Chapter V (23)

Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: fuels, cars, chemicals
partners: Russia, Germany, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, Lithuania, Finland

External debt: $NA

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $122 million (1993)
note: commitments from the West and international institutions, $525
million (1992-95)

Currency: 1 lat = 100 cents; introduced NA March 1993

Exchange rates: lats per US$1 - 0.544 (January 1996), 0.528
(1995), 0.560 (1994), 0.675 (1993), 0.736 (1992)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 2,412 km
broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)

Highways:
total: 66,718 km
paved: 12,076 km
unpaved: 54,642 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable

Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas
560 km (1992)

Ports: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils

Merchant marine:
total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 519,859 GRT/678,987 DWT
ships by type: cargo 7, oil tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 18,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 50
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 27
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)

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

Telephones: 660,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: service is better than in most of the other
former Soviet republics
domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network covers 75% of
Latvia's population
international: international traffic carried by leased connection to
the Moscow international gateway switch, through the new Ericsson
digital telephone exchange in Riga, and through the Finnish cellular
net; Sprint data network carries electronic mail

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there
are 25 radio broadcast stations of unknown type

Radios: 1.4 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 30

Televisions: 1.1 million (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 583,134
males fit for military service: 457,067
males reach military age (18) annually: 16,180 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 176 million rubles, 3% to 5% of GDP (1994);
note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the
prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results

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

@Lebanon -------

Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war which began in 1975. Under the Ta'if accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process. Since December 1990, the Lebanese have formed four cabinets and conducted the first legislative election in 20 years. Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy militia, The Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzin. Syria maintains about 30,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League early in Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from Beirut.

Map ---

Location: 33 50 N, 35 50 E -- Middle East, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria

Flag ----

Description: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double
width), and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the
white band

Geography ---------

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Israel and Syria

Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total area: 10,400 sq km
land area: 10,230 sq km
comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries:
total: 454 km
border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km

Coastline: 225 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since
June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon
since October 1976

Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry
summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows

Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates
Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal al Makmal 3,087 m

Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state
in a water-deficit region

Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 9%
meadows and pastures: 1%
forest and woodland: 8%
other: 61%

Irrigated land: 860 sq km (1990 est.)

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air
pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of
industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and
oil spills
natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation

Geographic note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not
crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically
helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based
on religion, clan, and ethnicity

People ------

Population: 3,776,317 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 687,631; female 662,100)
15-64 years: 59% (male 1,049,689; female 1,163,255)
65 years and over: 5% (male 98,406; female 115,236) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.16% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 27.93 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 6.35 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 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: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 36.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.99 years
male: 67.49 years
female: 72.62 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Lebanese

Ethnic divisions: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

Religions: Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups -
Alawite or Nusayri, Druze, Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30%
(11 legally recognized Christian groups - 4 Orthodox Christian, 6
Catholic, 1 Protestant), Judaism NEGL%

Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Armenian, English

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 92.4%
male: 94.7%
female: 90.3%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Lebanon
conventional short form: Lebanon
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
local short form: none

Data code: LE

Type of government: republic

Capital: Beirut

Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
muhafazah); Al Biqa', Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan

Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate
under French administration)

National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)

Constitution: 23 May 1926, amended a number of times

Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code,
and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized
for women at age 21 with elementary education

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989) was
elected for a six-year term by the National Assembly and in 1995 the
National Assembly amended the constitution to extend his term by
three years; note - by custom, the president is a Maronite
Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of
the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim
head of government: Prime Minister Rafiq al-HARIRI (since 22 October
1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Michel al-MURR (since NA) were
appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly
cabinet: Cabinet was chosen by the prime minister in consultation
with the members of the National Assembly; the current Cabinet was
formed in 1995

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Arabic - Majlis Alnuwab French - Assembl:
elections last held in the summer of 1992 (next to be held NA 1996);
results - percent of vote NA; seats - (128 total, one-half Christian
and one-half Muslim) independents 128

Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil
and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases)

Political parties and leaders: political party activity is
organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political
groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and
followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL,
AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Riyad TABBARAH
chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300
FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324
consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. JONES
embassy: Antelias, Beirut
mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE
09836-0002
telephone: [961] (1) 402200, 403300, 406650, 406651, 426183, 417774,
889926
FAX: [961] (1) 407112

Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width),
and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band

Economy -------

Economic overview: The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged
Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and
all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and
banking hub. Peace has enabled the central government to restore
control in Beirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key
port and government facilities. Economic recovery has been helped by
a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and
medium-scale manufacturers. Family remittances, banking services,
manufactured and farm exports, and international aid are the main
sources of foreign exchange. In the relatively settled year of 1991,
industrial production, agricultural output, and exports showed
substantial gains. The rebuilding of the war-ravaged country was
delayed in 1992 because of an upturn in political wrangling. In
October 1992, Rafiq al-HARIRI was appointed prime minister. A
billionaire entrepreneur, al-HARIRI, announced ambitious plans for
Lebanon's reconstruction, which involve a substantial influx of
foreign aid and investment. The economy has posted considerable
gains since 1992, with GDP rebounding, inflation falling, and
foreign capital inflows jumping. Signs of strain have emerged in
recent years, however, as the government budget deficit has risen
and grassroots economic dissatisfaction has grown. Meantime, the
future fate of Lebanon and its economy is being determined largely
by outside forces - in Syria, other Arab nations, Israel, and the
West.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $18.3 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 6.5% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $4,900 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 28%
services: 59% (1995 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 650,000
by occupation: services 60%, industry 28%, agriculture 12% (1990
est.)

Unemployment rate: 30% (1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.4 billion
expenditures: $3.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)

Industries: banking, food processing, textiles, cement, oil
refining, chemicals, jewelry, some metal fabricating

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 1,220,000 kW
production: 2.5 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 676 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: citrus, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp
(hashish); sheep, goats

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish and heroin for the
international drug trade; hashish production is shipped to Western
Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America; a key locus of
cocaine processing and trafficking; a Lebanese/Syrian 1994
eradication campaign practically eliminated the opium crop and
caused a 50% decrease in the cannabis crop

Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: agricultural products, chemicals, textiles, precious
and semiprecious metals and jewelry, metals and metal products
partners: Saudi Arabia 13%, Switzerland 12%, UAE 11%, Syria 9%, US 5%

Imports: $7.3 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: consumer goods, machinery and transport equipment,
petroleum products
partners: Italy 14%, France 9%, US 8%, Turkey 5%, Saudi Arabia 3%

External debt: $1.2 billion (July 1995)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Lebanese pound (LL) = 100 piasters

Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (LL) per US$1 - 1,584.0 (March
1996), 1,621.4 (1995), 1,680.1 (1994), 1,741.4 (1993), 1,712.8
(1992), 928.2 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 222 km
standard gauge: 222 km 1.435-m (from Beirut to the Syrian border)

Highways:
total: 7,370 km
paved: 6,265 km
unpaved: 1,105 km (1990 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 72 km (none in operation)

Ports: Al Batrun, Al Mina, An Naqurah, Antilyas, Az Zahrani,
Beirut, Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre

Merchant marine:
total: 58 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 192,075 GRT/296,256 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 39, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
1, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, livestock carrier 4,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, specialized tanker
1, vehicle carrier 2 (1995 est.)

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

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

Telephones: 150,000 (1990 est.)

Telephone system: telecommunications system severely damaged by
civil war; rebuilding still underway
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria;
microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to
Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 1
note: more than 100 AM and FM stations are operated sporadically by
various factions

Radios: 2.37 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 13

Televisions: 1.1 million (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and Air
Force)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 889,517
males fit for military service: 553,538 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $278 million,
5.5% of GDP (1994)

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

@Lesotho -------

Map ---

Location: 29 30 S, 28 30 E -- Southern Africa, an enclave of South
Africa

Flag ----

Description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner;
the upper half is white bearing the brown silhouette of a large
shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal
blue band with a green triangle in the corner

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Geographic coordinates: 29 30 S, 28 30 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 30,350 sq km
land area: 30,350 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries:
total: 909 km
border country: South Africa 909 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: none

Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point: Mount Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, some
diamonds and other minerals

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 66%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 24%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal
areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion;
desertification; Highlands Water Project will control, store, and
redirect water to South Africa
natural hazards: periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Endangered Species, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping

Geographic note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa

People ------

Population: 1,970,781 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 404,733; female 402,813)
15-64 years: 54% (male 519,493; female 553,618)
65 years and over: 5% (male 37,237; female 52,887) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.9% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 32.7 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 13.74 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 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: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 81.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.08 years
male: 50.08 years
female: 54.14 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.32 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
adjective: Basotho

Ethnic divisions: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800

Religions: Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs

Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu,
Xhosa

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 71.3%
male: 81.1%
female: 62.3%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland

Data code: LT

Type of government: modified constitutional monarchy

Capital: Maseru

Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe,
Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek,
Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

Constitution: 2 April 1993

Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law;
judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of
Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); the king is
the former Crown Prince David Monato BERENG Seeiso and succeeded his
father King MOSHOESHOE II, who died in an automobile accident on 16
January 1996; King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne (November
1990 to February 1995) while his father was in exile
note: the king is a hereditary monarch, but, under the terms of the
constitution which came into effect after the March 1993 election,
he has no executive or legislative powers; moreover, under
traditional law the king can be elected or deposed by a majority
vote of the College of Chiefs
head of government: Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE (since 2 April 1993)
cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: consists of 33 members (the 22 principal chiefs and 11 other
members appointed by the ruling party)
Assembly: members elected by popular vote; election last held NA
March 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats (65 total) BCP 65

Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court;
customary or traditional court

Political parties and leaders: Basotho National Party (BNP),
Evaristus SEKHONYANA; Basotho Congress Party (BCP), Ntsu MOKHEHLE;
National Independent Party (NIP), A. C. MANYELI; Marematlou Freedom
Party (MFP), Vincent MALEBO; United Democratic Party, Charles
MOFELI; Communist Party of Lesotho (CPL), Jacob M. KENA

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Eunice M. BULANE
chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536
FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bismarck MYRICK
embassy: address NA, Maseru
mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho
telephone: [266] 312666
FAX: [266] 310116

Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the
upper half is white bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield
with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band
with a green triangle in the corner

Economy -------

Economic overview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has
no important natural resources other than water. Its economy is
based on agriculture, light manufacturing, and remittances from
laborers employed in South Africa (these remittances supplement
domestic income by as much as 45%). The great majority of households
gain their livelihoods from subsistence farming and migrant labor; a
large portion of the adult male work force is employed in South
African mines. Manufacturing depends largely on farm products which
support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries. Although
drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years,
improvement of a major hydropower facility will permit the sale of
water to South Africa and will support the economy's continued
expansion.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.8 billion (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 13.5% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,430 (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.4%
industry: 48.8%
services: 40.8% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.5% (January 1995)

Labor force: 689,000 economically active
by occupation: 86.2% of resident population engaged in subsistence
agriculture; roughly 60% of the active male wage earners work in
South Africa

Unemployment rate: substantial unemployment and underemployment

Budget:
revenues: $445 million
expenditures: $400 million, including capital expenditures of $128
million (FY94/95 est.)

Industries: food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction;
tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 12.5% (1994 est.)

Electricity: power supplied by South Africa

Agriculture: corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock

Exports: $142 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: clothing, furniture, footwear, wool
partners: South Africa 39%, EC 22%, North and South America 33%
(1993)

Imports: $1 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: mainly corn, building materials, clothing, vehicles,
machinery, medicines, petroleum products
partners: South Africa 83%, Asia 12%, EC 3% (1993)

External debt: $512 million (1993)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente

Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996),
3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563
(1991); note - the Basotho loti is at par with the South African rand

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

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

Railways:
total: 2.6 km; note - owned by, operated by, and included in the
statistics of South Africa
narrow gauge: 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge

Highways:
total: 5,324 km
paved: 799 km
unpaved: 4,525 km (1993 est.)

Ports: none

Airports:
total: 29
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 23
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 12,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: rudimentary system
domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay
system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 66,000

Television broadcast stations: 1

Televisions: 11,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing),
Lesotho Mounted Police

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 455,218
males fit for military service: 245,774 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

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

@Liberia -------

Years of civil strife have destroyed much of Liberia's economic infrastructure, made civil administration nearly impossible, and brought economic activity virtually to a halt. The deterioration of economic conditions has been greatly exacerbated by the flight of most business people with their expertise and capital. Civil order ended in 1990 when President Samuel Kanyon DOE was killed by rebel forces. The ensuing civil war persisted until August 1995 when the major factions signed the Abuja peace accord and, in September 1995, formed a transitional coalition government under Wilton SANKAWULO. The war was resumed in April 1996, when forces loyal to faction leaders Charles TAYLOR and Alhaji KROMAH attacked rival factions in Monrovia, further damaging the capital's already dilapidated infrastructure and causing panic among the remaining foreign residents, thousands of whom sought refuge in US facilities. Prospects for peace became extremely uncertain again.

Map ---

Location: 6 30 N, 9 30 W -- Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Flag ----

Description: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)
alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue
square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the
US flag

Geography ---------

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Geographic coordinates: 6 30 N, 9 30 W

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 111,370 sq km
land area: 96,320 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries:
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone
306 km

Coastline: 579 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool
to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling
plateau and low mountains in northeast
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold

Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 3%
meadows and pastures: 2%
forest and woodland: 39%
other: 55%

Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: tropical rain forest subject to deforestation; soil
erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of rivers from the dumping
of iron ore tailings and of coastal waters from oil residue and raw
sewage
natural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
(December to March)
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation

People ------

Population: 2,109,789 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 475,138; female 470,970)
15-64 years: 52% (male 557,855; female 532,143)
65 years and over: 3% (male 35,544; female 38,139) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.13% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 42.72 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 11.95 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -9.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
note: until the Ghanaian-led peace negotiations are successful, many
Liberian refugees will be unable to return from exile

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 108.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 58.59 years
male: 56.05 years
female: 61.22 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.23 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian

Ethnic divisions: indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle,
Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai,
and Bella), Americo-Liberians 5% (descendants of former slaves)

Religions: traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%

Languages: English 20% (official), Niger-Congo language group
about 20 local languages come from this group

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 38.3%
male: 53.9%
female: 22.4%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia

Data code: LI

Type of government: republic

Capital: Monrovia

Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa,
Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland,
Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe

Independence: 26 July 1847

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Constitution: 6 January 1986

Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American
common law for the modern sector and customary law based on
unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Council of
State Wilton SANKAWULO (since NA September 1995); president was to
be elected for a six-year term by universal suffrage at the end of
1995; election last held 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA August
1996); results - Samuel Kanyon DOE (NDPL) 50.9%, Jackson DOE (LAP)
26.4%, other 22.7%
note: constitutional government ended in September 1990 when
President Samuel Kanyon DOE was killed by rebel forces; civil war
ensued and in August 1995 the Abuja peace accord was signed by the
major warring factions; a transitional coalition government under
Wilton SANKAWULO was formed in September 1995; presidential
elections are scheduled for August 1996
cabinet: Cabinet was selected by the leaders of the major factions
in the civil war

Legislative branch: unicameral Transitional Legislative Assembly,
the members of which are appointed by the leaders of the major
factions in the civil war
note: the former bicameral legislature no longer exists and is
unlikely to be reconstituted soon

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party of
Liberia (NDPL), Augustus CAINE, chairman; Liberian Action Party
(LAP), Emmanuel KOROMAH, chairman; Unity Party (UP), Joseph KOFA,
chairman; United People's Party (UPP), Gabriel Baccus MATTHEWS,
chairman; National Patriotic Party (NPP), Charles TAYLOR, chairman;
Liberian Peoples Party (LPP), Dusty WOLOKOLLIE, chairman

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Konah K.
BLACKETT
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission William MILAM
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, Monrovia
mailing address: P. O. Box 100098, Mamba Point, Monrovia
telephone: [231] 226-370
FAX: [231] 226-148

Flag: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)
alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue
square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the
US flag

Economy -------

Economic overview: Civil war since 1990 has destroyed much of
Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around
Monrovia. Businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and
expertise with them. Many will not return. Richly endowed with
water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to
agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic
products, while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been
small in scope. Political instability threatens prospects for
economic reconstruction and repatriation of some 750,000 Liberian
refugees who have fled to neighboring countries. The continued
political turmoil has prevented restoration of normal economic life,
including the re-establishment of a strong central government with
effective economic development programs. The economy deteriorated
further in 1995.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.3 billion (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 0% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita: $770 (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 510,000 including 220,000 in the monetary economy
by occupation: agriculture 70.5%, services 10.8%, industry and
commerce 4.5%, other 14.2%
note: non-African foreigners hold about 95% of the top-level
management and engineering jobs

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $225 million
expenditures: $285 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)

Industries: rubber processing, food processing, construction
materials, furniture, palm oil processing, iron ore, diamonds

Industrial production growth rate: NA% (1993-94)

Electricity:
capacity: 330,000 kW
production: 440 million kWh
consumption per capita: 143 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm
oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber

Illicit drugs: increasingly a transshipment point for heroin and
cocaine

Exports: $530 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: iron ore 61%, rubber 20%, timber 11%, coffee
partners: US, EC, Netherlands, Singapore

Imports: NA (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: mineral fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation
equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs
partners: US, EC, Japan, China, Netherlands, ECOWAS, South Korea

External debt: $1.9 billion (1993 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1 - 1.0000
(officially fixed rate since 1940); market exchange rate of US$1 -
L$50 (October 1995), L$7 (January 1992), market rate floats against
the US dollar

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 490 km (single track); note - three rail systems owned and
operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction
with Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad, closed
in 1989 after iron ore production ceased; the other two have been
shut down by the civil war
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge

Highways:
total: 10,029 km
paved: 600 km
unpaved: 9,429 km (1987 est.)

Ports: Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia

Merchant marine:
total: 1,601 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 59,449,296
GRT/98,819,081 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 411, cargo 121, chemical tanker
108, combination bulk 28, combination ore/oil 56, container 143,
liquefied gas tanker 77, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil
tanker 463, passenger 42, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 64,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 23, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker
9, vehicle carrier 48
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 59
countries among which are US 253, Japan 172, Norway 165, Germany
149, Greece 137, Hong Kong 114, UK 78, China 49, Monaco 41, and
Cyprus 34 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 39
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 29
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: less than 25,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: telephone and telegraph service via microwave
radio relay network; main center is Monrovia; most
telecommunications services inoperable due to insurgency movement
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 622,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 5 (1987 est.)

Televisions: 51,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: NA; the ultimate structure of the Liberian military
force will depend on who is the victor in the ongoing civil war

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 479,274
males fit for military service: 256,200 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $14 million, 2.9%
of GDP (1993)

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

@Libya -----

Map ---

Location: 25 00 N, 17 00 E -- Northern Africa, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia

Flag ----

Description: plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam
(the state religion)

Geography ---------

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
between Egypt and Tunisia

Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 17 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 1,759,540 sq km
land area: 1,759,540 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries:
total: 4,383 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km,
Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km

Coastline: 1,770 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Gulf of Sidra closing line: 32 degrees 30 minutes north

International disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
ruled in February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between
Chad and Libya belongs to Chad and that Libya must withdraw from it
by 31 May 1994; Libya has withdrawn some of its forces in response
to the ICJ ruling, but still maintains part of the airfield and a
small military presence at the airfield's water supply located in
Chad; maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia; claims part of
northern Niger and part of southeastern Algeria

Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus,
depressions
lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 8%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 90%

Irrigated land: 2,420 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: desertification; very limited natural fresh water
resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water
development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from
large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities
natural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind
lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
international agreements: party to - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea

People ------

Population: 5,445,436 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 1,319,696; female 1,274,865)
15-64 years: 49% (male 1,375,441; female 1,308,613)
65 years and over: 3% (male 87,434; female 79,387) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.67% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 44.42 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 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: 1.1 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.04 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 59.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.67 years
male: 62.48 years
female: 66.97 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.26 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan

Ethnic divisions: Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians,
Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians

Religions: Sunni Muslim 97%

Languages: Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in
the major cities

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 76.2%
male: 87.9%
female: 63%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
conventional short form: Libya
local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah
al Ishtirakiyah
local short form: none

Data code: LY

Type of government: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory,
governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military
dictatorship

Capital: Tripoli

Administrative divisions: 25 municipalities (baladiyah, singular -
baladiyat); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al
Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari,
Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq,
Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan
note: the 25 muncipalities may have been replaced by 1,500 communes
in 1992

Independence: 24 December 1951 (from Italy)

National holiday: Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)

Constitution: 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977

Legal system: based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law;
separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar
al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969) was elected by the General
People's Congress
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee
(Premier) Abd al Majid al-QA'UD (since 29 January 1994)
cabinet: General People's Committee was established by the General
People's Congress
note: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of
peoples' committees

Legislative branch: unicameral
General People's Congress: national elections are indirect through a
hierarchy of peoples' committees

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: none

Other political or pressure groups: various Arab nationalist
movements with almost negligible memberships may be functioning
clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in US: Libya does not have an embassy in
the US

US diplomatic representation: the US suspended all embassy
activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980

Flag: plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the
state religion)

Economy -------

Economic overview: The socialist-oriented economy depends
primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes
practically all export earnings and about one-third of GDP. In 1990
per capita GDP was the highest in Africa at $5,410, but subsequently
GDP growth has slowed on average and has fluctuated sharply in
response to changes in the world oil market. Import restrictions and
inefficient resource allocations have led to periodic shortages of
basic goods and foodstuffs. The nonoil manufacturing and
construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have
expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the
production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Although
agriculture accounts for only 5% of GDP, it employs 18% of the labor
force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit farm
output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food requirements. The UN
sanctions imposed in April 1992 have not yet had a major impact on
the economy because Libya's oil revenues generate sufficient foreign
exchange to sustain imports of food, consumer goods, and equipment
for the oil industry and ongoing development projects.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $32.9 billion (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: -0.9% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita: $6,510 (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 1 million (includes about 280,000 resident foreigners)
by occupation: industry 31%, services 27%, government 24%,
agriculture 18%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $8.1 billion
expenditures: $9.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.1
billion (1989 est.)

Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts,
cement

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 4,600,000 kW
production: 16.1 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,078 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables,
peanuts; meat, eggs

Exports: $7.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas
partners: Italy, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Turkey, Greece, Egypt

Imports: $6.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods
partners: Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia,
Eastern Europe

External debt: $3.5 billion excluding military debt (1991 est.)

Economic aid: $NA

Currency: 1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams

Exchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1 - 0.3617 (January
1996), 0.3532 (1995), 0.3596 (1994), 0.3250 (1993), 0.3013 (1992),
0.2684 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
note: Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all
previous systems having been dismantled; current plans are to
construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier
to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a
mineral-rich area, but there has been no progress; other plans made
jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum,
Egypt, to Tobruk with completion set for mid-1994; no progress has
been reported

Highways:
total: 19,189 km
paved: 10,738 km
unpaved: 8,451 km (1987 est.)

Waterways: none

Pipelines: crude oil 4,383 km; petroleum products 443 km (includes
liquefied petroleum gas 256 km); natural gas 1,947 km

Ports: Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah, Misratah,
Ra's Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah

Merchant marine:
total: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 686,834 GRT/1,209,263
DWT
ships by type: cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 2,
oil tanker 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, short-sea passenger 4
note: Libya owns an additional 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
38,260 DWT operating under the registries of Algeria and Turkey
(1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 130
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 24
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 22
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6
with paved runways under 914 m: 13
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 4
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 38 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 370,000

Telephone system: modern telecommunications system
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, tropospheric
scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); planned Arabsat and Intersputnik
satellite earth stations; submarine cables to France and Italy;
microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to
Greece; participant in Medarabtel

Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios: 1 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 12 (1987 est.)

Televisions: 500,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Armed Peoples of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah (includes
Army, Navy, and Air and Air Defense Command), Police

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,170,100
males fit for military service: 696,288
males reach military age (17) annually: 56,834 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.4 billion,
6.1% of GDP (1994 est.)

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

@Liechtenstein -------------

Map ---

Location: 47 10 N, 9 32 E -- Central Europe, between Austria and
Switzerland

Flag ----

Description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with
a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band

Geography ---------

Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Geographic coordinates: 47 10 N, 9 32 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 160 sq km
land area: 160 sq km
comparative area: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 78 km
border countries: Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: claims 1,600 square kilometers of Czech
territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech
Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February
1948, when the communists seized power

Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or
rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western
third
lowest point: Ruggleller Riet 430 m
highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m

Natural resources: hydroelectric potential

Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 38%
forest and woodland: 19%
other: 18%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed,
but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Law of
the Sea

Geographic note: landlocked; variety of microclimatic variations
based on elevation

People ------

Population: 31,122 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 2,961; female 2,871)
15-64 years: 70% (male 10,775; female 11,113)
65 years and over: 11% (male 1,366; female 2,036) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.08% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 11.47 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 6.81 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 6.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.84 years
male: 75.92 years
female: 82.17 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.37 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein

Ethnic divisions: Alemannic 95%, Italian and other 5%

Religions: Roman Catholic 87.3%, Protestant 8.3%, unknown 1.6%,
other 2.8% (1988)

Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect

Literacy: age 10 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Furstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein

Data code: LS

Type of government: hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital: Vaduz

Administrative divisions: 11 communes (gemeinden, singular -
gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell,
Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

Independence: 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of
Liechtenstein established)

National holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August

Constitution: 5 October 1921

Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, who is
a hereditary monarch, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir
Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein (born 11 June 1968)
head of government: Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy
Head of Government Dr. Thomas BUECHEL (since 15 December 1993) were
elected by the Landtag for a four-year term and confirmed by the
prince
cabinet: Cabinet was elected by the Diet; confirmed by the prince

Legislative branch: unicameral
Diet (Landtag): elections last held on 24 October 1993 (next to be
held by March 1997); results - VU 50.1%, FBP 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats -
(25 total) VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal
cases; Superior Court (Obergericht) for civil cases

Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Oswald
KRANTZ; Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), Otmar HASLER; The Free
List (FL)

International organization participation: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA,
IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US: Liechtenstein does not have an
embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in
routine diplomatic matters

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Liechtenstein, but the US Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has
consular accreditation in Vaduz

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold
crown on the hoist side of the blue band

Economy -------

Economic overview: Despite its small size and limited natural
resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly
industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital service sector
and living standards on par with the urban areas of its large
European neighbors. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 18%
- and easy incorporation rules have induced about 25,000 holding or
so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in
Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country
participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss
franc as its national currency. Liechtenstein plans to join the
European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between
EFTA and EU) in 1995.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $630 million (1990 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $22,300 (1990 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (1990)

Labor force: 20,000 of which 12,000 are foreigners; 6,885 commute
from Austria and Switzerland to work each day
by occupation: industry, trade, and building 48.1%, services 50.2%,
agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 1.7% (1993)

Unemployment rate: 0.9% (1995)

Budget:
revenues: $455 million
expenditures: $442 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 23,000 kW
production: 150 million kWh
consumption per capita: 5,230 kWh (1992)

Agriculture: vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes; livestock

Exports: $1.636 billion (1993)
commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps,
hardware, pottery
partners: EC countries 42.7%, EFTA countries 20.9% (Switzerland
15.4%), other 36.4% (1990)

Imports: $NA
commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor
vehicles
partners: NA

External debt: $NA

Economic aid: none

Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes,
rappen, or centesimi

Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 -
1.1810 (January 1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993),
1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 18.5 km; note - owned, operated, and included in statistics
of Austrian Federal Railways
standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)

Highways:
total: 238 km
paved: 238 km
unpaved: 0 km (1986 est.)

Ports: none

Airports: none

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

Telephones: 18,916 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: limited, but sufficient automatic telephone
system
domestic: NA
international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio
relay

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: linked to Swiss networks

Radios: 11,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: NA
note: linked to Swiss networks

Televisions: 10,620 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Switzerland

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

@Lithuania ---------

Map ---

Location: 56 00 N, 24 00 E -- Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic
Sea, between Latvia and Russia

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green,
and red

Geography ---------

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia
and Russia

Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 65,200 sq km
land area: 65,200 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
total: 1,273 km
border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km,
Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Coastline: 108 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: dispute with Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast)
over the position of the Nemunas (Nemen) River border presently
located on the Lithuanian bank and not in midriver as by
international standards; disputes maritime border with Latvia
(primary concern is oil exploration rights); treaty with Belarus
defining the border awaits ratification

Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters and summers

Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapine Kalnas 292 m

Natural resources: peat

Land use:
arable land: 49%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 22%
forest and woodland: 16%
other: 13%

Irrigated land: 430 sq km (1990)

Environment:
current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum
products and chemicals at military bases
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Ozone Layer
Protection

People ------

Population: 3,646,041 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 400,823; female 384,592)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,162,626; female 1,244,103)
65 years and over: 12% (male 154,862; female 299,035) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: -0.35% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 12.93 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 13.33 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -3.09 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: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.89 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.03 years
male: 62.15 years
female: 74.21 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian

Ethnic divisions: Lithuanian 80.1%, Russian 8.6%, Polish 7.7%,
Byelorussian 1.5%, other 2.1%

Religions: Roman Catholic, Lutheran, other

Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian