Chapter XXXVIII: Front Matter (38)

Railroads:
3,000 km, all 1.435-meter (standard) gauge and government owned
Highways:
total:
49,900 km
paved:
6,700 km
unpaved:
gravel 3,000 km; earth 40,200 km
Inland waterways:
1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft
Ports:
Montevideo, Punta del Este, Colonia
Merchant marine:
4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 84,797 GRT/132,296 DWT, cargo 1,
container 2, oil tanker 1
Airports:
total:
87
usable:
80
with permanent-surface runways:
16
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
14
Telecommunications:
most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide
microwave network; 337,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 99 AM, no
FM, 26 TV, 9 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

@Uruguay, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army, Navy (including Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines), Air Force,
Grenadier Guards, Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 765,490; fit for military service 621,629
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $216 million, 2.3% of GDP (1991 est.)

@Uzbekistan, Geography

Location:
Central Asia, bordering the Aral Sea, between Kazakhstan and
Turkmenistan
Map references:
Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States,
Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
447,400 sq km
land area:
425,400 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total 6,221 km, Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan
1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Coastline:
0 km
note:
Uzbekistan borders the Aral Sea (420 km)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
Russia may dispute current de facto maritime border to midpoint of
Caspian Sea from shore
Climate:
mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid
grassland in east
Terrain:
mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely
irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya and Sirdaryo Rivers;
Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and
Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and
zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use:
arable land:
10%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
47%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
42%
Irrigated land:
41,550 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues:
drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of
chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown
from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to
desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes is the cause
of many human health disorders; increasing soil salinization; soil
contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer
Protection
Note:
landlocked

@Uzbekistan, People

Population:
22,608,866 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.13% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
30.01 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
6.51 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
53.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
68.58 years
male:
65.28 years
female:
72.04 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.73 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Uzbek(s)
adjective:
Uzbek
Ethnic divisions:
Uzbek 71.4%, Russian 8.3%, Tajik 4.7%, Kazakh 4.1%, Tatar 2.4%,
Karakalpak 2.1%, other 7%
Religions:
Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Languages:
Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Literacy:
age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
8.234 million
by occupation:
agriculture and forestry 43%, industry and construction 22%, other 35%
(1992)

@Uzbekistan, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Uzbekistan
conventional short form:
Uzbekistan
local long form:
Uzbekiston Respublikasi
local short form:
none
former:
Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
UZ
Type:
republic
Capital:
Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions:
12 wiloyatlar (singular - wiloyat), 1 autonomous republic*
(respublikasi, singular - respublika), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon
Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati,
Karakalpakstan* (Nukus), Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Khorazm
Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Samarqand
Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati
(Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati
note:
an administrative division has the same name as its administrative
center (exceptions have the administrative center name following in
parentheses)
Independence:
31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Constitution:
new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system:
evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Islam KARIMOV (since NA March 1990); election last held 29
December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1996); results - Islam
KARIMOV 86%, Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2%
head of government:
Prime Minister Abdulkhashim MUTALOV (since 13 January 1992), First
Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Hakimovitch DJURABEKOV (since NA)
cabinet:
Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president with approval of the
Supreme Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Supreme Soviet:
elections last held 18 February 1990 (next to be held winter 1994);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (500 total) Communist
450, ERK 10, other 40; note - total number of seats will be reduced to
250 in next election
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
People's Democratic Party (PDP; formerly Communist Party), Islam A.
KARIMOV, chairman; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party (EDP), Muhammad
SOLIKH, chairman (in exile); note - ERK was banned 9 December 1992
Other political or pressure groups:
Birlik (Unity) People's Movement (BPM), Abdul Rakhim PULATOV, chairman
(in exile); Islamic Rebirth Party (IRP), Abdullah UTAYEV, chairman
note:
PULATOV (BPM) and SOLIKH (EDP) are both in exile in the West; UTAYEV
(IRP) is either in prison or in exile
Member of:
CCC, CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IOC, ITU, NACC, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Fatikh TESHABAYEV
chancery:
Suites 619 and 623, 1511 K Street NW, Washington DC, 20005
telephone:
(202) 638-4266/4267
FAX:
(202) 638-4268
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Henry L. CLARKE
embassy:
82 Chelanzanskaya, Tashkent
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
[7] (3712) 77-14-07, 77-11-32
FAX:
[7] (3712) 77-69-53
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated
by red fimbriations with a crescent moon and 12 stars in the upper
hoist-side quadrant

@Uzbekistan, Economy

Overview:
Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 20% is intensely
cultivated, irrigated river valleys. It is one of the poorest states
of the former USSR with 60% of its population living in overpopulated
rural communities. Nevertheless, Uzbekistan is the world's third
largest cotton exporter, a major producer of gold and natural gas, and
a regionally significant producer of chemicals and machinery. Since
independence, the government has sought to prop up the Soviet-style
command economy with subsidies and tight controls on prices and
production. Such policies have buffered the economy from the sharp
declines in output and high inflation experienced by many other former
Soviet republics. By late 1993, however, they had become increasingly
unsustainable as inflation soared and Russia forced the Uzbek
Government to introduce its own currency. Faced with mounting economic
problems, the government has increased its cooperation with
international financial institutions, announced an acceleration of
privatization, and stepped up efforts to attract foreign investors.
Nevertheless, the regime is likely to resist full-fledged market
reforms.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $53.7 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 Uzbek statistics, which are very
uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990)
National product real growth rate:
-3.5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,430 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
18% per month (1993)
Unemployment rate:
0.2% includes only officially registered unemployed; large numbers of
underemployed workers
Budget:
revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$706.5 million to outside the FSU countries (1993)
commodities:
cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals,
textiles, food products
partners:
Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, US
Imports:
$947.3 million from outside the FSU countries (1993)
commodities:
grain, machinery and parts, consumer durables, other foods
partners:
principally other FSU countries, Czech Republic
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate -7% (1993)
Electricity:
capacity:
11,950,000 kW
production:
50.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
2,300 kWh (1992)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, natural gas
Agriculture:
livestock, cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain
Illicit drugs:
illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS
consumption; limited government eradication programs; used as
transshipment points for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
$125 million by yearend 1993; future commitments for about $500
million
Currency:
introduced provisional som-coupons 10 November 1993 which circulated
parallel to the Russian rubles; became the sole legal currency 31
January 1994; will be replaced in July 1994 by the som currency
Exchange rates:
NA
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Uzbekistan, Communications

Railroads:
3,460 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
total:
78,400 km
paved and gravel:
67,000 km
unpaved:
earth 11,400 km (1990)
Pipelines:
crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 810 km (1992)
Ports:
none; landlocked
Airports:
total:
265
usable:
74
with permanent-surface runways:
30
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
20
with runways 1,060-2,439 m:
19
note:
a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip
Telecommunications:
poorly developed; 1,458,000 telephone circuits with 68.75 circuits per
1,000 persons (1991); linked by landline or microwave with CIS member
states and by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway
switch to other countries; new INTELSAT links to Tokyo and Ankara give
Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian facilities;
satellite earth stations - Orbita and INTELSAT; NMT-450 analog
cellular network established in Tashkent

@Uzbekistan, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army, National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border
troops)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 5,388,456; fit for military service 4,403,497; reach
military age (18) annually 222,405 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP

@Vanuatu, Geography

Location:
Oceania, Melanesia, 5,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South
Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and
Australia
Map references:
Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
14,760 sq km
land area:
14,760 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Connecticut
note:
includes more than 80 islands
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,528 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Terrain:
mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Natural resources:
manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
arable land:
1%
permanent crops:
5%
meadows and pastures:
2%
forest and woodland:
1%
other:
91%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
subject to tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism
causes minor earthquakes
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Marine Dumping, Ship
Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

@Vanuatu, People

Population:
169,776 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.29% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
32.21 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
9.31 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
68.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
59.25 years
male:
57.51 years
female:
61.09 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.31 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective:
Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic divisions:
indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese, Chinese, Pacific
Islanders
Religions:
Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs
7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%
Languages:
English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as Bislama or
Bichelama)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1979)
total population:
53%
male:
57%
female:
48%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
NA

@Vanuatu, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form:
Vanuatu
former:
New Hebrides
Digraph:
NH
Type:
republic
Capital:
Port-Vila
Administrative divisions:
11 island councils; Ambrym, Aoba/Maewo, Banks/Torres, Efate, Epi,
Malakula, Paama, Pentecote, Santo/Malo, Shepherd, Tafea
Independence:
30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Constitution:
30 July 1980
Legal system:
unified system being created from former dual French and British
systems
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994)
head of government:
Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT Korman (since 16 December 1991); Deputy
Prime Minister Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister, responsible to
parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Parliament:
elections last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held by November
1995); note - after election, a coalition was formed by the Union of
Moderate Parties and the National United Party to form a new
government on 16 December 1991, but political party associations are
fluid; seats - (46 total) UMP 19; NUP 10; VP 10; MPP 4; TUP 1;
Nagriamel 1; Friend 1
note:
the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS; Union of Moderate Parties (UMP),
Serge VOHOR; Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE; National
United Party (NUP), Walter LINI; Tan Union Party (TUP), Vincent
BOULEKONE; Nagriamel Party, Jimmy STEVENS; Friend Melanesian Party,
leader NA
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN,
UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
Vanuatu does not have a mission in the US
US diplomatic representation:
the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black
isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a
black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two
points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle);
centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed
namele leaves, all in yellow

@Vanuatu, Economy

Overview:
The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming which provides a
living for about 80% of the population. Fishing and tourism are the
other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the
country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector
caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import
duties.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $142 million (1988 est.)
National product real growth rate:
6% (1991)
National product per capita:
$1,050 (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$90 million
expenditures:
$103 million, including capital expenditures of $45 million (1989
est.)
Exports:
$14.9 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee
partners:
Netherlands, Japan, France, New Caledonia, Belgium
Imports:
$74 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
machines and vehicles, food and beverages, basic manufactures, raw
materials and fuels, chemicals
partners:
Australia 36%, Japan 13%, NZ 10%, France 8%, Fiji 8%
External debt:
$38 million (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 8.1% (1990); accounts for about 10% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
17,000 kW
production:
30 million kWh
consumption per capita:
180 kWh (1990)
Industries:
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Agriculture:
accounts for 40% of GDP; export crops - coconuts, cocoa, coffee, fish;
subsistence crops - taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables
Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $606 million
Currency:
1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
vatu (VT) per US$1 - 123.48 (September 1993), 113.39 (1992), 111.68
(1991), 116.57 (1990), 116.04 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Vanuatu, Communications

Railroads:
none
Highways:
total:
1,027 km
paved:
240 km
unpaved:
787 km
Ports:
Port-Vila, Luganville, Palikoulo
Merchant marine:
131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,992,201 GRT/2,909,381 DWT,
bulk 57, cargo 23, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 1, container 5,
liquefied gas 3, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 8, passenger 1,
refrigerated cargo 19, vehicle carrier 11
note:
a flag of convenience registry
Airports:
total:
31
usable:
31
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:
2
Telecommunications:
broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, no TV; 3,000 telephones; 1 Pacific
Ocean INTELSAT ground station

@Vanuatu, Defense Forces

Branches:
Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF)
note:
no military forces
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP

@Venezuela, Geography

Location:
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea between Colombia
and Guyana
Map references:
South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
912,050 sq km
land area:
882,050 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total 4,993 km, Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline:
2,800 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
15 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo River; maritime boundary
dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:
Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains
(llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals,
hydropower, diamonds
Land use:
arable land:
3%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
20%
forest and woodland:
39%
other:
37%
Irrigated land:
2,640 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago
de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial
pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast
natural hazards:
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping
Note:
on major sea and air routes linking North and South America

@Venezuela, People

Population: 20,562,405 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.16% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 25.74 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 4.63 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 27.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73 years male: 70.12 years female: 76.03 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.05 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan Ethnic divisions: mestizo 67%, white 21%, black 10%, Indian 2% Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2% Languages: Spanish (official), Indian dialects spoken by about 200,000 Amerindians in the remote interior Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 88% male: 87% female: 90% Labor force: 5.8 million by occupation: services 56%, industry 28%, agriculture 16% (1985)

@Venezuela, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form:
Venezuela
local long form:
Republica de Venezuela
local short form:
Venezuela
Digraph:
VE
Type:
republic
Capital:
Caracas
Administrative divisions:
21 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 territory* (territorio), 1
federal district** (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependence***
(dependencia federal); Amazonas*, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas,
Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales***,
Distrito Federal**, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas,
Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia
note:
the federal dependence consists of 11 federally controlled island
groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence:
5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Constitution:
23 January 1961
Legal system:
based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in
Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Rafael CALDERA Rodriquez (since 2 February 1994); election
last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held December 1998); results -
Rafael CALDERA (National Convergence) 30.45%, Claudio FERMIN (AD)
23.59%, Oswaldo ALVAREZ PAZ (COPEI) 22.72%, Andres VELASQUEZ (Causa R)
21.94%, other 1.3%
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica)
Senate (Senado):
elections last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held December 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (52 total) AD 18, COPEI
15, Causa R 9, MAS 5, National Convergence 5; note - 3 former
presidents (2 from AD, 1 from COPEI) hold lifetime senate seats
Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados):
elections last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held December 1998);
results - AD 27.9%, COPEI 26.9%, MAS 12.4%, National Convergence
12.9%, Causa R 19.9%; seats - (201 total) AD 55, COPEI 53, MAS 24,
National Convergence 26, Causa R 40, other 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) Gonzalo RODRIGUEZ
Corro, President
Political parties and leaders:
National Convergence (Convergencia), Jose Miguel UZCATEGUI, director;
Social Christian Party (COPEI), Hilarion CARDOZO, president, and Jose
CURIEL, secretary general; Democratic Action (AD), Pedro PARIS
Montesinos, president, and Luis ALFARO Ucero, secretary general;
Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), Argelia LAYA, president, and Freddy
MUNOZ, secretary general; Radical Cause (La Causa R), Pablo MEDINA,
secretary general
Other political or pressure groups:
FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation
of Workers (CTV, labor organization dominated by the Democratic
Action); VECINOS groups
Member of:
AG, BCIE, CARICOM (observer), CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-15,
G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pedro Luis ECHEVERRIA
chancery:
1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
(202) 342-2214
consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia,
San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jeffrey DAVIDOW
embassy:
Avenida Francisco de Miranda and Avenida Principal de la Floresta,
Caracas
mailing address:
P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A, or APO AA 34037
telephone:
[58] (2) 285-2222
FAX:
[58] (2) 285-0336
consulate(s):
Maracaibo (closed March 1994)
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the
coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven
white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

@Venezuela, Economy

Overview:
Petroleum is the backbone of the economy, accounting for 23% of GDP,
61% of central government ordinary revenues, and 77% of export
earnings in 1993. Former President PEREZ introduced an economic
readjustment program when he assumed office in February 1989. Lower
tariffs and the removal of price controls, a free market exchange
rate, and market-linked interest rates threw the economy into
confusion, causing an 8% decline in GDP in 1989. The economy recovered
part way in 1990 and grew by 9.7% in 1991 and 6.8% in 1992; economic
activity fell by 1% in 1993, primarily because of business concerns
over political instability.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $161 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-1% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$8,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
46% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.2% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$9.8 billion
expenditures:
$11.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $103 million (1993
est.)
Exports:
$14.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
petroleum 77%, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural
products, basic manufactures
partners:
US and Puerto Rico 42%, Japan, Netherlands, Italy
Imports:
$11 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,
construction materials
partners:
US 50%, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Canada
External debt:
$28.5 billion (1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate 6.1% (1992 est.); accounts for 40% of GDP, including
petroleum
Electricity:
capacity:
21,130,000 kW
production:
58.541 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
2,830 kWh (1992)
Industries:
petroleum, iron-ore mining, construction materials, food processing,
textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Agriculture:
accounts for 6% of GDP and 16% of labor force; products - corn,
sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee, beef, pork,
milk, eggs, fish; not self-sufficient in food other than meat
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis and coca leaf for the international drug
trade on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine transit
the country from Colombia; important money-laundering hub
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-86), $488 million; Communist
countries (1970-89), $10 million
Currency:
1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
bolivares (Bs) per US$1 - 107.260 (January 1994), 90.826 (1993), 68.38
(1992), 56.82 (1991), 46.90 (1990), 34.68 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Venezuela, Communications

Railroads:
542 km total; 363 km 1.435-meter standard gauge all single track,
government owned; 179 km 1.435-meter gauge, privately owned
Highways:
total:
81,000 km
paved:
31,200 km
unpaved:
gravel 24,800 km; earth and unimproved earth 25,000 km
Inland waterways:
7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels
Pipelines:
crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas 4,010 km
Ports:
Amuay Bay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Puerto
Ordaz
Merchant marine:
47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 741,688 GRT/1,204,233 DWT, bulk
4, cargo 16, combination bulk 1, container 1, liquefied gas 2, oil
tanker 17, passenger cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea
passenger 1
Airports:
total:
425
usable:
392
with permanent-surface runways:
139
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
15
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
92
Telecommunications:
modern and expanding; 1,440,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 181
AM, no FM, 59 TV, 26 shortwave; 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite
ground stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic

@Venezuela, Defense Forces

Branches:
National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales, FAN) includes -
Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces
(Fuerzas Navales or Armada), Air Forces (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion),
Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de
Cooperation or Guardia Nacional)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 5,341,855; fit for military service 3,875,523; reach
military age (18) annually 224,550 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $1.95 billion, 4% of GDP (1991)

@Vietnam, Geography

Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea, between Laos and the
Philippines
Map references:
Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
329,560 sq km
land area:
325,360 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total 3,818 km, Cambodia 982 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 1,555 km
Coastline:
3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
maritime boundary with Cambodia not defined; involved in a complex
dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines,
Taiwan, and possibly Brunei; unresolved maritime boundary with
Thailand; maritime boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin;
Paracel Islands occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan
Climate:
tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May
to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March)
Terrain:
low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly,
mountainous in far north and northwest
Natural resources:
phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil deposits,
forests
Land use:
arable land:
22%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
1%
forest and woodland:
40%
other:
35%
Irrigated land:
18,300 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing
threatening marine life populations
natural hazards:
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding
international agreements:
party to - Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

@Vietnam, People

Population:
73,103,898 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.78% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
27.13 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
7.76 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
45.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
65.41 years
male:
63.37 years
female:
67.58 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.33 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Vietnamese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Vietnamese
Ethnic divisions:
Vietnamese 85-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham
Religions:
Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs, Islamic,
Protestant
Languages:
Vietnamese (official), French, Chinese, English, Khmer, tribal
languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
88%
male:
93%
female:
83%
Labor force:
32.7 million
by occupation:
agricultural 65%, industrial and service 35% (1990 est.)

@Vietnam, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form:
Vietnam
local long form:
Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam
local short form:
Viet Nam
Abbreviation:
SRV
Digraph:
VM
Type:
Communist state
Capital:
Hanoi
Administrative divisions:
50 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), 3 municipalities* (thanh
pho, singular and plural); An Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Bac Thai, Ben
Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Can Tho, Cao Bang, Dac Lac, Dong Nai, Dong
Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Bac, Ha Giang, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Hung,
Hai Phong*, Ho Chi Minh*, Hoa Binh, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum,
Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Minh Hai, Nam Ha, Nghe
An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam-Da Nang,
Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Song Be, Tay
Ninh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen
Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phu, Yen Bai
Independence:
2 September 1945 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Constitution:
15 April 1992
Legal system:
based on Communist legal theory and French civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Le Duc ANH (since 23 September 1992)
head of government:
Prime Minister Vo Van KIET (since 9 August 1991); First Deputy Prime
Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 10 August 1991); Deputy Prime Minister
Nguyen KHANH (since NA February 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Tran Duc
LUONG (since NA February 1987)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president on proposal of the prime minister
and ratification of the Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi):
elections last held 19 July 1992 (next to be held NA July 1997);
results - VCP is the only party; seats - (395 total) VCP or
VCP-approved 395
Judicial branch:
Supreme People's Court
Political parties and leaders:
only party - Vietnam Communist Party (VCP), DO MUOI, general secretary
Member of:
ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
none; Ambassador Le Van BANG is the Permanent Representative to the UN
US diplomatic representation:
none
Flag:
red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center

@Vietnam, Economy

Overview:
Vietnam has made significant progress in recent years moving away from
the planned economic model toward a more effective market-based
economic system. Most prices are now fully decontrolled, and the
Vietnamese currency has been effectively devalued and floated at world
market rates. In addition, the scope for private sector activity has
been expanded, primarily through decollectivization of the
agricultural sector and introduction of laws giving legal recognition
to private business. Nearly three-quarters of export earnings are
generated by only two commodities, rice and crude oil. Led by industry
and construction, the economy did well in 1993 with output rising
perhaps 7%. However, the industrial sector remains burdened by
uncompetitive state-owned enterprises the government is unwilling or
unable to privatize. Unemployment looms as a serious problem with
roughly 25% of the workforce without jobs and with population growth
swelling the ranks of the unemployed yearly.
National product:
GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $72 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
7% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.2% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
25% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$1.9 billion
expenditures:
$2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
$2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
petroleum, rice, agricultural products, marine products, coffee
partners:
Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Germany, Indonesia
Imports:
$3.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
petroleum products, steel products, railroad equipment, chemicals,
medicines, raw cotton, fertilizer, grain
partners:
Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan
External debt:
$3.4 billion Western countries; $4.5 billion CEMA debts primarily to
Russia; $700 million commercial debts (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 15% (1992); accounts for 20% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
3,300,000 kW
production:
9 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
130 kWh (1992)
Industries:
food processing, textiles, machine building, mining, cement, chemical
fertilizer, glass, tires, oil
Agriculture:
accounts for almost 40% of GDP; paddy rice, corn, potatoes make up 50%
of farm output; commercial crops (rubber, soybeans, coffee, tea,
bananas) and animal products 50%; since 1989 self-sufficient in food
staple rice; fish catch of 943,100 metric tons (1989 est.)
Illicit drugs:
minor opium producer and secondary transit point for Southeast Asian
heroin destined for the US and Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
$1.9 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors for
1994, Japan largest contributor with $550 million
Currency:
1 new dong (D) = 100 xu
Exchange rates:
new dong (D) per US$1 - 10,800 (November 1993), 8,100 (July 1991),
7,280 (December 1990), 3,996 (March 1990); note - 1985-89 figures are
end of year
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Vietnam, Communications

Railroads:
3,059 km total; 2,454 1.000-meter gauge, 151 km 1.435-meter (standard)
gauge, 230 km dual gauge (three rails), and 224 km not restored to
service after war damage
Highways:
total:
85,000 km
paved:
9,400 km
unpaved:
gravel, improved earth 48,700 km; unimproved earth 26,900 km
Inland waterways:
17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at all times by
vessels up to 1.8 meter draft
Pipelines:
petroleum products 150 km
Ports:
Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City
Merchant marine:
101 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 460,225 GRT/741,231 DWT, bulk
3, cargo 86, oil tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 1
Airports:
total:
100
usable:
100
with permanent-surface runways:
50
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
10
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
20
Telecommunications:
the inadequacies of the obsolete switching equipment and cable system
is a serious constraint on the business sector and on economic growth,
and restricts access to the international links that Vietnam has
established with most major countries; the telephone system is not
generally available for private use (25 telephones for each 10,000
persons); 3 satellite earth stations; broadcast stations - NA AM, 288
FM; 36 (77 repeaters) TV; about 2,500,000 TV receivers and 7,000,000
radio receivers in use (1991)

@Vietnam, Defense Forces

Branches:
People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) including:
Ground, Navy (including Naval Infantry), Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 18,281,483; fit for military service 11,602,318; reach
military age (17) annually 762,943 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GNP

@Virgin Islands

Header Affiliation: (territory of the US)

@Virgin Islands, Geography

Location:
Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east and
southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area:
352 sq km
land area:
349 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
188 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:
subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low humidity,
little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Terrain:
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Natural resources:
sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:
arable land:
15%
permanent crops:
6%
meadows and pastures:
26%
forest and woodland:
6%
other:
47%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
lack of natural freshwater resources
natural hazards:
rarely affected by hurricanes; subject to frequent severe droughts,
floods, earthquakes
international agreements:
NA
Note:
important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for
the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater
harbors in the Caribbean

@Virgin Islands, People

Population: 97,564 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: -0.52% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 19.41 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -19.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.29 years male: 73.6 years female: 77.2 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.53 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Virgin Islander(s) adjective: Virgin Islander Ethnic divisions: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%; black 80%, white 15%, other 5%; Hispanic origin 14% Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% Languages: English (official), Spanish, Creole Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 45,500 (1988) by occupation: tourism 70%

@Virgin Islands, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Virgin Islands of the United States
conventional short form:
Virgin Islands
Digraph:
VQ
Type:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the
Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the
Interior
Capital:
Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US)
National holiday:
Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)
Constitution:
Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system:
based on US
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are 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 Alexander A. FARRELLY (since 5 January 1987); Lieutenant
Governor Derek M. HODGE (since 5 January 1987); election last held 6
November 1990 (next to be held November 1994); results - Governor
Alexander FARRELLY (Democratic Party) 56.5% defeated Juan LUIS
(independent) 38.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Senate:
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 2 November 1994);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) number of
seats by party NA
US House of Representatives:
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 2 November 1994);
results - Ron DE LUGO reelected as delegate; seats - (1 total); seat
by party NA; note - the Virgin Islands elect one representative to the
US House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
US District Court:
handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age
and over), and federal cases
Territorial Court:
handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims, juvenile, domestic,
misdemeanors, and traffic cases
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON; Independent Citizens' Movement
(ICM), Virdin C. BROWN; Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS
Member of:
ECLAC (associate), IOC
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (territory of the US)
US diplomatic representation:
none (territory of the US)
Flag:
white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large
blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows an eagle holding an
olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a
superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue
panel

@Virgin Islands, Economy

Overview:
Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70%
of GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector consists of
textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The
agricultural sector is small, most food being imported. International
business and financial services are a small but growing component of
the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at
Saint Croix.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.2 billion (1987)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$11,000 (1987)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (1992)
Budget:
revenues:
$364.4 million
expenditures:
$364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Exports:
$2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
refined petroleum products
partners:
US, Puerto Rico
Imports:
$3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
partners:
US, Puerto Rico
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate 12% (year NA); accounts for NA% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
380,000 kW
production:
565 million kWh
consumption per capita:
5,710 kWh (1992)
Industries:
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling,
construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Agriculture:
truck gardens, food crops (small scale), fruit, sorghum, Senepol
cattle
Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $42 million
Currency:
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
US currency is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

@Virgin Islands, Communications

Highways:
total:
856 km
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
Ports:
Saint Croix - Christiansted, Frederiksted; Saint Thomas - Long Bay,
Crown Bay, Red Hook; Saint John - Cruz Bay
Airports:
total:
2
usable:
2
with permanent-surface runways :
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2
note:
international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix
Telecommunications:
modern telephone system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable,
microwave radio, and satellite facilities; 58,931 telephones; 98,000
radios; 63,000 TV sets in use; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 8 FM, 4 TV
(1988)

@Virgin Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

@Wake Island

Header Affiliation: (territory of the US)

@Wake Island, Geography

Location:
Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 3,700 km west of
Honolulu, about two-thirds of the way between Hawaii and the Northern
Mariana Islands
Map references:
Oceania
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:
0 km
Coastline:
19.3 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claimed by the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano;
central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim; average
elevation less than 4 meters
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
subject to occasional typhoons
international agreements:
NA
Note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing
location for transpacific flights

@Wake Island, People

Population:
302 (July 1994 est.)

@Wake Island, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Wake Island
Digraph:
WQ
Type:
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Air Force
(under an agreement with the US Department of Interior) since 24 June
1972; presently administered by Base Commander, Major James ANDEL
until August 1994, when Willis ALLEY will take over until July 1995
Capital:
none; administered from Washington, DC
Independence:
none (territory of the US)
Flag:
the US flag is used

@Wake Island, Economy

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

@Wake Island, Communications

Ports:
none; because of the reefs, there are only two offshore anchorages for
large ships
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:
satellite communications; 1 Autovon circuit off the Overseas Telephone
System (OTS); Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio and
television service provided by satellite; broadcast station - closed
early 1992.
Note:
formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US
military, some commercial cargo planes, as well as the US Army Space
and Strategic Defense Command for missile launches

@Wake Island, Defense Forces

defense is the responsibility of the US

@Wallis and Futuna

Header Affiliation: (overseas territory of France)

@Wallis and Futuna, Geography

Location: Oceania, Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean, 4,600 km southwest of Honolulu, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 274 sq km land area: 274 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 129 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October) Terrain: volcanic origin; low hills Natural resources: negligible Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 20% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 75% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA Note: both island groups have fringing reefs

@Wallis and Futuna, People

Population: 14,338 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.13% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 25.74 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.26 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -9.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 26.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.72 years male: 71.08 years female: 72.4 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.23 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander Ethnic divisions: Polynesian Religions: Roman Catholic Languages: French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language) Literacy: all ages can read and write (1969) total population: 50% male: 50% female: 51% Labor force: NA by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)

@Wallis and Futuna, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
conventional short form:
Wallis and Futuna
local long form:
Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
local short form:
Wallis et Futuna
Digraph:
WF
Type:
overseas territory of France
Capital:
Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France)
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:
High Administrator Philippe LEGRIX (since NA); President of the
Territorial Assembly Soane Noni UHILA (since NA March 1992)
cabinet:
Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members appointed
by the high administrator on advice of the Territorial Assembly
note:
there are three traditional kings with limited powers
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale):
elections last held 15 March 1987 (next to be held NA March 1992);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total) RPR 7, UPL
5, UDF 4, UNF 4
French Senate:
elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held by NA September
1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPR 1
French National Assembly:
elections last held 21 and 28 March 1992 (next to be held by NA
September 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1
total) MRG 1
Judicial branch:
none; justice generally administered under French law by the chief
administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary
law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu
Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR); Union Populaire Locale (UPL); Union Pour
la Democratie Francaise (UDF); Lua kae tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement
des Radicaux de Gauche (MRG)
Member of:
FZ, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (overseas territory of France)
US diplomatic representation:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag:
the flag of France is used

@Wallis and Futuna, Economy

Overview:
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with
about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood from agriculture
(coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About
4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come from
French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and
South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in
New Caledonia. Wallis and Futuna imports food, fuel, clothing,
machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible,
consisting of copra and handicrafts.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $25 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$1,500 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$2.7 million
expenditures:
$2.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1983 est.)
Exports:
negligible
commodities:
copra, handicrafts
partners:
NA
Imports:
$13.3 million (c.i.f., 1984)
commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel
partners:
France, Australia, New Zealand
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
1,200 kW
production:
1 million kWh
consumption per capita:
70 kWh (1990)
Industries:
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Agriculture:
dominated by coconut production, with subsistence crops of yams, taro,
bananas, and herds of pigs and goats
Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $118 million
Currency:
1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 107.63
(January 1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.0
(1990), 115.99 (1989); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the
French franc
Fiscal year:
NA

@Wallis and Futuna, Communications

Highways: total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20km) paved: 16 km (on Il Uvea) unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km) Inland waterways: none Ports: Mata-Utu, Leava Airports: total: 2 usable: 2 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: 225 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

@Wallis and Futuna, Defense Forces

Note:
defense is the responsibility of France

@West Bank

Header
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.

@West Bank, Geography

Location:
Middle East, between Jordan and Israel
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total area:
5,860 sq km
land area:
5,640 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Delaware
note:
includes West Bank, East Jerusalem, Latrun Salient, Jerusalem No Man's
Land, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt.
Scopus
Land boundaries:
total 404 km, Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
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, temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to
hot summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain:
mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in
east
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
27%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
32%
forest and woodland:
1%
other:
40%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal
aquifers; there are 200 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites
in the West Bank and 25 in East Jerusalem (April 1994)

@West Bank, People

Population: 1,443,790 (July 1994 est.) note: in addition, there are 110,500 Jewish settlers in the West Bank and 144,100 in East Jerusalem (1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.68% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 32.48 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.11 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 33.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.39 years male: 68.88 years female: 71.98 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.2 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA Ethnic divisions: Palestinian Arab and other 88%, Jewish 12% Religions: Muslim 80% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 12%, Christian and other 8% Languages: Arabic, Hebrew spoken by Israeli settlers, English widely understood Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: NA by occupation: construction 28.2%, agriculture 21.8%, industry 14.5%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 12.6%, other services 22.9% (1991) note: excluding Jewish settlers

@West Bank, 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:
West Bank
Digraph:
WE

@West Bank, Economy