Front matter (continued 11)

@Jersey, Government

Names: conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey Digraph: JE Type: British crown dependency Capital: Saint Helier Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency) Independence: none (British crown dependency) National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice Legal system: English law and local statute Suffrage: universal adult at age NA Executive branch: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) Head of Government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Air Marshal Sir John SUTTON (since NA 1990); Bailiff Sir Peter L. CRILL (since NA) cabinet: committees; appointed by the States Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States: elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - no percent of vote by party since all are independents; seats - (56 total, 52 elected) 52 independents Judicial branch: Royal Court Political parties and leaders: none; all independents Member of: none Diplomatic representation in US: none (British crown dependency) US diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency) Flag: white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag

@Jersey, Economy

Overview: The economy is based largely on financial services, agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. In 1986 the finance sector overtook tourism as the main contributor to GDP, accounting for 40% of the island's output. In recent years the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. National product: GDP $NA National product real growth rate: 8% (1987 est.) National product per capita: $NA Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1988 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $308 million expenditures: $284.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985) Exports: $NA commodities: light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles partners: UK Imports: $NA commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals partners: UK External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 50,000 kW standby production: power supplied by France consumption per capita: NA (1992) Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy Agriculture: potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; dairy and cattle farming Economic aid: none Currency: 1 Jersey pound (#J) = 100 pence Exchange rates: Jersey pounds (#J) per US$1 - 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

@Jersey, Communications

Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA Ports: Saint Helier, Gorey, Saint Aubin Airports: total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: 63,700 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 3 submarine cables

@Jersey, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

@Johnston Atoll

Header

Affiliation: (territory of the US)

@Johnston Atoll, Geography

Location: Oceania, Polynesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,430 km west-southwest of Honolulu, about one-third of the way between Hawaii and the Marshall Islands Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 2.8 sq km land area: 2.8 sq km comparative area: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 10 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, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: mostly flat with a maximum elevation of 4 meters Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until about 1890) Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% Irrigated land: 0 sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA Note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; closed to the public; former nuclear weapons test site; site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some low-growing vegetation

@Johnston Atoll, People

Population: 327 (July 1994 est.)

@Johnston Atoll, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Johnston Atoll Digraph: JQ Type: unincorportated territory of the US administered by the US Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) and managed cooperatively by DNA and 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 Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US) US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US) Flag: the flag of the US is used

@Johnston Atoll, Economy

Overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported. Electricity: supplied by the management and operations contractor

@Johnston Atoll, Communications

Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA Airports: total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with TACAN and beacon with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: excellent system including 60-channel submarine cable, Autodin/SRT terminal, digital telephone switch, Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS station), commercial satellite television system, and UHF/VHF air-ground radio

@Johnston Atoll, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US

@Jordan

Header Affiliation: (also see separate West Bank entry)

@Jordan, Geography

Location: Middle East, between Israel and Saudi Arabia Map references: Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 89,213 sq km land area: 88,884 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana Land boundaries: total 1,619 km, Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 728 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km Coastline: 26 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: differences with Israel over the location of the 1949 Armistice Line that separates the two countries; water-sharing issues with Israel Climate: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April) Terrain: mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River Natural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 0.5% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 0.5% other: 94% Irrigated land: 570 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: lack of adequate natural water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

@Jordan, People

Population: 3,961,194 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 3.5% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 38.77 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 4.22 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.85 years male: 70.04 years female: 73.77 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.64 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian Ethnic divisions: Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1% Religions: Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 8% Languages: Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 80% male: 89% female: 70% Labor force: 600,000 (1992) by occupation: industry 11.4%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 10.5%, construction 10.0%, transport and communications 8.7%, agriculture 7.4%, other services 52.0% (1992)

@Jordan, Government

Names: conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan conventional short form: Jordan local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah local short form: Al Urdun former: Transjordan Digraph: JO Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Amman Administrative divisions: 8 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Ma'an Independence: 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) National holiday: Independence Day, 25 May (1946) Constitution: 8 January 1952 Legal system: based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: King HUSSEIN Bin Talal Al Hashimi (since 11 August 1952) head of government: Prime Minister Abd al-Salam al-MAJALI (since May 1993) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-'Umma) House of Notables (Majlis al-A'ayan): consists of a 40-member body appointed by the king from designated categories of public figures House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (80 total) Muslim Brotherhood (fundamentalist) 16, Independent Islamic bloc (generally traditionalist) 6, Radical leftist 3, pro-government 55 note: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved by the King several times since 1974 and in November 1989 the first parliamentary elections in 22 years were held Judicial branch: Court of Cassation Political parties and leaders: NA; note - political parties were legalized in December 1992 Member of: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNRWA, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Fayiz A. TARAWNAH chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 966-2664 FAX: (202) 966-3110 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Wesley EGAN, Jr. embassy: Jabel Amman, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman, or APO AE 09892-0200 telephone: [962] (6) 820-101 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a small white seven-pointed star; the seven points on the star represent the seven fundamental laws of the Koran

@Jordan, Economy

Overview: Jordan benefited from increased Arab aid during the oil boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when its annual real GNP growth averaged more than 10%. In the remainder of the 1980s, however, reductions in both Arab aid and worker remittances slowed real economic growth to an average of roughly 2% per year. Imports - mainly oil, capital goods, consumer durables, and food - outstripped exports, with the difference covered by aid, remittances, and borrowing. In mid-1989, the Jordanian Government began debt-rescheduling negotiations and agreed to implement an IMF-supported program designed to gradually reduce the budget deficit and implement badly needed structural reforms. The Persian Gulf crisis that began in August 1990, however, aggravated Jordan's already serious economic problems, forcing the government to shelve the IMF program, stop most debt payments, and suspend rescheduling negotiations. Aid from Gulf Arab states, worker remittances and trade contracted, and refugees flooded the country, producing serious balance-of-payments problems, stunting GDP growth, and straining government resources. The economy rebounded in 1992, largely due to the influx of capital repatriated by workers returning from the Gulf, but the recovery has been losing steam since mid-1993. The government is implementing the reform program adopted in 1992 and continues to secure rescheduling of its heavy foreign debt. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $11.5 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 5% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $3,000 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 20% (1993 est.) Budget: revenues: $1.7 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $420 million (1993) Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products, manufactures partners: India, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, EC, Indonesia, UAE Imports: $3.2 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, food, live animals, manufactured goods partners: EC, US, Iraq, Japan, Turkey External debt: $6.8 billion (December 1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1993 est.); accounts for 20% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 1,030,000 kW production: 3.814 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,070 kWh (1992) Industries: phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing Agriculture: accounts for about 10% of GDP; principal products are wheat, barley, citrus fruit, tomatoes, melons, olives; livestock - sheep, goats, poultry; large net importer of food Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.7 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.5 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $44 million Currency: 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils Exchange rates: Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.7019 (February 1994), 0.6928 (1993), 0.6797 (1992), 0.6808 (1991), 0.6636 (1990), 0.5704 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Jordan, Communications

Railroads: 789 km 1.050-meter gauge, single track Highways: total: 7,500 km paved: asphalt 5,500 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 2,000 km Pipelines: crude oil 209 km Ports: Al 'Aqabah Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,566 GRT/129,351 DWT, bulk 1, cargo 1, oil tanker 1 Airports: total: 16 usable: 14 with permanent-surface runways: 13 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: adequate telephone system of microwave, cable, and radio links; 81,500 telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 FM, 8 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, 1 domestic TV receive-only; coaxial cable and microwave to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria; microwave link to Lebanon is inactive; participant in MEDARABTEL, a microwave radio relay network linking Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco

@Jordan, Defense Forces

Branches: Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) includes Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Jordanian Air Force, Royal Naval Force; Ministry of the Interior's Public Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime or crisis situations) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 966,420; fit for military service 685,112; reach military age (18) annually 42,776 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $435 million, 7.9% of GDP (1993)

@Juan de Nova Island

Header Affiliation: (possession of France)

@Juan de Nova Island, Geography

Location: Southern Africa, in the central Mozambique Channel about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique Map references: Africa Area: total area: 4.4 sq km land area: 4.4 sq km comparative area: about 7.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 24.1 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claimed by Madagascar Climate: tropical Terrain: NA Natural resources: guano deposits and other fertilizers Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 90% other: 10% Irrigated land: 0 sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to periodic cyclones international agreements: NA Note: wildlife sanctuary

@Juan de Nova Island, People

Population: uninhabited

@Juan de Nova Island, Government

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

@Juan de Nova Island, Economy

Overview: no economic activity

@Juan de Nova Island, Communications

Railroads: short line going to a jetty Ports: none; offshore anchorage only Airports: total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 0 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,439-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1

@Juan de Nova Island, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of France

@Kazakhstan, Geography

Location: Central Asia, between Russia and Uzbekistan, bordering on the Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea Map references: Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 2,717,300 sq km land area: 2,669,800 sq km comparative area: slightly less than four times the size of Texas Land boundaries: total 12,012 km, China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km, Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km Coastline: 0 km note: Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea (1,015 km) and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km) Maritime claims: landlocked, but borders with Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan in the Caspian Sea are under negotiation at present International disputes: Russia may dispute current de facto maritime border to midpoint of Caspian Sea from shore Climate: continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid Terrain: extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in western Siberia to oasis and desert in Central Asia Natural resources: major deposits of petroleum, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: NEGL % meadows and pastures: 57% forest and woodland: 4% other: 24% Irrigated land: 23,080 sq km (1990) Environment: current issues: radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the country and pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salinization from faulty irrigation practices natural hazards: NA international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change Note: landlocked

@Kazakhstan, People

Population: 17,267,554 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.64% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 19.4 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 7.93 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -5.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 40.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.04 years male: 63.39 years female: 72.93 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.44 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Kazakhstani(s) adjective: Kazakhstani Ethnic divisions: Kazakh (Qazaq) 41.9%, Russian 37%, Ukrainian 5.2%, German 4.7%, Uzbek 2.1%, Tatar 2%, other 7.1% (1991 official data) Religions: Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7% Languages: Kazakh (Qazaqz) official language spoken by over 40% of population, Russian (language of interethnic communication) spoken by two-thirds of population and used in everyday business Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 7.356 million by occupation: industry and construction 31%, agriculture and forestry 26%, other 43% (1992)

@Kazakhstan, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan conventional short form: Kazakhstan local long form: Kazakhstan Respublikasy local short form: none former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic Digraph: KZ Type: republic Capital: Almaty Administrative divisions: 19 oblystar (singular - oblys) and 1 city (qalalar, singular - qala)*; Almaty*, Almaty Oblysy, Aqmola Oblysy, Aqtobe Oblysy, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oral), Kokshetau Oblysy, Mangghystau Oblysy, Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Shymkent), Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Pavlodar Oblysy, Semey Oblysy, Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oskemen; formerly Ust'-Kamenogorsk), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Petropavl), Taldyqorghan Oblysy, Torghay Oblysy, Zhambyl Oblysy, Zhezqazghan Oblysy note: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name differs from oblys name Independence: 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 16 December (1991) Constitution: adopted 28 January 1993 Legal system: based on civil law system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (since NA April 1990); Vice President Yerik ASANBAYEV (since 1 December 1991); election last held 1 December 1991 (next to be held NA 1995); percent of vote by party NA; Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV ran unopposed head of government: Prime Minister Sergey TERESHCHENKO (since 14 October 1991); First Deputy Prime Minister Arkezhan KAZHEGELDIN (since NA November 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council: elections last held 7 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (177 total) Union Peoples' Unity of Kazakhstan 33, Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan 11, People's Congress of Kazakhstan Party 9, Socialist Party of Kazakhstan 8, Peasant Union of the Republic Kazakhstan 4, Social Movement "LAD" 4, Organization of Veterans 1, Union of Youth of Kazakhstan 1, Democratic Committee for Human Rights 1, Association of Lawyers of Kazakhstan 1, International Public Committee "Aral-Asia-Kazakhstan" 1, Congress of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan 1, Deputies of the 12th Supreme Soviet 40, independents 62 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Peoples Unity Movement (PUU), Kuanysh SULTANOV, chairman; Peoples Congress, Olzhas SULEYMENOV, chairman; Kazakhstan Socialist Party (SPK; former Communist Party), Piotr SVOIK, co-chairman; Republican Party (Azat), Kamal ORMANTAYEV, chairman; Democratic Progress (Russian) Party, Alexandra DOKUCHAYEVA, chairman; Union Peoples' Unity of Kazakhstan (SNEK); Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Peasant Union of the Republic Kazakhstan; Social Movement LAD (Slavic Rebirth Society), V. MIKHAYLOV, chairman; Union of Youth of Kazakhstan; Democratic Committee for Human Rights; Association of Lawyers of Kazakhstan; International Public Committee "Aral-Asia-Kazakhstan"; Congress of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan; Deputies of the 12th Supreme Soviet Other political or pressure groups: Independent Trade Union Center (Birlesu; an association of independent trade union and business associations), Leonid SOLOMIN, president Member of: CCC, CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOD, NACC, OIC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tuleutai SULEYMENOV chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 333-4504/7 FAX: (202) 333-4509 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William H. COURTNEY embassy: 99/97 Furmanova Street, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan 480012 mailing address: American Embassy Almaty, c/o Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-7030 telephone: (7) (3272) 63-17-70, 63-24-26, 63-28-80, 63-34-05 FAX: (7) (3272) 63-38-83 Flag: sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in yellow

@Kazakhstan, Economy

Overview: Kazakhstan, the second largest of the former Soviet states in territory, possesses vast oil, coal, rare metals, and agricultural resources. While the economy is gradually making the transition from a Soviet command system to a market system, strong elements of state control persist including government ownership of most economic assets and a continued system of mandatory state procurement for the key products such as grain and energy; likewise, agriculture remains largely collectivized. On the other hand, new businesses are forming rapidly, the economy is opening to foreign investment, and 12% of state-owned commercial enterprises have been privatized. In 1993, a three-year industrial privatization program was launched; an independent currency was successfully introduced; and two large joint ventures were established with western oil companies. These far-reaching structural transformations have resulted in a cumulative decline in national income of more than 30% since 1990. Loose monetary policies have kept the inflation rate high, averaging 28% per month for 1993 and accelerating at the end with the disruption caused by a new currency. Since the introduction of its independent currency in November 1993, the government has renewed its commitment to fiscal discipline and accelerating economic reform. However, growing economic hardship and rising ethnic tensions between Kazakhs and Russians over the division of economic assets will likely lead to strong pressure to backtrack. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $60.3 billion (1993 estimate from the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as extrapolated to 1993 using official Kazakhstani statistics, which are very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990) National product real growth rate: -13% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $3,510 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 28% per month (1993) Unemployment rate: 0.6% includes only officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $1.76 billion (1991 est.) Exports: $1.3 billion to outside the FSU countries (1993) commodities: oil, ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals, grain, wool, meat (1992) partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan Imports: $358.3 million from outside the FSU countries (1993) commodities: machinery and parts, industrial materials, oil and gas (1992) partners: Russia and other former Soviet republics, China External debt: $1.5 billion debt to Russia Industrial production: growth rate -16% (1993) Electricity: capacity: 19,135,000 kW production: 81.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,739 kWh (1992) Industries: extractive industries (oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur), iron and steel, nonferrous metal, tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials Agriculture: accounts for almost 40% of net material product; employs about 26% of the labor force; grain, mostly spring wheat; meat, cotton, wool Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and North America from Central and Southwest Asia Economic aid: recipient: approximately $1 billion in foreign credits to become available in 1994 Currency: national currency the tenge introduced on 15 November 1993 Exchange rates: NA Fiscal year: calendar year

@Kazakhstan, Communications

Railroads: 14,460 km (all 1.520-meter gauge); does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways: total: 189,000 km paved and graveled: 108,100 km unpaved: earth 80,900 km (1990) Inland waterways: Syrdariya River, Ertis River Pipelines: crude oil 2,850 km; refined products 1,500 km; natural gas 3,480 km (1992) Ports: inland - Atyrau (formerly Gur'yev; on Caspian Sea) Airports: total: 365 usable: 152 with permanent-surface runways: 49 with runways over 3,659 m: 8 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 38 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 71 Telecommunications: telephone service is poor, with only about 17 telephones for each 100 persons in urban areas and 7.6 telephones per 100 persons in rural areas; of the approximately 2.2 million telephones, Almaty has 184,000; broadcast receivers - TVs 4,750,000, radios 4,088,000, radio receiver systems with multiple speakers for program diffusion 6,082,000; international traffic with other former USSR republics and China carried by landline and microwave, and with other countries by satellite and through 8 international telecommunications circuits at the Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth stations - INTELSAT and Orbita (TV receive only); new satellite ground station established at Almaty with Turkish financial help (December 1992) with 2500 channel band width

@Kazakhstan, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,432,716; fit for military service 3,554,209; reach military age (18) annually 154,989 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: 69,326 million rubles, NA% of GDP (forecast for 1993); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

@Kenya, Geography

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the northwestern India Ocean between Tanzania and Somalia Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 582,650 sq km land area: 569,250 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada Land boundaries: total 3,446 km, Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km Coastline: 536 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary; possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 4% other: 85% Irrigated land: 520 sq km (1989) Environment: current issues: water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change Note: the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

@Kenya, People

Population: 28,240,658 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 3.07% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 42.44 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 11.74 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 74.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.23 years male: 51.48 years female: 55.03 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.91 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan Ethnic divisions: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Asian, European, and Arab 1%, other 15% Religions: Roman Catholic 28%, Protestant (including Anglican) 26%, indigenous beliefs 18%, Muslim 6% Languages: English (official), Swahili (official), numerous indigenous languages Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 69% male: 80% female: 58% Labor force: 9.2 million (includes unemployed); the total employed is 1,370,000 (14.8% of the labor force) by occupation: agriculture 75-80% (1993 est.), non-agriculture 20-25% (1993 est.)

@Kenya, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Kenya conventional short form: Kenya former: British East Africa Digraph: KE Type: republic Capital: Nairobi Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western Independence: 12 December 1963 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963) Constitution: 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, and 1992 Legal system: based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991 Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Daniel Teroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989); election last held on 29 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - President Daniel T. arap MOI was reelected with 37% of the vote; Kenneth Matiba (FORD-ASILI) 26%; Mwai Kibaki (SP) 19%, Oginga Odinga (FORD-Kenya) 17% cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Bunge): elections last held on 29 December 1992; results - (188 total) KANU 100, FORD-Kenya 31, FORD-Asili 31, DP 23, smaller parties 3; president nominates 12 additional members note: first multiparty election since repeal of one-party state law in 1991 Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court Political parties and leaders: ruling party is Kenya African National Union (KANU), Daniel T. arap MOI, president; opposition parties include Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD-Kenya), Michael WAMALWA; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD-Asili), Kenneth MATIBA; Democratic Party of Kenya (DP), Mwai KIBAKI; Kenya National Congress (KNC), Titus MBATHI; Kenya Social Congress (KSC), George ANYONA; Kenya National Democratic Alliance (KENYA), Mukara NG'ANG'A; Party for Independent Candidates of Kenya (PKK), Otieno OTOERA Other political or pressure groups: labor unions; Roman Catholic Church Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: (vacant) chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 387-6101 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Aurelia BRAZEAL embassy: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi or APO AE 09831 telephone: [254] (2) 334141 FAX: [254] (2) 340838 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center

@Kenya, Economy

Overview: Kenya's 3.1% annual population growth rate - one of the highest in the world - has led to a decline in per capita output in each of the last three years, 1991-93. Undependable weather conditions and a shortage of arable land hamper long-term growth in agriculture, the leading economic sector. In industry and services, Nairobi's reluctance to embrace IMF-supported reforms has held back investment. Ethnic clashes and continued suspension of quick disbursing aid by the international donors kept growth at only 0.5% in 1993. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $33.2 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 0.5% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $1,200 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 55% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 23.8% urban (1993 est.) Budget: revenues: $2.4 billion expenditures: $2.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $740 million (1990 est.) Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: tea 25%, coffee 18%, petroleum products 11% (1990) partners: EC 47%, Africa 23%, Asia 11%, US 4%, Middle East 3% (1991) Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 29%, petroleum and petroleum products 15%, iron and steel 7%, raw materials, food and consumer goods (1989) partners: EC 46%, Asia 23%, Middle East 20%, US 5% (1991) External debt: $7 billion (1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 5.4% (1989 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 730,000 kW production: 2.54 billion kWh consumption per capita: 100 kWh (1990) Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural processing, oil refining, cement, tourism Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 25% of GDP and 65% of exports; cash crops - coffee, tea, sisal, pineapple; food products - corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs; food output not keeping pace with population growth, and crop production has been extended into marginal land Illicit drugs: widespread wild, small-plot cultivation of marijuana and gat; most locally consumed; transit country for Southwest Asian heroin moving to West Africa and onward to Europe and North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $839 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $7.49 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $74 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $83 million Currency: 1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1 - 68.413 (December 1993), 32.217 (1992), 27.508 (1991), 22.915 (1990), 20.572 (1989) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

@Kenya, Communications

Railroads: 2,040 km 1.000-meter gauge Highways: total: 64,590 km paved: 7,000 km unpaved: gravel 4,150 km; improved earth 53,440 km Inland waterways: part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya Pipelines: petroleum products 483 km Ports: coastal - Mombasa, Lamu; inland - Kisumu Merchant marine: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,883 GRT/6,255 DWT, barge carrier 1, oil tanker ship 1 Airports: total: 248 usable: 213 with permanent-surface runways: 28 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 44 Telecommunications: in top group of African systems; consists primarily of radio relay links; over 260,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 16 AM; 4 FM, 6 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

@Kenya, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General Service Unit of the Police Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,144,891; fit for military service 3,799,202 Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $294 million, 4.9% of GDP (FY88/89 est.)

@Kingman Reef

Header Affiliation: (territory of the US)

@Kingman Reef, Geography

Location: Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,600 km south-southwest of Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 1 sq km land area: 1 sq km comparative area: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 3 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, but moderated by prevailing winds Terrain: low and nearly level with a maximum elevation of about 1 meter 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: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes this a maritime hazard international agreements: NA Note: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public

@Kingman Reef, People

Population: uninhabited

@Kingman Reef, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Kingman Reef Digraph: KQ Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Navy, however it is awash the majority of the time, so it is not usable and uninhabited. Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

@Kingman Reef, Economy

Overview: no economic activity

@Kingman Reef, Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only Airports: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938

@Kingman Reef, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US

@Kiribati, Geography

Location: Oceania, Micronesia, straddling the equator in the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 717 sq km land area: 717 sq km comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 1,143 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979) Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 51% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 3% other: 46% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; subject to occasional tornadoes international agreements: party to - Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change Note: 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia and Nauru

@Kiribati, People

Population: 77,853 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.99% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 31.64 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 12.31 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 98.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.16 years male: 52.56 years female: 55.78 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.77 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural) adjective: I-Kiribati Ethnic divisions: Micronesian Religions: Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational) 40.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985) Languages: English (official), Gilbertese Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)

@Kiribati, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati conventional short form: Kiribati former: Gilbert Islands Digraph: KR Type: republic Capital: Tarawa Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands note: a new administrative structure of 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) may have been changed to 21 island councils (one for each of the inhabited islands) named Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Canton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979) Constitution: 12 July 1979 Legal system: NA Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President (Beretitenti) Teatao TEANNAKI (since 8 July 1991); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Taomati IUTA (since 8 July 1991); election last held on 8 July 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - Teatao TEANNAKI 52%, Roniti TEIWAKI 28% cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from an elected parliament Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu): elections last held on 8 May 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party NA Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party, Teatao TEANNAKI; Christian Democratic Party, Teburoro TITO; New Movement Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka TENTOA; Maneaba Party, Roniti TEIWAKI note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO Diplomatic representation in US: Kiribati has no mission in the US US diplomatic representation: the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati Flag: the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean

@Kiribati, Economy

Overview: The country has few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP declined about 8% in 1987, as the fish catch fell sharply to only one-fourth the level of 1986 and copra production was hampered by repeated rains. Output rebounded strongly in 1988, with real GDP growing by 17%. The upturn in economic growth came from an increase in copra production and a good fish catch. Following the strong surge in output in 1988, GNP increased 1% in both 1989 and 1990. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $36.8 million (1990 est.) National product real growth rate: 1.5% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $525 (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues: $29.9 million expenditures: $16.3 million, including capital expenditures of $14 million (1990 est.) Exports: $4.2 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: copra 50%, seaweed 16%, fish 15% partners: Denmark, Fiji, US Imports: $33.1 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel partners: Australia 40%, Japan 18%, Fiji 17%, NZ 6%, US 4% (1991) External debt: $2 million (December 1989 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 0.7% (1992 est.); accounts for less than 4% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 5,000 kW production: 13 million kWh consumption per capita: 190 kWh (1990) Industries: fishing, handicrafts Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP (including fishing); copra and fish contribute about 65% to exports; subsistence farming predominates; food crops - taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; not self-sufficient in food Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $273 million Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989) Fiscal year: NA

@Kiribati, Communications

Highways: total: 640 km paved: NA unpaved: NA Inland waterways: small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line Islands Ports: Banaba and Betio (Tarawa) Merchant marine: 1 passenger-cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWT Airports: total: 21 usable: 20 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 5 Telecommunications: 1,400 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Kiribati, Defense Forces

Branches: Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; there are small police posts on all islands); no military force is maintained Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

@Korea, North, Geography

Location: Eastern Asia, between China and South Korea Map references: Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 120,540 sq km land area: 120,410 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Mississippi Land boundaries: total 1,673 km, China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km Coastline: 2,495 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm military boundary line: 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned International disputes: short section of boundary with China is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea Climate: temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east Natural resources: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 74% other: 7% Irrigated land: 14,000 sq km (1989) Environment: current issues: localized air pollution attributable to inadequate industrial controls natural hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; subject to occasional typhoons which occur during the early fall international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Environmental Modification, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated

@Korea, North, People

Population: 23,066,573 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.83% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 23.75 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.5 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 27.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.78 years male: 66.69 years female: 73.02 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.37 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean Ethnic divisions: racially homogeneous Religions: Buddhism and Confucianism, some Christianity and syncretic Chondogyo note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom Languages: Korean Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% Labor force: 9.615 million by occupation: agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64% note: shortage of skilled and unskilled labor (mid-1987 est.)

@Korea, North, Government

Names: conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea conventional short form: North Korea local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk local short form: none Abbreviation: DPRK Digraph: KN Type: Communist state; Stalinist dictatorship Capital: P'yongyang Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 special cities* (jikhalsi, singular and plural); Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do (Yanggang Province) Independence: 9 September 1948 note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day National holiday: DPRK Foundation Day, 9 September (1948) Constitution: adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992 Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President KIM Il-song (national leader since 1948, president since 28 December 1972); designated successor KIM Chong-il (son of president, born 16 February 1942); election last held 24 May 1990 (next to be held by NA 1995); results - President KIM Il-song was reelected without opposition head of government: Premier KANG Song-san (since December 1992) cabinet: State Administration Council; appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly (Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui): elections last held on 7-9 April 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (687 total) the KWP approves a single list of candidates who are elected without opposition; minor parties hold a few seats Judicial branch: Central Court Political parties and leaders: major party - Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KIM Il-song, general secretary, and his son, KIM Chong-il, secretary, Central Committee; Korean Social Democratic Party, KIM Pyong-sik, chairman; Chondoist Chongu Party, YU Mi-yong, chairwoman Member of: ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, IFAD, IMF (observer), IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: none US diplomatic representation: none Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star

@Korea, North, Economy

Overview: More than 90% of this command economy is socialized; agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95% of manufactured goods. State control of economic affairs is unusually tight even for a Communist country because of the small size and homogeneity of the society and the strict rule of KIM Il-song and his son, KIM Chong-il. Economic growth during the period 1984-88 averaged 2%-3%, but output declined by 3%-5% annually during 1989-92 because of systemic problems and disruptions in socialist-style economic relations with the former USSR and China. In 1992, output dropped sharply, by perhaps 7%-9%, as the economy felt the cumulative effect of the reduction in outside support. The leadership insisted on maintaining its high level of military outlays from a shrinking economic pie. Moreover, a serious drawdown in inventories and critical shortages in the energy sector have led to increasing interruptions in industrial production. Abundant mineral resources and hydropower have formed the basis of industrial development since WWII. Output of the extractive industries includes coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals. Manufacturing is centered on heavy industry, including military industry, with light industry lagging far behind. Despite the use of improved seed varieties, expansion of irrigation, and the heavy use of fertilizers, North Korea has not yet become self-sufficient in food production. Six consecutive years of poor harvests, coupled with distribution problems, have led to chronic food shortages. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $22 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: -7 to -9% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $1,000 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $19.3 billion expenditures: $19.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.) Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments) partners: China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico Imports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment, consumer goods partners: China, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Singapore External debt: $8 billion (1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -7% to -9% (1992 est.) Electricity: capacity: 7,300,000 kW production: 26 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,160 kWh (1992) Industries: machine building, military products, electric power, chemicals, mining, metallurgy, textiles, food processing Agriculture: accounts for about 25% of GNP and 36% of work force; principal crops - rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; livestock and livestock products - cattle, hogs, pork, eggs; not self-sufficient in grain Economic aid: recipient: Communist countries, $1.4 billion a year in the 1980s, but very little now Currency: 1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon Exchange rates: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Korea, North, Communications

Railroads: 4,915 km total; 4,250 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 665 km 0.762-meter narrow gauge; 159 km double track; 3,084 km electrified; government owned (1989) Highways: total: 30,000 km paved: 1,440 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 28,560 km (1991) Inland waterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only Pipelines: crude oil 37 km Ports: primary - Ch'ongjin, Hungnam (Hamhung), Najin, Namp'o, Wonsan; secondary - Haeju, Kimch'aek, Kosong, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang Merchant marine: 83 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 706,497 GRT/1,114,827 DWT, bulk 9, cargo 67, combination bulk 1, oil tanker 2, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1 Airports: total: 55 usable: 55 (est.) with permanent-surface runways: about 30 with runways over 3,659 m: fewer than 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 20 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 30 Telecommunications: broadcast stations - 18 AM, no FM, 11 TV; 300,000 TV sets (1989); 3,500,000 radio receivers; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Korea, North, Defense Forces

Branches: Korean People's Army (including the Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security Forces Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,658,529; fit for military service 4,044,355; reach military age (18) annually 196,763 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - about $5 billion, 20%-25% of GNP (1991 est.); note - the officially announced but suspect figure is $2.2 billion (1994), about 12% of total spending

@Korea, South, Geography

Location: Eastern Asia, between North Korea and Japan Map references: Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 98,480 sq km land area: 98,190 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Indiana Land boundaries: total 238 km, North Korea 238 km Coastline: 2,413 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm; 3 nm in the Korea Strait International disputes: Demarcation Line with North Korea; Liancourt Rocks claimed by Japan Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 67% other: 10% Irrigated land: 13,530 sq km (1989) Environment: current issues: air pollution in large cities; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents natural hazards: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; earthquakes in southwest international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

@Korea, South, People

Population: 45,082,880 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.04% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 15.7 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.17 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 21.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.59 years male: 67.39 years female: 73.98 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean Ethnic divisions: homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese) Religions: Christianity 48.6%, Buddhism 47.4%, Confucianism 3%, pervasive folk religion (shamanism), Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) 0.2% Languages: Korean, English widely taught in high school Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 96% male: 99% female: 99% Labor force: 20 million by occupation: services and other 52%, mining and manufacturing 27%, agriculture, fishing, forestry 21% (1991)

@Korea, South, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Korea conventional short form: South Korea local long form: Taehan-min'guk local short form: none Abbreviation: ROK Digraph: KS Type: republic Capital: Seoul Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 6 special cities* (jikhalsi, singular and plural); Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo, Inch'on-jikhalsi*, Kangwon-do, Kwangju-jikhalsi*, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-jikhalsi*, Soul-t'ukpyolsi*, Taegu-jikhalsi*, Taejon-jikhalsi* Independence: 15 August 1948 National holiday: Independence Day, 15 August (1948) Constitution: 25 February 1988 Legal system: combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President KIM Yong-sam (since 25 February 1993); election last held on 18 December 1992 (next to be held NA December 1997); results - KIM Yong-sam (DLP) 41.9%, KIM Tae-chung (DP) 33.8%, CHONG Chu-yong (UPP) 16.3%, other 8% head of government: Prime Minister YI Yong-tok (since 29 April 1994); Deputy Prime Minister CHONG Chae-sok (since 21 December 1993) and Deputy Prime Minister YI Hong-ku (since 30 April 1994) cabinet: State Council; appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Kukhoe): elections last held on 24 March 1992; results - DLP 38.5%, DP 29.2%, Unification National Party (UNP) 17.3% (name later changed to UPP), other 15%; seats - (299 total) DLP 149, DP 97, UNP 31, other 22; the distribution of seats as of January 1994 was DLP 172, DP 96, UPP 11, other 20 note: the change in the distribution of seats reflects the fluidity of the current situation where party members are constantly switching from one party to another Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: majority party: Democratic Liberal Party (DLP), KIM Yong-sam, president opposition: Democratic Party (DP), YI Ki-taek, executive chairman; United People's Party (UPP), KIM Tong-kil, chairman; several smaller parties note: the DLP resulted from a merger of the Democratic Justice Party (DJP), Reunification Democratic Party (RDP), and New Democratic Republican Party (NDRP) on 9 February 1990 Other political or pressure groups: Korean National Council of Churches; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federation of Student Associations; National Federation of Farmers' Associations; National Council of Labor Unions; Federation of Korean Trade Unions; Korean Veterans' Association; Federation of Korean Industries; Korean Traders Association Member of: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, COCOM (cooperating), CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, OAS (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador HAN Sung-su chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 939-5600 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador James T. LANEY embassy: 82 Sejong-Ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, Seoul; APO AP 96205-0001 telephone: [82] (2) 397-4000 through 4008 and 397-4114 FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845 consulate(s): Pusan Flag: white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field

@Korea, South, Economy

Overview: The driving force behind the economy's dynamic growth has been the planned development of an export-oriented economy in a vigorously entrepreneurial society. Real GNP increased more than 10% annually between 1986 and 1991. This growth ultimately led to an overheated situation characterized by a tight labor market, strong inflationary pressures, and a rapidly rising current account deficit. As a result, in 1992, economic policy focused on slowing the growth rate of inflation and reducing the deficit. Annual growth slowed to 5%, still above the rate in most other countries of the world. Growth increased to 6.3% in 1993 as a result of fourth quarter manufacturing production growth of over 10% and is expected to be in the 8% range for 1994. National product: GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $424 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 6.3% (1993) National product per capita: $9,500 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.8% (1993) Unemployment rate: 2.6% (October 1993) Budget: revenues: $48.4 billion expenditures: $48.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.) Exports: $81 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: electronic and electrical equipment, machinery, steel, automobiles, ships, textiles, clothing, footwear, fish partners: US 26%, Japan 17%, EC 14% Imports: $78.9 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains partners: Japan 26%, US 24%, EC 15% External debt: $42 billion (1992) Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1992 est.); accounts for about 45% of GNP Electricity: capacity: 27,016 kW (1993) production: 105 billion kWh (1992) consumption per capita: 2,380 kWh (1992) Industries: electronics, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel, textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing Agriculture: accounts for 8% of GNP and employs 21% of work force (including fishing and forestry); principal crops - rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; livestock and livestock products - cattle, hogs, chickens, milk, eggs; self-sufficient in food, except for wheat; fish catch of 2.9 million metric tons, seventh-largest in world Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.9 billion; non-US countries (1970-89), $3 billion Currency: 1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chun (theoretical) Exchange rates: South Korean won (W) per US$1 - 810.48 (January 1994), 802.68 (1993), 780.65 (1992), 733.35 (1991), 707.76 (1990), 671.46 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Korea, South, Communications

Railroads: 3,091 km total (1991); 3,044 km 1.435 meter standard gauge, 47 km 0.610-meter narrow gauge, 847 km double track; 525 km electrified, government owned Highways: total: 63,201 km paved: expressways 1,551 km unpaved: NA undifferentiated: national highway 12,190 km; provincial, local roads 49,460 km (1991) Inland waterways: 1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft Pipelines: petroleum products 455 km Ports: Pusan, Inch'on, Kunsan, Mokp'o, Ulsan Merchant marine: 417 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,425,920 GRT/10,535,850 DWT, bulk 123, cargo 132, chemical tanker 16, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 2, container 60, liquefied gas 13, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 47, refrigerated cargo 11, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 9 Airports: total: 104 usable: 95 with permanent-surface runways: 61 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 23 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 18 Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international services; 13,276,449 telephone subscribers; broadcast stations - 79 AM, 46 FM, 256 TV (57 of 1 kW or greater); satellite earth stations - 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

@Korea, South, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 13,435,598; fit for military service 8,623,325; reach military age (18) annually 417,055 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $13.0 billion, 3.6% of GNP (1994 est.)

@Kuwait, Geography

Location: Middle East, at the head of the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia Map references: Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 17,820 sq km land area: 17,820 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey Land boundaries: total 464 km, Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km Coastline: 499 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: in April 1991 Iraq officially accepted 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 of the inviolability of the UN demarcated border; ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands disputed by Saudi Arabia Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 8% forest and woodland: 0% other: 92% Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping Note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

@Kuwait, People

Population: 1,819,322 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 5.24% (1994 est.) note: this rate reflects the continued post-Gulf crisis return of nationals and expatriates Birth rate: 29.43 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 2.37 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 25.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 12.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.99 years male: 72.83 years female: 77.25 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 4 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti Ethnic divisions: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7% Religions: Muslim 85% (Shi'a 30%, Sunni 45%, other 10%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15% Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 73% male: 77% female: 67% Labor force: 566,000 (1986) by occupation: services 45.0%, construction 20.0%, trade 12.0%, manufacturing 8.6%, finance and real estate 2.6%, agriculture 1.9%, power and water 1.7%, mining and quarrying 1.4% note: 70% of labor force non-Kuwaiti (1986)

@Kuwait, Government

Names: conventional long form: State of Kuwait conventional short form: Kuwait local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt local short form: Al Kuwayt Digraph: KU Type: nominal constitutional monarchy Capital: Kuwait Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al 'Ahmadi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt, Hawalli, Al Farwaniyah Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK) National holiday: National Day, 25 February (1948) Constitution: 16 November 1962 (some provisions suspended since 29 August 1962) Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: adult males who resided in Kuwait before 1920 and their male descendants at age 21 note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote Executive branch: chief of state: Amir Shaykh JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31 December 1977) head of government: Prime Minister and Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdallah al-Salim Al Sabah (since 8 February 1978); Deputy Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 17 October 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the Prime Minister and approved by the Amir Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-umma): dissolved 3 July 1986; new elections were held on 5 October 1992 with a second election in the 14th and 16th constituencies held February 1993 Judicial branch: High Court of Appeal Political parties and leaders: none Other political or pressure groups: small, clandestine leftist and Shi'a fundamentalist groups are active; several groups critical of government policies are publicly active Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 966-0702 FAX: (202) 966-0517 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ryan CROCKER embassy: Bneid al-Gar (opposite the Kuwait International Hotel), Kuwait City mailing address: P.O. Box 77 SAFAT, 13001 SAFAT, Kuwait; Unit 69000, Kuwait; APO AE 09880-9000 telephone: [965] 242-4151 through 4159 FAX: [956] 244-2855 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side

@Kuwait, Economy

Overview: Kuwait is a small and relatively open economy with proven crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Kuwait has rebuilt its war-ravaged petroleum sector; its crude oil production reached at least 2.0 million barrels per day by the end of 1993. The government ran a sizable fiscal deficit in 1993. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP and 90% of export and government revenues. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $25.7 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 15% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $15,100 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1993) Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues: $9 billion expenditures: $13 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93) Exports: $10.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: oil partners: France 16%, Italy 15%, Japan 12%, UK 11% Imports: $6 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing partners: US 35%, Japan 12%, UK 9%, Canada 9% External debt: $7.2 billion (December 1989 est.) note: external debt has grown substantially in 1991 and 1992 to pay for restoration of war damage Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for NA% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 6,873,000 kW available out of 7,398,000 kW due to Persian Gulf war production: 12.264 billion kWh consumption per capita: 8,890 kWh (1992) Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, building materials, salt, construction Agriculture: practically none; dependent on imports for food; about 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported Economic aid: donor: pledged bilateral aid to less developed countries (1979-89), $18.3 billion Currency: 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1 - 0.2982 (January 1994), 0.3017 (1993), 0.2934 (1992), 0.2843 (1991), 0.2915 (1990), 0.2937 (1989) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

@Kuwait, Communications

Railroads: none Highways: total: 3,900 km paved: bituminous 3,000 km unpaved: gravel, sand, earth 900 km Pipelines: crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 165 km Ports: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' Su'ud Merchant marine: 46 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 2,153,693 GRT/3,561,568 DWT, cargo 10, container 2, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 23 Airports: total: 7 usable: 4 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: civil network suffered extensive damage as a result of the Gulf war and reconstruction is still under way with some restored international and domestic capabilities; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 0 FM, 3 TV; satellite earth stations - destroyed during Gulf war and not rebuilt yet; temporary mobile satellite ground stations provide international telecommunications; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; service to Iraq is nonoperational

@Kuwait, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard Manpower availability: males age 15-49 537,696; fit for military service 321,767; reach military age (18) annually 15,354 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.5 billion, 7.3% of GDP (FY92/93)

@Kyrgyzstan, Geography

Location: Central Asia, between China and Kazakhstan Map references: Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 198,500 sq km land area: 191,300 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than South Dakota Land boundaries: total 3,878 km, China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southwestern boundary in Isfara Valley area Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone Terrain: peaks of Tien Shan rise to 7,000 meters, and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation Natural resources: small amounts of coal abundant hydroelectric potential; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc, natural gas, oil, nepheline, rare earth metals, mercury, bismuth, gold, lead, zinc, hydroelectric power Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: NEGL% meadows and pastures: 42% forest and woodland: 0% other: 51% Irrigated land: 10,320 sq km (1990) Environment: current issues: water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells and as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA Note: landlocked

@Kyrgyzstan, People

Population: 4,698,108 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.53% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 26.33 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 7.36 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -3.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 46.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.92 years male: 63.69 years female: 72.35 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.35 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Kyrgyz(s) adjective: Kyrgyz Ethnic divisions: Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 21.5%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, other 8.3% Religions: Muslim 70%, Russian Orthodox NA% Languages: Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) - official language, Russian widely used Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 1.836 million by occupation: agriculture and forestry 38%, industry and construction 21%, other 41% (1990)

@Kyrgyzstan, Government

Names: conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy local short form: none former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic Digraph: KG Type: republic Capital: Bishkek Administrative divisions: 6 oblasttar (singular - oblast); Chuy Oblasty, Jalal-Abad Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty note: the administrative center for Chuy Oblasty is Bishkek; the administrative center for Ysyk-Kol Oblasty may be Ksyk-Kol or Karakol; all other oblasttar have administrative centers of the same name as the oblast Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: National Day, 2 December; Independence Day, 31 August (1991) Constitution: adopted 5 May 1993 Legal system: based on civil law system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990); election last held 12 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Askar AKAYEV won in uncontested election with 95% of vote and with 90% of electorate voting; note - president elected by Supreme Soviet 28 October 1990, then by popular vote 12 October 1991; note - AKAYEV won 96% of the vote in a referendum on his status as president on 30 January 1993 head of government: Prime Minister Apas DZHUMAGULOV (since NA December 1993); First Deputy Prime Minister Almambet MATURBRAIMOV (since NA) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers; subordinate to the president Legislative branch: unicameral Zhogorku Keneshom: elections last held 25 February 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next to be held no later than NA November 1994 for the Zhogorku Keneshom); results - Communists 90%; seats - (350 total) Communists 310 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Social Democrats, Ishenbai KADYRBEKOV, chairman; Kyrgyzstan Democratic Movement (KDM), Kazat AKHMATOV, chairman; National Unity, German KUZNETSOV; Communist Party, Dzhumalbek AMANBAYEV, chairman; Erkin (Free) Kyrgyzstan Party, Topchubek TURGUNALIYEV, chairman Other political or pressure groups: National Unity Democratic Movement; Peasant Party; Council of Free Trade Unions; Union of Entrepreneurs; Agrarian Party Member of: CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IOC, NACC, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: (vacant) chancery: (temporary) Suite 705, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: (202) 347-3732/3 FAX: (202) 347-3718 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward HURWITZ embassy: Erkindik Prospekt #66, Bishkek 720002 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: 7-3312 22-29-20, 22-26-93, 22-29-89 FAX: 7-3312 22-35-51 Flag: red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Krygyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt

@Kyrgyzstan, Economy

Overview: Kyrgyzstan is one of the smallest and poorest states of the former Soviet Union. Its economy is heavily agricultural, producing cotton and tobacco on irrigated land in the south, grain in the foothills of the north, and sheep and goats on mountain pastures. Its small and obsolescent industrial sector, concentrated around Bishkek, is heavily dependent on Russia and other CIS countries for customers and for inputs, including most of its fuel. Since 1990, the economy has contracted by almost 40%. Kyrgyzstan's inflation was high in 1993, about 23% per month, but rates were declining at the end of the year. Kyrgyzstan introduced its national currency, the som, in May 1993, it has privatized 28% of its former state assets, and plans call for a massive voucher privatization in 1994. Although Kyrgyzstan will receive relatively large flows of foreign aid, ongoing economic restructuring will continue to be painful with an anticipated increase in unemployment as uneconomic enterprises close. President AKAYEV will be under strong political pressure to backtrack on some reform measures. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $11.3 billion (1993 estimate from the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as extrapolated to 1993 using official Kirghiz statistics, which are very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990) National product real growth rate: -13.4% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $2,440 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 23% per month (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 0.2% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of unregistered unemployed and underemployed workers Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $100.4 million to countries outside the FSU (1993 est.) commodities: wool, chemicals, cotton, ferrous and nonferrous metals, shoes, machinery, tobacco partners: Russia 70%, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and others Imports: $105.8 million from countries outside the FSU (1993 est.) commodities: grain, lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel, machinery, textiles, footwear partners: other CIS republics External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate -27% (1993 est.) Electricity: capacity: 4,100,000 kW production: 11.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,551 kWh (1992) Industries: small machinery, textiles, food-processing industries, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, and rare earth metals Agriculture: wool, tobacco, cotton, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle), vegetables, meat, grapes, fruits and berries, eggs, milk, potatoes Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and North America from Central and Southwest Asia Economic aid: recipient: $80 million in 1993 and an anticipated $400 million in 1994 Currency: introduced national currency, the som (10 May 1993) Exchange rates: NA Fiscal year: calendar year

@Kyrgyzstan, Communications

Railroads: 370 km; does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways: total: 30,300 km paved and graveled: 22,600 km unpaved: earth 7,700 km (1990) Pipelines: natural gas 200 km Ports: none; landlocked Airports: total: 52 usable: 27 with permanent-surface runways: 12 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,060-2,439 m: 13 note: a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip Telecommunications: poorly developed; 342,000 telephones in 1991 (also about 100,000 unsatisfied applications for household telephones); 76 telephones per 1,000 persons (31 December 1991); microwave radio relay is principal means of intercity telephone links; connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; 2 satellite earth stations - 1 GORIZONT and 1 INTELSAT (links through Ankara to 200 other countries and receives Turkish broadcasts); broadcast receivers - radios 825,000, TVs 875,000, radio receiver systems with multiple speakers for program diffusion 748,000

@Kyrgyzstan, Defense Forces

Branches: National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Civil Defense Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,123,959; fit for military service 912,516; reach military age (18) annually 44,528 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

@Laos, Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, between Vietnam and Thailand Map references: Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 236,800 sq km land area: 230,800 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Utah Land boundaries: total 5,083 km, Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: boundary dispute with Thailand Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 58% other: 35% Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion natural hazards: subject to floods, drought, and blight international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea Note: landlocked

@Laos, People

Population: 4,701,654 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.85% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 43.23 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 14.74 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 101.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.68 years male: 50.16 years female: 53.28 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.07 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian Ethnic divisions: Lao 50%, Phoutheung (Kha) 15%, tribal Thai 20%, Meo, Hmong, Yao, and other 15% Religions: Buddhist 85%, animist and other 15% Languages: Lao (official), French, English Literacy: age 15-45 can read and write (1993) total population: 64% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 1-1.5 million by occupation: agriculture 85-90% (est.)

@Laos, Government

Names: conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic conventional short form: Laos local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao local short form: none Digraph: LA Type: Communist state Capital: Vientiane Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamsai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louang Namtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Saravan, Savannakhet, Xekong, Vientiane, Viangchan*, Xaignabouri, Xiangkhoang Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France) National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic) Constitution: promulgated 14 August 1991 Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (since 25 November 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president, approved by the Assembly Legislative branch: unicameral Third National Assembly: elections last held on 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (85 total) number of seats by party NA Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president; includes Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC); other parties moribund Other political or pressure groups: non-Communist political groups moribund; most leaders fled the country in 1975 Member of: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador HIEM PHOMMACHANH chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-6416 or 6417 FAX: (202) 332-4923 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Victor TOMSETH embassy: Rue Bartholonie, Vientiane mailing address: B. P. 114, Vientiane, or American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: [851] 2220, 2357, or 3570, 16-9581 FAX: [851] 4675 Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

@Laos, Economy

Overview: Laos has had a Communist centrally planned economy with government ownership and control of major productive enterprises. Since 1986, however, the government has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise. Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure; it has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, limited external and internal telecommunications, and electricity available in only a limited area. Subsistence agriculture is the main occupation, accounting for over 60% of GDP and providing about 85-90% of total employment. The predominant crop is rice. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend for its survival on foreign aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid from the former USSR and Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $4.1 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 7% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $900 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.8% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 21% (1989 est.) Budget: revenues: $83 million expenditures: $188.5 million, including capital expenditures of $94 million (1990 est.) Exports: $133 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: electricity, wood products, coffee, tin partners: Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, FSU, US, China Imports: $266 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures partners: Thailand, FSU, Japan, France, Vietnam, China External debt: $1.1 billion (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 12% (1991 est.); accounts for about 18% of GDP (1991 est.) Electricity: capacity: 226,000 kW production: 990 million kWh consumption per capita: 220 kWh (1992) Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction Agriculture: accounts for 60% of GDP and employs most of the work force; subsistence farming predominates; normally self-sufficient in nondrought years; principal crops - rice (80% of cultivated land), sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; livestock - buffaloes, hogs, cattle, poultry Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, opium poppy for the international drug trade, third-largest opium producer (180 metric tons in 1993) Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $276 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $605 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $995 million Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1 - 720 (July 1993). 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700 (September 1990), 576 (1989) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

@Laos, Communications

Railroads: none Highways: total: 27,527 km paved: bituminous 1,856 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, improved earth 7,451 km; unimproved earth 18,220 km (often impassable during rainy season mid-May to mid-September) Inland waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km Ports: none Merchant marine: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT Airports: total: 53 usable: 41 with permanent-surface runways: 8 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 15 Telecommunications: service to general public practically non-existant; radio communications network provides generally erratic service to government users; 7,390 telephones (1986); broadcast stations - 10 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth station

@Laos, Defense Forces

Branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; including naval, aviation, and militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,015,357; fit for military service 547,566; reach military age (18) annually 49,348 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

@Latvia, Geography

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering on the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia Map references: Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 64,100 sq km land area: 64,100 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia Land boundaries: total 1,078 km, Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km Coastline: 531 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: the Abrene section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944 Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters Terrain: low plain Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 39% other: 21% Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1990) Environment: current issues: air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

@Latvia, People

Population: 2,749,211 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.5% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 13.84 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 12.61 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 3.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 21.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.44 years male: 64.37 years female: 74.75 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.98 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian Ethnic divisions: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%, Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2% Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 1.407 million by occupation: industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, other 43% (1990)

@Latvia, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic Digraph: LG Type: republic Capital: Riga Administrative divisions: 26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preiju Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918) Constitution: newly elected Parliament in 1993 restored the 1933 constitution Legal system: based on civil law system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993); Saeima elected President ULMANIS in the third round of balloting on 7 July 1993 head of government: Prime Minister Valdis BIRKAVS (since 20 July 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the Supreme Council Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Saeima): elections last held 5-6 June 1993 (next to be held NA June 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) LC 36, LNNK 15, Concord for Latvia 13, LZS 12, Equal Rights 7, LKDS 6, TUB 6, DCP 5 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Latvian Way Union (LC), Valdis BIRKAVS; Latvian Farmers Union (LZS), Alvars BERKIS; Latvian National Independence Movement (LNNK), Andrejs KRASTINS, Aristids LAMBERGS, cochairmen; Concord for Latvia, Janis JURKANS; Equal Rights, Sergejs DIMANIS; Christian Democrat Union (LKDS), Peteris CIMDINS, Andris SAULITIS, Janis RUSKO; Fatherland and Freedom (TUB), Maris GRINBLATS, Roberts MILBERGS, Oigerts DZENTIS; Democratic Center (DCP), Ints CALITIS; Popular Front of Latvia (LTF), Uldis AUGSTKALNS Member of: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE (guest), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: (202) 726-8213 and 8214 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Ints M, SILINS embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, Riga 226050 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: 46-9-882-0046 FAX: 46-9-882-0047 Flag: two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white (middle, narrower than other two bands)

@Latvia, Economy

Overview: Latvia is rapidly becoming a dynamic market economy, rivaled only by Estonia among the former Soviet states in the speed of its transformation. The transition has been painful with GDP falling over 45% in 1992-93, according to official statistics, and industrial production experiencing even steeper declines. Nevertheless, the government's tough monetary policies and reform program, which foster the development of the private sector and market mechanisms, have kept inflation low, created a dynamic private sector - much of which is not captured in official statistics - and expanded trade ties with the West. Much of agriculture is already privatized and the government plans to step up the pace of privatization of state enterprises. The economy is now poised for recovery and will benefit from the country's strategic location on the Baltic Sea, its well-educated population, and its diverse - albeit largely obsolete - industrial structure. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $13.2 billion (1993 estimate from the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as extrapolated to 1993 using official Latvian statistics, which are very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990) National product real growth rate: -5% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $4,810 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% per month (1993 average) Unemployment rate: 5.6% (December 1993) Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $429 million from non-FSU countries (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: oil products, timber, ferrous metals, dairy products, furniture, textiles partners: Russia, other CIS countries, Western Europe Imports: $NA commodities: fuels, cars, ferrous metals, chemicals partners: Russia, other CIS countries, Western Europe External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate -38% (1992 est.) Electricity: capacity: 2,140,000 kW production: 5.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,125 kWh (1992) Industries: employs 41% of labor force; highly diversified; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products; produces buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles Agriculture: employs 16% of labor force; principally dairy farming and livestock feeding; products - meat, milk, eggs, grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; fishing and fish packing Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption; also produces illicit amphetamines for export Economic aid: $NA Currency: 1 lat = 100 cents; introduced NA March 1993 Exchange rates: lats per US$1 - 0.5917 (January 1994), 1.32 (March 1993) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Latvia, Communications

Railroads: 2,400 km (1,524-mm gauge); 270 km electrified Highways: total: 59,500 km paved and graveled: 33,000 km unpaved: earth 26,500 km (1990) Inland waterways: 300 km perennially navigable Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992) Ports: coastal - Riga, Ventspils, Liepaja; inland - Daugavpils Merchant marine: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 850,840 GRT/1,107,403 DWT, cargo 15, container 2, oil tanker 41, refrigerated cargo 27, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8 Airports: total: 50 usable: 15 with permanent-surface runways: 11 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 7 with runways 1,060-2,439 m: 7 note: a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip Telecommunications: Latvia is better provided with telephone service than most of the other former Soviet republics; subscriber circuits 660,000; subscriber density 240 per 1,000 persons (1993); an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network covers 75% of Latvia's population; international traffic carried by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch and through the new Ericsson AXE local/transit digital telephone exchange in Riga and through the Finnish cellular net; electronic mail capability by Sprint data network; broadcasting services NA

@Latvia, Defense Forces

Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 652,444; fit for military service 514,055; reach military age (18) annually 18,803 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: 176 million rubles, 3%-5% of GDP; note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results

@Lebanon

Header Note: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war in October 1990. Under the Ta'if accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process. Since December 1990, the Lebanese have formed three cabinets and conducted the first legislative election in 20 years. Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the country. Hizballah, the radical Sh'ia party, retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy militia, The Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzine. As of December 1993, Syria maintained about 30,000-35,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League early in Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from Beirut.