Front matter (continued 10)

@India, Economy

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

@India, Communications

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

@India, Defense Forces

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

@Indian Ocean, Geography

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

@Indian Ocean, Government

Digraph: XO

@Indian Ocean, Economy

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

@Indian Ocean, Communications

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

@Indonesia, Geography

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

@Indonesia, People

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

@Indonesia, Government

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

@Indonesia, Economy

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

@Indonesia, Communications

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

@Indonesia, Defense Forces

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

@Iran, Geography

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

@Iran, People

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

@Iran, Government

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

@Iran, Economy

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

@Iran, Communications

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

@Iran, Defense Forces

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

@Iraq, Geography

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

@Iraq, People

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

@Iraq, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Iraq conventional short form: Iraq local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah local short form: Al Iraq Digraph: IZ Type: republic Capital: Baghdad Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968) Constitution: 22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (provisional Constitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but not adopted Legal system: based on Islamic law in special religious courts, civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974); Vice President Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Ahmad Husayn Khudayir al-SAMARRAI (since 5 September 1993); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979) Revolutionary Command Council: Chairman SADDAM Husayn, Vice Chairman Izzat IBRAHIM al-Duri cabinet: Council of Ministers Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani): elections last held on 1 April 1989 (next to be held NA); results - Sunni Arabs 53%, Shi'a Arabs 30%, Kurds 15%, Christians 2% est.; seats - (250 total) number of seats by party NA note: in northern Iraq, a "Kurdish Assembly" was elected in May 1992 and calls for Kurdish self-determination within a federated Iraq; the assembly is not recognized by the Baghdad government Judicial branch: Court of Cassation Political parties and leaders: Ba'th Party Other political or pressure groups: political parties and activity severely restricted; opposition to regime from disaffected members of the Baath Party, Army officers, and Shi'a religious and ethnic Kurdish dissidents; the Green Party (government-controlled) Member of: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Iraq has an Interest Section in the Algerian Embassy in Washington, DC chancery: Iraqi Interests Section, 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 483-7500 FAX: (202) 462-5066 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant); note - operations have been temporarily suspended; a US Interests Section is located in Poland's embassy in Baghdad embassy: Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club), Baghdad mailing address: P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, Baghdad telephone: [964] (1) 719-6138 or 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt that has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

@Iraq, Economy

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

@Iraq, Communications

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

@Iraq, Defense Forces

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

@Ireland, Geography

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

@Ireland, People

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

@Ireland, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland Digraph: EI Type: republic Capital: Dublin Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK) National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebecite Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990); election last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997); results - Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2% head of government: Prime Minister Albert REYNOLDS (since 11 February 1992) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by president with previous nomination of the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) Senate (Seanad Eireann): elections last held on NA February 1992 (next to be held February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor 9, Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6 House of Representatives (Dail Eireann): elections last held on 25 November 1992 (next to be held by June 1995); results - Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party 19.3%, Progressive Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein 1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total) Fianna Fail 68, Fine Gael 45, Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10, Democratic Left 4, Greens 1, independents 5 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Albert REYNOLDS; Labor Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Desmond O'MALLEY note: Prime Minister REYNOLDS heads a coalition consisting of the Fianna Fail and the Labor Party Member of: Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, COCOM (cooperating), CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNPROFRO, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 462-3939 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Kennedy SMITH embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [353] (1) 6687122 FAX: [353] (1) 6689946 Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red

@Ireland, Economy

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

@Ireland, Communications

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

@Ireland, Defense Forces

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

@Israel

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

@Israel, Geography

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

@Israel, People

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

@Israel, Government

Names: conventional long form: State of Israel conventional short form: Israel local long form: Medinat Yisra'el local short form: Yisra'el Digraph: IS Type: republic Capital: Jerusalem note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital in 1950, but the US, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv Independence: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) National holiday: Independence Day, 14 May 1948 (Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May) Constitution: no formal constitution; some of the functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the basic laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law Legal system: mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat that it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993) election last held 24 March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1999); results - Ezer WEIZMAN elected by Knesset head of government: Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN (since NA July 1992) cabinet: Cabinet; selected from and approved by the Knesset Legislative branch: unicameral parliament (Knesset): elections last held NA June 1992 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) Labor Party 44, Likud bloc 32, Meretz 12, Tzomet 8, National Religious Party 6, Shas 6, United Torah Jewry 4, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash) 3, Moledet 3, Arab Democratic Party 2; note - in 1994 three new parties were formed, Yi'ud (from Tzomet), Histadrut List (from the Labor Party), and Peace Guard (from Moledet), resulting in the following new distribution of seats - Labor Party 41, Likud bloc 32, Meretz 12, National Religious Party 6, Shas 6, Tzomet 5, United Torah Jewry 4, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash) 3, Yi'ud 3, Histadrut List 3, Moledet 2, Arab Democratic Party 2, Peace Guard 1 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: members of the government: Labor Party, Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN; MERETZ, Minister of Communications Shulamit ALONI not in coalition, but voting with the government: SHAS, Arieh DERI; Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash), Hashim MAHAMID; Arab Democratic Party, Abd al Wahab DARAWSHAH; Histadrut List, Haim RAMON opposition parties: Likud Party, Binyamin NETANYAHU; Tzomet, Rafael EITAN; National Religious Party, Zevulun HAMMER; United Torah Jewry, Avraham SHAPIRA; Moledet, Rehavam ZEEVI; Yi'ud, Gonen SEGEV; Peace Guard, Shoul GUTMAN note: Israel currently has a coalition government comprising 3 parties that hold 56 seats of the Knesset's 120 seats Other political or pressure groups: Gush Emunim, Jewish nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now, critical of government's West Bank/Gaza Strip and Lebanon policies Member of: AG (observer), CCC, CE (observer), CERN (oberver), EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Itamar RABINOVICH chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 364-5500 FAX: (202) 364-5610 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward DJEREJIAN (expected to resign in August 1994) embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv mailing address: PSC 98, Box 100, Tel Aviv; APO AE 09830 telephone: [972] (3) 517-4338 FAX: [972] (3) 663-449 Flag: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

@Israel, Economy

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

@Israel, Communications

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

@Israel, Defense Forces

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

@Italy, Geography

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

@Italy, People

Population: 58,138,394 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.21% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 10.79 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 9.71 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.64 years male: 74.44 years female: 81.04 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.39 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Italian(s) adjective: Italian Ethnic divisions: Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south), Sicilians, Sardinians Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2% Languages: Italian, German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 97% male: 98% female: 96% Labor force: 23.988 million by occupation: services 58%, industry 32.2%, agriculture 9.8% (1988)

@Italy, Government

Names: conventional long form: Italian Republic conventional short form: Italy local long form: Repubblica Italiana local short form: Italia former: Kingdom of Italy Digraph: IT Type: republic Capital: Rome Administrative divisions: 20 regions (regioni, singular - regione); Abruzzi, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige, Umbria, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto Independence: 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed) National holiday: Anniversary of the Republic, 2 June (1946) Constitution: 1 January 1948 Legal system: based on civil law system, with ecclesiastical law influence; appeals treated as trials de novo; judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal (except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25) Executive branch: chief of state: President Oscar Luigi SCALFARO (since 28 May 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Silvio BERLUSCONI (since 11 May 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlamento) Senate (Senato della Repubblica): elections last held 27-28 March 1994 (next expected to be held by spring 2001); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (326 total; 315 elected, 11 appointed senators-for-life) PDS 61, Northern League 60, National Alliance 48, Forza Italia 36, Popular Party 31, Communist Refounding 18, Greens and The Network 13, Socialist Party 13, Christian Democratic Center 12, Democratic Alliance 8, Christian Socialists 5, Pact for Italy 4, Radical Party 1, others 5 Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati): elections last held 27-28 March 1994 (next expected to be held by spring 2001); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (630 total) Northern League 117, PDS 114, Forza Italia 113, National Alliance 109, Communist Refounding 39, Christian Democratic Center 33, Popular Party 33, Greens and The Network 20, Democratic Alliance 18, Socialist Party 16, Pact for Italy 13, Christian Socialists 5 Judicial branch: Constitutional Court (Corte Costituzionale) Political parties and leaders: Rightists: Forza Italia, Silvio BERLUSCONI; National Alliance (was Italian Social Movement - MSI - until January 1994), Gianfranco FINI, party secretary; Lega Nord (Northern League), Umberto BOSSI, president Leftists: Democratic Party of the Left (PDS - was Communist Party, or PCI, until January 1991), Achille OCCHETTO, secretary; Communist Refounding, Fausto BERTINOTTI; Greens, Carlo RIPA di MEARA; Radical Party, Marco PANNELLA; Italian Socialist Party, Ottaviano DELTURCO; The Network, Leoluca ORLANDO; Christian Socialists, Ermanno GORRIERI Centrists: Pact for Italy, Mario SEGNI; Popular Party, Rosa JERVOLINO; Christian Democratic Center, Pier Ferdinando CASINI Other political or pressure groups: the Roman Catholic Church; three major trade union confederations (CGIL - formerly Communist dominated, CISL - Christian Democratic, and UIL - Social Democratic, Socialist, and Republican); Italian manufacturers and merchants associations (Confindustria, Confcommercio); organized farm groups (Confcoltivatori, Confagricoltura) Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), Australia Group, AsDB, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CEI, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IEA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Boris BIANCHERI-CHIAPPORI chancery: 1601 Fuller Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 328-5500 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco consulate(s): Detroit, New Orleans, and Newark (New Jersey) US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Reginald BARTHOLOMEW embassy: Via Veneto 119/A, 00187-Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, Rome; APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (6) 46741 FAX: [39] (6) 488-2672 consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green

@Italy, Economy

Overview: Since World War II the Italian economy has changed from one based on agriculture into a ranking industrial economy, with approximately the same total and per capita output as France and the UK. The country is still divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and an undeveloped agricultural south, dominated by large public enterprises. Services account for 48% of GDP, industry 35%, agriculture 4%, and public administration 13%. Most raw materials needed by industry and over 75% of energy requirements must be imported. After growing at an annual average rate of 3% in 1983-90, growth slowed to about 1% in 1991 and 1992 and fell by 0.7% in 1993. In the second half of 1992, Rome became unsettled by the prospect of not qualifying to participate in EC plans for economic and monetary union later in the decade; thus it finally began to address its huge fiscal imbalances. Thanks to the determination of Prime Ministers AMATO and CIAMPI, the government adopted a fairly stringent budget for 1993 and 1994, abandoned its highly inflationary wage indexation system, and started to scale back its extremely generous social welfare programs, including pension and health care benefits. Monetary officials were forced to withdraw the lira from the European monetary system in September 1992 when it came under extreme pressure in currency markets. For the 1990s, Italy faces the problems of refurbishing a tottering communications system, curbing pollution in major industrial centers, and adjusting to the new competitive forces accompanying the ongoing economic integration of the European Union. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $967.6 billion (1993) National product real growth rate: -0.7% (1993) National product per capita: $16,700 (1993) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.2% (1993) Unemployment rate: 11.3% (January 1994) Budget: revenues: $302 billion expenditures: $391 billion, including capital expenditures of $48 billion (1993 est.) Exports: $178.2 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: metals, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transportation equipment, chemicals, other partners: EC 58.3%, US 6.8%, OPEC 5.1% (1992) Imports: $188.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: industrial machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, petroleum, metals, food, agricultural products partners: EC 58.8%, OPEC 6.1%, US 5.5% (1992) External debt: $67 billion (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -2.8% (1993 est.); accounts for almost 35% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 58,000,000 kW production: 235 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,060 kWh (1992) Industries: machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics Agriculture: accounts for about 4% of GDP and about 9.8% of the work force; self-sufficient in foods other than meat, dairy products, and cereals; principal crops - fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; fish catch of 525,000 metric tons in 1990 Illicit drugs: important gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market Economic aid: donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $25.9 billion Currency: 1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1 - 1,700.2 (January 1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Italy, Communications

Railroads: 20,011 km total; 16,066 km 1.435-meter government-owned standard gauge (8,999 km electrified); 3,945 km privately owned - 2,100 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (1,155 km electrified) and 1,845 km 0.950-meter narrow gauge (380 km electrified) Highways: total: 298,000 km paved: 270,000 km (including nearly 7,000 km of expressways) unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 23,000 km; earth 5,000 km Inland waterways: 2,400 km for various types of commercial traffic, although of limited overall value Pipelines: crude oil 1,703 km; petroleum products 2,148 km; natural gas 19,400 km Ports: Cagliari (Sardinia), Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Naples, Palermo (Sicily), Taranto, Trieste, Venice Merchant marine: 474 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,055,779 GRT/8,924,779 DWT, bulk 50, cargo 72, chemical tanker 34, combination bulk 1, combination ore/oil 5, container 20, liquefied gas 39, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 129, passenger 8, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 62, short-sea passenger 34, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 7 Airports: total: 137 usable: 132 with permanent-surface runways: 92 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 36 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 39 Telecommunications: modern, well-developed, fast; 25,600,000 telephones; fully automated telephone, telex, and data services; high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks; broadcast stations - 135 AM, 28 (1,840 repeaters) FM, 83 (1,000 repeaters) TV; international service by 21 submarine cables, 3 satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT with 3 Atlantic Ocean antennas and 2 Indian Ocean antennas; also participates in INMARSAT and EUTELSAT systems

@Italy, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri Manpower availability: males age 15-49 14,921,411; fit for military service 12,982,445; reach military age (18) annually 403,017 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $16.1 billion, 1.3% of GDP (1992)

@Jamaica, Geography

Location: Caribbean, in the northern Caribbean Sea, about 160 km south of Cuba Map references: Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 10,990 sq km land area: 10,830 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 1,022 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain Natural resources: bauxite, gypsum, limestone Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 6% meadows and pastures: 18% forest and woodland: 28% other: 29% Irrigated land: 350 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: deforestation; water pollution natural hazards: subject to hurricanes (especially July to November) international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change Note: strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal

@Jamaica, People

Population: 2,555,064 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.02% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 21.69 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.62 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 16.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.36 years male: 72.16 years female: 76.68 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.41 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Jamaican(s) adjective: Jamaican Ethnic divisions: African 76.3%, Afro-European 15.1%, East Indian and Afro-East Indian 3%, white 3.2%, Chinese and Afro-Chinese 1.2%, other 1.2% Religions: Protestant 55.9% (Church of God 18.4%, Baptist 10%, Anglican 7.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.9%, Pentecostal 5.2%, Methodist 3.1%, United Church 2.7%, other 2.5%), Roman Catholic 5%, other, including some spiritual cults 39.1% (1982) Languages: English, Creole Literacy: age 15 and over having ever attended school (1990 est.) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% Labor force: 1,062,100 by occupation: services 41%, agriculture 22.5%, industry 19%, unemployed 17.5% (1989)

@Jamaica, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jamaica Digraph: JM Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Kingston Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland Independence: 6 August 1962 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day (first Monday in August) (1962) Constitution: 6 August 1962 Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Howard COOKE (since 1 August 1991) head of government: Prime Minister P. J. PATTERSON (since 30 March 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Seymour MULLINGS (since NA) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governor general House of Representatives: elections last held 30 March 1993 (next to be held by February 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total) PNP 52, JLP 8 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: People's National Party (PNP) P. J. PATTERSON; Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), Edward SEAGA Other political or pressure groups: Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists); New Beginnings Movement (NBM) Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-19, G-77, GATT, G-15, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Leighton BERNAL chancery: Suite 355, 1850 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: (202) 452-0660 FAX: (202) 452-0081 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lacy A. WRIGHT, Jr. embassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor, Kingston mailing address: use Embassy street address telephone: (809) 929-4850 through 4859 FAX: (809) 926-6743 Flag: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and fly side)

@Jamaica, Economy

Overview: The economy is based on sugar, bauxite, and tourism. In September 1988, Hurricane Gilbert inflicted severe damage on crops and the electric power system, a sharp but temporary setback to the economy. By October 1989 the economic recovery from the hurricane was largely complete, and real growth was up to about 3% for 1989. In 1991, however, growth dropped to 0.2% as a result of the US recession, lower world bauxite prices, and monetary instability. In 1992, growth was 1.2%, supported by a recovery in tourism and stabilization of the Jamaican dollar in the second half of 1992. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 1.2% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $3,200 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 15.4% (1992) Budget: revenues: $600 million expenditures: $736 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY91 est.) Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum partners: US 40%, UK 14%, Germany 10%, Canada 10%, Norway 7% Imports: $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: fuel, other raw materials, construction materials, food, transport equipment, other machinery and equipment partners: US 53%, UK 5%, Venezuela 6%, Germany 5%, Japan 4.0% External debt: $4.5 billion (1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 2% (1990); accounts for almost 25% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 1,127,000 kW production: 2.736 trillion kWh consumption per capita: 1,090 kWh (1992) Industries: tourism, bauxite mining, textiles, food processing, light manufactures Agriculture: accounts for about 7% of GDP, 23% of work force, and 17% of exports; commercial crops - sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, potatoes, vegetables; livestock and livestock products include poultry, goats, milk; not self-sufficient in grain, meat, and dairy products Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine from Central and South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation of cannabis; government has an active cannabis eradication program Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.2 billion; other countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.6 billion Currency: 1 Jamaican dollar (J$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1 -32.758 (31 December 1993), 22.960 (1992), 12.116 (1991), 7.184 (1990), 5.7446 (1989) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

@Jamaica, Communications

Railroads: 370 km, all 1.435-meter standard gauge, single track Highways: total: 18,200 km paved: 12,600 km unpaved: gravel 3,200 km; improved earth 2,400 km Pipelines: petroleum products 10 km Ports: Kingston, Montego Bay, Port Antonio Merchant marine: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,618 GRT/16,215 DWT, bulk 2, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 Airports: total: 40 usable: 27 with permanent-surface runways: 10 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: fully automatic domestic telephone network; 127,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 10 AM, 17 FM, 8 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; 3 coaxial submarine cables

@Jamaica, Defense Forces

Branches: Jamaica Defense Force (including Ground Forces, Coast Guard and Air Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 664,122; fit for military service 469,982; reach military age (18) annually 26,103 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $19.3 million, 1% of GDP (FY91/92)

@Jan Mayen

Header Affiliation: (territory of Norway)

@Jan Mayen, Geography

Location: Nordic State, Northern Europe, in the North Atlantic Ocean, north of the Arctic Circle about 590 km north-northeast of Iceland, between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea Map references: Arctic Region Area: total area: 373 sq km land area: 373 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 124.1 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 10 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 4 nm International disputes: dispute between Denmark and Norway over maritime boundary in Arctic Ocean between Greenland and Jan Mayen has been settled by the International Court of Justice Climate: arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog Terrain: volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers; Beerenberg is the highest peak, with an elevation of 2,277 meters Natural resources: none Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% Irrigated land: 0 sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: volcanic activity resumed in 1970 international agreements: NA Note: barren volcanic island with some moss and grass

@Jan Mayen, People

Population: no permanent inhabitants; note - there are personnel who man the LORAN C base and the weather and coastal services radio station

@Jan Mayen, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jan Mayen Digraph: JN Type: territory of Norway Capital: none; administered from Oslo, Norway, through a governor (sysselmann) resident in Longyearbyen (Svalbard) Independence: none (territory of Norway)

@Jan Mayen, Economy

Overview: Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services for employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations located on the island. Electricity: capacity: 15,000 kW production: 40 million kWh consumption per capita: NA (1992)

@Jan Mayen, Communications

Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA Ports: none; offshore anchorage only Airports: total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 0 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: radio and meteorological station

@Jan Mayen, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of Norway

@Japan, Geography

Location: Eastern Asia, off the southeast coast of Russia and east of the Korean peninsula Map references: Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 377,835 sq km land area: 374,744 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than California note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okinotori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto) Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 29,751 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm; 3 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait International disputes: islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotau, and the Habomai group occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia, claimed by Japan; Liancourt Rocks disputed with South Korea; Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands) claimed by China and Taiwan Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 67% other: 18% Irrigated land: 28,680 sq km (1989) Environment: current issues: air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life natural hazards: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; subject to tsunamis international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea Note: strategic location in northeast Asia

@Japan, People

Population: 125,106,937 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.32% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 10.49 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 7.31 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.31 years male: 76.47 years female: 82.28 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.55 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Japanese (singular and plural) adjective: Japanese Ethnic divisions: Japanese 99.4%, other 0.6% (mostly Korean) Religions: observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including 0.7% Christian) Languages: Japanese Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 63.33 million by occupation: trade and services 54%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 33%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 7%, government 3% (1988)

@Japan, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Japan Digraph: JA Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Tokyo Administrative divisions: 47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gumma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi Independence: 660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu) National holiday: Birthday of the Emperor, 23 December (1933) Constitution: 3 May 1947 Legal system: modeled after European civil law system with English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Tsutomu HATA (since 25 April 1994); Deputy Prime Minister (vacant) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the prime minister Legislative branch: bicameral Diet (Kokkai) House of Councillors (Sangi-in): elections last held on 26 July 1992 (next to be held NA July 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (252 total) LDP 95, SDPJ 68, Shin Ryoku fu-Kai 37, CGP 24, JCP 11, other 17 House of Representatives (Shugi-in): elections last held on 18 July 1993 (next to be held by NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (511 total) LDP 206, SDPJ 74, Shinseito 62, CGP 52, JNP 37, DSP 19, JCP 15, Sakigake 15, others 19, independents 10, vacant 2 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Yohei KONO, president; Yoshiro MORI, secretary general; Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDPJ), Tomiichi MURAYAMA; Democratic Socialist Party (DSP), Keigo OUCHI, chairman; Japan Communist Party (JCP), Tetsuzo FUWA, Presidium chairman; Komeito (Clean Government Party, CGP), Koshiro ISHIDA, chairman; Japan New Party (JNP), Morihiro HOSOKAWA, chairman; Shinseito (Japan Renewal Party, JRP), Tsutomu HATA, chairman; Ichiro OZAWA, secretary general; Sakigake (Harbinger), Masayoshi TAKEMURA, chairman; Mirai (Future Party), Michihiko KANO, chairman; The Liberal Party, Koji KAKIZAWA, chairman note: Shin Ryoku fu-Kai is a new, upper house only, parliamentary alliance which includes the JRP, JNP, DSP, and a minor labor group Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), Australia Group, APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC, COCOM, CP, CSCE (observer), EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-2, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNTAC, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Takakazu KURIYAMA chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 939-6700 FAX: (202) 328-2187 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City (Missouri), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, and Seattle consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands) US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Walter F. MONDALE embassy: 10-5, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku (107), Tokyo mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, Tokyo; APO AP 96337-0001 telephone: [81] (3) 3224-5000 FAX: [81] (3) 3505-1862 consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo consulate(s): Fukuoka Flag: white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center

@Japan, Economy

Overview: Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation have helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of second most powerful economy in the world. Industry, the most important sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. Self-sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 50% of its requirements of other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. Overall economic growth has been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s and 1980s. Economic growth came to a halt in 1992-93 largely because of contractionary domestic policies intended to wring speculative excesses from the stock and real estate markets. At the same time, the stronger yen and slower global growth are containing export growth. Unemployment and inflation remain remarkably low in comparison with the other industrialized nations. Japan continues to run a huge trade surplus - $120 billion in 1993, up more than 10% from the year earlier - which supports extensive investment in foreign assets. The new prime minister HATA in early 1994 reiterated previous governments' vows of administrative and economic reform, including reduction in the trade surplus, but his weak coalition government faces strong resistance from traditional interest groups. The crowding of the habitable land area and the aging of the population are two major long-run problems. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.549 trillion (1993) National product real growth rate: 0% (1993) National product per capita: $20,400 (1993) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1993) Unemployment rate: 2.5% (1993) Budget: revenues: $490 billion expenditures: $579 billion, including capital expenditures (public works only) of about $68 billion (FY93) Exports: $360.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: manufactures 97% (including machinery 46%, motor vehicles 20%, consumer electronics 10%) partners: Southeast Asia 33%, US 29%, Western Europe 18%, China 5% Imports: $240.7 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: manufactures 52%, fossil fuels 20%, foodstuffs and raw materials 28% partners: Southeast Asia 25%, US 23%, Western Europe 15%, China 9% External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate -4% (1993); accounts for 30% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 196,000,000 kW production: 835 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,700 kWh (1992) Industries: steel and non-ferrous metallurgy, heavy electrical equipment, construction and mining equipment, motor vehicles and parts, electronic and telecommunication equipment and components, machine tools and automated production systems, locomotives and railroad rolling stock, shipbuilding, chemicals, textiles, food processing Agriculture: accounts for only 2% of GDP; highly subsidized and protected sector, with crop yields among highest in world; principal crops - rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; animal products include pork, poultry, dairy and eggs; about 50% self-sufficient in food production; shortages of wheat, corn, soybeans; world's largest fish catch of 10 million metric tons in 1991 Economic aid: donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-93), $123 billion note: ODA outlay of $9.9 billion in 1994 (est.) Currency: yen (Y) Exchange rates: yen (Y) per US$1 - 111.51 (January 1994), 111.20 (1993), 126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991), 144.79 (1990), 137.96 (1989) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

@Japan, Communications

Railroads: 27,327 km total; 2,012 km 1.435-meter standard gauge and 25,315 km predominantly 1.067-meter narrow gauge; 5,724 km doubletrack and multitrack sections, 9,038 km 1.067-meter narrow-gauge electrified, 2,012 km 1.435-meter standard-gauge electrified (1987) Highways: total: 1,115,609 km paved: 782,042 km (including 4,869 km of national expressways) unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, or earth 333,567 km (1991) Inland waterways: about 1,770 km; seagoing craft ply all coastal inland seas Pipelines: crude oil 84 km; petroleum products 322 km; natural gas 1,800 km Ports: Chiba, Muroran, Kitakyushu, Kobe, Tomakomai, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Yokkaichi, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Niigata, Fushiki-Toyama, Shimizu, Himeji, Wakayama-Shimozu, Shimonoseki, Tokuyama-Shimomatsu Merchant marine: 926 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,383,101 GRT31,007,515 DWT, bulk 225, cargo 76, chemical tanker 9, combination ore/oil 9, container 44, liquefied gas 42, multi-function large load carrier 1, oil tanker 265, passenger 10, passenger cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 66, roll-on/roll-off cargo 44, short-sea passenger 36, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 94 note: Japan also owns a large flag of convenience fleet, including up to 38% of the total number of ships under the Panamanian flag Airports: total: 167 usable: 165 with permanent-surface runways: 137 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 34 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 52 Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international service; 64,000,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 318 AM, 58 FM, 12,350 TV (196 major - 1 kw or greater); satellite earth stations - 4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; submarine cables to US (via Guam), Philippines, China, and Russia

@Japan, Defense Forces

Branches: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (Navy), Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force), Maritime Safety Agency (Coast Guard) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 32,044,032; fit for military service 27,597,444; reach military age (18) annually 953,928 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $45.5 billion, less than 1% of GDP (FY94/95 est.)

@Jarvis Island

Header Affiliation: (territory of the US)

@Jarvis Island, Geography

Location: Oceania, Polynesia, in the South Pacific Ocean, 2,090 km south of Honolulu, just south of the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and the Cook Islands Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 4.5 sq km land area: 4.5 sq km comparative area: about 7.5 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 8 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; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun Terrain: sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s) Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% Irrigated land: 0 sq km Environment: current issues: lacks fresh water natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA Note: sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats

@Jarvis Island, People

Population: uninhabited; note - Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators

@Jarvis Island, Government

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

@Jarvis Island, Economy

Overview: no economic activity

@Jarvis Island, Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only - one boat landing area in the middle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island Note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

@Jarvis Island, Defense Forces

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

@Jersey

Header

Affiliation: (British crown dependency)

@Jersey, Geography

Location: Western Europe, 27 km from France in the English Channel Map references: Europe Area: total area: 117 sq km land area: 117 sq km comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 70 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: none Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers Terrain: gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast Natural resources: agricultural land Land use: arable land: 57% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA Note: largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

@Jersey, People

Population: 86,048 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.7% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 12.81 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 10.1 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 4.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.64 years male: 73.54 years female: 80.09 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.43 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander Ethnic divisions: UK and Norman-French descent Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian Languages: English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: NA