The 1994 CIA World Factbook

1994 CIA World Factbook

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*The Project Gutenberg Edition of the 1994 CIA World Factbook*

Central Intelligence Agency

The World Factbook 1994

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The World Factbook is produced annually by the Central Intelligence Agency for the use of US Government officials, and the style, format, coverage, and content are designed to meet their specific requirements. Information was provided by the Bureau of the Census, Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Defense Nuclear Agency, Department of State, Maritime Administration, National Science Foundation (Polar Information Program), Naval Maritime Intelligence Center, Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Board on Geographic Names, US Coast Guard, and others.

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Notes, Definitions, and Abbreviations

A Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Arctic Ocean Argentina Armenia Aruba Ashmore and Cartier Islands Atlantic Ocean Australia Austria Azerbaijan

B Bahamas, The Bahrain Baker Island Bangladesh Barbados Bassas da India Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Burma Burundi

C Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China (also see separate Taiwan entry) Christmas Island Clipperton Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Coral Sea Islands Costa Rica Cote d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic

D Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic

E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Europa Island

F Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern and Antarctic Lands

G Gabon Gambia, The Gaza Strip Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Glorioso Islands Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana

H Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City) Honduras Hong Kong Howland Island Hungary

I Iceland India Indian Ocean Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel (also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries) Italy

J Jamaica Jan Mayen Japan Jarvis Island Jersey Johnston Atoll Jordan (also see separate West Bank entry) Juan de Nova Island

K Kazakhstan Kenya Kingman Reef Kiribati Korea, North Korea, South Kuwait Kyrgyzstan

L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg

M Macau Macedonia entry follows Thailand Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Man, Isle of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique

N Namibia Nauru Navassa Island Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway

O Oman

P Pacific Islands (Palau), Trust Territory of the Pacific Ocean Pakistan Palmyra Atoll Panama Papua New Guinea Paracel Islands Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico

Q Qatar

R Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda

S Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain Spratly Islands Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria

T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tromelin Island Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu

U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan

V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands

W Wake Island Wallis and Futuna West Bank Western Sahara Western Samoa World

Y Yemen

Z Zaire Zambia Zimbabwe

Appendixes A: The United Nations System B: Abbreviations for International Organizations and Groups C: International Organizations and Groups D: Abbreviations for Selected International Environmental Agreements E: Selected International Environmental Agreements F: Weights and Measures G: Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names

Reference Maps The World North America Central America and the Caribbean South America Europe Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe Middle East Africa Asia Commonwealth of Independent States--European States Commonwealth of Independent States--Central Asian States Southeast Asia Oceania Arctic Region Antarctic Region Standard Time Zones of the World

There have been some significant changes in this edition. The format and content of the former entries on the Environment have been changed, and two new appendixes have been added--Appendix D: Abbreviations for Selected International Environmental Agreements and Appendix E: Selected International Environmental Agreements. The name of Macedonia was changed to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The gross domestic product (GDP) of most of the developing countries is now presented on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis rather than on an exchange rate basis. The electronic files used to produce the Factbook have been restructured into a database. As a result, the formats of some entries in this edition have been changed. Additional changes will occur in the 1995 Factbook.

Abbreviations: (see Appendix B for abbreviations for international organizations and groups and Appendix D for abbreviations for international environmental agreements)

avdp. -- avoirdupois

c.i.f. -- cost, insurance, and freight

CY -- calendar year

DWT -- deadweight ton

est. -- estimate

Ex-Im -- Export-Import Bank of the United States

f.o.b. -- free on board

FRG -- Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany); used for information dated before 3 October 1990 or CY91

FSU -- former Soviet Union

FY -- fiscal year

FYROM -- The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

GDP -- gross domestic product

GDR -- German Democratic Republic (East Germany); used for information dated before 3 October 1990 or CY91

GNP -- gross national product

GRT -- gross register ton

GWP -- gross world product

km -- kilometer

kW -- kilowatt

kWh -- kilowatt hour

m -- meter

NA -- not available

NEGL -- negligible

nm -- nautical mile

NZ -- New Zealand

ODA -- official development assistance

OOF -- other official flows

PDRY -- People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]; used for information dated before 22 May 1990 or CY91

sq km -- square kilometer

sq mi -- square mile

UAE -- United Arab Emirates

UK -- United Kingdom

US -- United States

USSR -- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union); used for information dated before 25 December 1991

YAR -- Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen]; used for information dated before 22 May 1990 or CY91

Administrative divisions: The numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions are generally those approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by BGN are noted.

Area: Total area is the sum of all land and water areas delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the aggregate of all surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Comparative areas are based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states. The smaller entities are compared with Washington, DC (178 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 146 acres).

Birth rate: The average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate.

Dates of information: In general, information available as of 1 January 1994 was used in the preparation of this edition. Population figures are estimates for 1 July 1994, with population growth rates estimated for calendar year 1994. Major political events have been updated through May 1994.

Death rate: The average annual number of deaths during a year per l,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate.

Digraphs: The digraph is a two-letter "country code" that precisely identifies every entity without overlap, duplication, or omission. AF, for example, is the digraph for Afghanistan. It is a standardized geopolitical data element promulgated in the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS) 10-3 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (US Department of Commerce) and maintained by the Office of the Geographer (US Department of State). The digraph is used to eliminate confusion and incompatibility in the collection, processing, and dissemination of area-specific data and is particularly useful for interchanging data between databases.

Diplomatic representation: The US Government has diplomatic relations with 183 nations, including 177 of the 184 UN members (excluded UN members are Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Vietnam, and former Yugoslavia). In addition, the US has diplomatic relations with 6 nations that are not in the UN - Holy See, Kiribati, Nauru, Switzerland, Tonga, and Tuvalu.

Economic aid: This entry refers to bilateral commitments of official development assistance (ODA) and other official flows (OOF). ODA is defined as financial assistance which is concessional in character, has the main objective to promote economic development and welfare of LDCs. and contains a grant element of at least 25%. OOF transactions are also official government assistance, but with a main objective other than development and with a grant element less than 25%. OOF transactions include official export credits (such as Ex-Im Bank credits), official equity and portfolio investment, and debt reorganization by the official sector that does not meet concessional terms. Aid is considered to have been committed when agreements are initialed by the parties involved and constitute a formal declaration of intent.

Entities: Some of the nations, dependent areas, areas of special sovereignty, and governments included in this publication are not independent, and others are not officially recognized by the US Government. "Nation" refers to a people politically organized into a sovereign state with a definite territory. "Dependent area" refers to a broad category of political entities that are associated in some way with a nation. Names used for page headings are usually the short-form names as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names. There are 266 entities in The World Factbook that may be categorized as follows:

Nations

183 -- UN members (excluding both the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; membership status in the UN is still to be determined)

7 -- nations that are not members of the UN--Holy See, Kiribati, Nauru, Serbia and Montenegro, Switzerland, Tonga, Tuvalu

Other

1 -- Taiwan

Dependent Areas

6 -- Australia--Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island

2 -- Denmark--Faroe Islands, Greenland

16 -- France--Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Guadeloupe, Juan de Nova Island, Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Reunion, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna

2 -- Netherlands--Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

3 -- New Zealand--Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

3 -- Norway--Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

1 -- Portugal--Macau

16 -- United Kingdom--Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands

15 -- United States--American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau), Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island

Miscellaneous

6 -- Antarctica, Gaza Strip, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, West Bank, Western Sahara

Other Entities

4 -- oceans--Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean

1 -- World

266 -- total

Exchange rate: The value of a nation's monetary unit at a given date or over a given period of time, as expressed in units of local currency per US dollar and as determined by international market forces or official fiat.

Gross domestic product (GDP): The value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year.

Gross national product (GNP): The value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year, plus income earned abroad, minus income earned by foreigners from domestic production.

Gross world product (GWP): The aggregate value of all goods and services produced worldwide in a given year.

GNP/GDP methodology: In the "Economy" section, GNP/GDP dollar estimates for the great majority of countries are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations rather than from conversions at official currency exchange rates. The PPP method normally involves the use of international dollar price weights, which are applied to the quantities of goods and services produced in a given economy. In addition to the lack of reliable data from the majority of countries, the statistician faces a major difficulty in specifying, identifying, and allowing for the quality of goods and services. The division of a GNP/GDP estimate in local currency by the corresponding PPP estimate in dollars gives the PPP conversion rate. On average, one thousand dollars will buy the same market basket of goods in the US as one thousand dollars--converted to the local currency at the PPP conversion rate--will buy in the other country. Whereas PPP estimates for OECD countries are quite reliable, PPP estimates for developing countries are often rough approximations. The latter estimates are based on extrapolation of numbers published by the UN International Comparison Program and by Professors Robert Summers and Alan Heston of the University of Pennsylvania and their colleagues. Because currency exchange rates depend on a variety of international and domestic financial forces that often have little relation to domestic output, use of these rates is less satisfactory for calculating GNP/GDP than the PPP method. In developing countries with weak currencies the exchange rate estimate of GNP/GDP in dollars is typically one- fourth to one-half the PPP estimate. Furthermore, exchange rates may suddenly go up or down by 10% or more because of market forces or official fiat whereas real output has remained unchanged. On 12 January 1994, for example, the 14 countries of the African Financial Community (whose currencies are tied to the French franc) devalued their currencies by 50%. This move, of course, did not cut the real output of these countries by half. One additional caution: the proportion of, say, defense expenditures as a percent of GNP/GDP in local currency accounts may differ substantially from the proportion when GNP/GDP accounts are expressed in PPP terms, as, for example, when an observer estimates the dollar level of Russian or Japanese military expenditures;

Growth rate (population): The annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative.

Illicit drugs: There are five categories of illicit drugs--narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside medical channels.

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Marinol), hashish (hash), and hashish oil (hash oil).

Coca (Erythroxylon coca) is a bush, and the leaves contain the stimulant cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.

Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush.

Depressants (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium), methaqualone (Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid).

Drugs are any chemical substances that effect a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual.

Drug abuse is the use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an individual.

Hallucinogens are drugs that affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn).

Hashish is the resinous exudate of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).

Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.

Mandrax is a synthetic chemical depressant, the same as, or similar to Quaalude.

Marijuana is the dried leaves of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).

Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep, and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussan AC), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics include heroin (horse, smack), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Synthetic narcotics include meperidine or Pethidine (Demerol, Mepergan), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), and others (Darvon, Lomotil).

Opium is the milky exudate of the incised, unripe seedpod of the opium poppy.

Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is the source for many natural and semisynthetic narcotics.

Poppy straw concentrate is the alkaloid derived from the mature dried opium poppy.

Qat (kat, khat) is a stimulant from the buds or leaves of catha edulis that is chewed or drunk as tea.

Stimulants are drugs that relieve mild depression, increase energy and activity, and include cocaine (coke, snow, crack), amphetamines (Desoxyn, Dexedrine), phenmetrazine (Preludin), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and others (Cylert, Sanorex, Tenuate).

Infant mortality rate: The number of deaths to infants under one year old in a given year per l,000 live births occurring in the same year.

International disputes: This category includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international boundaries and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues. However, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance or recognition by the US Government.

Irrigated land: The figure refers to the land area that is artificially supplied with water.

Land use: Human use of the land surface is categorized as arable land--land cultivated for crops that are replanted after each harvest (wheat, maize, rice); permanent crops--land cultivated for crops that are not replanted after each harvest (citrus, coffee, rubber); meadows and pastures--land permanently used for herbaceous forage crops; forest and woodland--under dense or open stands of trees; and other--any land type not specifically mentioned above (urban areas, roads, desert).

Leaders: The chief of state is the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but is not involved with the day- to-day activities of the government. The head of government is the administrative leader who manages the day-to-day activities of the government. In the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government. In the US, the President is both the chief of state and the head of government.

Life expectancy at birth: The average number of years to be lived by a group of people all born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the future.

Literacy: There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise noted, all rates are based on the most common definition--the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of this publication.

Maritime claims: The proximity of neighboring states may prevent some national claims from being extended the full distance.

Merchant marine: All ships engaged in the carriage of goods. All commercial vessels (as opposed to all nonmilitary ships), which excludes tugs, fishing vessels, offshore oil rigs, etc.; also, a grouping of merchant ships by nationality or register.

Captive register--A register of ships maintained by a territory, possession, or colony primarily or exclusively for the use of ships owned in the parent country; also referred to as an offshore register, the offshore equivalent of an internal register. Ships on a captive register will fly the same flag as the parent country, or a local variant of it, but will be subject to the maritime laws and taxation rules of the offshore territory. Although the nature of a captive register makes it especially desirable for ships owned in the parent country, just as in the internal register, the ships may also be owned abroad. The captive register then acts as a flag of convenience register, except that it is not the register of an independent state.

Flag of convenience register--A national register offering registration to a merchant ship not owned in the flag state. The major flags of convenience (FOC) attract ships to their register by virtue of low fees, low or nonexistent taxation of profits, and liberal manning requirements. True FOC registers are characterized by having relatively few of the ships registered actually owned in the flag state. Thus, while virtually any flag can be used for ships under a given set of circumstances, an FOC register is one where the majority of the merchant fleet is owned abroad. It is also referred to as an open register.

Flag state--The nation in which a ship is registered and which holds legal jurisdiction over operation of the ship, whether at home or abroad. Differences in flag state maritime legislation determine how a ship is manned and taxed and whether a foreign-owned ship may be placed on the register.

Internal register--A register of ships maintained as a subset of a national register. Ships on the internal register fly the national flag and have that nationality but are subject to a separate set of maritime rules from those on the main national register. These differences usually include lower taxation of profits, manning by foreign nationals, and, usually, ownership outside the flag state (when it functions as an FOC register). The Norwegian International Ship Register and Danish International Ship Register are the most notable examples of an internal register. Both have been instrumental in stemming flight from the national flag to flags of convenience and in attracting foreign owned ships to the Norwegian and Danish flags.

Merchant ship--A vessel that carries goods against payment of freight; commonly used to denote any nonmilitary ship but accurately restricted to commercial vessels only.

Register--The record of a ship's ownership and nationality as listed with the maritime authorities of a country; also, the compendium of such individual ships' registrations. Registration of a ship provides it with a nationality and makes it subject to the laws of the country in which registered (the flag state) regardless of the nationality of the ship's ultimate owner.

Money figures: All money figures are expressed in contemporaneous US dollars unless otherwise indicated.

National product: The total output of goods and services in a country in a given year. See Gross domestic product (GDP), Gross national product (GNP), and GNP/GDP methodology.

Net migration rate: The balance between the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is referred to as net immigration (3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (-9.26 migrants/1,000 population).

Population: Figures are estimates from the Bureau of the Census based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys pertaining to the recent past, and on assumptions about future trends. Starting with the 1993 Factbook demographic estimates for some countries (mostly African) have taken into account the effects of the growing incidence of AIDS infections; in 1993 these countries were Burkina, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Haiti, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Thailand, and Brazil.

Total fertility rate: The average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age.

Years: All year references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as fiscal year (FY).

Note: Information for the US and US dependencies was compiled from material in the public domain and does not represent Intelligence Community estimates. The Handbook of International Economic Statistics, published annually in September by the Central Intelligence Agency, contains detailed economic information for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, Eastern Europe, the newly independent republics of the former nations of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, and selected other countries. The Handbook can be obtained wherever The World Factbook is available.

***The World Factbook 1994

@Afghanistan, Geography

Location: Southern Asia, between Iran and Pakistan Map references: Asia, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 647,500 sq km land area: 647,500 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas Land boundaries: total 5,529 km, China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: periodic disputes with Iran over Helmand water rights; Iran supports clients in country, private Pakistani and Saudi sources also are active; power struggles among various groups for control of Kabul, regional rivalries among emerging warlords, traditional tribal disputes continue; support to Islamic fighters in Tajikistan's civil war; border dispute with Pakistan (Durand Line); support to Islamic militants worldwide by some factions Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, talc, barites, sulphur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 46% forest and woodland: 3% other: 39% Irrigated land: 26,600 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification natural hazards: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains (one measured 6.8 on the Richter scale in 1991); flooding international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation Note: landlocked

@Afghanistan, People

Population: 16,903,400 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.45% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 43.46 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 18.94 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 155.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 44.89 years male: 45.53 years female: 44.21 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.27 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Afghan(s) adjective: Afghan Ethnic divisions: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%, minor ethnic groups (Chahar Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others) Religions: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1% Languages: Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 29% male: 44% female: 14% Labor force: 4.98 million by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 67.8%, industry 10.2%, construction 6.3%, commerce 5.0%, services and other 10.7% (1980 est.)

@Afghanistan, Government

Names: conventional long form: Islamic State of Afghanistan conventional short form: Afghanistan local long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan local short form: Afghanestan former: Republic of Afghanistan Digraph: AF Type: transitional government Capital: Kabul Administrative divisions: 30 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 a new province of Nurestan (Nuristan) Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK) National holiday: Victory of the Muslim Nation, 28 April; Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled, 4 May; Independence Day, 19 August Constitution: none Legal system: a new legal system has not been adopted but the transitional government has declared it will follow Islamic law (Shari'a) Suffrage: undetermined; previously universal, male ages 15-50 Executive branch: chief of state: President Burhanuddin RABBANI (Interim President July - December 1992; President since 2 January 1993); First Vice President Mohammad NABI Mohammadi (since NA); First Vice President Mohammad SHAH Fazli (since NA); election last held NA December 1992 (next to be held NA December 1994); results - Burhanuddin RABBANI was elected to a two-year term by a national shura, later amended by multi-party agreement to 18 months. head of government: Prime Minister Gulbuddin HIKMATYAR (since 17 March 1993); First Deputy Prime Minister Qutbuddin HELAL (since 17 March 1993); Deputy Prime Minister Arsala RAHMANI (since 17 March 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers Legislative branch: a unicameral parliament consisting of 205 members was chosen by the shura in January 1993; non-functioning as of June 1993 Judicial branch: an interim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has been appointed, but a new court system has not yet been organized Political parties and leaders: current political organizations include Jamiat-i-Islami (Islamic Society), Burhanuddin RABBANI, Ahmad Shah MASOOD; Hizbi Islami-Gulbuddin (Islamic Party), Gulbuddin HIKMATYAR faction; Hizbi Islami-Khalis (Islamic Party), Yunis KHALIS faction; Ittihad-i-Islami Barai Azadi Afghanistan (Islamic Union for the Liberation of Afghanistan), Abdul Rasul SAYYAF; Harakat-Inqilab-i-Islami (Islamic Revolutionary Movement), Mohammad Nabi MOHAMMADI; Jabha-i-Najat-i-Milli Afghanistan (Afghanistan National Liberation Front), Sibghatullah MOJADDEDI; Mahaz-i-Milli-Islami (National Islamic Front), Sayed Ahamad GAILANI; Hizbi Wahdat (Islamic Unity Party), Abdul Ali MAZARI; Harakat-i-Islami (Islamic Movement), Mohammed Asif MOHSENI; Jumbesh-i-Milli Islami (National Islamic Movement), Rashid DOSTUM note: the former ruling Watan Party has been disbanded Other political or pressure groups: the former resistance commanders are the major power brokers in the countryside; shuras (councils) of commanders are now administering most cities outside Kabul; ulema (religious scholars); tribal elders Member of: AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Abdul RAHIM chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 234-3770 or 3771 FAX: (202) 328-3516 US diplomatic representation: none; embassy was closed in January 1989 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black, with the national coat of arms superimposed in the middle of the white band and large Islamic lettering superimposed over the green and white bands Overview: Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country, highly dependent on farming (wheat especially) and livestock raising (sheep and goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to political and military upheavals during more than 14 years of war, including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989). Over the past decade, one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan sheltering more than 3 million refugees and Iran about 3 million. About 1.4 million Afghan refugees remain in Pakistan and about 2 million in Iran. Another 1 million probably moved into and around urban areas within Afghanistan. Although reliable data are unavailable, gross domestic product is lower than 12 years ago because of the loss of labor and capital and the disruption of trade and transport. National product: GDP $NA National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $NA Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $243 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems partners: FSU countries, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, India, UK, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia Imports: $737 million (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: food and petroleum products; most consumer goods partners: FSU countries, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Singapore, India, South Korea, Germany External debt: $2.3 billion (March 1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (FY91 est.); accounts for about 25% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 480,000 kW production: 1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 60 kWh (1992) Industries: small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, and cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, oil, coal, copper Agriculture: largely subsistence farming and nomadic animal husbandry; cash products - wheat, fruits, nuts, karakul pelts, wool, mutton Illicit drugs: an illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; world's second-largest opium producer after Burma (680 metric tons in 1993) and a major source of hashish Economic aid: recipient: $450 million US assistance provided 1985-1993; USAID will stop all programs by mid-1994; the UN provides assistance in the form of food aid, immunization, land mine removal, and a wide range of aid to refugees and displaced persons Currency: 1 afghani (AF) = 100 puls Exchange rates: afghanis (Af) per US$1 - 1,900 (January 1994), 1,019 (March 1993), 850 (1991), 700 (1989-90), 220 (1988-89); note - these rates reflect the free market exchange rates rather than the official exchange rates Fiscal year: 21 March - 20 March

@Afghanistan, Communications

Railroads: 9.6 km (single track) 1.524-meter gauge from Gushgy (formerly Kushka) (Turkmenistan) to Towraghondi and 15.0 km from Termiz (Uzbekistan) to Kheyrabad transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya Highways: total: 21,000 km paved: 2,800 km unpaved: gravel 1,650 km; earth 16,550 km (1984) Inland waterways: total navigability 1,200 km; chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to about 500 metric tons Pipelines: petroleum products - Uzbekistan to Bagram and Turkmenistan to Shindand; natural gas 180 km Ports: Shir Khan and Kheyrabad (river ports) Airports: total: 42 usable: 35 with permanent-surface runways: 9 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 10 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 17 Telecommunications: limited telephone, telegraph, and radiobroadcast services; television introduced in 1980; 31,200 telephones; numerous cellular telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth station

@Afghanistan, Defense Forces

Branches: the military still does not yet exist on a national scale; some elements of the former Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Forces, National Police Force (Sarandoi), and tribal militias remain intact but are factionalized among the various mujahedin and former regime leaders Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,188,036; fit for military service 2,245,196; reach military age (22) annually 158,335 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: the new government has not yet adopted a defense budget

@Albania, Geography

Location: Balkan State, Southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula between Serbia and Montenegro and Greece Map references: Africa, Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 28,750 sq km land area: 27,400 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland Land boundaries: total 720 km, Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro) Coastline: 362 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbia and Montenegro, and the Albanian Government supports the Kosovo position politically Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 15% forest and woodland: 38% other: 22% Irrigated land: 4,230 sq km (1989) Environment: current issues: deforestation natural hazards: subject to destructive earthquakes; tsunami occur along southwestern coast international agreements: party to - Biodiversity Note: strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

@Albania, People

Population: 3,374,085 (July 1994 est.) note: IMF, working with Albanian government figures estimates the population at 3,120,000 in 1993 and that the population has fallen since 1990 Population growth rate: 1.19% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 22.46 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.32 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -5.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 30 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.4 years male: 70.42 years female: 76.61 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.78 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian Ethnic divisions: Albanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.) Religions: Muslim 70%, Greek 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 practice Languages: Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek Literacy: age 9 and over can read and write (1955) total population: 72% male: 80% female: 63% Labor force: 1.5 million (1987) by occupation: agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 40% (1986)

@Albania, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Albania conventional short form: Albania local long form: Republika e Shqiperise local short form: Shqiperia former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania Digraph: AL Type: nascent democracy Capital: Tirane Administrative divisions: 26 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth); Berat, Dibre, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Kolonje, Korce, Kruje, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Mat, Mirdite, Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar, Tepelene, Tirane, Tropoje, Vlore Independence: 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire) National holiday: Liberation Day, 28 November (1944; changed by decree on 12 November 1993) Constitution: an interim basic law was approved by the People's Assembly on 29 April 1991; a new constitution was to be drafted for adoption in 1992, but is still in process Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: President of the Republic Sali BERISHA (since 9 April 1992) head of government: Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers Aleksander Gabriel MEKSI (since 10 April 1992) Cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Kuvendi Popullor): elections last held 22 March 1992; results - DP 62.29%, ASP 25.57%, SDP 4.33%, RP 3.15%, UHP 2.92%, other 1.74%; seats - (140 total) DP 92, ASP 38, SDP 7, RP 1, UHP 2 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: there are at least 18 political parties; most prominent are the Albanian Socialist Party (ASP; formerly the Albania Workers Party), Fatos NANO, first secretary; Democratic Party (DP), Eduard SELAMI, chairman; Albanian Republican Party (RP), Sabri GODO; Omonia (Greek minority party), leader NA (ran in 1992 election as Unity for Human Rights Party (UHP)); Social Democratic Party (SDP), Skender GJINUSHI; Democratic Alliance Party (DAP), Spartak NGJELA, chairman Member of: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lublin Hasan DILJA chancery: Suite 1010, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: (202) 223-4942, 8187 FAX: (202) 628-7342 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William E. RYERSON embassy: Rruga E. Elbansanit 103, Tirane mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100 (A), APO AE 09624 telephone: 355-42-32875, 33520 FAX: 355-42-32222 Flag: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

@Albania, Economy Overview: An extremely poor country by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more open-market economy. The economy rebounded in 1993 after a severe depression accompanying the collapse of the previous centrally planned system in 1990 and 1991. Stabilization policies, including public sector layoffs and reduced social services, have improved the government's fiscal situation and reduced inflation. The recovery was spurred by the remittances of some 5% of the population which works abroad, mostly in Greece and Italy. Foreign assistance and humanitarian aid also supported the recovery. Most agricultural land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes. Albania's limited industrial sector, now less than one-sixth of GDP, continued to decline in 1993. A sharp fall in chromium prices reduced hard currency receipts from the mining sector. Large segments of the population, especially those living in urban areas, continue to depend on humanitarian aid to meet basic food requirements. Unemployment remains a severe problem accounting for approximately one-fifth of the work force. Growth is expected to continue in 1994, but could falter if Albania becomes involved in the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, workers' remittances from Greece are reduced, or foreign assistance declines. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $3.3 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 11% (1993) National product per capita: $1,100 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 31% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 18% (1993 est.) Budget: revenues: $1.1 billion expenditures: $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $70 million (1991 est.) Exports: $70 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: asphalt, metals and metallic ores, electricity, crude oil, vegetables, fruits, tobacco partners: Italy, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary Imports: $524 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery, consumer goods, grains partners: Italy, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece External debt: $724 million (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -10% (1993 est.); accounts for 16% of GDP (1993 est.) Electricity: capacity: 1,690,000 kW production: 5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,520 kWh (1992) Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower Agriculture: accounts for 55% of GDP; arable land per capita among lowest in Europe; 80% of arable land now in private hands; one-half of work force engaged in farming; produces wide range of temperate-zone crops and livestock Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route; limited opium production Economic aid: recipient: $190 million humanitarian aid; $94 million in loans/guarantees/credits Currency: 1 lek (L) = 100 qintars Exchange rates: leke (L) per US$1 - 99 (January 1994), 97 (January 1993), 50 (January 1992), 25 (September 1991) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Albania, Communications

Railroads: 543 km total; 509 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, single track and 34 km narrow gauge, single track (1990); line connecting Titograd (Serbia and Montenegro) and Shkoder (Albania) completed August 1986 Highways: total: 16,700 km paved: 6,700 km unpaved: earth 10,000 km (1990) Inland waterways: 43 km plus Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990) Pipelines: crude oil 145 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural gas 64 km (1991) Ports: Durres, Sarande, Vlore Merchant marine: 11 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 52,967 GRT/76,887 DWT Airports: total: 12 usable: 10 with permanent-surface runways: 3 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 6 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 4 Telecommunications: inadequate service; 15,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 13 AM, 1 TV; 514,000 radios, 255,000 TVs (1987 est.)

@Albania, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops Manpower availability: males age 15-49 906,938; fit for military service 746,945; reach military age (19) annually 33,184 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: 215 million leke, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

@Algeria, Geography

Location: Northern Africa, along the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia Map references: Africa, Europe Area: total area: 2,381,740 sq km land area: 2,381,740 sq km comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas Land boundaries: total 6,343 km, Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km Coastline: 998 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: Libya claims part of southeastern Algeria; land boundary dispute with Tunisia settled in 1993 Climate: arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer Terrain: mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 2% other: 82% Irrigated land: 3,360 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of untreated 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; limited supply of potable water natural hazards: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban Note: second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

@Algeria, People

Population: 27,895,068 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.29% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 29.71 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.22 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -0.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 52.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.68 years male: 66.63 years female: 68.77 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.83 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Algerian(s) adjective: Algerian Ethnic divisions: Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1% Religions: Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1% Languages: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 57% male: 70% female: 46% Labor force: 6.2 million (1992 est.) by occupation: government 29.5%, agriculture 22%, construction and public works 16.2%, industry 13.6%, commerce and services 13.5%, transportation and communication 5.2% (1989)

@Algeria, Government

Names: conventional long form: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria conventional short form: Algeria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Shabiyah local short form: Al Jaza'ir Digraph: AG Type: republic Capital: Algiers Administrative divisions: 48 provinces (wilayast, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen Independence: 5 July 1962 (from France) National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954) Constitution: 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November 1988 and 23 February 1989 Legal system: socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials, including several Supreme Court justices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Lamine ZEROUAL (since 31 January 1994); next election to be held after a three-year transition period which began on 31 January 1994 head of government: Prime Minister Mokdad SIFI (since 11 April 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly (Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani): elections first round held on 26 December 1991 (second round canceled by the military after President BENDJEDID resigned 11 January 1992, effectively suspending the Assembly); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (281 total); the fundamentalist FIS won 188 of the 231 seats contested in the first round; note - elections (municipal and wilaya) were held in June 1990, the first in Algerian history; results - FIS 55%, FLN 27.5%, other 17.5%, with 65% of the voters participating Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) Political parties and leaders: Islamic Salvation Front (FIS, outlawed April 1992), Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Abdelkader HACHANI (all under arrest), Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in Germany); National Liberation Front (FLN), Abdelhamid MEHRI, Secretary General; Socialist Forces Front (FFS), Hocine Ait AHMED, Secretary General note: the government established a multiparty system in September 1989 and, as of 31 December 1990, over 50 legal parties existed Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nourredine Yazid ZERHOUNI chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-2800 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Ann CASEY embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers telephone: [213] (2) 601-425, 255, 186 FAX: [213] (2) 603979 consulate(s): Oran Flag: two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star within a red crescent; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion)

@Algeria, Economy

Overview: The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 57% of government revenues, 25% of GDP, and almost all export earnings; Algeria has the fifth largest reserves of natural gas in the world and ranks fourteenth for oil. Algiers' efforts to reform one of the most centrally planned economies in the Arab world began after the 1986 collapse of world oil prices plunged the country into a severe recession. In 1989, the government launched a comprehensive, IMF-supported program to achieve macroeconomic stabilization and to introduce market mechanisms into the economy. Despite substantial progress toward macroeconomic adjustment, in 1992 the reform drive stalled as Algiers became embroiled in political turmoil. In September 1993, a new government was formed, one of whose priorities was the resumption and acceleration of the structural adjustment process. Buffeted by the slump in world oil prices and burdened with a heavy foreign debt, Algiers in 1993 resumed negotiations with the IMF and is on track to conclude a standby arrangement with the Fund in 1994. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $89 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 1% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $3,300 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 22% (1993 est.) Budget: revenues: $14.4 billion expenditures: $14.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.5 billion (1992 est.) Exports: $11.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: petroleum and natural gas 97% partners: Italy 21%, France 16%, US 14%, Germany 13%, Spain 9% Imports: $9 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: capital goods 39.7%, food and beverages 21.7%, consumer goods 11.8% (1990) partners: France 29%, Italy 14%, Spain 9%, US 9%, Germany 7% External debt: $26 billion (1994) Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 6,380,000 kW production: 16.384 billion kWh consumption per capita: 630 kWh (1992) Industries: petroleum, light industries, natural gas, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing Agriculture: accounts for 12.8% of GDP (1993 est.) and employs 22% of labor force; products- wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits, sheep, cattle; net importer of food - grain, vegetable oil, sugar Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-85), $1.4 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $925 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.8 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $2.7 billion; net official disbursements (1985-89), $375 million Currency: 1 Algerian dinar (DA) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1 - 36.008 (April 1994), 23.345 (1993), 21.836 (1992), 18.473 (1991), 8.958 (1990), 7.6086 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Algeria, Communications

Railroads: 4,060 km total; 2,616 km standard gauge (1.435 m), 1,188 km 1.055-meter gauge, 256 km 1.000-meter gauge; 300 km electrified; 215 km double track Highways: total: 90,031 km paved: concrete, bituminous 58,868 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 31,163 km (1990) Pipelines: crude oil 6,612 km; petroleum products 298 km; natural gas 2,948 km Ports: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mers el Kebir, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda Merchant marine: 75 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 903,179 GRT/1,064,211 DWT, bulk 9, cargo 27, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas 9, oil tanker 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 5, specialized tanker 1 Airports: total: 140 usable: 124 with permanent-surface runways: 53 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 32 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 65 Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international service in the north, sparse in the south; 822,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 26 AM, no FM, 18 TV; 1,600,000 TV sets; 5,200,000 radios; 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Intersputnik, l ARABSAT, and 12 domestic; 20 additional satellite earth stations are planned

@Algeria, Defense Forces

Branches: National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air Defense Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,863,378; fit for military service 4,215,767; reach military age (19) annually 301,945 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.36 billion, 2.5% of GDP (1993 est.)

@American Samoa

Header

Affiliation: (territory of the US)

@American Samoa, Geography

Location: Oceania, Polynesia, in the South Pacific Ocean, 3,700 km south-southwest of Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 199 sq km land area: 199 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 116 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages 124 inches; rainy season from November to April, dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island) Natural resources: pumice, pumicite Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 75% other: 10% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: rent issues: NA ural hazards: typhoons common from December to March ernational agreements: NA Note: Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean

@American Samoa, People

Population: 55,223 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 3.86% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 36.63 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 4.01 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: Total population: 72.91 years male: 71.03 years female: 74.85 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.36 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: American Samoan(s) adjective: American Samoan Ethnic divisions: Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5% Religions: Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant denominations and other 30% Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English; most people are bilingual Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97% Labor force: 14,400 (1990) by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)

@American Samoa, Government

Names: conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa conventional short form: American Samoa Abbreviation: AS Digraph: AQ Type: unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs Capital: Pago Pago Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US) Independence: none (territory of the US) National holiday: Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900) Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967 Legal system: NA Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor A. P. LUTALI (since 3 January 1993); Lieutenant Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1993); election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - A. P. LUTALI (Democrat) 53%, Peter Tali COLEMAN (Republican) 36% Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono) House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - representatives popularly elected from 17 house districts; seats - (21 total, 20 elected, and 1 nonvoting delegate from Swains Island) Senate: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - senators elected by village chiefs from 12 senate districts; seats - (18 total) number of seats by party NA US House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate Judicial branch: High Court Political parties and leaders: NA Member of: ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US) US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US) Flag: blue with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the fly 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, Economy

Overview: Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa conducts 80%-90% of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. The tuna canneries and the government are by far the two largest employers. Other economic activities include a slowly developing tourist industry. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $128 million (1991) National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $2,600 (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1990) Unemployment rate: 12% (1991) Budget: revenues: $97 million (includes $43,000,000 in local revenue and $54,000,000 in grant revenue); expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY91) Exports: $306 million (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: canned tuna 93% partners: US 99.6% Imports: $360.3 million (c.i.f., 1989) commodities: materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6% partners: US 62%, Japan 9%, NZ 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji 4%, other 7% External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 42,000 kW production: 100 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,020 kWh (1990) Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels), meat canning, handicrafts Agriculture: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas, dairy farming Economic aid: recipient: $21,042,650 in operational funds and $1,227,000 in construction funds for capital improvement projects from the US Department of Interior (1991) Currency: 1 United States dollar = 100 cents Exchange rates: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

@American Samoa, Communications

Railroads: none Highways: total: 350 km paved: 150 km unpaved: 200 km Ports: Pago Pago, Ta'u, Ofu, Auasi, Aanu'u (new construction), Faleosao Airports: total: 4 usable: 4 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440 to 3,659 m: 1 (international airport at Tafuna) with runways 1,200 to 2,439 m: 0 note: small airstrips on Fituita and Ofu Telecommunications: 8,399 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; good telex, telegraph, and facsimile services; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station, 1 COMSAT earth station

@American Samoa, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US

@Andorra, Geography

Location: Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain Map references: Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 450 sq km land area: 450 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total 125 km, France 60 km, Spain 65 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: none Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and cool, dry summers Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 56% forest and woodland: 22% other: 20% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA Note: landlocked

@Andorra, People

Population: 63,930 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.99% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 13.34 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 7.12 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 23.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.37 years male: 75.5 years female: 81.5 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran Ethnic divisions: Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%, French 6%, other 3% Religions: Roman Catholic (predominant) Languages: Catalan (official), French, Castilian Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: NA

@Andorra, Government

Names: conventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra local long form: Principat d'Andorra local short form: Andorra Digraph: AN Type: parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads of state a co-principality; the two princes are the president of France and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are represented locally by officials called veguers Capital: Andorra la Vella Administrative divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria Independence: 1278 National holiday: Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September Constitution: Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; adopted 14 March 1993 Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal Executive branch: chiefs of state: French Co-Prince Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981), represented by Veguer de Franca Jean Pierre COURTOIS (since NA); Spanish Episcopal Co-Prince Mgr. Juan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971), represented by Veguer Episcopal Francesc BADIA Bata - two co-princes (President Francois MITTERRAND of France, since 21 May 1981, and Bishop of Seo de Urgel Juan MARTI Alanis in Spain, since 31 January 1971), two designated representatives (France - Veguer de Franca Jean Pierre COURTOIS, since NA, and Spain - Veguer Episcopal Francesc BADIA Bata, since NA), two permanent delegates (French Prefect Pierre STEINMETZ for the department of Pyrenees-Orientales, since NA, and Spanish Vicar General Nemesi MARQUES Oste for the Seo de Urgel diocese, since NA) head of government: Executive Council President Oscar RIBAS Reig (since 10 December 1993) elected by Parliament cabinet: Executive Council; designated by the executive council president Legislative branch: unicameral General Council of the Valleys: (Consell General de las Valls); elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); yielded no clear winner; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) number of seats by party NA Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) for civil cases, the Ecclesiastical Court of the bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain) for civil cases, Tribunal of the Courts (Tribunal des Cortes) for criminal cases Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Group (AND), Oscar RIBAS Reig and Jordi FARRAS; Liberal Union (UL), Francesc CERQUEDA; New Democracy (ND), Jaume BARTOMEU; Andorran National Coalition (CNA), Antoni CERQUEDA; National Democratic Initiative (IDN), Vincenc MATEU; Liberal Union (UL), Francesc CERQUEDA note: there are two other small parties Member of: ECE, INTERPOL, IOC, UN Diplomatic representation in US: Andorra has no mission in the US US diplomatic representation: Andorra is included within the Barcelona (Spain) Consular District, and the US Consul General visits Andorra periodically Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield; similar to the flags of Chad and Romania that do not have a national coat of arms in the center

@Andorra, Economy

Overview: Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 13 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited by a scarcity of arable land, and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union; it is unclear what effect the European Single Market will have on the advantages Andorra obtains from its duty-free status. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $760 million (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $14,000 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment rate: 0% Budget: revenues: $138 million expenditures: $177 million, Including capital expenditures of $NA (1993) Exports: $30 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: electricity, tobacco products, furniture partners: France, Spain Imports: $NA commodities: consumer goods, food partners: France, Spain External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 35,000 kW production: 140 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,570 kWh (1992) Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco, banking Agriculture: sheep raising; small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats, and some vegetables Economic aid: none Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes; 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos; the French and Spanish currencies are used Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 143.04 (January 1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991), 101.93 (1990), 118.38 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Andorra, Communications

Highways: total: 96 km paved: NA unpaved: NA Telecommunications: international digital microwave network; international landline circuits to France and Spain; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 17,700 telephones

@Andorra, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

@Angola, Geography

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Namibia and Zaire Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 1,246,700 sq km land area: 1,246,700 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: total 5,198 km, Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zaire 2,511 km, Zambia 1,110 km Coastline: 1,600 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 20 nm International disputes: none Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April) Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 23% forest and woodland: 43% other: 32% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: current issues: population pressures contributing to overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest attributable to the international demand for tropical timber and domestic use as a fuel; deforestation contributing to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; scarcity of potable water natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change Note: Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Zaire

@Angola, People

Population: 9,803,576 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.67% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 45.43 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 18.55 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 145.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.77 years male: 43.72 years female: 47.92 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.48 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Angolan(s) adjective: Angolan Ethnic divisions: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22% Religions: indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (est.) Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 42% male: 56% female: 28% Labor force: 2.783 million economically active by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry 15% (1985 est.)

@Angola, Government

Note: Civil war has been the norm since independence on 11 November 1975; a cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections; fighting has since resumed throughout much of the countryside. Nevertheless, the two sides are negotiating the details for holding the second round of presidential elections. Names: conventional long form: Republic of Angola conventional short form: Angola local long form: Republica de Angola local short form: Angola former: People's Republic of Angola Digraph: AO Type: transitional government nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system Capital: Luanda Administrative divisions: 18 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, Zaire Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal) National holiday: Independence Day, 11 November (1975) Constitution: 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992 Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979) head of government: Prime Minister Marcolino Jose Carlos MOCO (since 2 December 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional): first nationwide, multiparty elections were held 29-30 September 1992 with disputed results; further elections are being discussed Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal da Relacao) Political parties and leaders: Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, is the ruling party and has been in power since 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, remains a legal party despite its return to armed resistance to the government; five minor parties have small numbers of seats in the National Assembly Other political or pressure groups: Cabindan State Liberation Front (FLEC), N'ZITA Tiago, leader of largest faction (FLEC-FAC) note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC (observer), ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jose PATRICIO embassy: 1899 L Street NW, 5th floor, Washington, DC 20038 telephone: (202) 785-1156 FAX: (202) 785-1258 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Edmund DE JARNETTE embassy: Miramar, Luanda mailing address: CP6484, Luanda, Angola (mail international); US Embassy, Luanda, Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20521-2550 (pouch) telephone: [244] (2) 39-24-98 FAX: [244] (2) 39-05-15 Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)

@Angola, Economy

Overview: Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 80-90% of the population but accounts for less than 15% of GDP. Oil production is vital to the economy, contributing about 60% to GDP. Bitter internal fighting continues to severely affect the economy, and food must be imported. In 1993, production fell by an estimated 22.6%, mainly because of the capture by insurgents of the oil town of Soyo and diamond-producing areas in northeastern Angola. Angola has rich natural resources - notably gold, diamonds, and arable land, in addition to large oil depoaits - but will need to end the war and reform government policies if it is to achieve its potential. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $5.7 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: -22.6% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $600 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1,840% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 15% with considerable underemployment (1993 est.) Budget: revenues: $928 million expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963 million (1992 est.) Exports: $3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton partners: US, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), food, vehicles and spare parts, textiles and clothing, medicines; substantial military deliveries partners: Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain External debt: $8 billion (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for about 60% of GDP, including petroleum output Electricity: capacity: 510,000 kW production: 800 million kWh consumption per capita: 84 kWh (1991) Industries: petroleum; mining - diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; fish processing; food processing; brewing; tobacco; sugar; textiles; cement; basic metal products Agriculture: cash crops - bananas, sugar cane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, cane, manioc, tobacco; food crops - cassava, corn, vegetables, plantains ; livestock production accounts for 20%, fishing 4%, forestry 2% of total agricultural output; disruptions caused by civil war, and marketing deficiencies require food imports Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $265 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.105 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $1.3 billion; net official disbursements (1985-89), $750 million Currency: 1 new kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei Exchange rates: kwanza (Kz) per US$1 - 90,000 (official rate 1June 1994), 180,000 (black market rate 1 June 1994); 7,000 (official rate 16 December 1993), 50,000 (black market rate 16 December 1993); 3,884 (July 1993); 550 (April 1992); 90 (November 1991); 60 (October 1990) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Angola, Communications

Railroads: 3,189 km total; 2,879 km 1.067-meter gauge, 310 km 0.600-meter gauge; limited trackage in use because of landmines still in place from the civil war; majority of the Benguela Railroad also closed because of civil war Highways: total: 73,828 km paved: bituminous-surface 8,577 km unpaved: crushed stone, gravel, improved earth 29,350 km; unimproved earth 35,901 km Inland waterways: 1,295 km navigable Pipelines: crude oil 179 km Ports: Luanda, Lobito, Namibe, Cabinda Merchant marine: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 63,776 GRT/99,863 DWT, cargo 11, oil tanker 1 Airports: total: 302 usable: 175 with permanent-surface runways: 32 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 18 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 59 Telecommunications: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and troposcatter routes; high frequency radio used extensively for military links; telephone service limited mostly to government and business use; 40,300 telephones (4.1 telephones per 1,000 persons); broadcast stations - 17 AM, 13 FM, 6 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

@Angola, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force/Air Defense, People's Defense Organization and Territorial Troops, Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,262,669; fit for military service 1,139,319; reach military age (18) annually 96,900 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

@Anguilla

Header

Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK)

@Anguilla, Geography

Location: Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 270 km east of Puerto Rico Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 91 sq km land area: 91 sq km comparative area: about half the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 61 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone Natural resources: negligible; salt, fish, lobster Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October) international agreements: NA

@Anguilla, People

Population: 7,052 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.67% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 24.25 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 8.08 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -9.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.99 years male: 71.21 years female: 76.8 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.07 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Anguillan(s) adjective: Anguillan Ethnic divisions: black African Religions: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12% Languages: English (official) Literacy: age 12 and over can read and write (1984) total population: 95% male: 95% female: 95% Labor force: 2,780 (1984) by occupation: NA

@Anguilla, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Anguilla Digraph: AV Type: dependent territory of the UK Capital: The Valley Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK) Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK) National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May Constitution: Anguilla Constitutional Orders 1 April 1982; amended 1990 Legal system: based on English common law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Alan W. SHAVE (since 14 August 1992) head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 March 1994) cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the governor from the elected members of the House of Assembly Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly: elections last held 16 March 1994 (next to be held March 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11 total, 7 elected) ANA 2, AUP 2, ADP 2, independent 1 Judicial branch: High Court Political parties and leaders: Anguilla National Alliance (ANA); Anguilla United Party (AUP), Hubert HUGHES; Anguilla Democratic Party (ADP), Victor BANKS Member of: CARICOM (observer), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau) Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK) US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK) Flag: two horizontal bands of white (top, almost triple width) and light blue with three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design centered in the white band; a new flag may have been in use since 30 May 1990

@Anguilla, Economy

Overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on lobster fishing, offshore banking, tourism, and remittances from emigrants. In recent years the economy has benefited from a boom in tourism and construction. Development plans center around the improvement of the infrastructure, particularly transport and tourist facilities, and also light industry. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $56.5 million (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 7.5% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $6,800 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 5% (1988 est.) Budget: revenues: $13.8 million expenditures: $15.2 million, including capital expenditures of $2.4 million (1992 est.) Exports: $556,000 (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: lobster and salt partners: NA Imports: $33.5 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: NA partners: NA External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 2,000 kW production: 6 million kWh consumption per capita: 862 kWh (1992) Industries: tourism, boat building, salt Agriculture: pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, poultry, fishing (including lobster) Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $38 million Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: NA

@Anguilla, Communications

Highways: total: NA paved: 60 km unpaved: NA Ports: Road Bay, Blowing Point Airports: total: 3 usable: 2 with permanent-surface runways: 1 (1,000 m at Wallblake Airport) with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: modern internal telephone system; 890 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 1 FM, no TV; radio relay microwave link to island of Saint Martin

@Anguilla, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

@Antarctica, Geography

Location: continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle Map references: Antarctic Region Area: total area: 14 million sq km (est.) land area: 14 million sq km (est.) comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US note: second-smallest continent (after Australia) Land boundaries: none, but see entry on International disputes Coastline: 17,968 km Maritime claims: none, but see entry on International Disputes International disputes: Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary below); sections (some overlapping) claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France (Adelie Land), New Zealand (Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land), and UK; the US and most other nations do not recognize the territorial claims of other nations and have made no claims themselves (the US reserves the right to do so); no formal claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west Climate: severe 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 freezing Terrain: about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to 4,897 meters high; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent Natural resources: none presently exploited; iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small, uncommercial quantities Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%) Irrigated land: 0 sq km Environment: current issues: in October 1991 it was reported that the ozone shield, which protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation, had dwindled to the lowest level recorded over Antarctica since 1975 when measurements were first taken natural hazards: 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 international agreements: NA Note: the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest continent; during summer more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; mostly uninhabitable

@Antarctica, People

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are seasonally staffed research stations Summer (January) population: over 4,115 total; Argentina 207, Australia 268, Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Chile 256, China NA, Ecuador NA, Finland 11, France 78, Germany 32, Greenpeace 12, India 60, Italy 210, Japan 59, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 264, Norway 23, Peru 39, Poland NA, South Africa 79, Spain 43, Sweden 10, UK 116, Uruguay NA, US 1,666, former USSR 565 (1989-90) Winter (July) population: over 1,046 total; Argentina 150, Australia 71, Brazil 12, Chile 73, China NA, France 33, Germany 19, Greenpeace 5, India 1, Japan 38, South Korea 14, NZ 11, Poland NA, South Africa 12, UK 69, Uruguay NA, US 225, former USSR 313 (1989-90) Year-round stations: 42 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 3, China 2, Finland 1, France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 2, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Poland 1, South Africa 3, UK 5, Uruguay 1, US 3, former USSR 6 (1990-91) Summer only stations: over 38 total; Argentina 7, Australia 3, Chile 5, Germany 3, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 4, NZ 2, Norway 1, Peru 1, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Sweden 2, UK 1, US numerous, former USSR 5 (1989-90); note - the disintegration of the former USSR has placed the status and future of its Antarctic facilities in doubt; stations may be subject to closings at any time because of ongoing economic difficulties Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antarctica Digraph: AY Type: Antarctic Treaty Summary: The Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica. Administration is carried out through consultative member meetings - the 18th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was in Japan in April 1993. Currently, there are 42 treaty member nations: 26 consultative and 16 acceding. Consultative (voting) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 19 nonclaimant nations. The US and some other nations that have made no claims have reserved the right to do so. The US does not recognize the claims of others. The year in parentheses indicates when an acceding nation was voted to full consultative (voting) status, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory. Claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1983), China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989), Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan, South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989), Poland (1977), South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988), Uruguay (1985), the US, and Russia. Acceding (nonvoting) members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Bulgaria (1978), Canada (1988), Colombia (1988), 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), and Ukraine (1992). Article 1: area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose Article 2: freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue Article 3: free exchange of information and personnel in cooperation with the UN and other international agencies Article 4: does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force Article 5: prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes Article 6: includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south Article 7: treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all activities and of the introduction of military personnel must be given Article 8: allows for 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 Article 12, 13, 14: deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations Other agreements: more than 170 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora (1964); Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but was subsequently rejected; in 1991 the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed and awaits ratification; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through five specific annexes on marine pollution, fauna, and flora, environmental impact assessments, waste management, and protected areas; it also prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; nine parties have ratified Protocol as of April 1994 Legal system: US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may apply to areas not under jurisdiction of other countries. 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 or scientific 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 1 year in prison. The Departments of Treasury, Commerce, Transportation, and Interior share enforcement responsibilities. Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, requires expeditions from the US to 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 (703-306-1031). Overview: No economic activity at present except for fishing off the coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad.

@Antarctica, Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only at most coastal stations Airports: 42 landing facilities at different locations operated by 15 national governments party to the Treaty; one additional air facility operated by commercial (nongovernmental) tourist organization; helicopter pads at 28 of these locations; runways at 10 locations are gravel, sea ice, glacier ice, or compacted snow surface suitable for wheeled fixed-wing aircraft; no paved runways; 16 locations have snow-surface skiways limited to use by ski-equipped planes--11 runways/skiways 1,000 to 3,000 m, 3 runways/skiways less than 1,000 m, 5 runways/skiways greater than 3,000 m, and 7 of unspecified or variable length; airports generally subject to severe restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; airports do not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the respective governmental or non-governmental operating organization required for landing

@Antarctica, Defense Forces

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 purposes

@Antigua and Barbuda, Geography

Location: Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 420 km east-southeast of Puerto Rico Map references: Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 440 sq km land area: 440 sq km comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes Redonda Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 153 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands with some higher volcanic areas Natural resources: negligible; pleasant climate fosters tourism Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 16% other: 59% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: insufficient freshwater resources natural hazards: subject to hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

@Antigua and Barbuda, People

Population: 64,762 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.59% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 17.31 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.44 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -5.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.11 years male: 71.07 years female: 75.26 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan Ethnic divisions: black African, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian Religions: Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some Roman Catholic Languages: English (official), local dialects Literacy: age 15 and over having completed 5 or more years of schooling (1960) total population: 89% male: 90% female: 88% Labor force: 30,000 by occupation: commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry 7% (1983)

@Antigua and Barbuda, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda Digraph: AC Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Saint John's Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip Independence: 1 November 1981 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981) Constitution: 1 November 1981 Legal system: based on English common law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: 17 member body appointed by the governor general House of Representatives: elections last held 8 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) ALP 11, UPP 5, independent 1 Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Antigua Labor Party (ALP), Lester Bryant BIRD; United Progressive Party (UPP), Baldwin SPENCER Other political or pressure groups: United Progressive Party (UPP), headed by Baldwin SPENCER, a coalition of three opposition political parties - the United National Democratic Party (UNDP); the Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement (ACLM); and the Progressive Labor Movement (PLM); Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU), headed by Noel THOMAS Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WCL, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick Albert LEWIS chancery: Suite 4M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 362-5211 or 5166, 5122 FAX: (202) 362-5225 consulate(s) general: Miami US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, and, in his absence, the Embassy is headed by Charge d'Affaires Bryant J. SALTER embassy: Queen Elizabeth Highway, Saint John's mailing address: FPO AA 34054-0001 telephone: (809) 462-3505 or 3506 FAX: (809) 462-3516 Flag: red with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white with a yellow rising sun in the black band

@Antigua and Barbuda, Economy

Overview: The economy is primarily service oriented, with tourism the most important determinant of economic performance. During the period 1986-91, real GDP expanded at an annual average rate of about 6%. Tourism makes a direct contribution to GDP of about 13% and also affects growth in other sectors - particularly in construction, communications, and public utilities. In 1992, reduced government capital spending and private sector investment, dampened by recession in the major world economies, slowed economic growth. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $368.5 million (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: NA National product per capita: $5,800 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1993) Unemployment rate: 5% (1988 est.) Budget: revenues: $105 million expenditures: $161 million, including capital expenditures of $56 million (1992) Exports: $54.7 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, food and live animals 4%, machinery and transport equipment 17% partners: OECS 26%, Barbados 15%, Guyana 4%, Trinidad and Tobago 2%, US 0.3% Imports: $260.9 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil partners: US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%, other 50% External debt: $250 million (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1989 est.); accounts for 8% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 52,100 kW production: 95 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,482 kWh (1992) Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances) Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP; expanding output of cotton, fruits, vegetables, and livestock; other crops - bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient in food Economic aid: recipient: US commitments (1985-88), $10 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $50 million Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

@Antigua and Barbuda, Communications

Railroads: 64 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge and 13 km 0.610-meter gauge used almost exclusively for handling sugarcane Highways: total: 240 km paved: NA unpaved: NA Ports: Saint John's Merchant marine: 227 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 849,699 GRT/1,218,492 DWT, bulk 4, cargo 156, chemical tanker 11, container 37, liquified gas 2, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11 note: a flag of convenience registry Airports: total: 3 usable: 3 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: good automatic telephone system; 6,700 telephones; tropospheric scatter links with Saba and Guadeloupe; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV, 2 shortwave; 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Antigua and Barbuda, Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force (including the Coast Guard) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.4 million, 1% of GDP (FY90/91)

@Arctic Ocean, Geography

Location: body of water mostly north of the Arctic Circle Map references: Arctic Region, Asia, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 14.056 million sq km comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of the US; smallest of the world's four oceans (after Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean) 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 bodies Coastline: 45,389 km International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral states); Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute between Norway and Russia Climate: polar 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 snow Terrain: central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that averages about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure ridges may be three times that size; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight line movement from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland and Iceland); the ice pack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling land masses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonsov Ridge); maximum depth is 4,665 meters in the Fram Basin Natural resources: sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales) Environment: current issues: endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage natural hazards: ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually icelocked from October to June international agreements: NA Note: major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); ships subject to superstructure icing from October to May; 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 and lasts about 10 months

@Arctic Ocean, Government

Digraph: XQ

@Arctic Ocean, Economy

Overview: Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.

@Arctic Ocean, Communications

Ports: Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US) Telecommunications: no submarine cables Note: sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways

@Argentina, Geography

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Chile and Uruguay Map references: South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 2,766,890 sq km land area: 2,736,690 sq km comparative area: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US Land boundaries: total 9,665 km, Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km Coastline: 4,989 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: not specified territorial sea: 200 nm; overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nm International disputes: short section of the boundary with Uruguay is in dispute; short section of the boundary with Chile is indefinite; claims British-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims British-administered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 52% forest and woodland: 22% other: 13% Irrigated land: 17,600 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: erosion results from inadequate flood controls and improper land use practices; irrigated soil degradation; desertification; air pollution in Buenos Aires and other major cites; water pollution in urban areas; rivers becoming polluted due to increased pesticide and fertilizer use natural hazards: Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the Pampas and northeast; heavy flooding international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratfied - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation Note: second-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)

@Argentina, People

Population: 33,912,994 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.12% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 19.62 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 8.63 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 29.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.35 years male: 68.06 years female: 74.81 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.68 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Argentine(s) adjective: Argentine Ethnic divisions: white 85%, mestizo, Indian, or other nonwhite groups 15% Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6% Languages: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 95% male: 96% female: 95% Labor force: 10.9 million by occupation: agriculture 12%, industry 31%, services 57% (1985 est.)

@Argentina, Government

Names: conventional long form: Argentine Republic conventional short form: Argentina local long form: Republica Argentina local short form: Argentina Digraph: AR Type: republic Capital: Buenos Aires Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires; Catamarca; Chaco; Chubut; Cordoba; Corrientes; Distrito Federal*; Entre Rios; Formosa; Jujuy; La Pampa; La Rioja; Mendoza; Misiones; Neuquen; Rio Negro; Salta; San Juan; San Luis; Santa Cruz; Santa Fe; Santiago del Estero; Tierra del Fuego, Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur; Tucuman note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica or Argentina's claims to the Falkland Islands Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain) National holiday: Revolution Day, 25 May (1810) Constitution: 1 May 1853 Legal system: mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Carlos Saul MENEM (since 8 July 1989); Vice President (position vacant); election last held 14 May 1989 (next to be held summer 1995); results - Carlos Saul MENEM was elected cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) Senate: elections last held May 1989, but provincial elections in late 1991 set the stage for indirect elections by provincial senators for one-third of 48 seats in the national senate in May 1992; seats (48 total) - PJ 30, UCR 11, others 7 Chamber of Deputies: elections last held NA October 1993 ( next to be held October 1995); elections are held every two years and half of the total membership is elected each time for four year terms; seats--(257 total) PJ 128, UCR 81, MODIN 7, UCD 5, other 36 Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema) Political parties and leaders: Justicialist Party (PJ), Carlos Saul MENEM, Peronist umbrella political organization; Radical Civic Union (UCR),Raul ALFONSIN, moderately left-of-center party; Union of the Democratic Center (UCD), Jorge AGUADO, conservative party; Intransigent Party (PI), Dr. Oscar ALENDE, leftist party; Dignity and Independence Political Party (MODIN), Aldo RICO, right-wing party; Grand Front (Frente Grande), Carlos ALVAREZ, center-left coalition; several provincial parties Other political or pressure groups: Peronist-dominated labor movement; General Confederation of Labor (CGT; Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association); business organizations; students; the Roman Catholic Church; the Armed Forces Member of: AG (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, AfDB, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MERCOSUR, MINURSO, MTCR, OAS, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Enrique GRANILLO OCAMPO chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 939-6400 through 6403 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador James CHEEK (since 28 May 1993) embassy: 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires mailing address: APO AA 34034 telephone: [54] (1) 774-7611, 8811, 9911 FAX: [54] (1) 775-4205 Flag: three 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, Economy

Overview: Argentina is rich in natural resources and has a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Nevertheless, following decades of mismanagement and statist policies, the economy in the late 1980s was plagued with huge external debts and recurring bouts of hyperinflation. Elected in 1989, in the depths of recession, President MENEM has implemented a comprehensive economic restructuring program that shows signs of putting Argentina on a path of stable, sustainable growth. Argentina's currency has traded at par with the US dollar since April 1991, and inflation has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years. Argentines have responded to the relative price stability by repatriating flight capital and investing in domestic industry. Growth slowed somewhat in 1993 but Argentina still registered an impressive 6% advance, fueled largely by inflows of foreign capital and strong domestic consumption spending. The government's major short term objective is encouraging exports, e.g., by reducing domestic costs of production. Much remains to be done in the 1990s in dismantling the old statist barriers to growth and in solidifying the recent economic gains. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $185 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 6% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $5,500 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 10% (1993) Budget: revenues: $33.1 billion expenditures: $35.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.5 billion (1992) Exports: $12.7 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, hides, wool partners: US 12%, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Netherlands Imports: $16 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and lubricants, agricultural products partners: US 22%, Brazil, Germany, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands External debt: $73 billion (April 1994) Industrial production: growth rate 10% (1992 est.); accounts for 31% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 17,911,000 kW production: 51.305 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,559 kWh (1992) Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel Agriculture: accounts for 8% of GDP (including fishing); produces abundant food for both domestic consumption and exports; among world's top five exporters of grain and beef; principal crops - wheat, corn, sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets Illicit drugs: increasing use as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for the US and Europe Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.4 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $718 million Currency: 1 nuevo peso argentino = 100 centavos Exchange rates: pesos per US$1 - 0.99850 (January 1994), 0.99895 (1993), 0.99064 (1992), 0.95355 (1991), 0.48759 (1990), 0.04233 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Argentina, Communications

Railroads: 34,172 km total (includes 209 km electrified); includes a mixture of 1.435-meter standard gauge, 1.676-meter broad gauge, 1.000-meter narrow gauge, and 0.750-meter narrow gauge Highways: total: 208,350 km paved: 57,000 km unpaved: gravel 39,500 km; improved/unimproved earth 111,850 km Inland waterways: 11,000 km navigable Pipelines: crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; natural gas 9,918 km Ports: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, La Plata, Rosario, Santa Fe Merchant marine: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 656,289 GRT/1,008,792 DWT, bulk 3, cargo 29, container 4, oil tanker 14, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 Airports: total: 1,649 usable: 1,394 with permanent-surface runways: 139 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 31 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 332 Telecommunications: extensive modern system but many families do not have telephones; 2,650,000 telephones (12,000 public telephones); telephone density 78 per 1000 persons; microwave widely used; broadcast stations - 171 AM, no FM, 231 TV, 13 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; domestic satellite network has 40 earth stations

@Argentina, Defense Forces

Branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic, Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval Prefecture (Coast Guard only), National Aeronautical Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 8,417,880; fit for military service 6,825,795; reach military age (20) annually 292,725 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

@Armenia, Geography

Location: Southwestern Asia, between Turkey and Azerbaijan Map references: Africa, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 29,800 sq km land area: 28,400 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland Land boundaries: total 1,254 km, Azerbaijan (east) 566 km, Azerbaijan (south) 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: violent and longstanding dispute with Azerbaijan over ethnically Armenian exclave of Nagorno-Karabakh; traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have greatly subsided Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters Terrain: high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 0% other: 60% Irrigated land: 3,050 sq km (1990) Environment: current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation as citizens scavenge for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Lake Sevan, a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; air pollution in Yerevan natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes (25,000 people killed in major quake in 1988); subject to drought international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change Note: landlocked

@Armenia, People

Population: 3,521,517 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.08% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 24.21 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.72 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -6.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 27.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.07 years male: 68.65 years female: 75.65 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.19 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian Ethnic divisions: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other 2% Religions: Armenian Orthodox 94% Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2% Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 1.578 million by occupation: industry and construction 34%, agriculture and forestry 31%, other 35% (1992)

@Armenia, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Armenia conventional short form: Armenia local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun local short form: Hayastan former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic Digraph: AM Type: republic Capital: Yerevan Administrative divisions: none (all rayons are under direct republic jurisdiction) Independence: 28 May 1918 (First Armenian Republic); 23 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: Referendum Day, 21 September Constitution: adopted NA April 1978; post-Soviet constitution not yet adopted Legal system: based on civil law system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN (since 16 October 1991), Vice President Gagik ARUTYUNYAN (since 16 October 1991); election last held 16 October 1991 (next to be held NA); results - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN 86%; radical nationalists about 7%; note - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN was elected Chairman of the Armenian Supreme Soviet 4 August 1990 before becoming president head of government: Prime Minister Hrant BAGRATYAN (since 16 February 1993); First Deputy Prime Minister Vigen CHITECHYAN (since 16 February 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Soviet: elections last held 20 May 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (260 total) non-aligned 125, ANM 52, DPA 23, Democratic Liberal Party 17, ARF 17, NDU 9, Christian Democratic Party 1, Constitutional Rights Union 1, UNSD 1, Republican Party 1, Nagorno-Karabakh representatives 13 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Armenian National Movement (ANM), Ter-Husik LAZARYAN, chairman; National Democratic Union (NDU), David VARTANYAN, chairman; Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun), Arutyun ALISTAKESYAN, chairman; Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA; Communist Party), Aram SARKISYAN, chairman; Christian Democratic Party, Azat ARSHAKYAN, chairman; Greens Party, Hakob SANASARIAN, chairman; Democratic Liberal Party, Rouben MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman; Republican Party, Ashot NAVARSARDYAN, chairman; Union for Self-Determination (UNSD), Paruir AIRIKYAN, chairman Member of: BSEC, CCC, CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NACC, NAM (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rouben Robert SHUGARIAN chancery: Suite 210, 1660 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 628-5766 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Harry J. GILMORE embassy: 18 Gen Bagramian, Yerevan mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: 7-8852-151-144 or 8852-524-661 FAX: 7-8852-151-138 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and gold

@Armenia, Economy

Overview: Under the old central planning system, Armenia had built up a developed industrial sector, supplying machine building equipment, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy resources. Armenia is a large food importer and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The economic decline in the past three years (1991-93) has been particularly severe due to the ongoing conflict over the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Turkey have blockaded pipeline and railroad traffic to Armenia for its support of the Karabakh Armenians. This has left Armenia with only sporadic deliveries of natural gas through unstable Georgia, while other fuel and raw materials are in critical short supply. Inflation, roughly 14% per month in the first nine months of 1993, surged even higher in the fourth quarter. In late 1993, most industrial enterprises were either shut down or operating at drastically reduced levels. Only small quantities of food were available (mostly humanitarian aid), heat was nonexistent, and electricity strictly rationed. An economic recovery cannot be expected until the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is settled and until transportation through Georgia improves. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $7.1 billion (1993 estimate from the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as extrapolated to 1993 using official Armenian statistics, which are very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990) National product real growth rate: -9.9% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $2,040 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% per month average (first 9 months, 1993) Unemployment rate: 6.5% of officially registered unemployed but large numbers of underemployed (1993 est.) Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $31 million to countries outside the FSU (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, light industrial products, processed food items, alcoholic products (1991) partners: NA Imports: $87 million from countries outside the FSU (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: grain, other foods, fuel, other energy (1991) partners: Russia, US, EC External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate -11% (1993 est.) Electricity: capacity: 2,875,000 kW production: 9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,585 kWh (1992) Industries: traditionally diverse, including (as a percent of output of former USSR) metalcutting machine tools (5.5%), forging-pressing machines (1.9%), electric motors (9%), tires (1.5%), knitted wear (4.4%), hosiery (3.0%), shoes (2.2%), silk fabric (0.8%), washing machines (2.0%), chemicals, trucks, watches, instruments, and microelectronics (1990); currently, much of industry is shut down Agriculture: accounts for about 45% of GDP; only 17% of land area is arable; employs 20%-30% of labor force as residents increasingly turn to subsistence agriculture; fruits (especially grapes) and vegetable farming, minor livestock sector; vineyards near Yerevan are famous for brandy and other liqueurs Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe Economic aid: recipient: considerable humanitarian aid, mostly food and energy products, from US and EC; Russia has granted 60 billion rubles in technical credits Currency: 1 dram = 100 luma; introduced separate currency in November 1993 Exchange rates: NA Fiscal year: calendar year

@Armenia, Communications

Railroads: 840 km; does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways: total: 11,300 km paved: 10,500 km unpaved: earth 800 km (1990) Inland waterways: NA km Pipelines: natural gas 900 km (1991) Ports: none; landlocked Airports: total: 12 usable: 10 with permanent-surface runways: 6 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 3 with runways 1,060-2,439 m: 2 note: a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip Telecommunications: progress on installation of fiber optic cable and construction of facilities for mobile cellular phone service remains in the negotiation phase for joint venture agreement; Armenia has about 650,000 telephones; average telephone density is 17.7 per 100 persons; international connections to other former republics of the USSR are by landline or microwave and to other countries by satellite and by leased connection through the Moscow international gateway switch; broadcast stations - 100% of population receives Armenian and Russian TV programs; satellite earth station - INTELSAT

@Armenia, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Air Force, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 862,921; fit for military service 690,113; reach military age (18) annually 28,458 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: 250 million rubles, NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

@Aruba

Header Affiliation: (part of the Dutch realm)

@Aruba, Geography

Location: Caribbean, in the southern Caribbean Sea, 28 km north of Venezuela and 125 km east of Colombia Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 193 sq km land area: 193 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 68.5 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation Natural resources: negligible; white sandy beaches Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt international agreements: NA

@Aruba, People

Population: 65,545 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.65% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 14.95 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.12 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.43 years male: 72.77 years female: 80.27 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban Ethnic divisions: mixed European/Caribbean Indian 80% Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: NA by occupation: most employment is in the tourist industry (1986)

@Aruba, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba Digraph: AA Type: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles Capital: Oranjestad Administrative divisions: none (self-governing part of the Netherlands) Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm; in 1990, Aruba requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically give independence to the island in 1996) National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March Constitution: 1 January 1986 Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Nelson ODUBER (since 6 February 1989) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed with the advice and approval of the legislature Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature (Staten): elections last held 8 January 1993 (next to be held by NA January 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) MEP 9, AVP 8, ADN 1, PPA 1, OLA 1, other 1 Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson ODUBER; Aruban People's Party (AVP), Henny EMAN; National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro KELLY; New Patriotic Party (PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Benny NISBET; Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo BERLINSKI; Democratic Action '86 (AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Organization for Aruban Liberty (OLA), Glenbert CROES note: governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN Member of: ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WTO (associate) Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing part of the Netherlands) US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing part of the Netherlands) Flag: blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner

@Aruba, Economy

Overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. Hotel capacity expanded rapidly between 1985 and 1989 and nearly doubled in 1990 alone. Unemployment has steadily declined from about 20% in 1986 to about 3% in 1991 and to less than 1% in 1992. The reopening of the local oil refinery, once a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, promises to give the economy an additional boost. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.2 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 5% (1993) National product per capita: $17,400 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1993) Unemployment rate: 0.6% (1992) Budget: revenues: $145 million expenditures: $185 million, including capital expenditures of $42 million (1988) Exports: $1.3 billion (including oil re-exports) (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: mostly petroleum products partners: US 64%, EC Imports: $1.6 billion including oil for processing and re-export (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum products partners: US 8%, EC External debt: $81 million (1987) Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 90,000 kW production: 375 million kWh consumption per capita: 6,000 kWh (1990 est.) Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining Agriculture: poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agricultural activity to the cultivation of aloes, some livestock, and fishing Illicit drugs: drug money laundering center and transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $220 million Currency: 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1 - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Aruba, Communications

Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA Ports: Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas Airports: total: 2 usable: 2 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 note: government-owned airport east of Oranjestad accepts transatlantic flights Telecommunications: more than adequate; telephone density - 1,100 telephones per 1,000 persons; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links; 72,168 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 1 submarine cable to Saint Maarten

@Aruba, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Header Affiliation: (territory of Australia)

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, 320 km off the northwest coast of Australia, between Australia and Indonesia Map references: Oceania, Southeast Asia Area: total area: 5 sq km land area: 5 sq km comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 74.1 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploration exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical Terrain: low with sand and coral Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand) Irrigated land: 0 sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs international agreements: NA Note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, People

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only seasonal caretakers

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Government

Names: conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands Digraph: AT Type: territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry for the Environment, Sport, and Territories Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia) Independence: none (territory of Australia) Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia) US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Economy

Overview: no economic activity

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force

@Atlantic Ocean, Geography

Location: body of water between the Western Hemisphere and Europe/Africa Map references: Africa, Antarctic Region, Arctic Region, Central America and the Caribbean, Europe, North America, South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 82.217 million sq km comparative area: slightly less than nine times the size of the US; second-largest of the world's four oceans (afte