, Ministry of Public Security Force (Fuerza Publica) note- Costa Rica has no military, only domestic police forces, including the Coast Guard and Air Section18 years of agemales age 15-49- 1,035,090 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 692,973 (2001 est.)males- 39,411 (2001 est.)$69 million (FY99)1.6% (FY99)international- legal dispute over navigational rights of Rio San Juan on border with Nicaraguatransshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots; domestic cocaine consumption is rising, particularly crack cocaine; those who previously only trafficked are now becoming usersCote d IvoireClose ties to France since independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Cote d Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropical African states. Falling cocoa prices and political turmoil, however, sparked an economic downturn in 1999 and 2000. On 25 December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d Ivoire s history - overthrew the government led by President Henri Konan BEDIE. Presidential and legislative elections held in October and December 2000 provoked violence due to the exclusion of opposition leader Alassane OUATTARA. In October 2000, Laurent GBAGBO replaced junta leader Robert GUEI as president, ending 10 months of military rule.Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia8 00 N, 5 00 WAfrica322,460 sq km318,000 sq km4,460 sq kmslightly larger than New Mexicototal- 3,110 kmBurkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km515 km200 NM200 NM12 NMtropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwestGulf of Guinea 0 mMont Nimba 1,752 mpetroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, hydropower8%4%41%22%25% (1993 est.)680 sq km (1993 est.)coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possibledeforestation (most of the country s forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluentsBiodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandsnone of the selected agreements16,393,221 note- estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.) 46.21% (male 3,802,397; female 3,773,455) 51.57% (male 4,343,518; female 4,110,805) 2.22% (male 180,463; female 182,583) (2001 est.)2.51% (2001 est.)40.38 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)16.65 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) note- after Liberia s civil war started in 1990, more than 350,000 refugees fled to Cote d Ivoire; by the end of 1999 most Liberian refugees were assumed to have returned 1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female (2001 est.)93.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 44.93 years 43.58 years 46.33 years (2001 est.)5.7 children born/woman (2001 est.)10.76% (1999 est.)760,000 (1999 est.)72,000 (1999 est.)Ivorian(s)IvorianAkan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous 11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (1998)Christian 34%, Muslim 27%, no religion 21%, animist 15%, other 3% (1998) note- the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%)French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken age 15 and over can read and write 48.5% 57% 40%Republic of Cote d IvoireCote d IvoireRepublique de Cote d IvoireCote d IvoireIvory Coastrepublic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960Yamoussoukro; note - although Yamoussoukro has been the official capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the administrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan50 departments (departements, singular - departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope, Agboville, Agnibilekrou, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou, Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula note- Cote d Ivoire may have a new administrative structure consisting of 58 departments; the following additional departments have been reported but not yet confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN); Adiake , Ale pe , Dabon, Grand Bassam, Jacqueville, Tiebissou, Toulepleu, Bocanda7 August (1960) (from France)Independence Day, 7 August (1960)3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time 27 July 1998based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction18 years of age; universalPresident Laurent GBAGBO (since 26 October 2000); note - took power following a popular overthrow of the interim leader Gen. Robert GUEI who had claimed a dubious victory in presidential elections; Gen. GUEI himself had assumed power on 25 December 1999, following a military coup against the government of former President Henri Konan BEDIEPrime Minister and Minister of Planning and Development Affi N GUESSAN (since 27 October 2000) appointed by the presidentCouncil of Ministers appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 26 October 2000 (next is scheduled to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president Laurent GBAGBO elected president; percent of vote - Laurent GBAGBO 59.4%, Robert GUEI 32.7%, Francis WODIE 5.7%, other 2.2%unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (225 seats; members are elected in single- and multi-district elections by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections last held 10 December 2000 with by-elections on 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA 2005) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FPI 96, PDCI-RDA 94, RDR 5, PIT 4, other 2, independents 22, vacant 2 note- a Senate is scheduled to be created in the next full election in 2005Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consists of four chambers- Judicial Chamber for criminal cases, Audit Chamber for financial cases, Constitutional Chamber for judicial review cases, and Administrative Chamber for civil cases; there is no legal limit to the number of membersDemocratic Party of Cote d Ivoire-African Democratic Rally or PDCI-RDA [Aime Henri Konan BEDIE]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [Laurent GBAGBO]; Ivorian Worker s Party or PIT [Francis WODIE]; Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Henriette DAGRI-DIABATE]; Union for Democracy and Peace [Gen. Robert GUEI]; over 20 smaller partiesNAACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC (observer), OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Youssouf BAMBA 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 [1] (202) 797-0300 Ambassador George MU 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01 [225] 20 21 09 79 [225] 20 22 32 59three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France Cote d Ivoire EconomyCote d Ivoire is among the world s largest producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products and to weather conditions. Despite government attempts to diversify the economy, it is still largely dependent on agriculture and related activities, which engage roughly 68% of the population. After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy began a comeback in 1994, due to the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc and improved prices for cocoa and coffee, growth in nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples and rubber, limited trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil and gas discoveries, and generous external financing and debt rescheduling by multilateral lenders and France. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth to 5% annually in 1996-99. Growth was negative in 2000 because of the difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors, continued low prices of key exports, and post-coup instability. In 2001-02, a moderate rebound in the cocoa market could boost growth back above 3%; however, political instability could impede growth again.purchasing power parity - $26.2 billion (2000 est.)-0.3% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2000 est.)32%18%50% (1998)NA%3.1%28.8% (1995)2.5% (2000 est.)68% agricultural (2000 est.)13% in urban areas (1998 est.)$1.5 billion$2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $420 million (2000 est.)foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity15% (1998 est.)4.06 billion kWh (1999)75.37%24.63%0% 0% (1999)3.183 billion kWh (1999)593 million kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber$3.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)cocoa 33%, coffee, tropical woods, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton, fish (1999)France 15%, US 8%, Netherlands 7%, Germany 6%, Italy 6% (1999)$2.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)food, consumer goods; capital goods, fuel, transport equipmentFrance 26%, Nigeria 10%, China 7%, Italy 5%, Germany 4% (1999)$13.9 billion (2000 est.)ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.)Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African StatesXOFCommunaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per eurocalendar year Cote d Ivoire Communications219,283 (31 December 1999)322,500 (May 2000) well developed by African standards but operating well below capacity open-wire lines and microwave radio relay; 90% digitalized satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 coaxial submarine cables (June 1999)AM 2, FM 8, shortwave 3 (1998)2.26 million (1997)14 (1999)900,000 (1997).ci5 (2001)20,000 (2000)660 km660 km 1.000-meter gauge; 25 km double track note- an additional 600 km of this railroad extends into Burkina Faso, ending at Kaya, north of Ouagadougou (2000)50,400 km4,889 km45,511 km (1996)980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons)Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,200 GRT/1,500 DWTpetroleum tanker 1 (2000 est.)36 (2000 est.) 7 1 2 4 (2000 est.) 29 8 12 9 (2000 est.)Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Republican Guard (includes Presidential Guard), Sapeur-Pompier (Military Fire Group)18 years of agemales age 15-49- 3,851,432 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 2,010,862 (2001 est.)males- 188,411 (2001 est.)$94 million (FY96)1% (FY96)international- noneillicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin American cocaine destined for EuropeCroatiaIn 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became an independent communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under UN supervision the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998.Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia45 10 N, 15 30 EEurope56,542 sq km56,414 sq km128 sq kmslightly smaller than West Virginiatotal- 2,028 kmBosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Yugoslavia 266 km, Slovenia 501 km5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km)200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation12 NMMediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coastgeographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islandsAdriatic Sea 0 mDinara 1,830 moil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower21%2%20%38%19% (1993 est.)30 sq km (1993 est.)destructive earthquakesair pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strifeAir Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, WetlandsAir Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocolcontrols most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits4,334,142 (July 2001 est.) 18.16% (male 403,722; female 383,151) 66.61% (male 1,452,872; female 1,434,086) 15.23% (male 245,727; female 414,584) (2001 est.)1.48% (2001 est.)12.82 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)11.41 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)13.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.59 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)7.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 73.9 years 70.28 years 77.73 years (2001 est.)1.94 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.02% (1999 est.)350 (1999 est.)less than 100 (1999 est.)Croat(s)CroatianCroat 78.1%, Serb 12.2%, Bosniak 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%, Slovenian 0.5%, Czech 0.4%, Albanian 0.3%, Montenegrin 0.3%, Roma 0.2%, others 6.6% (1991)Roman Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Muslim 1.2%, Protestant 0.4%, others and unknown 10.8% (1991)Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) age 15 and over can read and write 97% 99% 95% (1991 est.)Republic of CroatiaCroatiaRepublika HrvatskaHrvatskapresidential/parliamentary democracyZagreb20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular), 1 city (grad -singular)*- Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska Zupanija, Brodsko-Posavska Zupanija, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska Zupanija, Istarska Zupanija, Karlovacka Zupanija, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka Zupanija, Krapinsko-Zagorska Zupanija, Licko-Senjska Zupanija, Medimurska Zupanija, Osjecko-Baranjska Zupanija, Pozesko-Slavonska Zupanija, Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Sibensko-Kninska Zupanija, Sisacko-Moslavacka Zupanija, Splitsko-Dalmatinska Zupanija, Varazdinska Zupanija, Viroviticko-Podravska Zupanija, Vukovarsko-Srijemska Zupanija, Zadarska Zupanija, Zagreb*, Zagrebacka Zupanija25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)Republic Day/Statehood Day, 30 May (1990)adopted on 22 December 1990based on civil law system18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18 February 2000)Prime Minister Ivica RACAN (since 27 January 2000); Deputy Prime Ministers Goran GRANIC (since 27 January 2000), Zeljka ANTUNOVIC (since 27 January 2000), Slavko LINIC (since 27 January 2000)Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the House of Representatives president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 7 February 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister nominated by the president in line with the balance of power in the Assembly Stjepan MESIC elected president; percent of vote - Stjepan MESIC (HNS) 56%, Drazen BUDISA (HSLS) 44% note- government coalition - SDP, HSLS, HSS, LP, HNS, IDSbicameral Assembly or Sabor consists of the House of Counties or Zupanijski Dom (68 seats, 63 directly elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members serve four-year terms; note - House of Counties to be abolished in 2001) and House of Representatives or the Zastupnicki Dom (151 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) House of Counties - last held 13 April 1997; House of Representatives - last held 2-3 January 2000 (next to be held NA 2004) House of Counties - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - HDZ 42, HSLS/HSS 11, HSS 2, IDS 2, SDP/PGS/HNS 2, SDP/HNS 2, HSLS/HSS/HNS 1, HSLS 1; note - in some districts certain parties ran as coalitions, while in others they ran alone; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - HDZ 46, SDP 44, HSLS 24, HSS 17, HSP/HKDU 5, IDS 4, HNS 2, independents 4, minority representatives 5Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courts appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of RepresentativesAlliance of Croatian Coast and Mountains Department or PGS [Luciano SUSANJ]; Croatian Christian Democratic Union or HKDU [Marko VESELICA]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Ivo SANADER]; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP [Dobroslav PARAGA]; Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Zlatko TOMCIC]; Croatian People s Party or HNS [Vesna PUSIC]; Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Drazen BUDISA]; Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [Vojislav STANIMIROVIC]; Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]; Liberal Party or LP [leader NA]; Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Ivica RACAN] note- the Social Democratic Party or SDP and the Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS formed a coalition as did the HSS, HNS, LP, and IDS, which together defeated the Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ in the 2000 lower house parliamentary electionNABIS, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Ivan GRDESIC 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 588-5899 [1] (202) 588-8936 Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York Ambassador Lawrence G. ROSSIN Andrije Hebranga 2, 100000 Zagreb use street address [385] (1) 455-55-00 [385] (1) 455-85-85red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered) Croatia EconomyBefore the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Republic of Croatia, after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area, with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav average. Croatia faces considerable economic problems stemming from- the legacy of longtime communist mismanagement of the economy; damage during the internecine fighting to bridges, factories, power lines, buildings, and houses; the large refugee and displaced population, both Croatian and Bosnian; and the disruption of economic ties. Stepped-up Western aid and investment, especially in the tourist and oil industries, would help bolster the economy. The economy emerged from its mild recession in 2000 with tourism the main factor. Massive unemployment remains a key negative element. The government s failure to press the economic reforms needed to spur growth is largely the result of coalition politics and public resistance, particularly from the trade unions, to measures that would cut jobs, wages, or social benefits.purchasing power parity - $24.9 billion (2000 est.)3.2% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $5,800 (2000 est.)10%19%71% (1999 est.)4% (1999 est.)NA%NA%6% (2000 est.)1.68 million (October 2000)agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%22% (October 2000)$6 billion$4.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages; tourism1.7% (2000)10.96 billion kWh (1999)40.89%59%0% 0.11% (1999)13.643 billion kWh (1999)1 billion kWh (1999)4.45 billion kWh (1999)wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, soy beans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products$4.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999)transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuelsItaly 18%, Germany 15.7%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 12.8%, Slovenia 10.6%, Austria 6.2% (1999)$7.8 billion (c.i.f., 1999)machinery, transport and electrical equipment, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, foodstuffsGermany 18.5%, Italy 15.9%, Russia 8.6%, Slovenia 7.9%, Austria 7.1% (1999)$9.9 billion (December 1999)$NAkuna (HRK)HRKkuna per US dollar - 8.089 (January 2001), 8.277 (2000), 7.112 (1999), 6.362 (1998), 6.101 (1997), 5.434 (1996)calendar year Croatia Communications1.488 million (1997)187,000 (yearend 1998) NA reconstruction plan calls for replacement of all analog circuits with digital and enlarging the network; a backup will be included in the plan for the main trunk digital international service is provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe (TEL) fiber-optic project which consists of two fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; Croatia is also investing in ADRIA 1, a joint fiber-optic project with Germany, Albania, and Greece (2000)AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)1.51 million (1997)36 (plus 321 repeaters) (September 1995)1.22 million (1997).hr9 (2000)100,000 (1999)2,296 km2,296 km 1.435-m gauge (983 km electrified) (2000)27,840 km23,497 km (including 330 km of expressways)4,343 km (1998)785 km note- (perennially navigable; large sections of Sava blocked by downed bridges, silt, and debris)crude oil 670 km; petroleum products 20 km; natural gas 310 km (1992)Dubrovnik, Dugi Rat, Omisalj, Ploce, Pula, Rijeka, Sibenik, Split, Vukovar (inland waterway port on Danube), Zadar53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 631,853 GRT/969,739 DWTbulk 11, cargo 18, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 5, container 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea passenger 3 (2000 est.)67 (2000 est.) 22 2 6 2 4 8 (2000 est.) 45 1 8 36 (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.)Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces19 years of agemales age 15-49- 1,085,877 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 859,621 (2001 est.)males- 30,037 (2001 est.)$575 million (2000)3.8% (2000)international- Croatia and Italy made progress toward resolving a bilateral issue dating from World War II over property and ethnic minority rights; progress with Slovenia on discussions of adjustments to land boundary, but problems remain in defining maritime boundary in Gulf of Piran; Croatia and Yugoslavia are negotiating the status of the strategically important Prevlaka Peninsula, which is currently under a UN military observer mission (UNMOP)transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe; a minor transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western EuropeCubaFidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has held the country together since. Cuba s communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. The country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession in 1990, following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually. Havana portrays its difficulties as the result of the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, or falsified visas - is a continuing problem. Some 3,000 Cubans took to the Straits of Florida in 2000; the US Coast Guard interdicted only about 35% of these.Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida21 30 N, 80 00 WCentral America and the Caribbean110,860 sq km110,860 sq km0 sq kmslightly smaller than Pennsylvaniatotal- 29 kmUS Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km note- Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba3,735 km200 NM12 NMtropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeastCaribbean Sea 0 mPico Turquino 2,005 mcobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land24%7%27%24%18% (1993 est.)9,100 sq km (1993 est.)the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are commonpollution of Havana Bay; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestationAntarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship PollutionAntarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservationlargest country in Caribbean11,184,023 (July 2001 est.) 20.99% (male 1,205,159; female 1,142,070) 69.14% (male 3,876,432; female 3,855,878) 9.87% (male 511,589; female 592,895) (2001 est.)0.37% (2001 est.)12.36 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)7.33 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)-1.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.86 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)7.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 76.41 years 74.02 years 78.94 years (2001 est.)1.6 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.03% (1999 est.)1,950 (1999 est.)120 (1999 est.)Cuban(s)Cubanmulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah s Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also representedSpanish age 15 and over can read and write 95.7% 96.2% 95.3% (1995 est.) People - note- illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; some 3,000 Cubans took to the Straits of Florida in 2000; the US Coast Guard interdicted about 35% of these migrants; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the US; some 2,400 Cubans arrived overland via the southwest border and direct flights to MiamiRepublic of CubaCubaRepublica de CubaCubaCommunist stateHavana14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara20 May 1902 (from US)Independence Day, 10 October (1868); note - 10 October 1868 is the date of independence from Spain, 20 May 1902 is the date of independence from US administration24 February 1976, amended July 1992based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction16 years of age; universalPresident of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentPresident of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentCouncil of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly; note - there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National Assembly president and vice president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next election unscheduled) Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 100%unicameral National Assembly of People s Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (601 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms) last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held in 2003) percent of vote - PCC 94.39%; seats - PCC 601People s Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary]NACCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO [1] (202) 797-8518 33-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); 33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerlandfive equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center; design influenced by the US flag Cuba EconomyThe government, the primary player in the economy, has undertaken limited reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity, increase enterprise efficiency, and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services, but prioritizing of political control makes extensive reforms unlikely. Living standards for the average Cuban, without access to dollars, remain at a depressed level compared with 1990. The liberalized farmers markets introduced in 1994, sell above-quota production at market prices, expand legal consumption alternatives, and reduce black market prices. Income taxes and increased regulations introduced since 1996 have sharply reduced the number of legally self-employed from a high of 208,000 in January 1996. Havana announced in 1995 that GDP declined by 35% during 1989-93 as a result of lost Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The slide in GDP came to a halt in 1994 when Cuba reported growth in GDP of 0.7%. Cuba reported that GDP increased by 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996, before slowing down in 1997 and 1998 to 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. Growth recovered with a 6.2% increase in GDP in 1999 and a 5.6% increase in 2000. Much of Cuba s recovery can be attributed to tourism revenues and foreign investment. Growth in 2001 should continue at the same level as the government balances the need for economic loosening against its concern for firm political control.purchasing power parity - $19.2 billion (2000 est.)5.6% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.)7%37%56% (1998 est.)NA%NA%NA%0.3% (1999 est.)4.3 million (2000 est.) note- state sector 75%, non-state sector 25% (1998)agriculture 25%, industry 24%, services 51% (1998)5.5% (2000 est.)$13.5 billion$14.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)sugar, petroleum, tobacco, chemicals, construction, services, nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery5% (2000 est.)14.358 billion kWh (1999)94.2%0.7%0% 5.1% (1999)13.353 billion kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock$1.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffeeRussia 23%, Netherlands 23%, Canada 13% (1999)$3.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals, semifinished goods, transport equipment, consumer goodsSpain 18%, Venezuela 13%, Canada 8% (1999)$11.1 billion (convertible currency, 1999); another $15 billion -$20 billion owed to Russia (2000)$68.2 million (1997 est.)Cuban peso (CUP)CUPCuban pesos per US dollar - 1.0000 (nonconvertible, official rate, for international transactions, pegged to the US dollar); convertible peso sold for domestic use at a rate of 1.00 US dollar per 22 pesos by the Government of Cuba (January 2001)calendar year Cuba Communications473,031 (2000)2,994 (1997) NA principal trunk system, end to end of country, is coaxial cable; fiber-optic distribution in Havana and on Isla de la Juventud; 2 microwave radio relay installations (one is old, US-built; the other newer, Soviet-built); both analog and digital mobile cellular service established satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)3.9 million (1997)58 (1997)2.64 million (1997).cu4 (2001)60,000 (2000)11,969 km4,807 km 1.435-m gauge (147 km electrified) note- in addition to the 4,807 km of standard gauge track in public use, 7,162 km of track is in private use by sugar plantations; about 90% of the private use track is standard gauge and the rest is narrow gauge (2000)60,858 km29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)31,038 km (1997)240 kmCienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 54,821 GRT/78,062 DWTbulk 1, cargo 7, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 5 (2000 est.)171 (2000 est.) 77 7 9 16 10 35 (2000 est.) 94 31 63 (2000 est.)Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) includes ground forces, Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Territorial Troops Militia (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT); the Border Guard (TGF) is controlled by the Interior Ministry17 years of agemales age 15-49- 3,090,633 females age 15-49- 3,029,274 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 1,911,160 females age 15-49- 1,867,958 (2001 est.)males- 79,562 females- 85,650 (2001 est.)$NAroughly 4% (FY95 est.) Military - note- Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993international- US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the leaseterritorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for cocaine bound for the US and Europe; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999CyprusIndependence from the UK was approved in 1960 with constitutional guarantees by the Greek Cypriot majority to the Turkish Cypriot minority. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled almost 40% of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", but it is recognized only by Turkey. UN-led talks on the status of Cyprus resumed in December 1999 to prepare the ground for meaningful negotiations leading to a comprehensive settlement.Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey35 00 N, 33 00 EMiddle East9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot area)9,240 sq km10 sq kmabout 0.6 times the size of Connecticut0 km648 km200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation12 NMtemperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, winterscentral plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coastMediterranean Sea 0 mOlympus 1,951 mcopper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment12%5%0%13%70% (1993 est.)390 sq km (1993 est.)moderate earthquake activity; droughtswater resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island s largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanizationAir Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship PollutionAir Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants762,887 (July 2001 est.) 22.95% (male 89,532; female 85,518) 66.26% (male 255,368; female 250,140) 10.79% (male 35,864; female 46,465) (2001 est.)0.59% (2001 est.)13.08 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.77 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)7.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 76.89 years 74.6 years 79.3 years (2001 est.)1.93 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.1% (1999 est.)400 (1999 est.)NACypriot(s)CypriotGreek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.5% of the Greeks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 98.7% of the Turks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), other 4% (99.2% of the other ethnic groups live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.8% of the other ethnic groups live in the Turkish Cypriot area)Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4%Greek, Turkish, English age 15 and over can read and write 94% 98% 91% (1987 est.)Republic of CyprusCyprus note- the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)rchasing power parity - $16,000 (2000 est.); Turkish Cypriot area- purchasing power parity - $5,300 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector- Greek Cypriot area- agriculture 6.3%, industry 22.4%, services 71.3% (1998); Turkish Cypriot area- agriculture 11.8%, industry 20.5%, services 67.7% (1998)republic note- a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974 after a Greek junta-based coup attempt gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly support a settlement based on a federation (Greek Cypriot position) or confederation (Turkish Cypriot position)Nicosia6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area s administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriot area celebrates 15 November (1983) as Independence Day16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish Cypriot area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985based on common law, with civil law modifications18 years of age; universalPresident Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish CypriotPresident Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish CypriotCouncil of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 February 1998 (next to be held NA February 2003) Glafcos CLERIDES reelected president; percent of vote - Glafcos CLERIDES 50.8%, George IAKOVOU 49.2% note- Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for a five-year term); elections last held 15 April 2000 (next to be held NA April 2005); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH reelected president after the other contender withdrew; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime minister" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 16 August 1996; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot areaunicameral - Greek Cypriot area- House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); Turkish Cypriot area- Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) Greek Cypriot area- last held 27 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2006); Turkish Cypriot area- last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003) Greek Cypriot area- House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19, DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; Turkish Cypriot area- Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - UBP 40.3%, DP 22.6%, TKP 15.4%, CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP 1.2%; seats by party - UBP 24, DP 13, TKP 7, CTP 6Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the Supreme Council of Judicature) note- there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot areaGreek Cypriot area- Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Restorative Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS]; Social Democrats Movement or KISOS (formerly United Democratic Union of Cyprus or EDEK) [Vassos LYSSARIDIS]; United Democrats Movement or EDE (formerly Free Democrats Movement or KED) [George VASSILIOU]; Turkish Cypriot area- Communal Liberation Party or TKP [Mustafa AKINCI]; Democratic Party or DP [Salih COSAR]; National Birth Party or UDP [Enver EMIN]; National Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU]; Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH [Izzet IZCAN]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT]Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist controlled)Australia Group, C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Ambassador Erato KOZAKOU-MARCOULLIS 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 462-5772 [1] (202) 483-6710 New York note- representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Ahmet ERDENGIZ; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198 Ambassador Donald K. BANDLER corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407 Nicosia P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836 [357] (2) 776400 [357] (2) 780944white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities note- the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a white field Cyprus EconomyEconomic affairs are affected by the division of the country. The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to external shocks. Erratic growth rates in the 1990s reflect the economy s vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused by political instability on the island and fluctuations in economic conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy is focused on meeting the criteria for admission to the EU. As in the Turkish sector, water shortage is a growing problem, and several desalination plants are planned. The Turkish Cypriot economy has about one-fifth the population and one-third the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have hesitated to invest there. It remains heavily dependent on agriculture and government service, which together employ about half of the work force. Moreover, the small, vulnerable economy has suffered because the Turkish lira is legal tender. To compensate for the economy s weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to tourism, education, industry, etc.Greek Cypriot area- purchasing power parity - $9.7 billion (2000 est.); Turkish Cypriot area- purchasing power parity - $830 million (1999 est.)Greek Cypriot area- 4.2% (2000 est.); Turkish Cypriot area- 4.9% (1999 est.)Greek Cypriot area- purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2000 est.); Turkish Cypriot area- purchasing power parity - $5,300 (1999 est.)NA%NA%NA%Greek Cypriot area- 4.2% (2000 est.); Turkish Cypriot area- 58% (1999 est.)Greek Cypriot area- 291,000; Turkish Cypriot area- 86,300 (2000)Greek Cypriot area- services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5% (2000); Turkish Cypriot area- services 56.4%, industry 22.8%, agriculture 20.8% (1998)Greek Cypriot area- 3.6% (2000 est.); Turkish Cypriot area- 6% (1998 est.)Greek Cypriot area - $2.9 billion (2000 est.); Turkish Cypriot area - $294 million (2000 est.)Greek Cypriot area - $3.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $324 million (2000 est.); Turkish Cypriot $495 million, including capital expenditures of $60 million (2000 est.)food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood productsGreek Cypriot area- 2.2% (1999); Turkish Cypriot area- -0.3% (1999)2.951 billion kWh (1999); Turkish Cypriot area- NA kWh100%0%0% 0% (1999)2.744 billion kWh (1999); Turkish Cypriot area- NA kWh0 kWh (1999)0 kWh (1999)potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetablesGreek Cypriot area- $1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.); Turkish Cypriot area- $51.1 million (f.o.b., 1999)Greek Cypriot area- citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes; Turkish Cypriot area- citrus, potatoes, textilesGreek Cypriot area- UK 17.3%, Greece 9.7%, Russia 7.0%, Lebanon 5.2% (1999); Turkish Cypriot area- Turkey 51%, UK 31%, other EU 16.5% (1999)Greek Cypriot area- $3.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.); Turkish Cypriot area- $402 million (f.o.b., 1999)Greek Cypriot area- consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery; Turkish Cypriot area- food, minerals, chemicals, machineryGreek Cypriot area- UK 11.2%, US 10.6%, Italy 8.8%, Greece 8.2%, Germany 6.7% (1999); Turkish Cypriot area- Turkey 58.6%, UK 12.5%, other EU 13% (1999)Greek Cypriot area- $NA; Turkish Cypriot area- $NAGreek Cypriot area - $17 million (1998); Turkish Cypriot area - $700 million from Turkey in grants and loans (1990-97) that are usually forgivenGreek Cypriot area- Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area- Turkish lira (TRL)CYP; TRLCypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.6146 (January 2001), 0.6208 (2000), 0.5423 (1999), 0.5170 (1998), 0.5135 (1997), 0.4663 (1996); Turkish liras per US dollar - 677,621 (December 2000), 625,219 (2000), 418,783 (1999), 260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997), 81,405 (1996)calendar year Cyprus CommunicationsGreek Cypriot area- 405,000 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area- 83,162 (1998)Greek Cypriot area- 68,000 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area- 70,000 (1999) excellent in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot areas open wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 ArabsatGreek Cypriot area- AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area- AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)Greek Cypriot area- 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area- 56,450 (1994)Greek Cypriot area- 4 (plus 225 low-power repeaters) (September 1995); Turkish Cypriot area- 4 (plus 5 repeaters) (September 1995)Greek Cypriot area- 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area- 52,300 (1994).cy6 (2000)80,000 (2000) Railways- 0 kmGreek Cypriot area- 10,663 km (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area- 2,350 km (1996 est.)Greek Cypriot area- 6,249 km (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area- 1,370 km (1996 est.)Greek Cypriot area- 4,414 km (1998 est.); Turkish Cypriot area- 980 km (1996 est.)noneFamagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos1,328 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,905,542 GRT/36,312,219 DWTbarge carrier 2, bulk 431, cargo 438, chemical tanker 23, combination bulk 36, combination ore/oil 4, container 140, liquefied gas 6, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 143, refrigerated cargo 40, roll on/roll off 42, short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 3 note- includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience- Austria 8, Belgium 7, China 10, Cuba 10, Denmark 2, Germany 79, Greece 385, Hong Kong 9, Croatia 2, India 5, Iran 1, Israel 4, Italy 2, Japan 19, South Korea 3, Latvia 10, Lithuania 1, Monaco 1, Netherlands 13, Norway 11, Poland 9, Portugal 3, Russia 42, Singapore 1, Spain 5, Sudan 2, Sweden 3, Switzerland 2, UAE 6, UK 8, Ukraine 2, US 9, Venezuela 2 (2000 est.)15 (2000 est.) 12 7 1 3 1 (2000 est.) 3 1 2 (2000 est.)7 (2000 est.)Greek Cypriot area- Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements), Hellenic Forces Contingent on Cyprus (ELDYK), Greek Cypriot Police; Turkish Cypriot area- Turkish Cypriot Security Force (TCSF), Turkish mainland army units18 years of agemales age 15-49- 198,275 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 136,147 (2001 est.)males- 6,616 (2001 est.)$370 million (FY00)4.2% (FY00)international- 1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek Cypriot area controlled by the internationally recognized Cypriot Government (59% of the island s land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (37% of the island), that are separated by a UN buffer zone (4% of the island); there are two UK sovereign base areas mostly within the Greek Cypriot portion of the islandminor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as wellCzech RepublicAfter World War II, Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country s leaders to liberalize party rule and create "socialism with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations the following year ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Now a member of NATO, the Czech Republic has moved toward integration in world markets, a development that poses both opportunities and risks.Central Europe, southeast of Germany49 45 N, 15 30 EEurope78,866 sq km77,276 sq km1,590 sq kmslightly smaller than South Carolinatotal- 1,881 kmAustria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km, Slovakia 215 km0 km (landlocked)none (landlocked)temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid wintersBohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly countryElbe River 115 mSnezka 1,602 mhard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber41%2%11%34%12% (1993 est.)240 sq km (1993 est.)floodingair and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forestsAir Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, WetlandsAir Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocollandlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe10,264,212 (July 2001 est.) 16.09% (male 847,219; female 804,731) 69.99% (male 3,592,984; female 3,590,802) 13.92% (male 549,538; female 878,938) (2001 est.)-0.07% (2001 est.)9.11 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)10.81 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.63 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)5.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 74.73 years 71.23 years 78.43 years (2001 est.)1.18 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.04% (1999 est.)2,200 (1999 est.)less than 100 (1999 est.)Czech(s)CzechCzech 81.2%, Moravian 13.2%, Slovak 3.1%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%, Silesian 0.4%, Roma 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 0.5% (1991)atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%Czech NA 99.9% (1999 est.) NA% NA%Czech RepublicCzech RepublicCeska RepublikaCeska Republikaparliamentary democracyPrague13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni mesto); Brnensky, Budejovicky, Jihlavsky, Karlovarsky, Kralovehradecky, Liberecky, Olomoucky, Ostravsky, Pardubicky, Plzensky, Praha*, Stredocesky, Ustecky, Zlinsky1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory18 years of age; universalnone (landlocked)President Vaclav HAVEL (since 2 February 1993)Prime Minister Milos ZEMAN (since 17 July 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Vladimir SPIDLA (since 22 July 1998), Pavel RYCHETSKY (since 22 July 1998), Jan KAVAN (since 8 December 1999)Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 20 January 1998 (next to be held NA January 2003); prime minister appointed by the president Vaclav HAVEL reelected president; Vaclav HAVEL received 47 of 81 votes in the Senate and 99 out of 200 votes in the Chamber of Deputies (second round of voting)bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Poslanecka snemovna (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) Senate - last held 12 and 19 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2002); Chamber of Deputies - last held 19-20 June 1998 (next to be held by NA June 2002) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - KDU-CSL 28, ODS 22, CSSD 15, ODA 7, US 4, KSCM 3, independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CSSD 32.3%, ODS 27.7%, KSCM 11%, KDU-CSL 9.0%, US 8.6%; seats by party - CSSD 74, ODS 63, KSCM 24, KDU-CSL 20, US 18, CSNS 1Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for a 10-year termChristian and Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People s Party or KDU-CSL [Jan KASAL, chairman]; Civic Democratic Alliance or ODA [Daniel KROUPA, chairman]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Vaclav KLAUS, chairman]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman]; Communist Party of Czechoslovakia or KSC [Miroslav STEPAN, chairman]; Czech National Social Party of CSNS [Jan SULA, chairman]; Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Milos ZEMAN, chairman]; Democratic Union or DEU [Ratibor MAJZLIK, chairman]; Freedom Union or US [Karel KUEHNL, chairman]; Quad Coalition [Cyril SVOBODA, chairman] (includes KDU-CSL, US, ODA, DEU); Republicans of Miroslav SLADEK or RMS [Miroslav SLADEK, chairman]Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions [Richard FALBR]ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC Ambassador Alexsandr VONDRA 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 274-9100 [1] (202) 966-8540 Los Angeles and New York Ambassador (vacant); Charge d Affaires Steven J. COFFEY Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1 use embassy street address [420] (2) 5753-0663 [420] (2) 5753-0583two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia) Czech Republic EconomyBasically one of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states, the Czech Republic has been recovering from recession since mid-1999. The economy grew about 2.5% in 2000 and should achieve somewhat higher growth in 2001. Growth is led by exports to the EU, especially Germany, and foreign investment, while domestic demand is reviving. Uncomfortably high fiscal and current account deficits could be future problems. Unemployment is down to 8.7% as job creation continues in the rebounding economy; inflation is up to 3.8% but still moderate. The EU put the Czech Republic just behind Poland and Hungary in preparations for accession, which will give further impetus and direction to structural reform. Moves to complete banking, telecommunications and energy privatization will add to foreign investment, while intensified restructuring among large enterprises and banks and improvements in the financial sector should strengthen output growth.purchasing power parity - $132.4 billion (2000 est.)2.5% (2000 est.)purchasing power parity - $12,900 (2000 est.)3.7%41.8%54.5% (1999)NA%4.3%22.4% (1996)3.8% (2000 est.)5.203 million (1999 est.)agriculture 5%, industry 40%, services 55% (2000 est.)8.7% (2000 est.)$16.7 billion$18 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)metallurgy, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, glass, armaments7.6% (2000)67.642 billion kWh (2000)77.8%3.43%18.77% 0% (2000)52.898 billion kWh (2000)18.744 billion kWh (2000)8.735 billion kWh (2000)wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry$28.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000)machinery and transport equipment 44%, other manufactured goods 40%, chemicals 7%, raw materials and fuel 7% (1999)Germany 43%, Slovakia 8.4%, Austria 6.6%, Poland 5.6%, France 4% (1999)$31.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000)machinery and transport equipment 42%, other manufactured goods 33%, chemicals 12%, raw materials and fuels 10% (1999)Germany 37.5%, Slovakia 6.7%, Austria 6.2%, Italy 5.9%, France 5.4% (1999)$21.3 billion (2000)$NACzech koruna (CZK)CZKkoruny per US dollar - 37.425 (January 2001), 38.598 (2000), 34.569 (1999), 32.281 (1998), 31.698 (1997), 27.145 (1996)calendar year Czech Republic Communications3.869 million (2000)4.346 million (2000) privatization and modernization of the Czech telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily; growth in the use of mobile cellular telephones is particularly vigorous 86% of exchanges now digital; existing copper subscriber systems now being enhanced with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) equipment to accommodate Internet and other digital signals; trunk systems include fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 GlobalstarAM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000)3,159,134 (December 2000)150 (plus 1,434 repeaters) (2000)3,405,834 (December 2000).czmore than 300 (2000)900,000 (2000)9,444 km9,350 km 1.435-m standard gauge (2,843 km electrified; 1,929 km double track)94 km 0.760-m narrow gauge (2000)55,432 km55,432 km (including 499 km of expressways)0 km (2000)303 km note- (the Labe (Elbe) is the principal river) (2000)natural gas 3,550 km (2000)Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem114 (2000 est.) 43 2 10 14 1 16 (2000 est.) 71 1 28 42 (2000 est.)1 (2000 est.)Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Territorial Defense, Railroad Units18 years of agemales age 15-49- 2,653,456 (2001 est.)males age 15-49- 2,024,070 (2001 est.)males- 69,393 (2001 est.)$1.2 billion (FY01)2.2% (FY01)international- Liechtenstein s royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of land in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918; individual Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II; Austria has minor dispute with Czech Republic over nuclear power plants and post-World War II treatment of German-speaking minoritiesmajor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transit point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; domestic consumption - especially of locally produced synthetic drugs - on the riseDenmarkOnce the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the political and economic integration of Europe. So far, however, the country has opted out of some aspects of the European Union s Maastricht Treaty, including the economic and monetary system (EMU) and issues concerning certain internal affairs.Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major islands (Sjaeland and Fyn)56 00 N, 10 00 EEurope43,094 sq km42,394 sq km700 sq km note- includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major islands of Sjaeland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenlandslightly less than twice the size of Massachusettstotal- 68 kmGermany 68 km7,314 km24 NM200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation200 NM12 NMtemperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summerslow and flat to gently rolling plainsLammefjord -7 mYding Skovhoej 173 mpetroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, stone, gravel and sand60%0%5%10%25% (1993 est.)4,350 sq km (1993 est.)flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikesair pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticidesAir Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, WhalingAir Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Seacontrols Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen5,352,815 (July 2001 est.) 18.59% (male 510,826; female 484,385) 66.56% (male 1,804,617; female 1,758,019) 14.85% (male 331,906; female 463,062) (2001 est.)0.3% (2001 est.)11.96 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)10.9 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)1.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.72 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)5.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 76.72 years 74.12 years 79.47 years (2001 est.)1.73 children born/woman (2001 est.)0.17% (1999 est.)4,300 (1999 est.)less than 100 (1999 est.)Dane(s)DanishScandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, SomaliEvangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslims 2%Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority) note- English is the predominant second language age 15 and over can read and write 100% NA% NA%Kingdom of DenmarkDenmarkKongeriget DanmarkDanmarkconstitutional monarchyCopenhagenmetropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 2 kommunes*; Arhus, Bornholm, Fredericksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavns*, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom, Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg note- see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governing administrative divisionsfirst organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchynone designated; Constitution Day, 5 June is generally viewed as the National Day1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul 5 June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of statecivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations18 years of age; universalQueen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born 26 May 1968)Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since 25 January 1993)Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by Parliament none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarchunicameral Parliament or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) last held 11 March 1998 (next to be held by March 2002) percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - progovernment parties- Social Democratic Party 65, Socialist People s Party 13, Social Liberal Party 7, Red-Green Unity List 5; opposition- Liberal Party 43, Conservative Party 17, Danish People s Party 13, Center Democratic Party 8, Christian People s Party 4, Progress Party 4; seats by party as of 1 January 2001- government coalition parties - Social Democrats 63, Social Liberals 7; pro-government parties - Socialist People s Party 13, Unity List 5; opposition - Liberals 42, Conservatives 16, Danish People s Party 13, Center Democrats 8, Christian People s Party 4, Progress Party 4 (now named Freedom 2000); does not include the 4 overseas seatsSupreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch for life)Center Democratic Party [Mimi JAKOBSEN]; Christian People s Party [Jann SJURSEN]; Conservative Party (sometimes known as Conservative People s Party) [Bendt BENDTSEN]; Danish People s Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; Progress Party (now named Freedom 2000) [Kim BEHNKE]; Social Democratic Party [Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN]; Social Liberal Party (sometimes called the Radical Left) [Marianne JELVED, leader; Johannes LEBECH, chairman]; Socialist People s Party [Holger K. NIELSEN]; Red-Green Unity List (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of Denmark, Socialist Workers Party) [collective leadership]NAAfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC Ambassador Ulrik Andreas FEDERSPIEL 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 234-4300 [1] (202) 328-1470 Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York Ambassador Stuart BERNSTEIN Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen PSC 73, APO AE 09716 [45] 35 55 31 44 [45] 35 38 96 16red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden Denmark EconomyThis thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and has a comfortable balance of payments surplus. T