Front matter (continued 18)

@Sierra Leone, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Police, Security Forces Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,006,280; fit for military service 487,158 Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6 million, 0.7% of GDP (1988 est.)

@Singapore, Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, between Malaysia and Indonesia Map references: Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 632.6 sq km land area: 622.6 sq km comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 193 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: two islands in dispute with Malaysia Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no pronounced rainy or dry seasons; thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days (67% of days in April) Terrain: lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 5% other: 84% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: industrial pollution; limited water supply; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note: focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

@Singapore, People

Population: 2,859,142 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.12% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 16.52 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.95 years male: 73.17 years female: 78.94 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.88 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Singaporean(s) adjective: Singapore Ethnic divisions: Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3% Religions: Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist Languages: Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil (official), English (official) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 88% male: 93% female: 84% Labor force: 1,485,800 by occupation: financial, business, and other services 30.2%, manufacturing 28.4%, commerce 22.0%, construction 9.0%, other 10.4% (1990)

@Singapore, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Singapore conventional short form: Singapore Digraph: SN Type: republic within Commonwealth Capital: Singapore Administrative divisions: none Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia) National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965) Constitution: 3 June 1959, amended 1965; based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: President ONG Teng Cheong (since 1 September 1993) election last held 28 August 1993 (next to be held NA August 1997); results - President ONG was elected with 59% of the vote in the country's first popular election for president head of government: Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990); Deputy Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president, responsible to parliament Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament: elections last held 31 August 1991 (next to be held 31 August 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total) PAP 77, SDP 3, WP 1 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: government: People's Action Party (PAP), GOH Chok Tong, secretary general opposition: Workers' Party (WP), J. B. JEYARETNAM; Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), CHIAM See Tong; National Solidarity Party (NSP), leader NA; Barisan Sosialis (BS, Socialist Front), leader NA Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, COCOM (cooperating), CP, ESCAP, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UNTAC, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sellapan Rama NATHAN chancery: 1824 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 667-7555 FAX: (202) 265-7915 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant) embassy: 30 Hill Street, Singapore 0617 mailing address: FPO AP 96534 telephone: [65] 338-0251 FAX: [65] 338-5010 Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle

@Singapore, Economy

Overview: Singapore has an open entrepreneurial economy with strong service and manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading links derived from its entrepot history. The economy registered nearly 10% growth in 1993 while stemming inflation. The construction and financial services industries and manufacturers of computer-related components have led economic growth. Rising labor costs continue to be a threat to Singapore's competitiveness, but there are indications that productivity is keeping up. In applied technology, per capita output, investment, and labor discipline, Singapore has key attributes of a developed country. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $42.4 billion (1993) National product real growth rate: 9.9% (1993) National product per capita: $15,000 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1993) Unemployment rate: 2.7% (1993) Budget: revenues: $11.9 billion expenditures: $10.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.9 billion (1994 est.) Exports: $61.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: computer equipment, rubber and rubber products, petroleum products, telecommunications equipment partners: US 21%, Malaysia 12%, Hong Kong 8%, Japan 8%, Thailand 6% (1992) Imports: $66.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: aircraft, petroleum, chemicals, foodstuffs partners: Japan 21%, US 16%, Malaysia 15%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Taiwan 4% External debt: $0; Singapore is a net creditor Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (1992); accounts for 28% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 4,860,000 kW production: 18 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,420 kWh (1992) Industries: petroleum refining, electronics, oil drilling equipment, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade, financial services, biotechnology Agriculture: occupies a position of minor importance in the economy; self-sufficient in poultry and eggs; must import much of other food; major crops - rubber, copra, fruit, vegetables Illicit drugs: transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe, and the Third World; also a major money-laundering center Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $590 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1 billion Currency: 1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1 - 1.6032 (January 1994), 1.6158 (1993), 1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991), 1.8125 (1990), 1.9503 (1989) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

@Singapore, Communications

Railroads: 38 km of 1.000-meter gauge Highways: total: 2,644 km (1985) paved: NA unpaved: NA Ports: Singapore Merchant marine: 533 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,656,067 GRT/17,009,400 DWT, bulk 87, cargo 125, chemical tanker 14, combination bulk 3, combination ore/oil 8, container 80, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 179, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 20 note: many Singapore flag ships are foreign owned Airports: total: 10 usable: 10 with permanent-surface runways: 10 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 3 Telecommunications: good domestic facilities; good international service; good radio and television broadcast coverage; 1,110,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 13 AM, 4 FM, 2 TV; submarine cables extend to Malaysia (Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

@Singapore, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 857,824; fit for military service 630,055 Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.7 billion, 6% of GDP (1993 est.)

@Slovakia, Geography

Location: Central Europe, between Hungary and Poland Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 48,845 sq km land area: 48,800 sq km comparative area: about twice the size of New Hampshire Land boundaries: total 1,355 km, Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 515 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 90 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Hungary; unresolved property issues with Czech Republic over redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal property Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters Terrain: rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south Natural resources: brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: acid rain damaging forests natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change Note: landlocked

@Slovakia, People

Population: 5,403,505 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.53% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 14.55 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 9.28 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.81 years male: 68.66 years female: 77.2 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.96 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak Ethnic divisions: Slovak 85.6%, Hungarian 10.8%, Gypsy 1.5% (the 1992 census figures underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which could reach 500,000 or more), Czech 1.1%, Ruthenian 15,000, Ukrainian 13,000, Moravian 6,000, German 5,000, Polish 3,000 Religions: Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%, Orthodox 4.1%, other 17.5% Languages: Slovak (official), Hungarian Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 2.484 million by occupation: industry 33.2%, agriculture 12.2%, construction 10.3%, communication and other 44.3% (1990)

@Slovakia, Government

Names: conventional long form: Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local long form: Slovenska Republika local short form: Slovensko Digraph: LO Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Bratislava Administrative divisions: 4 departments (kraje, singular - Kraj) Bratislava, Zapadoslovensky, Stredoslovensky, Vychodoslovensky Independence: 1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia) National holiday: Anniversary of Slovak National Uprising, August 29 (1944) Constitution: ratified 1 September 1992; fully effective 1 January 1993 Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Michal KOVAC (since 8 February 1993); election last held 8 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - Michal KOVAC elected by the National Council head of government: Prime Minister Jozef MORAVCIK (since 16 March 1994) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral National Council (Narodni Rada): elections last held 5-6 June 1992 (next to be held 31 September-1October 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (150 total) Movement for a Democratic Slovakia 55, Party of the Democratic Left 28, Christian Democratic Movement 18, Slovak National Party 9, National Democratic Party 5, Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement/Coexistence 14, Democratic Union of Slovakia 16, independents 5 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, Vladimir MECIAR, chairman; Party of the Democratic Left, Peter WEISS, chairman; Christian Democratic Movement, Jan CARNOGURSKY; Slovak National Party, Jan SLOTA, chairman; Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement, Vojtech BUGAR; National Democratic Party - New Alternative, Ludovit CERNAK, chairman; Democratic Union of Slovakia, Jozef MORAVCIK, chairman; Coexistence Movement, Miklos DURAY, chairman Other political or pressure groups: Green Party; Social Democratic Party in Slovakia; Freedom Party; Slovak Christian Union; Hungarian Civic Party Member of: BIS, CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, COCOM (cooperating), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC, NSG, PCA, UN (as of 8 January 1993), UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMUR, UNPROFOR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Bravislav LICHARDUS chancery: (temporary) Suite 330, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 965-5161 FAX: (202) 965-5166 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassdor Theodore RUSSELL embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namesite 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [42] (7) 330-861 FAX: [42] (7) 335-439 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue

@Slovakia, Economy

Overview: The dissolution of Czechoslovakia into two independent states - the Czech Republic and Slovakia - on 1 January 1993 has complicated the task of moving toward a more open and decentralized economy. The old Czechoslovakia, even though highly industrialized by East European standards, suffered from an aging capital plant, lagging technology, and a deficiency in energy and many raw materials. In January 1991, approximately one year after the end of communist control of Eastern Europe, the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic launched a sweeping program to convert its almost entirely state-owned and controlled economy to a market system. In 1991-92 these measures resulted in privatization of some medium- and small-scale economic activity and the setting of more than 90% of prices by the market - but at a cost in inflation, unemployment, and lower output. For Czechoslovakia as a whole inflation in 1991 was roughly 50% and output fell 15%. In 1992 in Slovakia, inflation slowed to an estimated 8.7% and the estimated fall in GDP was a more moderate 7%. In 1993 GDP fell roughly 5%, with the disruptions from the separation from the Czech lands probably accounting for half the decline; exports to the Czech Republic fell about 35%. Bratislava adopted an austerity program in June and devalued its currency 10% in July. In 1993, inflation rose an estimated 23%, unemployment topped 14%, and the budget deficit exceeded the IMF target of $485 million by over $200 million. By yearend 1993 Bratislava estimated that 29% of GDP was being produced in the private sector. The forecast for 1994 is gloomy; Bratislava optimistically projects no growth in GDP, 17% unemployment, a $425 million budget deficit, and 12% inflation. At best, if Slovakia stays on track with the IMF, GDP could fall by only 2-3% in 1994 and unemployment could be held under 18%, but a currency devaluation will likely drive inflation above 15%. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $31 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: -5% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $5,800 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 23% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 14.4% (1993 est.) Budget: revenues: $4.5 billion expenditures: $5.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.) Exports: $5.13 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment; chemicals; fuels, minerals, and metals; agricultural products partners: Czech Republic, CIS republics, Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Italy, France, US, UK Imports: $5.95 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment; fuels and lubricants; manufactured goods; raw materials; chemicals; agricultural products partners: Czech Republic, CIS republics, Germany, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary, UK, Italy External debt: $3.2 billion hard currency indebtedness (31 December 1993) Industrial production: growth rate -13.5% (December 1993 over December 1992) Electricity: capacity: 6,800,000 kW production: 24 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,550 kWh (1992) Industries: brown coal mining, chemicals, metal-working, consumer appliances, fertilizer, plastics, armaments Agriculture: largely self-sufficient in food production; diversified crop and livestock production, including grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit, hogs, cattle, and poultry; exporter of forest products Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe Economic aid: donor: the former Czechoslovakia was a donor - $4.2 billion in bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed countries (1954-89) Currency: 1 koruna (Sk) = 100 halierov Exchange rates: koruny (Sk) per US$1 - 32.9 (December 1993), 28.59 (December 1992), 28.26 (1992), 29.53 (1991), 17.95 (1990), 15.05 (1989); note - values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange rate Fiscal year: calendar year

@Slovakia, Communications

Railroads: 3,669 km total (1990) Highways: total: 17,650 km (1990) paved: NA unpaved: NA Inland waterways: NA km Pipelines: petroleum products NA km; natural gas 2,700 km Ports: maritime outlets are in Poland (Gdynia, Gdansk, Szczecin), Croatia (Rijeka), Slovenia (Koper), Germany (Hamburg, Rostock); principal river ports are Komarno on the Danube and Bratislava on the Danube Merchant marine: total 19 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 309,502 GRT/521,997 DWT, bulk 13, cargo 6 note: most under the flag of Saint Vincent Airports: total: 46 usable: 32 with permanent-surface runways: 7 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 6 with runways 1,060-2,439 m: 18 note: a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip Telecommunications: NA

@Slovakia, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense, Railroad Units Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,426,290; fit for military service 1,095,604; reach military age (18) annually 48,695 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: 8.2 billion koruny, NA% of GDP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

@Slovenia, Geography

Location: Balkan State, Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 20,296 sq km land area: 20,296 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey Land boundaries: total 1,045 km, Austria 262 km, Croatia 501 km, Italy 199 km, Hungary 83 km Coastline: 32 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: dispute with Croatia over fishing rights in the Adriatic and over some border areas; the border issue is currently under negotiation Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east Terrain: a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous rivers to the east Natural resources: lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 45% other: 23% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; heavy metals and toxic chemicals along coastal waters; forest damage near Koper from air pollution originating at metallurgical and chemical plants natural hazards: subject to flooding and earthquakes international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

@Slovenia, People

Population: 1,972,227 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.23% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 11.81 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 9.5 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.36 years male: 70.49 years female: 78.44 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Slovene(s) adjective: Slovenian Ethnic divisions: Slovene 91%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Muslim 1%, other 3% Religions: Roman Catholic 96% (including 2% Uniate), Muslim 1%, other 3% Languages: Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 7%, other 2% Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 786,036 by occupation: agriculture 2%, manufacturing and mining 46%

@Slovenia, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia conventional short form: Slovenia local long form: Republika Slovenije local short form: Slovenija Digraph: SI Type: emerging democracy Capital: Ljubljana Administrative divisions: 60 provinces (pokajine, singular - pokajina) Ajdovscina, Brezice, Celje, Cerknica, Crnomelj, Dravograd, Gornja Radgona, Grosuplje, Hrastnik Lasko, Idrija, Ilirska Bistrica, Izola, Jesenice, Kamnik, Kocevje, Koper, Kranj, Krsko, Lenart, Lendava, Litija, Ljubljana-Bezigrad, Ljubljana-Center, Ljubljana-Moste-Polje, Ljubljana-Siska, Ljubljana-Vic-Rudnik, Ljutomer, Logatec, Maribor, Metlika, Mozirje, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ormoz, Pesnica, Piran, Postojna, Ptuj, Radlje Ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne Na Koroskem, Ribnica, Ruse, Sentjur Pri Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skofja Loka, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje Pri Jelsah, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trzic, Velenje, Vrhnika, Zagorje Ob Savi, Zalec Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia) National holiday: Statehood Day, 25 June (1991) Constitution: adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991 Legal system: based on civil law system Suffrage: 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April 1990); election last held 6 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Milan KUCAN reelected by direct popular vote head of government: Prime Minister Janez DRNOVSEK (since 14 May 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Lojze PETERLE (since NA) cabinet: Council of Ministers Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly State Assembly: elections last held 6 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (total 90) LDS 22, SKD 15, United List (former Communists and allies) 14, Slovene National Party 12, SLS 10, Democratic Party 6, ZS 5, SDSS 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1 State Council: will become operational after next election in 1996; in the election of 6 December 1992 40 members were elected to represent local and socioeconomic interests Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court Political parties and leaders: Slovene Christian Democrats (SKD), Lozje PETERLE, chairman; Liberal Democratic (LDS), Janez DRNOVSEK, chairman; Social-Democratic Party of Slovenia (SDSS), Joze PUCNIK, chairman; Socialist Party of Slovenia (SSS), Viktor ZAKELJ, chairman; Greens of Slovenia (ZS), Dusan PLUT, chairman; National Democratic, Rajko PIRNAT, chairman; Democratic Peoples Party, Marjan PODOBNIK, chairman; Reformed Socialists (former Communist Party), Ciril RIBICIC, chairman; United List (former Communists and allies); Slovene National Party, leader NA; Democratic Party, Igor BAVCAR; Slovene People's Party (SLS), Ivan OMAN note: parties have changed as of the December 1992 elections Other political or pressure groups: none Member of: CCC, CE, CEI, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ernest PETRIC chancery: 1525 New Hampshir Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20036 telephone: (202) 667-5363 consulate(s) general: New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador E. Allan WENDT embassy: P.O. Box 254, Prazakova 4, 61000 Ljubljana mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [386] (61) 301-427/472/485 FAX: [386] (61) 301-401 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav in white against a blue background at the center, beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and around it, there are three six-sided stars arranged in an inverted triangle); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the flag centered in the white and blue bands

@Slovenia, Economy

Overview: Slovenia was by far the most prosperous of the former Yugoslav republics, with a per capita income more than twice the Yugoslav average, indeed not far below the levels in neighboring Austria and Italy. Because of its strong ties to Western Europe and the small scale of damage during its brief fight for independence from Yugoslavia, Slovenia has the brightest prospects among the former Yugoslav republics for economic recovery over the next few years. The dissolution of Yugoslavia, however, has led to severe short-term dislocations in production, employment, and trade ties. For example, overall industrial production has fallen 26% since 1990; particularly hard hit have been the iron and steel, machine-building, chemical, and textile industries. Meanwhile, the continued fighting in other former Yugoslav republics has led to further destruction of long-established trade channels and to an influx of tens of thousands of Croatian and Bosnian refugees. The key program for breaking up and privatizing major industrial firms was established in late 1992. Despite slow progress in privatization Slovenia has reasonable prospects for an upturn in 1994. Bright spots for encouraging Western investors are Slovenia's comparatively well-educated work force, its developed infrastructure, and its Western business attitudes, but instability in Croatia is a deterrent. Slovenia in absolute terms is a small economy, and a little Western investment would go a long way. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $15 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 0% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $7,600 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22.9% (1993) Unemployment rate: 15.5% (1993) Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $5.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 38%, other manufactured goods 44%, chemicals 9%, food and live animals 4.6%, raw materials 3%, beverages and tobacco less than 1% (1992) partners: Germany 27%, Croatia 14%, Italy 13%, France 9% (1992) Imports: $5.3 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 35%, other manufactured goods 26.7%, chemicals 14.5%, raw materials 9.4%, fuels and lubricants 7%, food and live animals 6% (1992) partners: Germany 23%, Croatia 14%, Italy 14%, France 8%, Austria 8% (1992) External debt: $1.9 billion Industrial production: growth rate -2.8% (1993); accounts for 30% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 2,900,000 kW production: 10 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,090 kWh (1992) Industries: ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminum reduction and rolled products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GDP; dominated by stock breeding (sheep and cattle) and dairy farming; main crops - potatoes, hops, hemp, flax; an export surplus in these commodities; Slovenia must import many other agricultural products and has a negative overall trade balance in this sector Illicit drugs: NA Economic aid: $NA Currency: 1 tolar (SlT) = 100 stotins Exchange rates: tolars (SIT) per US$1 - 112 (June 1993), 28 (January 1992) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Slovenia, Communications

Railroads: 1,200 km, 1.435 m gauge (1991) Highways: total: 14,553 km paved: 10,525 km unpaved: gravel 4,028 km Inland waterways: NA Pipelines: crude oil 290 km; natural gas 305 km Ports: coastal - Koper Merchant marine: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 309,502 GRT/521,997 DWT controlled by Slovenian owners, bulk 13, cargo 6 note: most under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; no ships remain under the Slovenian flag Airports: total: 14 usable: 13 with permanent-surface runways: 6 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2 Telecommunications: 130,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 5 FM, 7 TV; 370,000 radios; 330,000 TVs

@Slovenia, Defense Forces

Branches: Slovene Defense Forces Manpower availability: males age 15-49 513,885; fit for military service 411,619; reach military age (19) annually 15,157 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: 13.5 billion tolars, 4.5% of GDP (1993); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

@Solomon Islands, Geography

Location: Oceania, Melanesia, just east of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean Map references: Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 28,450 sq km land area: 27,540 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 5,313 km Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather Terrain: mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls Natural resources: fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 93% other: 4% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; limited arable land natural hazards: subject to typhoons, but they are rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earth tremors international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note: located just east of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean

@Solomon Islands, People

Population: 385,811 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 3.43% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 38.93 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 4.63 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 27.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.48 years male: 68.05 years female: 73.03 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.73 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Solomon Islander(s) adjective: Solomon Islander Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4% Religions: Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United (Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, other Protestant 5% Languages: Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2% of population note: 120 indigenous languages Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 23,448 economically active by occupation: agriculture, forestry, and fishing 32.4%, services 25%, construction, manufacturing, and mining 7.0%, commerce, transport, and finance 4.7% (1984)

@Solomon Islands, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Solomon Islands former: British Solomon Islands Digraph: BP Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Honiara Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western Independence: 7 July 1978 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 7 July (1978) Constitution: 7 July 1978 Legal system: common law Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir George LEPPING (since 27 June 1989, previously acted as governor general since 7 July 1988) head of government: Prime Minister Francis Billy HILLY (since June 1993); Deputy Prime Minister Francis SAEMALA (since June 1993) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister from members of parliament Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament: elections last held NA May 1993 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) National Unity Group 21, PAP 8, National Action Party 6, LP 4, UP 3, Christian Fellowship 2, NFP 1, independents 2 Judicial branch: High Court Political parties and leaders: People's Alliance Party (PAP); United Party (UP), leader NA; Solomon Islands Liberal Party (SILP), Bartholemew ULUFA'ALU; Nationalist Front for Progress (NFP), Andrew NORI; Labor Party (LP), Joses TUHANUKU; National Action Party, leader NA; Christian Fellowship, leader NA; National Unity Group, Solomon MAMALONI Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: (vacant); ambassador traditionally resides in Honiara (Solomon Islands) US diplomatic representation: embassy closed July 1993; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands Flag: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green

@Solomon Islands, Economy

Overview: The bulk of the population depend on subsistence agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. The economy suffered from a severe cyclone in mid-1986 that caused widespread damage to the infrastructure. In 1993, the government was working with the IMF to develop a structural adjustment program to address the country's fiscal deficit. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $900 million (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: 1.8% (1991 est.) National product per capita: $2,500 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $48 million expenditures: $107 million, including capital expenditures of $45 million (1991 est.) Exports: $84 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: fish 46%, timber 31%, palm oil 5%, cocoa, copra partners: Japan 39%, UK 23%, Thailand 9%, Australia 5%, US 2% (1991) Imports: $110 million (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: plant and machinery manufactured goods, food and live animals, fuel partners: Australia 34%, Japan 16%, Singapore 14%, NZ 9% External debt: $128 million (1988 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -3.8% (1991 est.); accounts for 5% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 21,000 kW production: 39 million kWh consumption per capita: 115 kWh (1990) Industries: copra, fish (tuna) Agriculture: including fishing and forestry, accounts for 31% of GDP; mostly subsistence farming; cash crops - cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels, timber; other products - rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, cattle, pigs; not self-sufficient in food grains; 90% of the total fish catch of 44,500 metric tons was exported (1988) Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $250 million Currency: 1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1 - 3.2383 (November 1993), 2.9281 (1992), 2.7148 (1991), 2.5288 (1990), 2.2932 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Solomon Islands, Communications

Highways: total: 1,300 km paved: 30 km unpaved: gravel 290 km; earth 980 km note: in addition, there are 800 km of private logging and plantation roads of varied construction (1982) Ports: Honiara, Ringi Cove Airports: total: 31 usable: 30 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 4 Telecommunications: 3,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Solomon Islands, Defense Forces

Branches: Police Force Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

@Somalia, Geography

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the northwestern Indian Ocean, south of the Arabian Peninsula Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 637,660 sq km land area: 627,340 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas Land boundaries: total 2,366 km, Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km Coastline: 3,025 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm International disputes: southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden Climate: desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), cooler southwest monsoon (May to October); irregular rainfall; hot, humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north Natural resources: uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 46% forest and woodland: 14% other: 38% Irrigated land: 1,600 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: use of contaminated water contributes to health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification natural hazards: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban Note: strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

@Somalia, People

Population: 6,666,873 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 3.24% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 45.97 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 13.53 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 125.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.75 years male: 54.49 years female: 55.01 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 7.25 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali Ethnic divisions: Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000, Europeans 3,000, Asians 800 Religions: Sunni Muslim Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 24% male: 36% female: 14% Labor force: 2.2 million (very few are skilled laborers) by occupation: pastoral nomad 70%, agriculture, government, trading, fishing, handicrafts, and other 30% note: 53% of population of working age (1985)

@Somalia, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia former: Somali Republic Digraph: SO Type: none Capital: Mogadishu Administrative divisions: 18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed Independence: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic) National holiday: NA Constitution: 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979 Legal system: NA Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: Somalia has no functioning government; presidential elections last held 23 December 1986 (next to be held NA); results - President SIAD was reelected without opposition Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga): elections last held 31 December 1984 (next to be held NA); results - SRSP was the only party; seats - (177 total, 171 elected) SRSP 171; note - the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the provisional government has promised that a democratically elected government will be established Judicial branch: Supreme Court (non-functioning) Political parties and leaders: the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the former regime on 27 January 1991; formerly the only party was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), headed by former President and Commander in Chief of the Army Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre Other political or pressure groups: numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power Member of: ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: Somalian Embassy ceased operations on 8 May 1991 US diplomatic representation: the US Embassy in Mogadishu was evacuated and closed indefinitely in January 1991; United States Liaison Office (USLO) opened in December 1992 Flag: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)

@Somalia, Economy

Overview: One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few resources. Moreover, much of the economy has been devastated by the civil war. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and seminomads who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods make up more than half of the population. Crop production generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The main export crop is bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic market. The small industrial sector is based on the processing of agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Greatly increased political turmoil in 1991-93 has resulted in a substantial drop in output, with widespread famine. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $3.4 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $500 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 210% (1989) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $58 million (1990 est.) commodities: bananas, live animals, fish, hides partners: Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986) Imports: $249 million (1990 est.) commodities: petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials partners: US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986) External debt: $1.9 billion (1989) Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1990); accounts for 4% of GDP Electricity: capacity: former 75,000 kW is almost completely shut down by the destruction of the civil war; UN, relief organizations, and foreign military units in Somalia use their own portable power systems production: NA consumption per capita: NA Industries: a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining; probably shut down by the widespread destruction during the civil war Agriculture: dominant sector, led by livestock raising (cattle, sheep, goats); crops - bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient in food; distribution of food disrupted by civil strife; fishing potential largely unexploited Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $639 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $336 million Currency: 1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992), 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Somalia, Communications

Highways: total: 22,500 km paved: 2,700 km unpaved: gravel 3,000 km; improved, stabilized earth 16,800 km (1992) Pipelines: crude oil 15 km Ports: Mogadishu, Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Bender Cassim (Boosaaso) Merchant marine: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,554 GRT/6,892 DWT, cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 Airports: total: 76 usable: 59 with permanent-surface runways: 8 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 6 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 24 Telecommunications: the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; all relief organizations depend on their own private systems (1993)

@Somalia, Defense Forces

Branches: NA Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,630,864; fit for military service 915,368 Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

@South Africa, Geography

Location: Southern Africa, at the extreme southern tip of the continent Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 1,219,912 sq km land area: 1,219,912 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) Land boundaries: total 4,750 km, Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 855 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km Coastline: 2,798 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: the dispute with Namibia over Walvis Bay and 12 offshore islands has been resolved and these territories were transferred to Namibian sovereignty on 1 March 1994; Swaziland has asked South Africa to open negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the Swazi Kingdom Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along coast; sunny days, cool nights Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 65% forest and woodland: 3% other: 21% Irrigated land: 11,280 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage threatens to outpace supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification natural hazards: subject to prolonged droughts international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland

@South Africa, People

Population: 43,930,631 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.62% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 33.58 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 7.53 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 47.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.11 years male: 62.37 years female: 67.94 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.37 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: South African(s) adjective: South African Ethnic divisions: black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6% Religions: Christian (most whites and Coloreds and about 60% of blacks), Hindu (60% of Indians), Muslim 2% Languages: eleven official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 76% male: 78% female: 75% Labor force: 13.4 million economically active (1990) by occupation: services 35%, agriculture 30%, industry 20%, mining 9%, other 6%

@South Africa, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of South Africa conventional short form: South Africa Abbreviation: RSA Digraph: SF Type: republic Capital: Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative); Bloemfontein (judicial) Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Eastern Transvaal, Kwa Zulu/Natal, Northern Cape, Northern Transvaal, Northwest, Orange Free State, Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging, Western Cape note: previously the administrative divisions consisted of 4 provinces; Cape, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal; there were 10 homelands not recognized by the US - 4 independent (Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, Venda) and 6 other (Gazankulu, Kangwane, KwaNdebele, KwaZulu, Lebowa, QwaQwa) Independence: 31 May 1910 (from UK) National holiday: Republic Day, 31 May (1910) Constitution: 27 April 1994 (interim constitution, replacing the constitution of 3 September 1984) Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: Executive President Nelson MANDELA (since 10 May 1994); Deputy Executive President Frederik W. DE KLERK (since 10 May 1994); Deputy Executive President Thabo MBEKI (since 10 May 1994) note: any political party that wins 20% or more of the National Assembly votes in a general election is entitled to name a Deputy Executive President cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the Executive President Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly: elections held 26-29 April 1994 (next to be held NA); results - ANC 62.6%, NP 20.4%, IFP 10.5%, FF 2.2%, DP 1.7%, PAC 1.2%, ACDP 0.5%, other 0.9%; seats - (400 total) ANC 252, NP 82, IFP 43, FF 9, DP 7, PAC 5, ACDP 2 Senate: the Senate is composed of members who are nominated by the nine provincial parliaments (which are elected in parallel with the National Assembly) and has special powers to protect regional interests, including the right to limited self-determination for ethnic minorities; seats - (90 total) ANC 61, NP 17, FF 4, IFP 5, DP 3 note: when the National Assembly meets in joint session with the Senate to consider the provisions of the Constitution, the combined group is referred to as the Constitutional Assembly Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: African National Congress (ANC), Cyril RAMAPHOSA; National Party (NP), Frederik W. DE KLERK, president; Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president; Freedom Front (FF), Constand VILJOEN, president; Democratic Party (DP); Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Clarence MAKWETU, president; African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) note: in addition to these seven parties which won seats in the National Assembly, twelve other parties won votes in the national elections in April 1994 Other political or pressure groups: NA;; Member of: BIS, CCC, ECA, GATT, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO (suspended), ICC, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTELSAT, IOC, ISO, ITU (suspended), LORCS, OAU, SACU, UN, UNCTAD, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO (suspended), ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Harry Heinz SCHWARZ chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 232-4400 consulate(s) general: Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, and New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Princeton N. LYMAN embassy: 877 Pretorius St., Arcadia 0083 mailing address: P.O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001 telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048 FAX: [27] (12) 342-2244 or 2299 consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg Flag: two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band which splits into a horozontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side, embracing a black isoceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes note: prior to 26 April 1994 the flag was actually four flags in one - three miniature flags reproduced in the center of the white band of the former flag of the Netherlands, which has three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags are a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a horizontal flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal flag of the old Transvaal Republic adjoining on the other side

@South Africa, Economy

Overview: Many of the white one-seventh of the South African population enjoy incomes, material comforts, and health and educational standards equal to those of Western Europe. In contrast, most of the remaining population suffers from the poverty patterns of the Third World, including unemployment and lack of job skills. The main strength of the economy lies in its rich mineral resources, which provide two-thirds of exports. Economic developments for the remainder of the 1990s will be driven largely by the new government's attempts to improve black living conditions and to set the country on an aggressive export-led growth path. The shrinking economy in recent years has absorbed less than 5% of the more than 300,000 workers entering the labor force annually. Local economists estimate that the economy must grow between 5% and 6% in real terms annually to absorb all of the new entrants. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $171 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 1.1% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $4,000 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.7% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 50% (1994 est.) Budget: revenues: $26.3 billion expenditures: $34 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.5 billion (FY94 est.) Exports: $24.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: gold 27%, other minerals and metals 20-25%, food 5%, chemicals 3% partners: Italy, Japan, US, Germany, UK, other EC countries, Hong Kong Imports: $18.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: machinery 32%, transport equipment 15%, chemicals 11%, oil, textiles, scientific instruments partners: Germany, US, Japan, UK, Italy External debt: $17 billion (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for about 40% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 46,000,000 kW production: 180 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,100 kWh (1991) Industries: mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemical, fertilizer, foodstuffs Agriculture: accounts for about 5% of GDP and 30% of labor force; diversified agriculture, with emphasis on livestock; products - cattle, poultry, sheep, wool, milk, beef, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; self-sufficient in food Illicit drugs: transshipment center of heroin and cocaine; cocaine consumption on the rise Economic aid: many aid packages for the new government are still being prepared; current aid pledges include US $600 million over 3 years; UK $150 million over 3 years; Australia $21 million over 3 years Currency: 1 rand (R) = 100 cents Exchange rates: rand (R) per US$1 - 3.4551 (March 1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

@South Africa, Communications

Railroads: 20,638 km route distance total; 20,324 km of 1.067-meter gauge trackage (counts double and multiple tracking as single track); 314 km of 610 mm gauge; substantial electrification of 1.067 meter gauge Highways: total: 188,309 km paved: 54,013 km unpaved: crushed stone, gravel, improved earth 134,296 km Pipelines: crude oil 931 km; petroleum products 1,748 km; natural gas 322 km Ports: Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha, Mosselbaai Merchant marine: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 213,273 GRT/201,043 DWT, container 4, vehicle carrier 1 Airports: total: 886 usable: 718 with permanent-surface runways: 140 with runways over 3,659 m: 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 10 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 213 Telecommunications: the system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highest capacity in Africa; it consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, radio relay links, fiber optic cable, and radiocommunication stations; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria; over 4,500,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 14 AM, 286 FM, 67 TV; 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

@South Africa, Defense Forces

Branches: the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Medical Services of the former South Africa, the armed forces of the former homelands, and the ANC and PAC military components; the initial strength of the SANDF has been set at about 100,000 active duty members with plans to reduce it to about 40,000 by 1997; it is manned mostly by nonwhites, but the higher officer grades are held by whites; the South African Police (SAP) have incorporated the police forces of the former homelands since the elections of 1994; a National Peacekeeping Force (NPKF) to ensure peaceful proceedures during the 1994 elections was established briefly from the military components of the principal political factions, but was dissolved on 2 June 1994, following the elections. Manpower availability: males age 15-49 10,557,346; fit for military service 6,437,240; reach military age (18) annually 431,832 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.9 billion, about 2.5% of GDP (FY93 budget)

@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Header Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK)

@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Geography

Location: Southern South America, in the South Atlantic Ocean, off the south Argentine coast, southeast of the Falkland Islands Map references: Antarctic Region Area: total area: 4,066 sq km land area: 4,066 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island note: includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: NA km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year, interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow Terrain: most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen) Irrigated land: 0 sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: the South Sandwich Islands are subject to active volcanism international agreements: NA Note: the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia; weather conditions generally make it difficult to approach the South Sandwich Islands

@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, People

Population: no indigenous population; there is a small military garrison on South Georgia, and the British Antarctic Survey has a biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited

@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Government

Names: conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands conventional short form: none Digraph: SX Type: dependent territory of the UK Capital: none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK) Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK) National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982) Constitution: 3 October 1985 Legal system: English common law Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Commissioner David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992; resident at Stanley, Falkland Islands) Legislative branch: no elections Judicial branch: none

@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Economy

Overview: Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potential source of income from harvesting fin fish and krill. The islands receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK. Budget: revenues: $291,777 expenditures: $451,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.) Electricity: capacity: 900 kW production: 2 million kWh consumption per capita: NA (1992)

@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Communications

Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA Ports: Grytviken on South Georgia Airports: total: 5 usable: 5 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: coastal radio station at Grytviken; no broadcast stations

@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

@Spain, Geography

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Portugal and France Map references: Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 504,750 sq km land area: 499,400 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Oregon note: includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera Land boundaries: total 1,903.2 km, Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km Coastline: 4,964 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast Terrain: large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in north Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower Land use: arable land: 31% permanent crops: 10% meadows and pastures: 21% forest and woodland: 31% other: 7% Irrigated land: 33,600 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from untreated sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; air pollution; deforestation; desertification natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Law of the Sea Note: strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

@Spain, People

Population: 39,302,665 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.25% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 11.05 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 8.82 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.71 years male: 74.45 years female: 81.21 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish Ethnic divisions: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types Religions: Roman Catholic 99%, other sects 1% Languages: Castilian Spanish, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2% Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 95% male: 97% female: 93% Labor force: 14.621 million by occupation: services 53%, industry 24%, agriculture 14%, construction 9% (1988)

@Spain, Government

Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local short form: Espana Digraph: SP Type: parliamentary monarchy Capital: Madrid Administrative divisions: 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Communidad Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, Islas Baleares, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco note: there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of Morocco (Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera) with administrative status unknown Independence: 1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification) National holiday: National Day, 12 October Constitution: 6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978 Legal system: civil law system, with regional applications; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975) head of government: Prime Minister Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez (since 2 December 1982); Deputy Prime Minister Narcis SERRA y Serra (since 13 March 1991) cabinet: Council of Ministers; designated by the prime minister Council of State: is the supreme consultative organ of the government Legislative branch: bicameral The General Courts or National Assembly (Las Cortes Generales) Senate (Senado): elections last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held by NA June 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (255 total) PSOE 117, PP 107, CiU 15, PNV 5, IU 2, other 9 Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados): elections last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held by NA June 1997); results by percent of party NA; seats - (350 total) PSOE 159, PP 141, IU 18, CiU 17, PNV 5, CN 4, HB 2, other 4 Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) Political parties and leaders: principal national parties, from right to left: Popular Party (PP), Jose Maria AZNAR; Social Democratic Center (CDS), Rafael Calvo ORTEGA; Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez, secretary general; Socialist Democracy Party (DS), Ricardo Garcia DAMBORENEA; Spanish Communist Party (PCE), Julio ANGUITA; United Left (IU) a coalition of parties including the PCE, a branch of the PSOE, and other small parties, Julio ANGUITA chief regional parties: Convergence and Unity (CiU), Jordi PUJOL Saley and Miguel ROCA in Catalonia; Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), Xabier ARZALLUS and Jose Antonio ARDANZA; Basque Solidarity (EA), Carlos GARAICOETXEA Urizza; Basque Popular Unity (HB), Jon IDIGORAS and Inaki ESNAOLA; Basque Socialist Party (PSE), coalition of the PSE, EE and PSOE, Jose Maria BANEGAS and Jon LARRINAGA; Andalusian Progress Party (PA), Pedro PACHECO; Canarian Coalition (CN), Dimas MARTIN; Catalan Republican Left, Angel COLOM; Galician Coalition, Senen BERNARDEZ; Aragonese Regionalist Party (PAR), Jose Maria MUR Bernad; Valencian Union (UV), Vicente GONZALEZ Lizondo, Manuel CAMPILLOS Martinez Other political or pressure groups: on the extreme left, the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) and the First of October Antifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO) use terrorism to oppose the government; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977) include the Communist-dominated Workers Commissions (CCOO); the Socialist General Union of Workers (UGT), and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union (USO); business and landowning interests; the Catholic Church; Opus Dei; university students Member of: AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, AfDB, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-8, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), LORCS, MTRC, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime De OJEDA y Eiseley chancery: 2700 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 265-0190 or 0191 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard N. GARDNER embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid mailing address: APO AE 09642 telephone: [34] (1) 577-4000 FAX: [34] (1) 577-5735 consulate(s) general: Barcelona consulate(s): Bilbao Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar

@Spain, Economy

Overview: After the economic boom of 1986-90, the Spanish economy fell into recession along with the economies of other EU member states. Real GDP barely grew in 1992 and declined by approximately 1% in 1993. Unemployment, now nearly one-fourth of the workforce, and the sharp downturn in business investment have contributed to sagging domestic demand. Devaluation of the peseta since September 1992 has made Spanish exports more competitive, but an export-led recovery in 1994 will depend largely on economic recovery in Spain's major market - the other EU nations. A solid recovery will also require appropriate domestic policy actions, including controlling the budget deficit and wage increases, reforming labor market regulations, and possibly loosening monetary policy another notch. Foreign investors, principally from other EU countries, have invested over $60 billion in Spain since 1986. Despite the recession, inflation remained at about 5% in 1993. The main source of inflationary pressure is the fiscal deficit. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $498 billion (1993) National product real growth rate: -1% (1993) National product per capita: $12,700 (1993) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 22% (yearend 1993) Budget: revenues: $97.7 billion expenditures: $128 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.) Exports: $72.8 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: cars and trucks, semifinished manufactured goods, foodstuffs, machinery partners: EC 71.2%, US 4.8%, other developed countries 7.9% (1992) Imports: $92.5 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, fuels, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals partners: EC 60.7%, US 7.4%, other developed countries 11.5%, Middle East 5.9% (1992) External debt: $90 billion (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -1.7% (1992) Electricity: capacity: 46,600,000 kW production: 157 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,000 kWh (1992) Industries: textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism Agriculture: accounts for about 5% of GDP and 14% of labor force; major products - grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus fruit, beef, pork, poultry, dairy; largely self-sufficient in food; fish catch of 1.4 million metric tons is among top 20 nations Illicit drugs: key European gateway country for Latin American cocaine and North African hashish entering the European market Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $1.9 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-79), $545 million note: not currently a recipient Currency: 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos Exchange rates: pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 136.6 (May 1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991), 101.93 (1990), 118.38 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Spain, Communications

Railroads: 15,430 km total; Spanish National Railways (RENFE) operates 12,691 km (all 1,668-mm gauge, 6,184 km electrified, and 2,295 km double track); FEVE (government-owned narrow-gauge railways) operates 1,821 km (predominantly 1,000-mm gauge, 441 km electrified); privately owned railways operate 918 km (predominantly 1,000-mm gauge, 512 km electrified, and 56 km double track) Highways: total: 318,022 km (1988) paved: 178,092 km (including 2,142 km of expressways) unpaved: 139,930 km Inland waterways: 1,045 km, but of minor economic importance Pipelines: crude oil 265 km; petroleum products 1,794 km; natural gas 1,666 km Ports: Algeciras, Alicante, Almeria, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de la Plana, Ceuta, El Ferrol del Caudillo, Puerto de Gijon, Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Mahon, Malaga, Melilla, Rota, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Sagunto, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo, and 175 minor ports Merchant marine: 192 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,328,730 GRT/2,213,671 DWT, bulk 21, cargo 55, chemical tanker 14, container 11, liquefied gas 5, oil tanker 29, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 33, short-sea passenger 6, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 1 Airports: total: 105 usable: 99 with permanent-surface runways: 60 with runways over 3,659 m: 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 26 Telecommunications: generally adequate, modern facilities; 15,350,464 telephones; broadcast stations - 190 AM, 406 (134 repeaters) FM, 100 (1,297 repeaters) TV; 22 coaxial submarine cables; 2 communications satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean); MARECS, INMARSAT, and EUTELSAT systems; tropospheric links

@Spain, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, National Police, Coastal Civil Guard Manpower availability: males age 15-49 10,377,990; fit for military service 8,396,405; reach military age (20) annually 337,764 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $5.8 billion, 1.3% of GDP (1994 est.)

@Spratly Islands, Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, in the South China Sea, between Vietnam and the Philippines Map references: Asia, Southeast Asia Area: total area: NA sq km but less than 5 km2 land area: less than 5 sq km comparative area: NA note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over the South China Sea Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 926 km Maritime claims: NA International disputes: all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive economic zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island Climate: tropical Terrain: flat Natural resources: fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential 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: subject to typhoons international agreements: NA Note: strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; serious navigational hazard; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs

@Spratly Islands, People

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered garrisons

@Spratly Islands, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands Digraph: PG

@Spratly Islands, Economy

Overview: Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed. Industries: none

@Spratly Islands, Communications

Ports: no natural harbors Airports: total: 4 usable: 4 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: 0

@Spratly Islands, Defense Forces

Note: about 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

@Sri Lanka, Geography

Location: Southern Asia, 29 km southeast of India across the Palk Strait in the Indian Ocean Map references: Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 65,610 sq km land area: 64,740 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 1,340 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October) Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior Natural resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay Land use: arable land: 16% permanent crops: 17% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 37% other: 23% Irrigated land: 5,600 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff natural hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoes international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation Note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

@Sri Lanka, People

Population: 18,129,850 (July 1994 est.) note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island; as of late 1992, nearly 115,000 were housed in refugee camps in south India, another 95,000 lived outside the Indian camps, and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought political asylum in the West Population growth rate: 1.18% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 18.51 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.77 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 21.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.9 years male: 69.37 years female: 74.55 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.12 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Sri Lankan(s) adjective: Sri Lankan Ethnic divisions: Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1% Religions: Buddhist 69%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8% Languages: Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about 10% of the population Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 88% male: 93% female: 84% Labor force: 6.6 million by occupation: agriculture 45.9%, mining and manufacturing 13.3%, trade and transport 12.4%, services and other 28.4% (1985 est.)

@Sri Lanka, Government

Names: conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka conventional short form: Sri Lanka former: Ceylon Digraph: CE Type: republic Capital: Colombo Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western Independence: 4 February 1948 (from UK) National holiday: Independence and National Day, 4 February (1948) Constitution: adopted 16 August 1978 Legal system: a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA (since 7 May 1993); election last held 19 December 1988 (next to be held NA December 1994); results - Ranasinghe PREMADASA (UNP) 50%, Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE (SLFP) 45%, other 5%; note - following the assassination of President PREMADASA on 1 May 1993, Prime Minister WIJETUNGA became acting president; on 7 May 1993, he was confirmed by a vote of Parliament to finish out the term of the assassinated president cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament: elections last held 15 February 1989 (next to be held by NA February 1995); results - UNP 51%, SLFP 32%, SLMC 4%, TULF 3%, USA 3%, EROS 3%, MEP 1%, other 3%; seats - (225 total) UNP 125, SLFP 67, other 33 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: United National Party (UNP), Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA; Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), M. H. M. ASHRAFF; All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), C. G. Kumar PONNAMBALAM; People's United Front (MEP, or Mahajana Eksath Peramuna), Dinesh GUNAWARDENE; Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), M. SIVASITHAMBARAM; New Socialist Party (NSSP, or Nava Sama Samaja Party), Vasudeva NANAYAKKARA; Lanka Socialist Party/Trotskyite (LSSP, or Lanka Sama Samaja Party), Colin R. DE SILVA; Sri Lanka People's Party (SLMP, or Sri Lanka Mahajana Party), Ossie ABEYGUNASEKERA; Communist Party, K. P. SILVA; Communist Party/Beijing (CP/B), N. SHANMUGATHASAN; Democratic United National Front (DUNF), G. M. PREMACHANDRA; Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Douglas DEVANANDA; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), leader NA; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRL), Suresh PREMACHANDRAN; Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS), Shankar RAJI; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Dharmalingam SIDARTHAN; Liberal Party (LP), Chanaka AMARATUNGA; Ceylon Workers Congress (CLDC), S. THONDAMAN; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim parties, represented in either parliament or provincial councils note: the United Socialist Alliance (USA), which was formed in 1987 and included the NSSP, LSSP, SLMP, CP/M, and CP/B, was defunct as of 1993, following the formation of the People's Alliance Party (PEP) Other political or pressure groups: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other smaller Tamil separatist groups; other radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups; Buddhist clergy; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups; labor unions Member of: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ananda W.P. GURUGE chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-4025 through 4028 FAX: (202) 232-7181 consulate(s): New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Teresita C. SCHAFFER embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3 mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo telephone: [94] (1) 44-80-07 FAX: [94] (1) 57-42-64 Flag: yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels

@Sri Lanka, Economy

Overview: Industry - dominated by the fast-growing apparel industry - has surpassed agriculture as the main source of export earnings and accounts for over 16% of GDP. The economy has been plagued by high rates of unemployment since the late 1970s. Economic growth, which has been depressed by ethnic unrest, accelerated in 1991-93 as domestic conditions began to improve and conditions for foreign investment brightened. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $53.5 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 5% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $3,000 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11.6% (1992) Unemployment rate: 15% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues: $2.3 billion expenditures: $3.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.5 billion (1993) Exports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: garments and textiles, teas, gems, petroleum products, coconuts, rubber, other agricultural products, marine products, graphite partners: US 33.4%, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Japan, France, Singapore (1992) Imports: $3 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: food and beverages, textiles and textile materials, petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment partners: Japan, India, US 4.3%, UK, Singapore, Germany, Hong King, Taiwan, South Korea (1991) External debt: $5.2 billion (1991) Industrial production: growth rate 7% (1991 est.); accounts for 16.5% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 1,300,000 kW production: 3.6 billion kWh consumption per capita: 200 kWh (1992) Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco Agriculture: accounts for one-fourth of GDP and nearly half of labor force; most important staple crop is paddy rice; other field crops - sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseeds, roots, spices; cash crops - tea, rubber, coconuts; animal products - milk, eggs, hides, meat; not self-sufficient in rice production Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $5.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $169 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $369 million Currency: 1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1 - 49.672 (January 1994), 48.322 (1993), 43.687 (1992), 41.372 (1991), 40.063 (1990), 36.047 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Sri Lanka, Communications

Railroads: 1,948 km total (1990); all 1.868-meter broad gauge; 102 km double track; no electrification; government owned Highways: total: 75,263 km paved: mostly bituminous treated 27,637 km unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 32,887 km; improved, unimproved earth 14,739 km Inland waterways: 430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craft Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987) Ports: Colombo, Trincomalee Merchant marine: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 289,115 GRT/453,609 DWT, bulk 2, cargo 12, container 1, oil tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 8 Airports: total: 14 usable: 13 with permanent-surface runways: 12 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 8 Telecommunications: very inadequate domestic service, good international service; 114,000 telephones (1982); broadcast stations - 12 AM, 5 FM, 5 TV; submarine cables extend to Indonesia and Djibouti; 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

@Sri Lanka, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,906,666; fit for military service 3,825,774; reach military age (18) annually 178,213 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $417 million, 3.5% of GDP (1994 est.)

@Sudan, Geography

Location: Northern Africa, along the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 2,505,810 sq km land area: 2.376 million sq km comparative area: slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US Land boundaries: total 7,687 km, Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km, Zaire 628 km Coastline: 853 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: administrative boundary with Kenya does not coincide with international boundary; administrative boundary with Egypt does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km, the dispute over this area escalated in 1993, this area continues to be in dispute Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to October) Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west Natural resources: small reserves of petroleum, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 24% forest and woodland: 20% other: 51% Irrigated land: 18,900 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: contaminated water supplies present human health risks; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification natural hazards: dust storms international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity Note: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries

@Sudan, People

Population: 29,419,798 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.36% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 41.95 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 12.09 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -6.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 79.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.27 years male: 53.4 years female: 55.19 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.09 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Sudanese (singular and plural) adjective: Sudanese Ethnic divisions: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1% Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum) Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English note: program of Arabization in process Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 27% male: 43% female: 12% Labor force: 6.5 million by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%, government 6% note: labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled employment (1983 est.); 52% of population of working age (1985)

@Sudan, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan conventional short form: Sudan local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan local short form: As-Sudan former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan Digraph: SU Type: ruling military junta - Revolutionary Command Council - dissolved on 16 October 1993 and government civilianized Capital: Khartoum Administrative divisions: 9 states (wilayat, singular - wilayat or wilayah*); A'ali an Nil, Al Wusta*, Al Istiwa'iyah*, Al Khartum, Ash Shamaliyah*, Ash Sharqiyah*, Bahr al Ghazal, Darfur, Kurdufan Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956) Constitution: 12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June 1989 Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the northern states; the council is still studying criminal provisions under Islamic law; Islamic law applies to all residents of the six northern states regardless of their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: none Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); prior to 16 October 1993, BASHIR served concurrently as Chief of State, Chairman of the RCC, Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence (since 30 June 1989); Vice President Major General al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH (since 19 October 1993); note - upon its dissolution on 16 October 1993, the RCC's executive and legislative powers were devolved to the President and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), Sudan's appointed legislative body cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president; note - on 30 October 1993 President BASHIR announced a new, predominantly civilian cabinet, consisting of 20 federal ministers, most of whom retained their previous cabinet positions note: Lt. Gen. BASHIR's government is dominated by members of Sudan's National Islamic Front, a fundamentalist political organization formed from the Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; front leader Hasan al-TURABI controls Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policies Legislative branch: appointed 300-member Transitional National Assembly; officially assumes all legislative authority for Sudan until the eventual, unspecified resumption of national elections Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Special Revolutionary Courts Political parties and leaders: none; banned following 30 June 1989 coup Other political or pressure groups: National Islamic Front, Hasan al-TURABI Member of: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmad SULAYMAN chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 338-8565 through 8570 FAX: (202) 667-2406 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald K. PETTERSON embassy: Shar'ia Ali Abdul Latif, Khartoum mailing address: P. O. Box 699, Khartoum, or APO AE 09829 telephone: 74700 or 74611 FAX: Telex 22619 AMEM SD Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

@Sudan, Economy

Overview: Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic political instability, adverse weather, high inflation, a drop in remittances from abroad, and counterproductive economic policies. The economy is dominated by governmental entities that account for more than 70% of new investment. The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and trading, with most private industrial investment predating 1980. The economy's base is agriculture, which employs 80% of the work force. Industry mainly processes agricultural items. Sluggish economic performance over the past decade, attributable largely to declining annual rainfall, has reduced levels of per capita income and consumption. A large foreign debt and huge arrearages continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the International Monetary Fund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan noncooperative because of its nonpayment of arrearages to the Fund. The government implemented a comprehensive economic reform program in 1992 that included slashing the fiscal deficit, liberalizing foreign exchange regulations, and lifting most price controls, but it had backtracked on most reforms by mid-1993 because of its fear of generating a domestic backlash. The government's failure to pursue economic reform, its continued prosecution of the civil war, and its growing international isolation have led to a further deterioration of the non-agricultural sectors of the economy during 1993. Agriculture, on the other hand, after several disappointing years, enjoyed favorable growing conditions in 1993, and its strong performance produced an overall growth rate in GNP of about 7%. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $21.5 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 7% (FY93 est.) National product per capita: $750 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 105% (FY93 est.) Unemployment rate: 30% (FY93 est.) Budget: revenues: $374.4 million expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $214 million (1993 est.) Exports: $350 million (f.o.b., FY93 est.) commodities: cotton 52%, sesame, gum arabic, peanuts partners: Western Europe 46%, Saudi Arabia 14%, Eastern Europe 9%, Japan 9%, US 3% (FY88) Imports: $1.1 billion (c.i.f., FY93 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles partners: Western Europe 32%, Africa and Asia 15%, US 13%, Eastern Europe 3% (FY88) External debt: $17 billion (June 1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 6.8% (FY93 est.); accounts for 11% of GDP (FY92) Electricity: capacity: 610,000 kW production: 905 million kWh consumption per capita: 40 kWh (1991) Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining Agriculture: accounts for 35% of GDP and 80% of labor force; water shortages; two-thirds of land area suitable for raising crops and livestock; major products - cotton, oilseeds, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sheep; marginally self-sufficient in most foods Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.5 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $5.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $3.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $588 million Currency: 1 Sudanese pound (#Sd) = 100 piastres Exchange rates: official rate - Sudanese pounds (#Sd) per US$1 - 215 (January 1994), 333.3 (December 1993), 90.1 (March 1992), 5.4288 (1991), 4.5004 (fixed rate since 1987); note - the commercial rate is 300 (January 1994) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

@Sudan, Communications

Railroads: 5,516 km total; 4,800 km 1.067-meter gauge, 716 km 1.6096-meter-gauge plantation line Highways: total: 20,703 km paved: bituminous treated 2,000 km unpaved: gravel 4,000 km; improved earth 2,304 km; unimproved earth 12,399 km Inland waterways: 5,310 km navigable Pipelines: refined products 815 km Ports: Port Sudan, Sawakin Merchant marine: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 89,842 GRT/122,379 DWT, cargo 8, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 Airports: total: 70 usable: 58 with permanent-surface runways: 9 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 7 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 29 Telecommunications: large, well-equipped system by African standards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained by modern standards; consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radio communications, troposcatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 stations; broadcast stations - 11 AM, 3 TV; satellite earth stations for international traffic - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT

@Sudan, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,640,123; fit for military service 4,080,715; reach military age (18) annually 305,885 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $339 million, 2.2% of GDP (1989 est.)

@Suriname, Geography

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between French Guiana and Guyana Map references: South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 163,270 sq km land area: 161,470 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia Land boundaries: total 1,707 km, Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km Coastline: 386 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa Rivier); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne) Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps Natural resources: timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp, bauxite, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 97% other: 3% Irrigated land: 590 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note: mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna which for the most part is not threatened because of the lack of development; relatively small population most of which lives along the coast

@Suriname, People

Population: 422,840 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.57% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 25.31 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -3.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 31.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.45 years male: 66.94 years female: 72.08 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.79 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese Ethnic divisions: Hindustani (East Indian) 37%, Creole (black and mixed) 31%, Javanese 15.3%, Bush black 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, Europeans 1%, other 1.1% Religions: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5% Languages: Dutch (official), English widely spoken, Sranan Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki) is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others, Hindi Suriname Hindustani (a variant of Bhoqpuri), Javanese Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 95% male: 95% female: 95% Labor force: 104,000 (1984) by occupation: NA

@Suriname, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Suriname conventional short form: Suriname local long form: Republiek Suriname local short form: Suriname former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana Digraph: NS Type: republic Capital: Paramaribo Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands) National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975) Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987 Legal system: NA Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Ronald R. VENETIAAN (since 16 September 1991); Vice President and Prime Minister Jules R. AJODHIA (since 16 September 1991); election last held 6 September 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - elected by the National Assembly - Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 80% (645 votes), Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115 votes), Hans PRADE (DA '91) 6% (49 votes) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president from members of the National Assembly note: Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant power Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 25 May 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (51 total) NF 30, NDP 10, DA '91 9, Independent 2 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: The New Front (NF), a coalition of four parties (NPS, VHP, KTPI, SPA), leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN; Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of Suriname (NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and Solidarity (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA) Fred DERBY; Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), Winston JESSURUN, a coalition of four parties (AF, HPP, Pendawa Lima, BEP) formed in January 1991; Alternative Forum (AF), Gerard BRUNINGS, Winston JESSURUN; Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Panalal PARMESSAR; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Marsha JAMIN; National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS, chairman; Other political or pressure groups: Surinamese Liberation Army (SLA), Ronnie BRUNSWIJK, Johan "Castro" WALLY; Union for Liberation and Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement, Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO Member of: ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, GATT, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUT chancery: Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 244-7488 or 7490 through 7492 FAX: (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Roger R. GAMBLE embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmonstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, Paramaribo telephone: [597] 472900, 477881, or 476459 FAX: [597] 410025 Flag: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band

@Suriname, Economy

Overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for 15% of GDP and about 70% of export earnings. The economy has been in trouble since the Dutch ended development aid in 1982. A drop in world bauxite prices which started in the late 1970s and continued until late 1986 was followed by the outbreak of a guerrilla insurgency in the interior that crippled the important bauxite sector. Although the insurgency has since ebbed and the bauxite sector recovered, Paramaribo has failed to initiate the economic reforms necessary to stabilize the economy or win renewed Dutch aid disbursements. High inflation, high unemployment, widespread black market activity, and hard currency shortfalls continue to mark the economy. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.17 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: -0.3% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $2,800 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 109% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 16.5% (1990) Budget: revenues: $466 million expenditures: $716 million, including capital expenditures of $123 million (1989 est.) Exports: $290 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: alumina, aluminum, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas partners: Norway 33%, Netherlands 26%, US 13%, Japan 6%, Brazil 6%, UK 3% (1992) Imports: $250 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods partners: US 42%, Netherlands 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 10%, Brazil 5% (1992) External debt: $180 million (March 1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -5% (1991 est.); accounts for 27% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 458,000 kW production: 2.018 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,920 kWh (1992) Industries: bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production, lumbering, food processing, fishing Agriculture: accounts for 10.4% of GDP and 25% of export earnings; paddy rice planted on 85% of arable land and represents 60% of total farm output; other products - bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts, beef, chicken; shrimp and forestry products of increasing importance; self-sufficient in most foods Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $2.5 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion Currency: 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - 1.7850 (fixed rate); parallel rate 109 (January 1994) Fiscal year: calendar year