Chapter V (11)

Environment:
current issues: water resource problems (no natural reservoir
catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, and most potable
resources concentrated in the Turkish Cypriot area); water pollution
from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of
wildlife habitats from urbanization
natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
Change

People ------

Population: 744,609 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 25% (male 97,400; female 92,110)
15-64 years: 64% (male 240,716; female 238,039)
65 years and over: 11% (male 33,340; female 43,004) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.11% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 15.39 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 7.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.26 years
male: 74.11 years
female: 78.52 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.19 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot

Ethnic divisions:
total: Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek area; 0.5%
of the Greeks live in the Turkish area), Turkish 18% (1.3% of the
Turks live in the Greek area; 98.7% of the Turks live in the Turkish
area), other 4% (99.2% of the other ethnic groups live in the Greek
area; 0.8% of the other ethnic groups live in the Turkish area)

Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian
Apostolic, and other 4%

Languages: Greek, Turkish, English

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1987 est.)
total population: 94%
male: 98%
female: 91%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish area refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic" or
the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

Data code: CY

Type of government: republic
note: a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the
island began after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this
separation was further solidified following the Turkish invasion of
the island in July 1974, which gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto
control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only
internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish
Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the
formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), which
has been recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly call for the
resolution of intercommunal differences and creation of a new
federal system of government

Capital: Nicosia
note: the Turkish area's capital is Lefkosa (Nicosia)

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia,
Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish area
administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of
Famagusta, and small parts of Nicosia and Larnaca

Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)
note: Turkish area proclaimed self-rule on NA February 1975 from
Republic of Cyprus

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October
note: Turkish area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day

Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for
a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better
relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held
intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own
constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated
State of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish area
passed by referendum on 5 May 1985

Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Glafcos CLERIDES
(since 28 February 1993) was elected for a five-year term by
universal suffrage; election last held 14 February 1993 (next to be
held NA February 1998); results - Glafcos CLERIDES 50.3%, Yeoryios
VASSILIOU 49.7%
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed jointly by the president
and vice president
note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish area
since 13 February 1975 (president is elected for a five-year term by
universal suffrage); Hakki ATUN has been "prime minister" of the
Turkish area since 1 January 1994; there is a Council of Ministers
(cabinet) in the Turkish area; elections last held 15 and 22 April
1995 (next to be held NA April 2000); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH
62.5%, Dervis EROGLU 37.5%

Legislative branch: unicameral
Greek area: House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon): elections
last held 19 May 1991 (next to be held May 1996); results - DISY
35.8%, AKEL (Communist) 30.6%, DIKO 19.5%, EDEK 10.9%; others 3.2%;
seats - (56 total) DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 18, DIKO 11, EDEK 7
Turkish area: Assembly of the Republic (Cumhuriyet Meclisi):
elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); results -
UBP 29.9%, DP 29.2%, CTP 24.2% TKP 13.3%, others 3.4%; seats - (50
total) UBP (conservative) 15, DP 16, CTP 13, TKP 5, UDP 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
Supreme Council of Judicature
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish area

Political parties and leaders:
Greek area: Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL, Communist
Party), Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS; Democratic Rally (DISY), Ioannis
MATSIS; Democratic Party (DIKO), Spyros KYPRIANOU; United Democratic
Union of the Center (EDEK), Vassos LYSSARIDIS; Socialist Democratic
Renewal Movement (ADISOK), Mikhalis PAPAPETROU; Liberal Party,
Nikolaos ROLANDIS; Free Democrats, Yeoryios VASSILIOU; New Horizons,
Nikolaos KOUTSOU, secretary general
Turkish area: National Unity Party (UBP), Dervis EROGLU; Communal
Liberation Party (TKP), Mustafa AKINCI; Republican Turkish Party
(CTP), Mehmet ALI TALAT; New Cyprus Party (YKP), Alpay DURDURAN;
Free Democratic Party (HDP), Ismet KOTAK; Nationalist Justice Party
(MAP), Zorlu TORE; Unity and Sovereignty Party (BEP), Arif Salih
KIRDAG; Democratic Party (DP), Serdar DENKTASH; National Birth Party
(UDP), Enver EMIN; the HDP, MAP, and VP merged under the label
National Struggle Unity Party (MMBP) to compete in the 12 December
1993 legislative election

Other political or pressure groups: United Democratic Youth
Organization (EDON, Communist controlled); Union of Cyprus Farmers
(EKA, Communist controlled); Cyprus Farmers Union (PEK, pro-West);
Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation (PEO, Communist controlled);
Confederation of Cypriot Workers (SEK, pro-West); Federation of
Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions (Turk-Sen); Confederation of
Revolutionary Labor Unions (Dev-Is)

International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE,
EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andreas J. JACOVIDES
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772
consulate(s) general: New York
note: Representative of the Turkish area in the US is Namik KORMAN,
office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC, telephone [1] (202)
887-6198

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard A. BOUCHER
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836
telephone: [357] (2) 476100
FAX: [357] (2) 465944

Flag: white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the
name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two
green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches
symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek
and Turkish communities
note: the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the
top and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a
white field

Economy -------

Economic overview: The Greek Cypriot economy is small and
prosperous, but highly susceptible to external shocks. Industry
contributes 25% to GDP and employs 26% of the labor force, while the
service sector contributes 70% to GDP and employs 62% of the labor
force. After surging 9.7% in 1992, economic growth slowed to 1.6% in
1993 - its lowest level in two decades - because of the decline in
tourist arrivals associated with the recession in Western Europe,
Cyprus' main trading partner, and the loss in export competitiveness
due to a sharp rise in unit labor costs. However, real GDP picked up
in 1994 and 1995, as inflation fell from 4.7% to about 3%. Economic
prospects appear favorable for 1996: real GDP is likely to grow
between 3% and 4%, and inflation is likely to rise slightly to
3.5%-4.5%. The Turkish Cypriot economy has less than one-third the
per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by
Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing, and
foreign firms have hesitated to invest there. The economy remains
heavily dependent on agriculture and government service, which
together employ about half of the work force. Moreover, the small,
vulnerable economy has suffered because the Turkish lira is legal
tender. Economic growth sharply dropped during 1994 because of the
severe economic crisis affecting the mainland, and inflation soared
to 215%. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides
direct and indirect aid to nearly every sector; financial support
has risen and now equals in value about one-third of Turkish Cypriot
GDP.

GDP:
Greek area: purchasing power parity - $7.8 billion (1995 est.)
Turkish area: purchasing power parity - $520 million (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate:
Greek area: 5% (1995 est.)
Turkish area: 0.5% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita:
Greek area: $13,000 (1995 est.)
Turkish area: $3,900 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
Greek area - agriculture: 5.6%
Greek area - industry: 24.9%
Greek area - services: 69.5% (1994)
Turkish area - agriculture: 11.4%
Turkish area - industry: 22.9%
Turkish area - services: 65.7% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Greek area: 3% (1995 est.)
Turkish area: 215% (1994)

Labor force:
Greek area: 294,100
by occupation: services 61.5%, industry 26%, agriculture 12.5% (1994)
Turkish area: 75,320
by occupation: services 52.9%, industry 23.6%, agriculture 23.5%
(1994)

Unemployment rate:
Greek area: 2.7% (1994)
Turkish area: 1.6% (1994)

Budget:
revenues: Greek area - $2.3 billion, Turkish area - $246 million
expenditures: Greek area - $3.4 billion, including capital
expenditures of $500 million, Turkish area - $350 million, including
capital expenditures of $75 million (1996 est.)

Industries: food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products,
tourism, wood products

Industrial production growth rate:
Greek area: 3.7% (1994)
Turkish area: 2.6% (1992)

Electricity:
capacity: 550,000 kW
production: 2.3 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 2,903 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: potatoes, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, citrus,
vegetables

Illicit drugs: transit point for heroin via air routes and
container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey,
also some cocaine transits en route to Russia

Exports:
Greek area: $968 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and
shoes
partners: UK 16%, Lebanon 9%, Greece 8%, Russia 12%
Turkish area: $59 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: citrus, potatoes, textiles
partners: UK 48%, Turkey 22%

Imports:
Greek area: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed
grains, machinery
partners: UK 12%, Japan 9%, Italy 10%, Germany 9%, US 8%
Turkish area: $330 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: food, minerals, chemicals, machinery
partners: Turkey 48%, UK 19%

External debt:
Greek area: $1.4 billion (1994)

Economic aid:
Greek area - recipient: ODA, $NA
Turkish area: during 1977-93, received substantial grants and loans
from Turkey

Currency: 1 Cypriot pound (LC) = 100 cents; 1 Turkish lira (TL) =
100 kurus

Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds per US1$ - 0.4628 (January 1996),
0.4522 (1995), 0.4915 (1994), 0.4970 (1993), 0.4502 (1992), 0.4633
(1991); Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 60,502.1 (January 1996),
45,845.1 (1995), 29,608.7 (1994), 10,984.6 (1993), 6,872.4 (1992),
4,171.8 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
Greek area - total: 10,448 km
Greek area - paved: 5,694 km
Greek area - unpaved: 4,754 km
Turkish area - total: 6,116 km
Turkish area - paved: 5,278 km
Turkish area - unpaved: 838 km

Ports: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos Bay

Merchant marine:
total: 1,524 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,949,242
GRT/40,236,638 DWT
ships by type: bulk 490, cargo 562, chemical tanker 27, combination
bulk 53, combination ore/oil 22, container 115, liquefied gas tanker
3, multifunction large-load carrier 4, oil tanker 129, passenger 6,
passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 62, roll-on/roll-off cargo 28,
short-sea passenger 17, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 2
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 48
countries among which are Greece 706, Germany 171, Russia 44,
Netherlands 31, Belgium 30, Japan 29, Cuba 21, UK 17, Spain 14, and
Hong Kong 13 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 15
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 3
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 4 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 331,000 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: excellent in both the Greek and Turkish areas
domestic: open wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic
submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations:
Greek area: AM 11, FM 8, shortwave 0
Turkish area: AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios:
Greek area: 270,000 (1993 est.)
Turkish area: 42,170 (1985 est.)

Television broadcast stations:
Greek area: 1 (repeaters 34)
Turkish area: 1

Televisions:
Greek area: 107,000 (1992 est.)
Turkish area: 75,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches:
Greek area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and
naval elements), Greek Cypriot Police
Turkish area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 190,372
males fit for military service: 130,880
males reach military age (18) annually: 5,749 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $493 million,
5.6% of GDP (1995)

======================================================================

@Czech Republic --------------

Map ---

Location: 49 45 N, 15 30 E -- Central Europe, southeast of Germany

Flag ----

Description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red
with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (almost
identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia)

Geography ---------

Location: Central Europe, southeast of Germany

Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 15 30 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 78,703 sq km
land area: 78,645 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:
total: 1,880 km
border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km,
Slovakia 214 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: Liechtenstein claims restitution for 1,600
sq km of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918;
Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated in
connection with their expulsion after World War II versus the Czech
Republic claims that restitution does not precede February 1948 when
the Communists seized power; unresolved property issues with
Slovakia over redistribution of property of the former Czechoslovak
federal government

Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Terrain: Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills,
and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east
consists of very hilly country
lowest point: Elbe River 115 m
highest point: Snezka 1,602 m

Natural resources: hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: NA%
forest and woodland: NA%
other: NA%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: air and water pollution in areas of northwest
Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks;
acid rain damaging forests
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: landlocked; strategically located astride some of
oldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is
a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and
the Danube in central Europe

People ------

Population: 10,321,120 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 965,861; female 918,745)
15-64 years: 68% (male 3,519,753; female 3,524,913)
65 years and over: 14% (male 526,841; female 865,007) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: -0.03% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 10.39 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 10.89 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.76 years
male: 70.08 years
female: 77.65 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.38 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Czech(s)
adjective: Czech
note: 300,000 Slovaks declared themselves Czech citizens in 1994

Ethnic divisions: Czech 94.4%, Slovak 3%, Polish 0.6%, German
0.5%, Gypsy 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 1%

Religions: atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%,
Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%

Languages: Czech, Slovak

Literacy: age NA and over can read and write (est.)
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Czech Republic
conventional short form: Czech Republic
local long form: Ceska Republika
local short form: Cechy

Data code: EZ

Type of government: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Prague

Administrative divisions: 8 regions (kraje, kraj - singular);
Jihocesky, Jihomoravsky, Praha, Severocesky, Severomoravsky,
Stredocesky, Vychodocesky, Zapadocesky

Independence: 1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)

National holiday: National Liberation Day, 8 May; Founding of the
Republic, 28 October

Constitution: ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993

Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to
bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal
theory

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vaclav HAVEL (since 26 January 1993) was
elected for a five-year term by the Parliament; election last held
26 January 1993 (next to be held NA January 1998); results - Vaclav
HAVEL was elected
head of government: Prime Minister Vaclav KLAUS (since NA June 1992)
was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime Ministers Ivan KOCARNIK
(since NA June 1992), Josef LUX (since NA June 1992), Jan KALVODA
(since NA June 1992)
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on recommendation of
the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlament)
Senate (Senate): elections to be held 15-16 November 1996 (next to
be held NA); seats (81 total)
Chamber of Deputies (Snemovna Poslancu): elections last held 5-6
June 1992 (next to be held 31 May-1 June 1996); results - percent of
vote by party NA given breakup and realignment of all parliamentary
opposition parties since 1992; seats - (200 total) governing
coalition (ODS 65, KDS 10, ODA 16, KDU-CSL 15), opposition (CSSD 18,
LB 25, KSCM 10, LSU 9, LSNS 5, CMUS 9, SPR-RSC 6, independents 12)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are
appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, chairman and
deputy chairmen are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders:
governing coalition: Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Vaclav KLAUS,
chairman; Christian Democratic Party (KDS), Ivan PILIP, chairman;
Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), Jan KALVODA, chairman; Christian
Democratic Union/Czech People's Party (KDU-CSL), Josef LUX,
chairman; note - KDS was to merge with ODS in March 1996
opposition: Czech Social Democrats (CSSD - left opposition), Milos
ZEMAN, chairman; Left Bloc (LB - left opposition), Jaroslav ORTMAN,
chairman; Communist Party (KSCM - left opposition), Miroslav
GREBENICEK, chairman; Liberal Social Union (LSU - left opposition),
Frantisek TRNKA, chairman, note - may not still be in existence;
Liberal National Social Party (LSNS - center party), Vavrinec
BODENLOS, chairman; Bohemian-Moravian Center Union (CMUS - center
party), Jan JEGLA, chairman; Assembly for the Republic (SPR-RSC -
right radical), Miroslav SLADEK, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: Czech-Moravian Chamber of
Trade Unions; Civic Movement

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
UN Security Council (temporary), UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPROFOR, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael ZANTOVSKY
chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 363-6315, 6316
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jenonne R. WALKER
embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1
mailing address: Unit 1330, APO AE 09213-1330
telephone: [42] (2) 2451-0847
FAX: [42] (2) 2451-1001

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a
blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (almost identical to
the flag of the former Czechoslovakia)

Economy -------

Economic overview: The Czech Republic, which separated from
Slovakia on 1 January 1993, emerged from recession with 2.6% growth
in 1994 and 5% growth in 1995. Inflation in 1994-95 was cut in half;
unemployment was kept at about 3%; the budget was balanced; and
exports were reoriented to the EU. Prague's mass privatization
program, including its innovative distribution of ownership shares
to Czech citizens via "coupon vouchers," has made the most rapid
progress in Eastern Europe. About 80% of the economy is wholly or
partially in private hands. Because of its progress on reform, the
Czech Republic in 1995 became the first post-Communist member of the
OECD. Its solid economic performance also led Standard and Poor's to
upgrade the country's sovereign credit rating to "A" and attracted
nearly $5.3 billion in direct foreign investment to Czech industry
between 1990 and September 1995. The Czech crown became convertible
for current account transactions in October 1995. Czech companies
increasingly are using the international capital market to fund
capital investment, and foreign currency reserves totaled $13.9
billion at the end of 1995. Prague's biggest macroeconomic concern
now is limiting the inflationary effect of these large capital
inflows. The Czech economy also still faces microeconomic problems.
Prague has promised to strengthen its bankruptcy law and improve the
transparency of stock market operations in 1996, but some changes
probably will not take effect until some time after the
parliamentary elections of mid-1996 and will depend largely on
voluntary compliance. Prague forecasts a balanced budget, 5.5% GDP
growth, 2.8% unemployment, and 8.1% inflation for 1996.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $106.2 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 5% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $10,200 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.8%
industry: 40.7%
services: 53.5%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.1% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 5.389 million
by occupation: industry 37.9%, agriculture 8.1%, construction 8.8%,
communications and other 45.2% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 2.9% (1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $16.5 billion
expenditures: $16.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Industries: fuels, ferrous metallurgy, machinery and equipment,
coal, motor vehicles, glass, armaments

Industrial production growth rate: 12.9% (January-November 1995)

Electricity:
capacity: 14.470,000 kW
production: 56.3 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 4,842 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs,
cattle, poultry; forest products

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and
Latin American cocaine to Western Europe

Exports: $17.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, fuels, minerals, metals, agricultural products
partners: Germany 32.4%, Slovakia 16.1%, Austria 6.7%, Poland 5.3%,
Italy 4%, Russia 3.3%, Netherlands 2.8%, France 2.6%, UK 2.2%,
Hungary 2.1%, US 1.8%, Belgium 1.5% (January-September 1995)

Imports: $21.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
chemicals, fuels and lubricants, raw materials, agricultural products
partners: Germany 26%, Slovakia 13.2%, Russia 9.2%, Austria 7%,
Italy 5.6%, France 4.1%, US 3.8%, Poland 3.1%, Netherlands 2.9%, UK
2.9%, Switzerland 2.1%, Belgium 2.0% (January-September 1995)

External debt: $14.9 billion (June 1995)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $27 million (1993)

Currency: 1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru

Exchange rates: koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 26.967 (January 1996),
26.541 (1995), 28.785 (1994), 29.153 (1993), 28.26 (1992), 29.53
(1991), 17.95 (1990)
note: values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange rates

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways:
total: 9,413 km
standard gauge: 9,316 km 1.435-m standard gauge (2640 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 97 km several narrow gauges (1995)

Highways:
total: 55,557 km (1994 est.)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Waterways: NA km; the Elbe (Labe) is the principal river

Pipelines: natural gas 5,400 km

Ports: Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem

Merchant marine:
total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 155,946 GRT/251,624 DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 5 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 116
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
with paved runways under 914 m: 5
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 32
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 41 (1994 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 3,349,539 (1993 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic
and Indian Ocean Regions)

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: NA

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense,
Railroad Units

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,724,607
males fit for military service: 2,074,331
males reach military age (18) annually: 88,418 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $931 million,
2.5% of GDP (1995)

======================================================================

@Denmark -------

Map ---

Location: 56 00 N, 10 00 E -- Northern Europe, bordering the
Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany

Flag ----

Description: red with a white cross that extends to the edges of
the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist
side, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was
subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland,
Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

Geography ---------

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North
Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany

Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 10 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 43,070 sq km
land area: 42,370 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Massachusetts
note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest
of metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland

Land boundaries:
total: 68 km
border country: Germany 68 km

Coastline: 3,379 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 4 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

International disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute
involving Iceland, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have
signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and
cool summers

Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains
lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
highest point: Ejer Bavnehoj 173 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone

Land use:
arable land: 61%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 6%
forest and woodland: 12%
other: 21%

Irrigated land: 4,300 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: air pollution, principally from vehicle emissions;
nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and
surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes
natural hazards: flooding is a threat in some areas of the country
(e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of
Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of
the Sea

Geographic note: controls Danish Straits linking Baltic and North
Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in Copenhagen

People ------

Population: 5,249,632 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 469,672; female 446,907)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,789,552; female 1,738,870)
65 years and over: 16% (male 330,396; female 474,235) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 0.38% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 12.24 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 10.42 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 4.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.3 years
male: 73.78 years
female: 81.01 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Dane(s)
adjective: Danish

Ethnic divisions: Scandinavian, Eskimo, Faroese, German

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 2%, other 7% (1988)

Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect),
German (small minority)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form: Denmark
local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
local short form: Danmark

Data code: DA

Type of government: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Copenhagen

Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties
(amter, singular - amt) and 1 city* (stad); Arhus, Bornholms,
Frederiksborg, Fyns, Kobenhavns, Nordjyllands, Ribe, Ringkobing,
Roskilde, Sonderjyllands, Staden Kobenhavn*, Storstroms, Vejle,
Vestsjaellands, Viborg
note: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland,
which are part of the Danish realm and self-governing administrative
divisions

Independence: 10th century first organized as a unified state; in
1849 became a constitutional monarchy

National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Constitution: 1849 was the original constitution; there was a
major overhaul 5 June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature
and a female chief of state

Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since NA January 1972) is a
constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder
son of the queen (born 26 May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since NA
January 1993) was appointed by the queen
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the queen

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Folketing): elections last held 21 September 1994 (next
to be held by December 1998); results - Social Democrats 34.6%,
Liberals 23.3%, Conservatives 15.0%, Social People's Party 7.3%,
Progress Party 6.4%, Radical Liberals 4.6%, Unity Party 3.1%, Center
Democrats 2.8%, Christian People's Party 1.8%; seats - (179 total)
Social Democrats 63, Liberals 44, Conservatives 28, Social People's
Party 13, Progress Party 11, Radical Liberals 8, Unity Party 6,
Center Democrats 5, independent 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
monarch for life

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Poul Nyrup
RASMUSSEN; Conservative Party, Hans ENGELL; Liberal Party, Uffe
ELLEMANN-JENSEN; Socialist People's Party, Holger K. NIELSEN;
Progress Party, Group Chairman Kim BEHNKE and Policy Spokesman Jan
Kopke CHRISTENSEN; Center Democratic Party, Mimi Stilling JAKOBSEN;
Radical Liberal Party, Marianne JELVED; Christian People's Party,
Jann SJURSEN; Danish Workers' Party, Common Cause, Preben Moller
HANSEN; Unity Party

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB,
ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Knud-Erik TYGESEN
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. ELSON
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
mailing address: APO AE 09716, PSC 73
telephone: [45] (31) 42 31 44
FAX: [45] (35) 43 02 23

Flag: red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the
flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side,
and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was
subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland,
Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

Economy -------

Economic overview: This thoroughly modern economy features
high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate
industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living
standards, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is
self-sufficient in food production. The new center-left coalition
government will concentrate on reducing the persistently high
unemployment rate and the budget deficit as well as following the
previous government's policies of maintaining low inflation and a
current account surplus. In the face of recent international market
pressure on the Danish krone, the coalition has also vowed to
maintain a stable currency. The coalition hopes to lower marginal
income taxes while maintaining overall tax revenues; boost
industrial competitiveness through labor market and tax reforms and
increased research and development funds; and improve welfare
services for the neediest while cutting paperwork and delays. Prime
Minister RASMUSSEN's reforms will focus on adapting Denmark to the
criteria for European integration by 1999; Copenhagen has won from
the European Union (EU) the right to opt out of the European
Monetary Union (EMU) if a national referendum rejects it. Denmark
is, in fact, one of the few EU countries likely to fit into the EMU
on time. Denmark is weathering the current worldwide slump better
than many West European countries. Although unemployment is high, it
remains stable compared to most European countries.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $112.8 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 3.1% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $21,700 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 23.5%
services: 73.5% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 2,553,900
by occupation: private services 37.1%, government services 30.4%,
manufacturing and mining 20%, construction 6.3%, agriculture,
forestry, and fishing 5.6%, electricity/gas/water 0.6% (1991)

Unemployment rate: 9.5% (1995)

Budget:
revenues: $56.5 billion
expenditures: $64.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)

Industries: food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and
clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture,
and other wood products, shipbuilding

Industrial production growth rate: -2.5% (1993 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 10,030,000 kW
production: 32 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 5,835 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: grain, potatoes, rape, sugar beets; meat, dairy
products; fish

Exports: $39.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: meat and meat products, dairy products, transport
equipment (shipbuilding), fish, chemicals, industrial machinery
partners: EU 49.4% (Germany 22.4%, UK 8.2%), Sweden 10.4%, Norway
6.5%, US 5.5%, Japan 4.1%, FSU 1.7% (1994)

Imports: $34 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: petroleum, machinery and equipment, chemicals, grain
and foodstuffs, textiles, paper
partners: EU 51% (Germany 22%, UK 6.5%), Sweden 11.6%, Norway 5.1%,
US 5.2%, Japan 3.5%, FSU 1.7% (1994)

External debt: $40.9 billion (1994 est.)

Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $1.34 billion (1993)

Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 5.652 (January
1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396
(1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways:
total: 2,848 km (499 km privately owned and operated)
standard gauge: 2,848 km 1.435-m gauge (326 km electrified; 760 km
double track) (1995)

Highways:
total: 71,042 km
paved: 71,042 km (including 696 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 417 km

Pipelines: crude oil 110 km; petroleum products 578 km; natural
gas 700 km

Ports: Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Grenaa,
Koge, Odense, Struer

Merchant marine:
total: 334 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,013,054
GRT/7,171,871 DWT
ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 114, chemical tanker 25, container 65,
liquefied gas tanker 27, livestock carrier 5, oil tanker 31, railcar
carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 17, roll-on/roll-off cargo 26,
short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 1
note: Denmark has created its own internal register, called the
Danish International Ship register (DIS); DIS ships do not have to
meet Danish manning regulations, and they amount to a flag of
convenience within the Danish register (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 109
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13
with paved runways under 914 m: 77
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 4.005 million (1985 est.)

Telephone system: excellent telephone and telegraph services
domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form
trunk network
international: 19 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations
- 7 Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean
Regions); note - Denmark shares the Inmarsat earth station with the
other Nordic countries (Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 2

Televisions: 2.04 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air
Force, Home Guard

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,338,791
males fit for military service: 1,150,996
males reach military age (20) annually: 34,324 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.2 billion,
1.8% of GDP (1995)

======================================================================

@Djibouti --------

Map ---

Location: 11 30 N, 43 00 E -- Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf
of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia

Flag ----

Description: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and
light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
bearing a red five-pointed star in the center

Geography ---------

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red
Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia

Geographic coordinates: 11 30 N, 43 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 22,000 sq km
land area: 21,980 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:
total: 508 km
border countries: Eritrea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km

Coastline: 314 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: desert; torrid, dry

Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
lowest point: Asal -155 m
highest point: Mousa Alli 2,028 m

Natural resources: geothermal areas

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 9%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 91%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification
natural hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic
disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution; signed, but not
ratified - Desertification

Geographic note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping
lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into
Ethiopia; a vast wasteland

People ------

Population: 427,642 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 91,687; female 91,242)
15-64 years: 55% (male 123,699; female 110,530)
65 years and over: 2% (male 5,389; female 5,095) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.5% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 42.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 15.26 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -12.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 106.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.15 years
male: 48.24 years
female: 52.12 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.08 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian

Ethnic divisions: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian,
and Italian 5%

Religions: Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 46.2%
male: 60.3%
female: 32.7%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form: Djibouti
former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland

Data code: DJ

Type of government: republic

Capital: Djibouti

Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular -
cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura

Independence: 27 June 1977 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

Constitution: multiparty constitution approved in referendum 4
September 1992

Legal system: based on French civil law system, traditional
practices, and Islamic law

Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:
chief of state: President HASSAN GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June
1977); election last held 7 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1999);
results - President HASSAN GOULED reelected to a six-year term by
universal suffrage
head of government: Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30
September 1978)
cabinet: Council of Ministers is responsible to the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes): elections last held 18
December 1992; results - RPP (the ruling party) dominated; seats -
(65 total) RPP 65

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders:
ruling party: People's Progress Assembly (RPP), Hassan GOULED Aptidon
other parties: Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Mohamed Jama ELABE;
Democratic National Party (PND), ADEN Robleh Awaleh

Other political or pressure groups: Front for the Restoration of
Unity and Democracy (FRUD) and affiliates; Movement for Unity and
Democracy (MUD)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD,
AL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,
ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye Oudine
chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin L. CHESHES
embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti
telephone: [253] 35 39 95
FAX: [253] 35 39 40

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light
green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
bearing a red five-pointed star in the center

Economy -------

Economic overview: The economy is based on service activities
connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free
trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live
in the capital city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders.
Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and
most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a
transit port for the region and an international transshipment and
refueling center. It has few natural resources and little industry.
The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance
(an important supplement to GDP) to help support its balance of
payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate
of over 30% continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption
dropped an estimated 35% over the last six years because of
recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including
immigrants and refugees).

GDP: purchasing power parity - $500 million (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: -3% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,200 (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 21%
services: 76% (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 282,000
by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry 11%, services 14% (1991
est.)

Unemployment rate: over 30% (1994 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $164 million
expenditures: $201 million, including capital expenditures of $16
million (1993 est.)

Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as
dairy products and mineral-water bottling

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 90,000 kW
production: 170 million kWh
consumption per capita: 398 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels

Exports: $184 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
partners: Somalia 48%, Yemen 42%

Imports: $384 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals,
petroleum products
partners: France, UK, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, South Korea

External debt: $227 million (1993 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed
rate since 1973)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways:
total: 97 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
narrow gauge: 97 km 1.000-m gauge

Highways:
total: 2,879 km
paved: 363 km
unpaved: 2,516 km (1991 est.)

Ports: Djibouti

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT
(1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 11
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 7,200 (1986 est.)

Telephone system: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are
adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying
areas of the country
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: submarine cable to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth
stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1

Televisions: 17,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force),
National Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National
Police Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 102,528
males fit for military service: 60,076 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $26 million, NA%
of GDP (1989)

======================================================================

@Dominica --------

Map ---

Location: 13 30 N, 61 20 W -- Caribbean, island between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the
way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Flag ----

Description: green with a centered cross of three equal bands -
the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the
horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in
the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot
encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10
stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

Geography ---------

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to
Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates: 13 30 N, 61 20 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total area: 750 sq km
land area: 750 sq km
comparative area: more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 148 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy
rainfall

Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m

Natural resources: timber

Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 13%
meadows and pastures: 3%
forest and woodland: 41%
other: 34%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive
hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Whaling

People ------

Population: 82,926 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (male 11,986; female 11,521)
15-64 years: 64% (male 27,206; female 25,841)
65 years and over: 8% (male 2,608; female 3,764) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.38% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 18.38 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.31 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -9.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.4 years
male: 74.55 years
female: 80.4 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican

Ethnic divisions: black, Carib Indians

Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%,
Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%),
none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5%

Languages: English (official), French patois

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form: Dominica

Data code: DO

Type of government: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Roseau

Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David,
Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark,
Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter

Independence: 3 November 1978 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Constitution: 3 November 1978

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO (since 25 October
1993) was elected for a five-year term by the House of Assembly;
election last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998);
results - percent of vote NA
head of government: Prime Minister Edison C. JAMES (since 12 June
1995); prime minister is appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Assembly: elections last held 12 June 1995 (next to be held
by October 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30
total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives) UWP 11,
DLP 5, DFP 5

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Santa
Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside
over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Brian
ALLEYNE; Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Rosie DOUGLAS; United Workers
Party (UWP), Edison JAMES

Other political or pressure groups: Dominica Liberation Movement
(DLM), a small leftist group

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: Dominica does not have an embassy
in the US
consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Dominica; the Ambassador to Dominica resides in Bridgetown
(Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica

Flag: green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the
vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the
horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in
the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot
encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10
stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

Economy -------

Economic overview: The economy is dependent on agriculture and
thus is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture
accounts for 26% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force.
Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the
rugged coastline and the lack of an international airport. Hurricane
Luis devastated the country's banana crop in September 1995;
tropical storms had wiped out one-quarter of the crop in 1994 as
well. The newly elected government is attempting to develop an
offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's
production base.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $200 million (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: -1% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $2,450 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.4% (1995)

Labor force: 25,000
by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services
28% (1984)

Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $80 million
expenditures: $95.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY95/96 est.)

Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement
blocks, shoes

Industrial production growth rate: -10% (1994 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 7,000 kW
production: 30 million kWh
consumption per capita: 347 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts;
forestry and fisheries potential not exploited

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US
and Europe; minor cannabis producer

Exports: $48.3 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
partners: UK 55%, Caricom countries, Italy, US

Imports: $98.8 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food,
chemicals
partners: US 25%, Caricom, UK, Japan, Canada

External debt: $92.8 million (1992)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70
(fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Transportation --------------

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 800 km
paved: 500 km
unpaved: 300 km

Ports: Portsmouth, Roseau

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 14,613 (1993 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: fully automatic network
international: microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to
Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint
Lucia

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios: 45,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 cable

Televisions: 5,200 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special
Service Unit, Coast Guard)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: NA
males fit for military service: NA

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

======================================================================

@Dominican Republic ------------------

Map ---

Location: 19 00 N, 70 40 W -- Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the
island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

Flag ----

Description: a centered white cross that extends to the edges,
divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist
side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a
small coat of arms is at the center of the cross

Geography ---------

Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of
Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,
east of Haiti