Front matter (continued 8)

@Gabon, Economy

Overview: Notwithstanding its serious ongoing economic problems, Gabon enjoys a per capita income more than twice that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GNP. Real growth was feeble in 1992 and Gabon continues to face weak prices for its timber, manganese, and uranium exports. Despite an abundance of natural wealth, and a manageable rate of population growth, the economy is hobbled by poor fiscal management. In 1992, the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and Gabon failed to settled arrears on its bilateral debt, leading to a cancellation of rescheduling agreements with official and private creditors. Devaluation of the local currency by 50% in January 1994 could set off an inflationary spiral if the government fails to reign in spending and grants large wage increases to an already overpaid public sector workforce. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $5.4 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 0.5% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $4,800 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.7% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $1.3 billion expenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $272 million (1992 est.) Exports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est) commodities: crude oil 80%, timber 9%, manganese 7%, uranium 2% partners: France 48%, US 15%, Germany 2%, Japan 2% Imports: $702 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, chemical products, petroleum products, construction materials, manufactures, machinery partners: France 64%, African countries 7%, US 5%, Japan 3% External debt: $4.4 billion (1991) Industrial production: growth rate -10% (1988 est.); accounts for 8% of GDP, including petroleum Electricity: capacity: 315,000 kW production: 995 million kWh consumption per capita: 920 kWh (1991) Industries: petroleum, food and beverages, lumbering and plywood, textiles, mining - manganese, uranium, gold, cement Agriculture: accounts for 9% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); cash crops - cocoa, coffee, palm oil; livestock not developed; importer of food; small fishing operations provide a catch of about 20,000 metric tons; okoume (a tropical softwood) is the most important timber product Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $68 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90), $2.342 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $27 million Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 592.05 (January 1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948 Fiscal year: calendar year

@Gabon, Communications

Railroads: 649 km 1.437-meter standard-gauge single track (Transgabonese Railroad) Highways: total: 7,500 km paved: 560 km unpaved: crushed stone 960 km; earth 5,980 km Inland waterways: 1,600 km perennially navigable Pipelines: crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km Ports: Owendo, Port-Gentil, Libreville Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,562 GRT/25,330 DWT Airports: total: 70 usable: 59 with permanent-surface runways: 10 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 22 Telecommunications: adequate system of cable, radio relay, tropospheric scatter links and radiocommunication stations; 15,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 6 FM, 3 (5 repeaters) TV; satellite earth stations - 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 12 domestic satellite

@Gabon, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, National Police Manpower availability: males age 15-49 270,501; fit for military service 136,995; reach military age (20) annually 10,107 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $102 million, 3.2% of GDP (1990 est.)

@The Gambia, Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean almost completely surrounded by Senegal Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 11,300 sq km land area: 10,000 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Delaware Land boundaries: total 740 km, Senegal 740 km Coastline: 80 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May) Terrain: flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land: 16% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 9% forest and woodland: 20% other: 55% Irrigated land: 120 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent natural hazards: rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last thirty years international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change Note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa

@The Gambia, People

Population: 959,300 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 3.08% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 46.39 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 15.64 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 123.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.08 years male: 47.83 years female: 52.39 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.29 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-Gambian 1% Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1% Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 27% male: 39% female: 16% Labor force: 400,000 (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1% note: 55% population of working age (1983)

@The Gambia, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia conventional short form: The Gambia Digraph: GA Type: republic under multiparty democratic rule Capital: Banjul Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK; The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989) National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965) Constitution: 24 April 1970 Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970); Vice President Saihou SABALLY (since NA); election last held on 29 April 1992 (next to be held April 1997); results - Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP) 58.5%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 22.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 8.0% cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from members of the House of Representatives Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives: elections last held on 29 April 1992 (next to be held April 1997); results - PPP 58.1%, seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP 30, NCP 6 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA, secretary general; National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA; Gambian People's Party (GPP), Hassan Musa CAMARA; United Party (UP), leader NA; People's Democratic Organization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), leader NA; People's Democratic Party (PDP), Jabel SALLAH Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: (202) 785-1399, 1379, or 1425 FAX: (202) 785-1430 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul telephone: [220] 92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971 FAX: (220) 92475 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

@The Gambia, Economy

Overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's poorest countries with a per capita income of roughly $800. About 75% of the population is engaged in crop production and livestock raising, which contribute 30% to GDP. Small-scale manufacturing activity - processing peanuts, fish, and hides - accounts for less than 10% of GDP. A sustained structural adjustment program, including a liberalized trade policy, has fostered a respectable 4% rate of growth in recent years. Re-export trade constitutes one-third of economic activity; however, border closures associated with Senegal's monetary crisis in late 1993 led to a 50% decline in re-export trade, reducing government revenues in turn. Devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 has made Senegalese goods more competitive, and is likely to prompt a relaxation of Senegalese controls, paving the way for a comeback in re-exports. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $740 million (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 4.5% (FY92 est) National product per capita: $800 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (FY 92 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $94 million expenditures: $80 million, including capital expenditures of $25 million (FY91 est.) Exports: $164 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.) commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels partners: Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1%, other 5% (1989) Imports: $214 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment partners: Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR and Eastern Europe 9%, US 6%, other 3% (1989) External debt: $336 million (December 1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 6.7% (year NA); accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90) Electricity: capacity: 30,000 kW production: 65 million kWh consumption per capita: 75 kWh (1991) Industries: peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the population; imports one-third of food requirements; major export crop is peanuts; other principal crops - millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats; forestry and fishing resources not fully exploited Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $535 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $39 million Currency: 1 dalasi (D) = 100 butut Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1 - 9.440 (November 1993), 8.888 (1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990), 7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

@The Gambia, Communications

Highways: total: 3,083 km paved: 431 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 501 km; unimproved earth 2,151 km Inland waterways: 400 km Ports: Banjul Merchant marine: 1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,194 GRT/19,394 DWT Airports: total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: adequate network of radio relay and wire; 3,500 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@The Gambia, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, National Gendarmerie, National Police Manpower availability: males age 15-49 207,754; fit for military service 105,100 Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

@Gaza Strip

Header Note: The war between Israel and Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in June 1967 ended with Israel in control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula pursuant to a 1979 peace treaty with Egypt. The Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Under the DOP, final status negotiations are to begin no later than the beginning of the third year of the transitional period.

@Gaza Strip, Geography

Location: Middle East, bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel Map references: Middle East Area: total area: 360 sq km land area: 360 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total 62 km, Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km Coastline: 40 km Maritime claims: Israeli occupied with status to be determined International disputes: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied with interim status subject to Israeli/Palestinian negotiations - final status to be determined Climate: temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers Terrain: flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain Natural resources: negligible Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 32% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 55% Irrigated land: 200 sq km Environment: current issues: desertification natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA Note: there are 24 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (April 1994)

@Gaza Strip, People

Population: 731,296 (July 1994 est.) note: in addition, there are 4,500 Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip (1994 est.) Population growth rate: 3.53% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 45.01 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.45 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -4.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 36.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.78 years male: 66.47 years female: 69.16 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 7.39 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA Ethnic divisions: Palestinian Arab and other 99.8%, Jewish 0.2% Religions: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.3% Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English (widely understood) Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: NA by occupation: construction 33.4%, agriculture 20.0%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 14.9%, industry 10.0%, other services 21.7% (1991) note: excluding Jewish settlers

@Gaza Strip, Government

Note: Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arragements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, and subsequently to an elected Palestinian Council, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Final status is to be determined through direct negotiations within five years. Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gaza Strip local long form: none local short form: Qita Ghazzah Digraph: GZ

@Gaza Strip, Economy

Overview: In 1991 roughly 40% of Gaza Strip workers were employed across the border by Israeli industrial, construction, and agricultural enterprises, with worker remittances accounting for about one-third of GNP. The construction, agricultural, and industrial sectors account for about 18%, 16%, and 12% of GNP, respectively. Gaza depends upon Israel for nearly 90% of its external trade. Aggravating the impact of Israeli military administration, unrest in the territory since 1988 (intifadah) has raised unemployment and lowered the standard of living of Gazans. The Persian Gulf crisis and its aftershocks also have dealt blows to Gaza since August 1990. Worker remittances from the Gulf states have dropped, unemployment has increased, and exports have fallen. The withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip in May 1994 brings a new set of adjustment problems. National product: GNP - exchange rate conversion - $840 million (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: 1% (1991 est.) National product per capita: $1,275 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: 20% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues: $33.6 million expenditures: $34.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90) Exports: $75 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: citrus partners: Israel, Egypt Imports: $370 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.) commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials partners: Israel, Egypt External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate 11% (1991 est.); accounts for about 12% of GNP Electricity: power supplied by Israel Industries: generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in an industrial center Agriculture: accounts for about 16% of GNP; olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables, beef, dairy products Economic aid: $NA Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 2.9760 (February 1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991), 2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)

@Gaza Strip, Communications

Railroads: one line, abandoned and in disrepair, some trackage remains Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA note: small, poorly developed road network Ports: facilities for small boats to service the city of Gaza Airports: total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 0 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: broadcast stations - no AM, no FM, no TV

@Gaza Strip, Defense Forces

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

@Georgia

Note: Georgia is currently besieged by interethnic strife in its Abkhazian and South Ossetian enclaves.

@Georgia, Geography

Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia Map references: Africa, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 69,700 sq km land area: 69,700 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than South Carolina Land boundaries: total 1,461 km, Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km Coastline: 310 km Maritime claims: note: 12 nm in 1973 USSR-Turkish Protocol concerning the sea boundary between the two states in the Black Sea; Georgia claims the coastline along the Black Sea as its international waters, although it cannot control this area and the Russian navy and commercial ships transit freely International disputes: none Climate: warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast Terrain: largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhida Lowland opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland Natural resources: forest lands, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ores, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: 4,660 sq km (1990) Environment: current issues: air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of safe drinking water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

@Georgia, People

Population: 5,681,025 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.81% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 16.11 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 23.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.84 years male: 69.16 years female: 76.7 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.18 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Georgian(s) adjective: Georgian Ethnic divisions: Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5% Religions: Georgian Orthodox 65%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Muslim 11%, Armenian Orthodox 8%, unknown 6% Languages: Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, other 7% Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 2.763 million by occupation: industry and construction 31%, agriculture and forestry 25%, other 44% (1990)

@Georgia, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Georgia conventional short form: Georgia local long form: Sak'art'velos Respublika local short form: Sak'art'velo former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic Digraph: GG Type: republic Capital: T'bilisi Administrative divisions: 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abkhazia (Sokhumi), Ajaria (Bat'umi) note: the administrative centers of the autonomous republics are included in parentheses; there are no oblasts - the rayons around T'bilisi are under direct republic jurisdiction Independence: 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 9 April (1991) Constitution: adopted NA February 1921; currently amending constitution for Parliamentary and popular review by late 1995 Legal system: based on civil law system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Chairman of Parliament Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (since 10 March 1992); election last held 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA 1995); results - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 95% head of government: Prime Minister Otar PATSATSIA (since September 1993); Deputy Prime Ministers Avtandil MARGIANI, Zurab KERVALISHVILI (since NA), Tamaz NADARISHVILI (since September 1993), Teimuraz BASILIA (since NA) cabinet: Council of Ministers Legislative branch: unicameral Georgian Parliament (Supreme Soviet): elections last held 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (225 total) number of seats by party NA; note - representatives of 26 parties elected; Peace Bloc, October 11, Unity, National Democratic Party, and the Greens Party won the largest representation Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Merab Kostava Society, Vazha ADAMIA, chairman; Traditionalists' Union, Akaki ASATIANI, chairman; Georgian Social Democratic Party, Guram MUCHAIDZE, chairman; Green Party, Zurab ZHVANIA, chairman; Georgian Popular Front (GPF), Nodar NATADZE, chairman; National Democratic Party (NDP), Gia CHANTURIA, chairman; National Independence Party (NIP), Irakliy TSERETELI, chairmen; Charter 1991 Party, Tedo PATASHVILI, chairman; Peace Bloc; Unity; October 11 Other political or pressure groups: supporters of ousted President Zuiad GAMSAKHURDIA (deceased 1 January 1994) boycotted the October elections and remain a source of opposition and instability Member of: BSEC, CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, IBRD, IDA, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, IOC, ITU, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Petr CHKHEIDZE chancery: (temporary) Suite 424, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC telephone: (202) 393-6060 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Kent N. BROWN embassy: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: (7) 8832-98-99-68 FAX: (7) 8832-93-37-59 Flag: maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below

@Georgia, Economy

Overview: Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved around Black Sea tourism; cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and a small industrial sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and textiles. The country imports the bulk of its energy needs, including natural gas and coal. Its only sizable domestic energy resource is hydropower. Since 1990, widespread conflicts, e.g., in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Mengrelia, severely aggravated the economic crisis resulting from the disintegration of the Soviet command economy in December 1991. Throughout 1993, much of industry was functioning at only 20% of capacity; heavy disruptions in agricultural cultivation were reported; and tourism was shut down. The country is precariously dependent on US and EU humanitarian grain shipments, as most other foods are priced beyond reach of the average citizen. Georgia is also suffering from an acute energy crisis, as it is having problems paying for even minimal imports. Georgia is pinning its hopes for recovery on reestablishing trade ties with Russia and on developing international transportation through the key Black Sea ports of P'ot'i and Bat'umi. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $7.8 billion (1993 estimate from the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as extrapolated to 1993 using official Georgian statistics, which are very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990) National product real growth rate: -35% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $1,390 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 40.5% per month (2nd half 1993 est.) Unemployment rate: officially less than 5% but real unemployment may be up near 20%, with even larger numbers of underemployed workers; real unemployment may be up near 20% with even larger numbers of underemployed workers Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $NA commodities: citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural products; diverse types of machinery; ferrous and nonferrous metals; textiles; chemicals; fuel re-exports partners: Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan (1992) Imports: $NA commodities: fuel, grain and other foods, machinery and parts, transport equipment partners: Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey (1993) External debt: $100 million to $200 million (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -27% (1993); accounts for 36% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 4,875,000 kW production: 15.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,835 kWh (1992) Industries: heavy industrial products include raw steel, rolled steel, airplanes; machine tools, foundry equipment, electric locomotives, tower cranes, electric welding equipment, machinery for food preparation and meat packing, electric motors, process control equipment, instruments; trucks, tractors, and other farm machinery; light industrial products, including cloth, hosiery, and shoes; chemicals; wood-working industries; the most important food industry is wine Agriculture: accounts for 41% of GDP; accounted for 97% of former USSR citrus fruits and 93% of former USSR tea; important producer of grapes; also cultivates vegetables and potatoes; dependent on imports for grain, dairy products, sugar; small livestock sector Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe Economic aid: recipient: heavily dependent on US for humanitarian grain shipments; EC granted around $70 million in trade credits in 1992 and another $40 million in 1993; Turkey granted $50 million in 1993; smaller scale credits granted by Russia and China Currency: coupons introduced in April 1993 to be followed by introduction of the lari at undetermined future date; in July 1993 use of the Russian ruble was banned Exchange rates: NA Fiscal year: calendar year

@Georgia, Communications

Railroads: 1,570 km, does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways: total: 33,900 km paved and gravelled: 29,500 km unpaved: earth 4,400 km (1990) Pipelines: crude oil 370 km; refined products 300 km; natural gas 440 km (1992) Ports: coastal - Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi Merchant marine: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 575,823 GRT/882,110 DWT, bulk cargo 14, oil tanker 27 Airports: total: 37 usable: 27 with permanent-surface runways: 14 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 10 with runways 1,060-2,439 m: 4 note: a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip Telecommunications: poor telephone service; as of mid-1993, 672,000 telephone lines providing 14 lines per 100 persons; 339,000 unsatisfied applications for telephones (31 December 1990); international links via landline to CIS members and Turkey; low capacity satellite earth station and leased international connections via the Moscow international gateway switch with other countries; international electronic mail and telex service available Note: transportation network is disrupted by ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages

@Georgia, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Air Force, Navy, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,362,818; fit for military service 1,081,624; reach military age (18) annually 42,881 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GNP Note: Georgian forces are poorly organized and not fully under the government's control

@Germany, Geography

Location: Central Europe, bordering the North Sea between France and Poland Map references: Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 356,910 sq km land area: 349,520 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana note: includes the formerly separate Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, and Berlin following formal unification on 3 October 1990 Land boundaries: total 3,621 km, Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km Coastline: 2,389 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm in North Sea and Schleswig-Holstein coast of Baltic Sea (extends, at one point, to 16 nm in the Helgolander Bucht); 12 nm in remainder of Baltic Sea International disputes: none Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm, tropical foehn wind; high relative humidity Terrain: lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south Natural resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, nickel Land use: arable land: 34% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 16% forest and woodland: 30% other: 19% Irrigated land: 4,800 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries in the southeast and lead emissions from vehicle exhausts (the result of continued use of leaded fuels) contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; heavy pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Hazardous Wastes Note: strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea

@Germany, People

Population: 81,087,506 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.36% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 11.04 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 10.89 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 3.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.34 years male: 73.22 years female: 79.64 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: German(s) adjective: German Ethnic divisions: German 95.1%, Turkish 2.3%, Italians 0.7%, Greeks 0.4%, Poles 0.4%, other 1.1% (made up largely of people fleeing the war in the former Yugoslavia) Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 37%, unaffiliated or other 18% Languages: German Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1977 est.) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 36.75 million by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture 6%, other 53% (1987)

@Germany, Government

Names: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany conventional short form: Germany local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland local short form: Deutschland Digraph: GM Type: federal republic Capital: Berlin note: the shift from Bonn to Berlin will take place over a period of years with Bonn retaining many administrative functions and several ministries Administrative divisions: 16 states (laender, singular - land); Baden-Wurttemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringen Independence: 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four power rights formally relinquished 15 March 1991 National holiday: German Unity Day (Day of Unity), 3 October (1990) Constitution: 23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the united German people 3 October 1990 Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Dr. Richard von WEIZSACKER (since 1 July 1984); note - presidential elections were held on 23 May 1994; Roman HERZOG was the winner and will be inaugurated 1 July 1994 head of government: Chancellor Dr. Helmut KOHL (since 4 October 1982) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president upon the proposal of the chancellor Legislative branch: bicameral chamber (no official name for the two chambers as a whole) Federal Assembly (Bundestag): last held 2 December 1990 (next to be held by 16 October 1994); results - CDU 36.7%, SPD 33.5%, FDP 11.0%, CSU 7.1%, Green Party (West Germany) 3.9%, PDS 2.4%, Republikaner 2.1%, Alliance 90/Green Party (East Germany) 1.2%, other 2.1%; seats - (662 total) CDU 268, CSU 51, SPD 239, FDP 79, PDS 17, Greens/Alliance '90 8; elected by direct popular vote under a system combining direct and proportional representation; a party must win 5% of the national vote or 3 direct mandates to gain representation Federal Council (Bundesrat): State governments are directly represented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes depending on size and are required to vote as a block; current composition: votes - (68 total) SPD-led states 37, CDU-led states 31 Judicial branch: Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Helmut KOHL, chairman; Christian Social Union (CSU), Theo WAIGEL, chairman; Free Democratic Party (FDP), Klaus KINKEL, chairman; Social Democratic Party (SPD), Rudolf SCHARPING, chairman; Alliance '90/Greens, Ludger VOLMER, Marianne BIRTHLER, co-chairmen; Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS), Lothar BISKY, chairman; Republikaner, Franz SCHOENHUBER; National Democratic Party (NPD), Guenter DECKERT; Communist Party (DKP), Rolf PRIEMER Other political or pressure groups: expellee, refugee, and veterans groups Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BDEAC, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNHCR, UNOMIG, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UPU, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Immo STABREIT chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 298-4000 FAX: (202) 298-4249 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle consulate(s): Manila (Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands) and Wellington (America Samoa) US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard C. HOLBROOKE embassy: Deichmanns Avenue 29, 53170 Bonn mailing address: Unit 21701, Bonn; APO AE 09080 telephone: [49] (228) 3391 FAX: [49] (228) 339-2663 branch office: Berlin consulate(s) general: Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and yellow

@Germany, Economy

Overview: With the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989, prospects seemed bright for a fairly rapid incorporation of East Germany into the highly successful West German economy. The Federal Republic, however, continues to experience difficulties in integrating and modernizing eastern Germany, and the tremendous costs of unification pushed western Germany into its deepest recession since World War II. The western German economy shrank by 1.9% in 1993 as the Bundesbank maintained high interest rates to offset the inflationary effects of large government deficits and high wage settlements. Eastern Germany grew by 7.1% in 1993 but this was from a shrunken base. Despite government transfers to the east amounting to nearly $110 billion annually, a self-sustaining economy in the region is still some years away. The bright spots are eastern Germany's construction, transportation, telecommunications, and service sectors, which have experienced strong growth. Western Germany has an advanced market economy and is a world leader in exports. It has a highly urbanized and skilled population that enjoys excellent living standards, abundant leisure time, and comprehensive social welfare benefits. Western Germany is relatively poor in natural resources, coal being the most important mineral. Western Germany's world-class companies manufacture technologically advanced goods. The region's economy is mature: services and manufacturing account for the dominant share of economic activity, and raw materials and semimanufactured goods constitute a large portion of imports. In recent years, manufacturing has accounted for about 31% of GDP, with other sectors contributing lesser amounts. Gross fixed investment in 1993 accounted for about 20.5% of GDP. GDP in the western region is now $19,400 per capita, or 78% of US per capita GDP. Eastern Germany's economy appears to be changing from one anchored on manufacturing into a more service-oriented economy. The German government, however, is intent on maintaining a manufacturing base in the east and is considering a policy for subsidizing industrial cores in the region. Eastern Germany's share of all-German GDP is only 8% and eastern productivity is just 30% that of the west even though eastern wages are at roughly 70% of western levels. The privatization agency for eastern Germany, Treuhand, has privatized more than 90% of the 13,000 firms under its control and will likely wind down operations in 1994. Private investment in the region continues to be lackluster, resulting primarily from the deepening recession in western Germany and excessively high eastern wages. Eastern Germany has one of the world's largest reserves of low-grade lignite coal but little else in the way of mineral resources. The quality of statistics from eastern Germany is improving, yet many gaps remain; the federal government began producing all-German data for select economic statistics at the start of 1992. The most challenging economic problem is promoting eastern Germany's economic reconstruction - specifically, finding the right mix of fiscal, monetary, regulatory, and tax policies that will spur investment in eastern Germany - without destabilizing western Germany's economy or damaging relations with West European partners. The government hopes a "solidarity pact" among labor unions, business, state governments, and the SPD opposition will provide the right mix of wage restraints, investment incentives, and spending cuts to stimulate eastern recovery. Finally, the homogeneity of the German economic culture has been changed by the admission of large numbers of immigrants. National product: Germany: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.331 trillion (1993) western: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.218 trillion (1993) eastern: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $112.7 billion (1993) National product real growth rate: Germany: -1.2% (1993) western: -1.9% (1993) eastern: 7.1% (1993) National product per capita: Germany: $16,500 (1993) western: $19,400 (1993) eastern: $6,300 (1993) Inflation rate (consumer prices): western: 4.2% (1993) eastern: 8.9% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: western: 8.1% (December 1993) eastern: 15.4% (December 1993) Budget: revenues: $918 billion expenditures: $972 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992) Exports: $392 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: manufactures 89.0% (including machines and machine tools, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel products), agricultural products 5.4%, raw materials 2.2%, fuels 1.3% (1922) partners: EC 51.3% (France 11.1%, Netherlands 8.3%, Italy 8.2%, UK 7.9%, Belgium-Luxembourg 7.5%), EFTA 13.3%, US 6.8%, Eastern Europe 5.0%, OPEC 3.3% (1993) Imports: $374.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: manufactures 74.9%, agricultural products 10.3%, fuels 7.4%, raw materials 5.5% (1992) partners: EC 49.7 (France 11.0%, Netherlands 9.2%, Italy 8.8%, UK 6.6%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6.7%), EFTA 12.7%, US 5.9%, Japan 5.2%, Eastern Europe 4.8%, OPEC 2.6% (1993) External debt: $NA Industrial production: western: growth rate -7% (1993) eastern: growth rate $NA Electricity: capacity: 134,000,000 kW production: 580 billion kWh consumption per capita: 7,160 kWh (1992) Industries: western: among world's largest producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics; food and beverages eastern: metal fabrication, chemicals, brown coal, shipbuilding, machine building, food and beverages, textiles, petroleum refining Agriculture: western: accounts for about 2% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); diversified crop and livestock farming; principal crops and livestock include potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbage, cattle, pigs, poultry; net importer of food eastern: accounts for about 10% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); principal crops - wheat, rye, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, fruit; livestock products include pork, beef, chicken, milk, hides and skins; net importer of food Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine for West European markets Economic aid: western-donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.5 billion eastern-donor: bilateral to non-Communist less developed countries (1956-89) $4 billion Currency: 1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige Exchange rates: deutsche marks (DM) per US$1 - 1.7431 (January 1994), 1.6533 (1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595 (1991), 1.6157 (1990), 1.8800 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Germany, Communications

Railroads: western: 31,443 km total; 27,421 km government owned, 1.435-meter standard gauge (12,491 km double track, 11,501 km electrified); 4,022 km nongovernment owned, including 3,598 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (214 km electrified) and 424 km 1.000-meter gauge (186 km electrified) eastern: 14,025 km total; 13,750 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 275 km 1.000-meter or other narrow gauge; 3,830 (est.) km 1.435-meter standard gauge double-track; 3,475 km overhead electrified (1988) Highways: total: 625,600 km (1991 est.); western - 501,000 km (1990 est.); eastern - 124,600 km (1988 est.) paved: 543,200 km, including 10,814 km of expressways; western - 495,900 km, including 8,959 km of expressways; eastern - 47,300 km, including 1,855 km of expressways unpaved: 82,400 km; western - 5,000 km earth; eastern - 77,400 km gravel and earth Inland waterways: western: 5,222 km, of which almost 70% are usable by craft of 1,000-metric-ton capacity or larger; major rivers include the Rhine and Elbe; Kiel Canal is an important connection between the Baltic Sea and North Sea eastern: 2,319 km (1988) Pipelines: crude oil 3,644 km; petroleum products 3,946 km; natural gas 97,564 km (1988) Ports: coastal - Bremerhaven, Brunsbuttel, Cuxhaven, Emden, Bremen, Hamburg, Kiel, Lubeck, Wilhelmshaven, Rostock, Wismar, Stralsund, Sassnitz; inland - 31 major on Rhine and Elbe rivers Merchant marine: 485 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,541,441 GRT/5,835,511 DWT, barge carrier 7, bulk 11, cargo 241, chemical tanker 20, combination bulk 6, combination ore/oil 5, container 132, liquefied gas tanker 16, oil tanker 7, passenger 3, railcar carrier 5, refrigerated cargo 7, roll-on/roll-off cargo 20, short-sea passenger 5 note: the German register includes ships of the former East and West Germany Airports: total: 590 usable: 583 with permanent-surface runways: 308 with runways over 3,659 m: 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 85 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 97 Telecommunications: western: highly developed, modern telecommunication service to all parts of the country; fully adequate in all respects; 40,300,000 telephones; intensively developed, highly redundant cable and microwave radio relay networks, all completely automatic; broadcast stations - 80 AM, 470 FM, 225 (6,000 repeaters) TV; 6 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 12 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT antennas, 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT antennas, EUTELSAT, and domestic systems; 2 HF radiocommunication centers; tropospheric links eastern: badly needs modernization; 3,970,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 23 AM, 17 FM, 21 TV (15 Soviet TV repeaters); 6,181,860 TVs; 6,700,000 radios; 1 satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT and Intersputnik systems

@Germany, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 20,253,482; fit for military service 17,506,468; reach military age (18) annually 418,124 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $37.3 billion, 2% of GDP (1993)

@Ghana, Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 238,540 sq km land area: 230,020 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon Land boundaries: total 2,093 km, Burkina 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km Coastline: 539 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 15% forest and woodland: 37% other: 36% Irrigated land: 80 sq km (1989) Environment: current issues: recent drought in north severely affecting agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; limited supply of safe drinking water natural hazards: dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to March international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Marine Life Conservation Note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)

@Ghana, People

Population: 17,225,185 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 3.09% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 44.13 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 12.27 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 83.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.52 years male: 53.58 years female: 57.52 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.15 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian Ethnic divisions: black African 99.8% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2% Religions: indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8% Languages: English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 60% male: 70% female: 51% Labor force: 3.7 million by occupation: agriculture and fishing 54.7%, industry 18.7%, sales and clerical 15.2%, services, transportation, and communications 7.7%, professional 3.7% note: 48% of population of working age (1983)

@Ghana, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast Digraph: GH Type: constitutional democracy Capital: Accra Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western Independence: 6 March 1957 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957) Constitution: new constitution approved 28 April 1992 Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: universal at 18 Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 3 November 1992) election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA) cabinet: Cabinet; president nominates members subject to approval by the Parliament Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: elections last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held NA) Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress, Jerry John Rawlings; New Patriotic Party, Albert Adu BOAHEN; People's Heritage Party, Alex Erskine; various other smaller parties Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ekwow SPIO-GARBRAH chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 686-4520 FAX: (202) 686-4527 consulate(s) general: New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth L. BROWN embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra telephone: [233] (21) 775348, 775349, 775297 or 775298 FAX: [233] (21) 776008 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the gold band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

@Ghana, Economy

Overview: Supported by substantial international assistance, Ghana has been implementing a steady economic rebuilding program since 1983, including moves toward privatization and relaxation of government controls. The agriculture sector consists largely of small traditional farm holdings, rain-fed for the most part. Heavily dependent on cocoa, gold, and timber exports, economic growth so far has not spread substantially to other areas of the economy. The costs of sending peacekeeping forces to Liberia and preparing for the transition to a democratic government have boosted government expenditures and undercut structural adjustment reforms. Ghana opened a stock exchange in 1990 and plans to float 5% of its stake in Ashanti Goldfields Corporation, which would make the exchange the largest in sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $25 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 3.9% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $1,500 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1992) Unemployment rate: 10% (1991) Budget: revenues: $1 billion expenditures: $905 million, including capital expenditures of $200 million (1991 est.) Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: cocoa 40%, gold, timber, tuna, bauxite, and aluminum partners: Germany 31%, US 12%, UK 11%, Netherlands 6%, Japan 5% (1991) Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: petroleum 16%, consumer goods, foods, intermediate goods, capital equipment partners: UK 22%, US 11%, Germany 9%, Japan 6% External debt: $4.6 billion (1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate in manufacturing (1992); accounts for almost 15% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 1,180,000 kW production: 4.49 billion kWh consumption per capita: 290 kWh (1991) Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum, food processing Agriculture: accounts for 43% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); the major cash crop is cocoa; other principal crops - rice, coffee, cassava, peanuts, corn, shea nuts, timber; normally self-sufficient in food Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin destined for the US and Europe Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $455 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.6 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $78 million; Communist countries (1970-89) $106 million Currency: 1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas Exchange rates: new cedis per US$1 - 713.00 (October 1993), 437.09 (1992), 367.83 (1991), 326.33 (1990), 270.00 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Ghana, Communications

Railroads: 953 km, all 1.067-meter gauge; 32 km double track; railroads undergoing major renovation Highways: total: 32,250 km paved: concrete, bituminous 6,084 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, improved earth 26,166 km Inland waterways: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways Pipelines: none Ports: Tema, Takoradi Merchant marine: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 46,289 GRT/61,606 DWT, cargo 4, refrigerated cargo 1 Airports: total: 11 usable: 11 with permanent-surface runways: 6 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 6 Telecommunications: poor to fair system handled primarily by microwave radio relay links; 42,300 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 1 FM, 4 (8 translators) TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Ghana, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force, Civil Defense Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,867,183; fit for military service 2,159,769; reach military age (18) annually 170,283 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $30 million, less than 1% of GDP (1989 est.)

@Gibraltar

Header Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK)

@Gibraltar, Geography

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, on the southern coast of Spain Map references: Africa, Europe Area: total area: 6.5 sq km land area: 6.5 sq km comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: total 1.2 km, Spain 1.2 km Coastline: 12 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 3 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: source of occasional friction between Spain and the UK Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders The Rock Natural resources: negligible Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: natural freshwater sources are meager, so large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA Note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

@Gibraltar, People

Population: 31,684 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.58% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 15.37 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 8.87 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -0.73 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: 76.33 years male: 73.44 years female: 79.19 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.33 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar Ethnic divisions: Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish Religions: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%, other 3%), Moslem 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981) Languages: English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) note: UK military establishments and civil government employ nearly 50% of the labor force

@Gibraltar, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar Digraph: GI Type: dependent territory of the UK Capital: Gilbraltar Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK) Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK) National holiday: Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March) Constitution: 30 May 1969 Legal system: English law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects resident six months or more Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor and Commander in Chief Gen. Sir John CHAPPLE (since NA March 1993) head of government: Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988) Gibraltar Council: advises the governor cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed from the elected members of the Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly: elections last held on 16 January 1992 (next to be held January 1996); results - SL 73.3%; seats - (18 total, 15 elected) number of seats by party NA Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Court of Appeal Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party (SL), Joe BOSSANO; Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (GCL/AACR), leader NA; Gibraltar Social Democrats, Peter CARUANA; Gibraltar National Party, Joe GARCIA Other political or pressure groups: Housewives Association; Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization Member of: INTERPOL (subbureau) Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK) US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK) Flag: two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

@Gibraltar, Economy

Overview: The British military presence has been severely reduced and now only contributes about 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism and shipping services fees also generate income. Because more than 70% of the economy is in the public sector, changes in government spending have a major impact on the level of employment. Construction workers are particularly affected when government expenditures are cut. National product: GNP - exchange rate conversion - $182 million (FY87) National product real growth rate: 5% (FY87) National product per capita: $4,600 (FY87) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1988) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $136 million expenditures: $139 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88) Exports: $82 million (f.o.b., 1988) commodities: (principally re-exports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8% partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG Imports: $258 million (c.i.f., 1988) commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands External debt: $318 million (1987) Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 47,000 kW production: 200 million kWh consumption per capita: 6,740 kWh (1992) Industries: tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; support to large UK naval and air bases; transit trade and supply depot in the port; light manufacturing of tobacco, roasted coffee, ice, mineral waters, candy, beer, and canned fish Agriculture: none Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $800,000; Western (non-US) countries and ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $2.5 million Currency: 1 Gibraltar pound (#G) = 100 pence Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989); note - the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

@Gibraltar, Communications

Railroads: 1.000-meter-gauge system in dockyard area only Highways: total: 50 km paved: 50 km Pipelines: none Ports: Gibraltar Merchant marine: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 496,898 GRT/857,140 DWT, bulk 5, cargo 4, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 1 note: a flag of convenience registry Airports: total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international radiocommunication and microwave facilities; 9,400 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Gibraltar, Defense Forces

Branches: British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

@Glorioso Islands

Header Affiliation: (possession of France)

@Glorioso Islands, Geography

Location: Southern Africa, in the Indian Ocean just north of Madagascar Map references: Africa Area: total area: 5 sq km land area: 5 sq km comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 35.2 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claimed by Madagascar Climate: tropical Terrain: NA Natural resources: guano, coconuts Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) Irrigated land: 0 sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to periodic cyclones international agreements: NA

@Glorioso Islands, People

Population: uninhabited

@Glorioso Islands, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Glorioso Islands local long form: none local short form: Iles Glorieuses Digraph: GO Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion Independence: none (possession of France)

@Glorioso Islands, Economy

Overview: no economic activity

@Glorioso Islands, Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only Airports: total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 0 with runsways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1

@Glorioso Islands, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of France

@Greece, Geography

Location: Balkan State, Southern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea between Turkey and Bulgaria Map references: Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 131,940 sq km land area: 130,800 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Alabama Land boundaries: total 1,210 km, Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km Coastline: 13,676 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation territorial sea: 6 nm, but Greece has threatened to claim 12 nm International disputes: air, continental shelf, and territorial water disputes with Turkey in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question; dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over name and symbol implying territorial claim Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or chains of islands Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble Land use: arable land: 23% permanent crops: 8% meadows and pastures: 40% forest and woodland: 20% other: 9% Irrigated land: 11,900 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: air pollution; water pollution natural hazards: subject to severe earthquakes international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea Note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands

@Greece, People

Population: 10,564,630 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.84% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 10.5 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 9.32 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 7.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.71 years male: 75.2 years female: 80.35 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek Ethnic divisions: Greek 98%, other 2% note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7% Languages: Greek (official), English, French Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 93% male: 98% female: 89% Labor force: 4.083 million by occupation: services 48%, agriculture 24%, industry 28% (1993)

@Greece, Government

Names: conventional long form: Hellenic Republic conventional short form: Greece local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia local short form: Ellas former: Kingdom of Greece Digraph: GR Type: presidential parliamentary government; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974 Capital: Athens Administrative divisions: 52 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos); Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Dhrama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Iraklion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkira, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios, Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Piraievs, Preveza, Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos, autonomous region: Agion Oros (Mt. Athos) Independence: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire) National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of the war of independence) Constitution: 11 June 1975 Legal system: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: President Konstantinos KARAMANLIS (since 5 May 1990); election last held 4 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995); results - Konstantinos KARAMANLIS was elected by Parliament head of government: Prime Minister Andreas PAPANDREOU (since 10 October 1993) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Vouli ton Ellinon): elections last held 10 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1997); results - PASOK 46.88%, ND 39.30%, Political Spring 4.87%, KKE 4.54%, and Progressive Left Coalition 2.94%; seats - (300 total) PASOK 170, ND 111, Political Spring 10, KKE 9 Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court, Special Supreme Tribunal Political parties and leaders: New Democracy (ND; conservative), Miltiades EVERT; Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Andreas PAPANDREOU; Progressive Left Coalition, Maria DAMANAKI; Democratic Renewal (DIANA), Konstantinos STEFANOPOULOS; Communist Party (KKE), Aleka PAPARIGA; Ecologist-Alternative List, leader rotates; Political Spring, Antonis SAMARAS Member of: Australian Group, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, FAO, G-6, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNOSOM, UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Loucas TSILAS chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 939-5800 FAX: (202) 939-5824 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): New Orleans US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas M.T. NILES embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, Athens; APO AE 09842 telephone: [30] (1) 721-2951 or 721-8401 FAX: [30] (1) 645-6282 consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki Flag: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country

@Greece, Economy

Overview: Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the basic entrepreneurial system overlaid in 1981-89 by a socialist system that enlarged the public sector from 55% of GDP in 1981 to about 70% in 1989. Since then, the public sector has been reduced to about 60% of GDP. Tourism continues as a major source of foreign exchange, and agriculture is self-sufficient except for meat, dairy products, and animal feedstuffs. Over the last decade, real GDP growth has averaged 1.6% a year, compared with the European Union average of 2.2%. Inflation is four times the EU average, and the national debt has reached 140% of GDP, the highest in the EU. Prime Minister PAPANDREOU will probably only make limited progress correcting the economy's problems of high inflation, large budget deficit, and decaying infrastructure. His economic program suggests that although he will shun his expansionary policies of the 1980s, he will avoid tough measures needed to slow inflation or reduce the state's role in the economy. He has limited the previous government's privatization plans, for example, and has called for generous welfare spending and real wage increases. In 1994, the GDP growth rate is likely to remain low, and inflation probably will accelerate, remaining the highest in the EU. PAPANDREOU'S failure to improve the country's economic performance will further strain relations with the EU. Since Greece's accession to the then EC in 1981, Athens' heavy reliance on EU aid - amounting to about 6% of Greek GDP annually - and its poor use of Union funds have riled Brussels. Its ailing economy will continue to be a drag on European economic and monetary union. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $93.2 billion (1993) National product real growth rate: 1% (1993) National product per capita: $8,900 (1993) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.4% (1993) Unemployment rate: 9.5% (1993) Budget: revenues: $28.3 billion expenditures: $37.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.2 billion (1994) Exports: $6 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: manufactured goods 53%, foodstuffs 34%, fuels 5% partners: Germany 23%, Italy 18%, France 7%, UK 7%, US 4% (1992) Imports: $23.3 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: manufactured goods 72%, foodstuffs 15%, fuels 10% partners: Germany 20%, Italy 14%, France 8%, Netherlands 7%, Japan 6% (1992) External debt: $23.1 billion (1992) Industrial production: growth rate -1.3% (1992); accounts for 20% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 10,500,000 kW production: 36.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,610 kWh (1992) Industries: food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, mining, petroleum Agriculture: including fishing and forestry, accounts for 15% of GDP and 24% of the labor force; principal products - wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; self-sufficient in food except meat, dairy products, and animal feedstuffs Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and limited opium; mostly for domestic production; serves as a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $525 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.39 billion Currency: 1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta Exchange rates: drachmae (Dr) per US$1 - 250.28 (January 1994), 229.26 (1993), 190.62 (1992), 182.27 (1991), 158.51 (1990), 162.42 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Greece, Communications

Railroads: 2,479 km total; 1,565 km 1,435-mm standard gauge, of which 36 km electrified and 100 km double track; 892 km 1,000-mm gauge; 22 km 750-mm narrow gauge; all government owned Highways: total: 38,938 km paved: 16,090 km unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 13,676 km; improved earth 5,632 km; unimproved earth 3,540 km Inland waterways: 80 km; system consists of three coastal canals; including the Corinth Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to Piraievs (Piraeus) by 325 km; and three unconnected rivers Pipelines: crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km Ports: Piraievs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki Merchant marine: 1,059 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 29,343,367 GRT/54,249,294 DWT, bulk 453, cargo 117, chemical tanker 20, combination bulk 23, combination ore/oil 38, container 36, liquefied gas 6, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 251, passenger 15, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 11, roll-on/roll-off cargo 17, short-sea passenger 65, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 1 note: ethnic Greeks also own large numbers of ships under the registry of Liberia, Panama, Cyprus, Malta, and The Bahamas Airports: total: 78 usable: 77 with permanent-surface runways: 63 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 20 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 24 Telecommunications: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; 4,080,000 telephones; microwave radio relay carries most traffic; extensive open-wire network; submarine cables to off-shore islands; broadcast stations - 29 AM, 17 (20 repeaters) FM, 361 TV; tropospheric links, 8 submarine cables; 1 satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean antenna), and EUTELSAT systems

@Greece, Defense Forces

Branches: Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, National Guard, Police Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,645,859; fit for military service 2,025,212; reach military age (21) annually 74,484 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.0 billion, 5.4% of GDP (1993)

@Greenland

Header Affiliation: (part of the Danish realm)

@Greenland, Geography

Location: Northern North America, in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Canada and Norway Map references: Arctic Region, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 2,175,600 sq km land area: 383,600 sq km (ice free) comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Texas Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 44,087 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: dispute betwen Denmark and Norway over maritime boundary in Arctic Ocean between Greenland and Jan Mayen has been settled by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast Natural resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, cryolite, uranium, fish Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 0% other: 99% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA Note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

@Greenland, People

Population: 57,040 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.94% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 18.6 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 7.43 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -1.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 26.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.91 years male: 62.55 years female: 71.28 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.29 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic Ethnic divisions: Greenlander 86% (Eskimos and Greenland-born Caucasians), Danish 14% Religions: Evangelical Lutheran Languages: Eskimo dialects, Danish Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 22,800 by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding

@Greenland, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Greenland local long form: none local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat Digraph: GL Type: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division Capital: Nuuk (Godthab) Administrative divisions: 3 municipalities (kommuner, singular - kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland Independence: none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division) National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940) Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution) Legal system: Danish Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Torben Hede PEDERSEN (since NA) head of government: Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991) cabinet: Landsstyre; formed from the Landsting on basis of strength of parties Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Landsting): elections last held on 5 March 1991 (next to be held 5 March 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (27 total) Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 5, Center Party 2, Polar Party 1 Danish Folketing: last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994); Greenland elects two representatives to the Folketing; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) Siumut 1, Atassut 1 Judicial branch: High Court (Landsret) Political parties and leaders: two-party ruling coalition; Siumut (a moderate socialist party that advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark), Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman; Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA; a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule), Arqaluk LYNGE; Atassut Party (a more conservative party that favors continuing close relations with Denmark), leader NA; Polar Party (conservative-Greenland nationalist), Lars CHEMNITZ; Center Party (a new nonsocialist protest party), leader NA Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white

@Greenland, Economy

Overview: Greenland's economic situation at present is difficult. Unemployment is increasing, and prospects for economic growth in the immediate future are dim. Following the closing of the Black Angel lead and zinc mine in 1989, Greenland became almost completely dependent on fishing and fish processing, the sector accounting for 95% of exports. Prospects for fisheries are not bright, as the important shrimp catches will at best stabilize and cod catches have dropped. Resumption of mining and hydrocarbon activities is not around the corner, thus leaving only tourism with some potential for the near future. The public sector in Greenland, i.e., the central government and its commercial entities and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in Greenland accounting for about two-thirds of total employment. About half the government's revenues come from grants from the Danish Government. National product: GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $500 million (1988) National product real growth rate: -10% (1990) National product per capita: $9,000 (1988) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1991) Unemployment rate: 9% (1990 est.) Budget: revenues: $381 million expenditures: $381 million, including capital expenditures of $36 million (1989) Exports: $340.6 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: fish and fish products 95% partners: Denmark 79%, Benelux 9%, Germany 5% Imports: $403 million (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: manufactured goods 28%, machinery and transport equipment 24%, food and live animals 12.4%, petroleum products 12% partners: Denmark 65%, Norway 8.8%, US 4.6%, Germany 3.8%, Japan 3.8%, Sweden 2.4% External debt: $480 million (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 84,000 kW production: 176 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,060 kWh (1992) Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp), lead and zinc mining, handicrafts, some small shipyards, potential for platinum and gold mining Agriculture: sector dominated by fishing and sheep raising; crops limited to forage and small garden vegetables; 1988 fish catch of 133,500 metric tons Economic aid: none Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.771 (January 1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Greenland, Communications

Highways: total: 150 km paved: 60 km unpaved: 90 km Ports: Kangerluarsoruseq (Faeringehavn), Paamiut (Frederikshaab), Nuuk (Godthaab), Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Julianehaab, Maarmorilik, North Star Bay Airports: total: 11 usable: 8 with permanent-surface runways: 5 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2 Telecommunications: adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay; 17,900 telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 (35 repeaters) FM, 4 (9 repeaters) TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Greenland, Defense Forces

Note: defense is responsibility of Denmark

@Grenada, Geography

Location: Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 150 im north of Trinidad and Tobago Map references: Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 340 sq km land area: 340 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 121 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 26% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 9% other: 47% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change Note: islands of the Grenadines group are divided politically with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

@Grenada, People

Population: 94,109 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.35% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 30.28 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.19 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -20.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 12.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.4 years male: 68 years female: 72.85 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.93 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Grenadian(s) adjective: Grenadian Ethnic divisions: black African Religions: Roman Catholic, Anglican, other Protestant sects Languages: English (official), French patois Literacy: age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% Labor force: 36,000 by occupation: services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction 8%, manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)

@Grenada, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada Digraph: GJ Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Saint George's Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick Independence: 7 February 1974 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 7 February (1974) Constitution: 19 December 1973 Legal system: based on English common law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Reginald Oswald PALMER (since 6 August 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Nicholas BRATHWAITE (since 13 March 1990) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: consists of a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and 3 by the Leader of the Opposition House of Representatives: elections last held on 13 March 1990 (next to be held by NA March 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) NDC 7, GULP 4, TNP 2, NNP 2 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nicholas BRATHWAITE; Grenada United Labor Party (GULP), Sir Eric GAIRY; The National Party (TNP), Ben JONES; New National Party (NNP), Keith MITCHELL; Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (MBPM), Terrence MARRYSHOW Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Denneth MODESTE chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 265-2561 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Ollie P. ANDERSON embassy: Point Salines, Saint George's mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, W.I. telephone: (809) 444-1173 through 1178 FAX: (809) 444-4820 Flag: a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side) with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrative divisions

@Grenada, Economy

Overview: The economy is essentially agricultural and centers on the traditional production of spices and tropical plants. Agriculture accounts for about 15% of GDP and 80% of exports and employs 24% of the labor force. Tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner, followed by agricultural exports. Manufacturing remains relatively undeveloped, but is expected to grow, given a more favorable private investment climate since 1983. The economy achieved an impressive average annual growth rate of 5.5% in 1986-91 but stalled in 1992. Unemployment remains high at about 25%. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $250 million (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: -0.4% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $3,000 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 25% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues: $78 million expenditures: $51 million, including capital expenditures of $22 million (1991 est.) Exports: $19.9 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace partners: Netherlands, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, United States Imports: $103.2 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery 20%, chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989) partners: US 29%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (1989) External debt: $109 million (1992) Industrial production: growth rate 1.8% (1992 est.); accounts for 9% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 12,500 kW production: 26 million kWh consumption per capita: 310 kWh (1992) Industries: food and beverage, textile, light assembly operations, tourism, construction Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GDP and 80% of exports; bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, and mace account for two-thirds of total crop production; world's second-largest producer and fourth-largest exporter of nutmeg and mace; small-size farms predominate, growing a variety of citrus fruits, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, and vegetables Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY84-89), $60 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $70 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $32 million Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Grenada, Communications

Highways: total: 1,000 km paved: 600 km unpaved: otherwise improved 300 km; unimproved earth 100 km Ports: Saint George's Airports: total: 3 usable: 3 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: 1 Telecommunications: automatic, islandwide telephone system with 5,650 telephones; new SHF radio links to the islands of Trinidad, Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to the islands of Trinidad and Carriacou; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, 1 TV

@Grenada, Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

@Guadeloupe

Header Affiliation: (overseas department of France)

@Guadeloupe, Geography

Location: Caribbean, in the Caribbean Sea, 500 km southeast of Puerto Rico Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 1,780 sq km land area: 1,760 sq km comparative area: 10 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 306 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: subtropical tempered by trade winds; relatively high humidity Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grand-Terre is low limestone formation Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 40% other: 24% Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an active volcano international agreements: NA

@Guadeloupe, People

Population: 428,947 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.55% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 17.68 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.94 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 3.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.97 years male: 73.91 years female: 80.14 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.04 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Guadeloupian(s) adjective: Guadeloupe Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5% Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5% Languages: French, creole patois Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982) total population: 90% male: 90% female: 91% Labor force: 120,000 by occupation: services, government, and commerce 53.0%, industry 25.8%, agriculture 21.2%

@Guadeloupe, Government

Names: conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe conventional short form: Guadeloupe local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe local short form: Guadeloupe Digraph: GP Type: overseas department of France Capital: Basse-Terre Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France) Independence: none (overseas department of France) National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) Legal system: French legal system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) head of government: Prefect Franck PERRIEZ (since NA 1992); President of the General Council Dominique LARIFA (since NA); President of the Regional Council Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council General Council: elections last held NA March 1992 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (43 total) FRUI.G 13, RPR/DUD 13, PPDG 8, FGPS 3, PCG 3 UPLG 1, PSG 1, independent 1 Regional Council: elections last held on 31 January 1993 (next to be held by 16 March 1998); results - RPR/DUD 48.30%, FGPS 17.09%, FRUI.G 7.44%, PPDG 8.90%, UPLG 7.75% PCG 6.05%; seats - (41 total) seats by party NA French Senate: elections last held in September 1986 (next to be held September 1995); Guadeloupe elects two representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) PCG 1, PS 1 French National Assembly: elections last held on 21 and 28 March1993 (next to be held March 1998); Guadeloupe elects four representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (4 total) PS 1, RPR 1, PCG 1, independent 1 Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Aldo BLAISE; Communist Party of Guadeloupe (PCG), Christian Medard CELESTE; Socialist Party (FGPS), Georges LOUISOR; Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG), Lucien PERATIN; FGPS Dissidents (FRUI.G); Union for French Democracy (UDF), Simon BARLAGNE; Union for the Center Rally (URC; coalition of the FGPS, RPR, and UDF); Guadeloupe Objective (OG), Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY; Progressive Democratic Party (PPDG), Henri BANGOU Other political or pressure groups: Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG); Popular Movement for Independent Guadeloupe (MPGI); General Union of Guadeloupe Workers (UGTG); General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers (CGT-G); Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (KLPG) Member of: FZ, WCL, WFTU Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas department of France) US diplomatic representation: none (overseas department of France) Flag: the flag of France is used

@Guadeloupe, Economy

Overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditionally important sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, which comes mainly from France. Light industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.9 billion (1991) National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $8,400 (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1990) Unemployment rate: 31.3% (1990) Budget: revenues: $333 million expenditures: $671 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989) Exports: $168 million (f.o.b., 1988) commodities: bananas, sugar, rum partners: France 68%, Martinique 22% (1987) Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1988) commodities: vehicles, foodstuffs, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials, petroleum products partners: France 64%, Italy, FRG, US (1987) External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 171,500 kW production: 441 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,080 kWh (1992) Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism Agriculture: cash crops - bananas, sugarcane; other products include tropical fruits and vegetables; livestock - cattle, pigs, goats; not self-sufficient in food Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $8.235 billion Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Guadeloupe, Communications

Railroads: privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines Highways: total: 1,940 km paved: 1,600 km unpaved: gravel, earth 340 km Ports: Pointe-a-Pitre, Basse-Terre Airports: total: 9 usable: 9 with permanent-surface runways: 8 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: domestic facilities inadequate; 57,300 telephones; interisland microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 8 FM (30 private stations licensed to broadcast FM), 9 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT ground station

@Guadeloupe, Defense Forces

Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie Note: defense is responsibility of France

@Guam

Header Affiliation: (territory of the US)

@Guam, Geography

Location: Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 5,955 km west-southwest of Honolulu, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 541.3 sq km land area: 541.3 sq km comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 125.5 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coraline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in center, mountains in south Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan) Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 11% meadows and pastures: 15% forest and woodland: 18% other: 45% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; subject to relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August) international agreements: NA Note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

@Guam, People

Population: 149,620 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.48% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 25.66 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 3.86 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 15.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.29 years male: 72.42 years female: 76.13 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.39 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Guamanian(s) adjective: Guamanian Ethnic divisions: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, Caucasian 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other 18% Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2% Languages: English, Chamorro, Japanese Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 96% male: 96% female: 96% Labor force: 46,930 (1990) by occupation: federal and territorial government 40%, private 60% (trade 18%, services 15.6%, construction 13.8%, other 12.6%) (1990)

@Guam, Government

Names: conventional long form: Territory of Guam conventional short form: Guam Digraph: GQ Type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior Capital: Agana Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US) Independence: none (territory of the US) National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521); Liberation Day, 21 July Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950 Legal system: modeled on US; federal laws apply Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections Executive branch: chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Joseph A. ADA (since November 1986); Lieutenant Governor Frank F. BLAS (since NA); election last held on 6 November 1990 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - Joseph F. ADA reelected cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature: elections last held on 9 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) Democratic 14, Republican 7 US House of Representatives: elections last held 9 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1994); Guam elects one delegate; results - Robert UNDERWOOD was elected as delegate; seats - (1 total) Democrat 1 Judicial branch: Federal District Court, Territorial Superior Court Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (controls the legislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor) Member of: ESCAP (associate), IOC, SPC Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US) US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US) Flag: territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag

@Guam, Economy

Overview: The economy depends mainly on US military spending and on revenues from tourism. Over the past 20 years the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. Visitors numbered about 900,000 in 1992. The slowdown in Japanese economic growth has been reflected in less vigorous growth in the tourism sector. About 60% of the labor force works for the private sector and the rest for government. Most food and industrial goods are imported, with about 75% from the US. In early 1994, Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing. National product: GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $2 billion (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $14,000 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues: $525 million expenditures: $395 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991) Exports: $34 million (f.o.b., 1984) commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products partners: US 25%, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 63%, other 12% Imports: $493 million (c.i.f., 1984) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods partners: US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58% External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 500,000 kW production: 2.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 16,300 kWh (1990) Industries: US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles Agriculture: relatively undeveloped with most food imported; fruits, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra Economic aid: although Guam receives no foreign aid, it does receive large transfer payments from the general revenues of the US Federal Treasury into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guamanian Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

@Guam, Communications

Highways: total: 674 km (all-weather roads) paved: NA unpaved: NA Ports: Apra Harbor Airports: total: 5 usable: 4 with permanent-surface runways: 3 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 3 with runways 1,200-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: 26,317 telephones (1989); broadcast stations - 3 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground stations

@Guam, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US

@Guatemala, Geography

Location: Middle America, between Honduras and Mexico Map references: Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 108,890 sq km land area: 108,430 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Tennessee Land boundaries: total 1,687 km, Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km Coastline: 400 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: the outer edge of the continental shelf exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: maritime border with Belize in dispute; desultory negotiations to resolve the dispute have begun Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten) Natural resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 12% forest and woodland: 40% other: 32% Irrigated land: 780 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea Note: no natural harbors on west coast