Chapter V (37)

Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 4 00 W

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 504,750 sq km
land area: 499,400 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
note: includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of
sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco -
Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de
Velez de la Gomera

Land boundaries:
total: 1,903.2 km
border countries: Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km,
Portugal 1,214 km
note: excludes the length of the boundary between the places of
sovereignty and Morocco

Coastline: 4,964 km

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

International disputes: Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls
five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the
coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which
Morocco contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas,
Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas

Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate
and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly
cloudy and cool along coast

Terrain: large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged
hills; Pyrenees in north
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Teide on Canary Islands 3,718 m

Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury,
pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin,
potash, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 31%
permanent crops: 10%
meadows and pastures: 21%
forest and woodland: 31%
other: 7%

Irrigated land: 33,600 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage
and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; air
pollution; deforestation; desertification
natural hazards: periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: strategic location along approaches to Strait of
Gibraltar

People ------

Population: 39,181,114 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16% (male 3,237,942; female 3,055,881)
15-64 years: 68% (male 13,380,956; female 13,352,582)
65 years and over: 16% (male 2,566,728; female 3,587,025) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 0.16% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 10.04 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 8.86 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.26 years
male: 74.95 years
female: 81.81 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.26 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Spaniard(s)
adjective: Spanish

Ethnic divisions: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types

Religions: Roman Catholic 99%, other sects 1%

Languages: Castilian Spanish, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986 est.)
total population: 96%
male: 98%
female: 94%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain
conventional short form: Spain
local short form: Espana

Data code: SP

Type of government: parliamentary monarchy

Capital: Madrid

Administrative divisions: 17 autonomous communities (comunidades
autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon,
Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon,
Cataluna, Communidad Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, Islas Baleares,
La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco
note: there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of
Morocco (Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and
Penon de Velez de la Gomera) with administrative status unknown

Independence: 1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)

National holiday: National Day, 12 October

Constitution: 6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978

Legal system: civil law system, with regional applications; does
not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975) is a
hereditary monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria AZNAR (since 5 May
1996) was proposed by the king and voted into office by the National
Assembly on 4 May 1996; AZNAR's Popular Party defeated Felipe
GONZALEZ Marques's Socialist Workers Party in the 3 March 1996
legislative election; Deputy Prime Minister (vacant)
cabinet: Council of Ministers was designated by the prime minister
Council of State: is the supreme consultative organ of the government

Legislative branch: bicameral The General Courts or National
Assembly (Las Cortes Generales)
Senate (Senado): elections last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held
by March 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (256
total) PP 132, PSOE 96, CiU 11, PNV 6, IU 2, others 9
Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados): elections last
held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by March 2000); results - PP
38.9%, PSOE 37.5%, IU 10.7%, CiU 4.6%; seats - (350 total) PSOE 141,
PP 156, IU 21, CiU 16, other 16

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo)

Political parties and leaders:
principal national parties from right to left: Popular Party (PP),
Jose Maria AZNAR Lopez; Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE),
Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez, secretary general; Spanish Communist Party
(PCE), Julio ANGUITA Gonzalez; United Left (IU - a coalition of
parties including the PCE, a branch of the PSOE, and other small
parties), Julio ANGUITA Gonzalez
chief regional parties: Convergence and Union (CiU), Jordi PUJOL,
secretary general (a coalition of the Democratic Convergence of
Catalonia (CDC), Pere ESTEVE, and the Democratic Union of Catalonia
(UDC), Josep Antoni DURAN LLEIDA); Basque Nationalist Party (PNV),
Xabier ARZALLUS Antia and Jose Antonio ARDANZA; Basque United People
(HB or Herri Batasuna, ETA's political wing), Juan Cruz IDIGORAS;
Canarian Coalition (CC), a coalition of five parties

Other political or pressure groups: on the extreme left, the
Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) and the First of October
Antifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO) use terrorism to oppose the
government; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977); Workers
Confederation (CC.OO); the Socialist General Union of Workers (UGT),
and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union (USO); business
and landowning interests; the Catholic Church; Opus Dei; university
students

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB,
ESA, EU, FAO, G- 8, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NACC, NAM
(guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCRO,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime De OJEDA Eiseley
chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340
FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard N. GARDNER
embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
mailing address: APO AE 09642
telephone: [34] (1) 577-4000, 577-2301
FAX: [34] (1) 577-5735
consulate(s) general: Barcelona

Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width),
and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the
yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the
Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and
Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar

Economy -------

Economic overview: Spain, with a mixed capitalist economy and a
per capita GDP two-thirds that of the four leading economies of
Western Europe, has shared with these countries the recession of the
early 1990s, the gradual upturn of 1994-95, and the ongoing
controversies over the timing and terms of European economic union.
Reduction of the budget deficit - at 5.9% of GDP in 1995 - to meet
the Maastricht monetary convergence criterion of 3% by 1997 remains
the primary goal of Spanish economic policy, but political pressures
had kept the Socialist government from implementing the full range
of reforms necessary to meet this goal. Spain's official
unemployment rate of 23% is the highest in the EU, and the troubled
Socialists had been reluctant to cut social spending. Parliament
rejected the administration's proposed 1996 budget because of
political wrangling - not because of great differences with the
substance of the spending plan - forcing the government to continue
spending at 1995 levels and use piecemeal decrees to raise
consumption taxes to a level consistent with inflation. The
conservative opposition Popular Party, now in power after ending 13
years of Socialist rule in the spring of 1996, has promised to cut
government spending, loosen regulations on financial markets, and
lower taxes to spur job creation. The conservatives have stated
support for Spain's role in the EU but also have cautioned against
harming Spain's economy by moving too quickly to meet the criteria
for monetary union.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $565 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 3% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $14,300 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 33.6%
services: 62.8% (1995 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (1995)

Labor force: 11.837 million
by occupation: services 59%, industry 21%, agriculture 11%,
construction 9% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: 22.8% (yearend 1995)

Budget:
revenues: $96.8 billion
expenditures: $122.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7
billion (1994 est.)

Industries: textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and
beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding,
automobiles, machine tools, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 43,800,000 kW
production: 148 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,545 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets,
citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish catch of 1.4
million metric tons is among top 20 nations

Illicit drugs: key European gateway country for Latin American
cocaine and North African hashish entering the European market;
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin

Exports: $85 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: cars and trucks, semifinished manufactured goods,
foodstuffs, machinery
partners: EU 68.7%, US 4.9%, other developed countries 7.9% (1994)

Imports: $110 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: machinery, transport equipment, fuels, semifinished
goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
partners: EU 60.9%, US 7.3%, other developed countries 11.5%, Middle
East 6.2% (1994)

External debt: $90 billion (1993 est.)

Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $1.213 billion (1993)

Currency: 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates: pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 123.19 (January 1996),
124.69 (1995), 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91
(1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 14,343 km
broad gauge: 12,139 km 1.668-m gauge (6,510 km electrified; 2,295 km
double track)
standard gauge: 488 km 1.435-m gauge (488 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,716 km (privately owned: 1,669 km 1.000-m gauge, 489
km electrified; 28 km 0.914-m gauge, 28 km electrified; government
owned: 19 km 1.000-m gauge, all electrified)

Highways:
total: 331,961 km
paved: 328,641 km (including 2,700 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,320 km (1991 est.)

Waterways: 1,045 km, but of minor economic importance

Pipelines: crude oil 265 km; petroleum products 1,794 km; natural
gas 1,666 km

Ports: Aviles, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de
la Plana, Ceuta, Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands),
Malaga, Melilla, Pasajes, Puerto de Gijon, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
(Canary Islands), Santander, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo

Merchant marine:
total: 147 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 874,688 GRT/1,391,421
DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 36, chemical tanker 11, combination
ore/oil 1, container 8, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 25,
passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 32,
short-sea passenger 6, specialized tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 96
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 15
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 11
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13
with paved runways under 914 m: 28
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 12 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 12.6 million (1990 est.)

Telephone system: generally adequate, modern facilities
domestic: NA
international: 22 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations
- 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat, NA
Inmarsat, and NA Marecs; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries

Radio broadcast stations: AM 190, FM 406 (repeaters 134),
shortwave 0

Radios: 12 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 100 (repeaters 1,297)

Televisions: 15.7 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, National
Police, Coastal Civil Guard

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 10,360,209
males fit for military service: 8,370,197
males reach military age (20) annually: 341,670 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6.3 billion,
1.4% of GDP (1995)

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

@Spratly Islands ---------------

Map ---

Location: 8 38 N, 111 55 E -- Southeastern Asia, group of reefs in
the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern
Vietnam to the southern Philippines

Geography ---------

Location: Southeastern Asia, group of reefs in the South China
Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the
southern Philippines

Geographic coordinates: 8 38 N, 111 55 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total area: NA sq km but less than 5 sq km
land area: less than 5 sq km
comparative area: NA
note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts
scattered over the South China Sea

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 926 km

Maritime claims: NA

International disputes: all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by
China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia
and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive
economic zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly
claimed the island

Climate: tropical

Terrain: flat
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

Natural resources: fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas
potential

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of
numerous reefs and shoals
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: strategically located near several primary
shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous
small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs

People ------

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

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Spratly Islands

Data code: PG

Economy -------

Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to commercial
fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary
basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the
region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of
potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.

Industries: none

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

Ports: none

Airports:
total: 4
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA

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

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: NA

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

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

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

@Sri Lanka ---------

Map ---

Location: 7 00 N, 81 00 E -- Southern Asia, island in the Indian
Ocean, south of India

Flag ----

Description: yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel
has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the
other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding
a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow
field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and
extends between the two panels

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 81 00 E

Map references: Asia

Area:
total area: 65,610 sq km
land area: 64,740 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,340 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March);
southwest monsoon (June to October)

Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in
south-central interior
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Natural resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems,
phosphates, clay

Land use:
arable land: 16%
permanent crops: 17%
meadows and pastures: 7%
forest and woodland: 37%
other: 23%

Irrigated land: 5,600 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations
threatened by poaching; coastal degradation from mining activities
and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by
industrial wastes and sewage runoff
natural hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoes
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands,
Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Marine Life Conservation

Geographic note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea
lanes

People ------

Population: 18,553,074 (July 1996 est.)
note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and
armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand
Tamil civilians have fled the island; as of late 1992, nearly
115,000 were housed in refugee camps in south India, another 95,000
lived outside the Indian camps, and more than 200,000 Tamils have
sought political asylum in the West

Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (male 2,673,943; female 2,559,569)
15-64 years: 66% (male 6,023,759; female 6,171,964)
65 years and over: 6% (male 553,940; female 569,899) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.13% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 17.89 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.8 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.78 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: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 20.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.35 years
male: 69.77 years
female: 75.06 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.05 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Sri Lankan(s)
adjective: Sri Lankan

Ethnic divisions: Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher,
Malay, and Vedda 1%

Religions: Buddhist 69%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8%

Languages: Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil
(national language) 18%
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about
10% of the population

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 90.2%
male: 93.4%
female: 87.2%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
conventional short form: Sri Lanka
former: Ceylon

Data code: CE

Type of government: republic

Capital: Colombo

Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Central, North Central,
North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

Independence: 4 February 1948 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence and National Day, 4 February (1948)

Constitution: adopted 16 August 1978

Legal system: a highly complex mixture of English common law,
Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Chandrika
Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994) was elected for a
six-year term by popular vote; note - Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE is the
prime minister; in Sri Lanka the president is considered to be both
the chief of state and the head of the government, this is in
contrast to the more common practice of dividing the roles between
the president and the prime minister when both offices exist;
election last held 9 November 1994 (next to be held NA November
2000); results - Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (People's
Alliance) 62%, Srima DISSANAYAKE (United National Party) 37%, other
1%
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president in consultation with
the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament: elections last held 16 August 1994 (next to be held by
August 2000); results - PA 49.0%, UNP 44.0%, SLMC 1.8%, TULF 1.7%,
SLPF 1.1%, EPDP 0.3%, UPF 0.3%, PLOTE 0.1%, other 1.7%; seats - (225
total) PA 105, UNP 94, EPDP 9, SLMC 7, TULF 5, PLOTE 3, SLPF 1, UPF 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
Judicial Service Commission

Political parties and leaders: All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC),
C. G. Kumar PONNAMBALAM; Ceylon Workers Congress (CLDC), S.
THONDAMAN; Communist Party, K. P. SILVA; Communist Party/Beijing
(CP/B), N. SHANMUGATHASAN; Democratic People's Liberation Front
(DPLF), leader NA; Democratic United National Front (DUNF), G. M.
PREMACHANDRA; Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Douglas
DEVANANDA; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRL),
Suresh PREMACHANDRAN; Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students
(EROS), Shankar RAJI; Lanka Socialist Party/Trotskyite (LSSP, or
Lanka Sama Samaja Party), Colin R. DE SILVA; Liberal Party (LP),
Chanaka AMARATUNGA; New Socialist Party (NSSP, or Nava Sama Samaja
Party), Vasudeva NANAYAKKARA; People's Alliance (PA), Chandrika
Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil
Eelam (PLOTE), Dharmalingam SIDARTHAN; People's United Front (MEP,
or Mahajana Eksath Peramuna), Dinesh GUNAWARDENE; Sri Lanka Freedom
Party (SLFP), Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
(SLMC), M. H. M. ASHRAFF; Sri Lanka People's Party (SLMP, or Sri
Lanka Mahajana Party), Ossie ABEYGUNASEKERA; Sri Lanka Progressive
Front (SLPF), leader NA; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO),
leader NA; Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), M. SIVASITHAMBARAM;
United National Party (UNP), Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA; Upcountry
People's Front (UPF), leader NA; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim
parties, represented in either parliament or provincial councils
note: the United Socialist Alliance (USA), which was formed in 1987
and included the NSSP, LSSP, SLMP, CP/M, and CP/B, was defunct as of
1993, following the formation of the People's Alliance Party (PA)

Other political or pressure groups: Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) and other smaller Tamil separatist groups; other
radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups; Buddhist clergy; Sinhalese
Buddhist lay groups; labor unions

International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jayantha Cudah Bandara DHANAPALA
chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028
FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181
consulate(s): New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador A. Peter BURLEIGH
embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
telephone: [94] (1) 448007
FAX: [94] (1) 437345

Flag: yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two
equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other
panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a
sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow
field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and
extends between the two panels

Economy -------

Economic overview: Industry - dominated by the fast-growing
apparel industry - has surpassed agriculture as the main source of
export earnings. The economy has been plagued by high rates of
unemployment since the late 1970s. Economic growth accelerated in
1991-94 as domestic conditions began to improve and conditions for
foreign investment brightened. In 1995, however, the government's
emphasis on populist measures and its preoccupation with the
stepped-up Tamil insurgency have clouded Sri Lanka's economic
prospects and discouraged foreign investors. A further problem for
1996 is the need to curb government overspending.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $65.6 billion (1995 est.)

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

GDP per capita: $3,600 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 24%
industry: 24%
services: 52% (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.4% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 6.1 million
by occupation: agriculture 45%, services 37%, industry 18% (1993
est.)

Unemployment rate: 13% (1994 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.7 billion
expenditures: $3.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $851
million (1995)

Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other
agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining,
textiles, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate: 9% (1994 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 1,410,000 kW
production: 3.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 168 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, roots,
spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, meat

Exports: $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: garments and textiles, teas, diamonds, other gems,
petroleum products, rubber products, other agricultural products,
marine products, graphite
partners: US 34.7%, UK, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, France (1994)

Imports: $4.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: textiles and textile materials, machinery and
equipment, transport equipment, food, petroleum, building materials
partners: Japan, India, UK, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan,
Singapore, China (1994)

External debt: $8.8 billion (1994 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $423 million (1993)

Currency: 1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1 - 54.158
(January 1996), 51.252 (1995), 49.415 (1994), 48.322 (1993), 43.830
(1992), 41.372 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 1,484 km
broad gauge: 1,459 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 25 km .762-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 94,651 km
paved: 25,749 km
unpaved: 68,902 km (1990)

Waterways: 430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craft

Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987)

Ports: Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee

Merchant marine:
total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 220,508 GRT/329,410 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 13, container 1, oil tanker 2,
refrigerated cargo 8 (1995 est.)

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

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

Telephones: 175,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: very inadequate domestic service, good
international service
domestic: NA
international: submarine cables to Indonesia and Djibouti; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0

Radios: 3.525 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 5

Televisions: 865,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 5,085,306
males fit for military service: 3,960,070
males reach military age (18) annually: 180,825 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $640 million,
4.4% of GDP (1996)

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

@Sudan -----

Map ---

Location: 15 00 N, 30 00 E -- Northern Africa, bordering the Red
Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and
black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

Geography ---------

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt
and Eritrea

Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 30 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 2,505,810 sq km
land area: 2.376 million sq km
comparative area: slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US

Land boundaries:
total: 7,687 km
border countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km,
Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km,
Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km, Zaire 628 km

Coastline: 853 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: administrative boundary with Kenya does
not coincide with international boundary; administrative boundary
with Egypt does not coincide with international boundary creating
the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km, tensions over
this disputed area began to escalate in 1992 and remain high

Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season
(April to October)

Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and
west
lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m

Natural resources: petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper,
chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold

Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 24%
forest and woodland: 20%
other: 51%

Irrigated land: 18,900 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife
populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion;
desertification
natural hazards: dust storms
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

Geographic note: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile
and its tributaries

People ------

Population: 31,547,543 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 7,389,616; female 7,080,044)
15-64 years: 52% (male 8,219,080; female 8,172,544)
65 years and over: 2% (male 387,961; female 298,298) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.48% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 41.08 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 11.46 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 5.17 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: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.3 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 76 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.12 years
male: 54.2 years
female: 56.09 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Ethnic divisions: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%,
other 1%

Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%,
Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum)

Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects
of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
note: program of Arabization in process

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 46.1%
male: 57.7%
female: 34.6%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan
conventional short form: Sudan
local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
local short form: As-Sudan
former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

Data code: SU

Type of government: transitional - previously ruling military
junta; presidential and National Assembly elections held in March
1996; new constitution to be drafted by the National Assembly

Capital: Khartoum

Administrative divisions: 9 states (wilayat, singular - wilayat or
wilayah*); A'ali an Nil (Upper Nile), Al Wusta*, Al Istiwa'iyah*
(Equatoria), Al Khartum, Ash Shamaliyah*, Ash Sharqiyah*, Bahr al
Ghazal, Darfur, Kurdufan
note: on 14 February 1994, the 9 states comprising Sudan were
divided into 26 new states; the following spellings have been
reported but not approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Bahr
Aljebal, Blue Nile, Bohayrat, East Equatoria, Gedarif, Gezira,
Jungle, Kassala, Khartoum, North, North Bahr Alghazal, North Darfur,
North Kordofan, Red Sea, River Nile, Sinnar, South Darfur, South
Kordofan, Unity, Upper Nile, Warab, West Bahr Alghazal, West Darfur,
West Kordofan, West Equatoria, White Nile)

Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956)

Constitution: 12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April
1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following
coup of 30 June 1989; new constitution to be drafted following
national elections held in March 1996

Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; as of
20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council
imposed Islamic law in the northern states; the council is still
studying criminal provisions under Islamic law; Islamic law applies
to all residents of the northern states regardless of their
religion; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: NA years of age; universal, but noncompulsary

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Lt. General Umar
Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993) was elected to a
five-year term by popular vote; election last held 6-17 March 1996
(next to be held NA 2001); results - President al-BASHIR won 75.7%
of the vote and defeated about forty other candidates; First Vice
President Major General al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH (since 19 October
1993), Second Vice President (Police) Maj. General George KONGOR
AROP (since NA February 1994)
note: al-BASHIR, as chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council
for National Salvation (RCC), assumed power on 30 June 1989 and
served concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime
minister, and minister of defense until 16 October 1993 when he was
appointed president by the RCC; upon its dissolution on 16 October
1993, the RCC's executive and legislative powers were devolved to
the president and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), Sudan's
appointed legislative body, which has since been replaced by the
National Assembly which was elected in March 1996
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president; note - on 30
October 1993, President al-BASHIR announced a new, predominantly
civilian cabinet, consisting of 20 federal ministers, most of whom
retained their previous cabinet positions; on 9 February 1995, he
abolished three ministries and redivided their portfolios to create
several new ministries; these changes increased National Islamic
Front presence at the ministerial level and consolidated its control
over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; President al-BASHIR's
government is dominated by members of Sudan's National Islamic
Front, a fundamentalist political organization formed from the
Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; front leader Hasan al-TURABI dominates
much of Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policies; President
al-BASHIR is expected to name a new cabinet following the elections
held in March 1996

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly: elections last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be
held NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (400 total, 275
directly elected, and 125 elected by a supra assembly of interest
groups known as the National Congress); note - March 1996 elections
were held on a nonparty basis and parties are to be banned in the
new National Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts

Political parties and leaders: none; banned following 30 June 1989
coup

Other political or pressure groups: National Islamic Front, Hasan
al-TURABI

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

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Mahdi IBRAHIM
chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565 through 8570
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406

US diplomatic representation: operations in Khartoum were
suspended in February 1996; Ambassador to Sudan Timothy M. CARNEY
and several members of the mission have relocated to Nairobi, Kenya
and operate out of the US Embassy there; the embassy is located at
the corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mailing address:
P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (2)
334141; FAX: [254] (2) 340838

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black
with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

Economy -------

Economic overview: Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic
political instability, adverse weather, high inflation, a drop in
remittances from abroad, and counterproductive economic policies.
The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and
trading, with most private industrial investment predating 1980.
Agriculture employs 80% of the work force. Industry mainly processes
agricultural items. Sluggish economic performance over the past
decade, attributable largely to declining annual rainfall, has
reduced levels of per capita income and consumption. A large foreign
debt and huge arrearages continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the
International Monetary Fund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan
noncooperative because of its nonpayment of arrearages to the Fund.
After Sudan backtracked on promised reforms in 1992-93, the IMF
threatened to expel Sudan from the Fund. To avoid expulsion,
Khartoum agreed to make payments on its arrears to the Fund,
liberalize exchange rates, and reduce subsidies, measures it has
partially implemented. The government's continued prosecution of the
civil war and its growing international isolation continued to
inhibit growth in the nonagricultural sectors of the economy during
1995. Agricultural production in 1995, while fairly good, was not up
to the bumper crop level of 1994.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $25 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 0% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $800 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 17%
services: 50% (1992 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 66% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 8.9 million (1993 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%,
government 6%
note: labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled
employment (1983 est.)

Unemployment rate: 30% (FY92/93 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $382 million
expenditures: $1.06 billion, including capital expenditures of $91
million (1995 est.)

Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar,
soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining

Industrial production growth rate: 6.8% (FY92/93 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 500,000 kW
production: 1.3 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 42 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cotton, oilseed, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic;
sheep

Exports: $535 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: cotton 24%, livestock/meat 13%, gum arabic 11%
partners: EU 39%, Saudi Arabia 19%, Japan 9%, US 3% (1993)

Imports: $1.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods,
machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles
partners: EU 31%, Libya 19%, Egypt 5%, Saudi Arabia 5%, US 5% (1993)

External debt: $18 billion (yearend 1995 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $387 million (1993)

Currency: 1 Sudanese pound (LSd) = 100 piastres

Exchange rates: Sudanese pounds (LSd) per US$1 - official rate:
750.0 (November 1995), 277.8 (1994), 153.8 (1993), 69.4 (1992),
5.4288 (1991); market rate: 571.02 (August 1995), 289.61 (1994),
159.31 (1993), 97.43 (1992), 6.96 (1991)
note: the market rate is a unified exchange rate determined by a
committee of local bankers, without official intervention, and is
quoted uniformly by all commercial banks

Fiscal year: calendar year
note: prior to July 1995, Sudan had a fiscal year that began on 1
July and ended on 30 June; as a transition to their new fiscal year,
a six-month budget was implemented for 1 July - 31 December 1995;
the new calendar year (1 January - 31 December) fiscal year became
effective 1 January 1996

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

Railways:
total: 5,516 km
narrow gauge: 4,800 km 1.067-m gauge; 716 km 1.6096-m gauge
plantation line

Highways:
total: 19,885 km
paved: 1,989 km
unpaved: 17,896 km (1986 est.)

Waterways: 5,310 km navigable

Pipelines: refined products 815 km

Ports: Juba, Khartoum, Kusti, Malakal, Nimule, Port Sudan, Sawakin

Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 43,024 GRT/57,985 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 56
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 7
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 25 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 77,215 (1983 est.)

Telephone system: large, well-equipped system by African
standards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained by modern
standards
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone
communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite
system with 14 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: 6.67 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 3

Televisions: 2.06 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force Militia

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 7,152,884
males fit for military service: 4,399,445
males reach military age (18) annually: 329,460 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

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

@Suriname --------

Map ---

Location: 4 00 N, 56 00 W -- Northern South America, bordering the
North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana

Flag ----

Description: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width),
white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there
is a large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band

Geography ---------

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana

Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 56 00 W

Map references: South America

Area:
total area: 163,270 sq km
land area: 161,470 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries:
total: 1,707 km
border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

Coastline: 386 km

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

International disputes: claims area in French Guiana between
Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa
Rivier); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and
Courantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m

Natural resources: timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp,
bauxite, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum,
gold

Land use:
arable land: NEGL%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 97%
other: 3%

Irrigated land: 590 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: deforestation as foreign producers obtain timber
concessions
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the
Sea

Geographic note: mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of
flora and fauna which for the most part is not threatened because of
the lack of development; relatively small population most of which
lives along the coast

People ------

Population: 436,418 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 74,959; female 71,500)
15-64 years: 62% (male 136,287; female 132,407)
65 years and over: 4% (male 9,930; female 11,335) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.6% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 24.15 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.84 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 29.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.04 years
male: 67.51 years
female: 72.7 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.68 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Surinamer(s)
adjective: Surinamese

Ethnic divisions: Hindustani (also known locally as "East"
Indians; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter
part of the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed European and African
ancestry) 31%, Javanese 15.3%, "Bush Black" (also known as "Bush
Creole" whose ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and
18th centuries as slaves) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%,
Europeans 1%, other 1.1%

Religions: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%,
Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%

Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang
Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of
Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca
among others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 93%
male: 95.1%
female: 91%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
conventional short form: Suriname
local long form: Republiek Suriname
local short form: Suriname
former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana

Data code: NS

Type of government: republic

Capital: Paramaribo

Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular -
distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie,
Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Ronald R. VENETIAAN
(since 16 September 1991) and Prime Minister Jules R. AJODHIA (since
16 September 1991), who is also the vice president, were elected for
five-year terms by the National Assembly; election last held 6
September 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - elected by
the National Assembly - Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 80% (645 votes), Jules
WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115 votes), Hans PRADE (DA '91) 6% (49 votes)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the president from
among the members of the National Assembly
note: Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant
power

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 25 May
1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (51 total) NF 30, NDP 10, DA '91 9, independents 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices nominated for life

Political parties and leaders: The New Front (NF), a coalition of
four parties (NPS, VHP, KTPI, SPA), leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN;
Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party
of Suriname (NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and
Solidarity (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA), Fred
DERBY; Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), a coalition of two
parties (AF, and BEP) formed in January 1991, Winston JESSURUN;
Alternative Forum (AF), Gerard BRUNINGS; Party for Brotherhood and
Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Marsha
JAMIN; National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive
Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS; The
Alliance, a combination of three parties (DP, HPP, PVF), Ernie
BRUNINGS; Democratic Party (DP), Ernie BRUNINGS; Reformed
Progressive Party (HPP), Harry KISOENSINGH; Party of the Federation
of Land Workers PVF), Jwan SITAL

Other political or pressure groups: Surinamese Liberation Army
(SLA), Ronnie BRUNSWIJK, Johan "Castro" WALLY; Union for Liberation
and Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation
Movement, Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas
SABAJO

International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUT
chancery: Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488, 7490 through 7492
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general: Miami

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roger R. GAMBLE
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo,
Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390
telephone: [597] 472900, 477881, 476459
FAX: [597] 420800

Flag: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white,
red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a
large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band

Economy -------

Economic overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite
industry, which accounts for upwards of 15% of GDP and more than 65%
of export earnings. Following a dismal year in 1994 which saw the
value of the Surinamese currency plummet by about 80%, inflation
rise to more than 600%, and national output fall for the fifth
consecutive year, nearly all economic indicators improved in 1995.
The VENETIAAN government unified the exchange rate and the currency
gained some of its lost value. In addition, inflation fell to double
digits and tax revenues increased sufficiently to nearly erase the
budget deficit. The release of substantial development aid from the
Netherlands - which had been held up due to the government's failure
to initiate economic reforms - also helped buoy the economy.
Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on
continued implementation of needed economic restructuring; the
outcome of the national elections in May 1996 will be an important
factor in determining future government policy.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 0.7% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $2,950 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 21.6%
industry: 23.7%
services: 54.7% (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 62% (1995)

Labor force: 98,240
by occupation: agriculture, industry, services

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $300 million
expenditures: $700 million, including capital expenditures of $70
million (1994 est.)

Industries: bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production,
lumbering, food processing, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 420,000 kW
production: 1.4 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,123 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts,
plantains, peanuts; beef, chicken; forest products and shrimp of
increasing importance

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs
destined for the US and Europe

Exports: $293.6 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: alumina, aluminum, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
partners: Norway 33%, Netherlands 26%, US 13%, Japan 6%, Brazil 6%,
UK 3% (1992)

Imports: $194.3 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton,
consumer goods
partners: US 42%, Netherlands 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 10%, Brazil
5% (1992)

External debt: $180 million (March 1993 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per
US$1 - central bank midpoint rate: 402.32 (December 1995), 442.23
(1995), 134.12 (1994); parallel rate: 412 (December 1995), 510
(December 1994), 109 (January 1994)
note: beginning July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate
was unified and became market determined

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 166 km (single track)
standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge

Highways:
total: 4,470 km
paved: 1,162 km
unpaved: 3,308 km (1990)

Waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing
vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the
principal waterways

Ports: Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam,
Wageningen

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, container 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 38
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 31
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 43,522 (1992 est.)

Telephone system: international facilities good
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 14, shortwave 1

Radios: 290,256 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 6 (1987 est.)

Televisions: 59,598 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force
elements), Civil Police

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 119,010
males fit for military service: 70,400 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

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

@Svalbard --------

(territory of Norway)

Map ---

Location: 78 00 N, 20 00 E -- Northern Europe, islands between the
Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north
of Norway

Flag ----

Description: the flag of Norway is used

Geography ---------

Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean,
Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway

Geographic coordinates: 78 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references: Arctic Region

Area:
total area: 62,049 sq km
land area: 62,049 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia
note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 3,587 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but
not recognized by Russia
territorial sea: 4 nm

International disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute in the
Barents Sea between Norway and Russia

Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool
summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and
north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most
of the year

Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered;
west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along
west and north coasts
lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m

Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc,
wildlife, fish

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and
cloudberry)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: ice floes often block up the entrance to Bellsund
(a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally
make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway;
consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of
the total area

People ------

Population: 2,715 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: -4.01% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
all ages: NA male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Ethnic divisions: Russian and Ukrainian 62%, Norwegian 38%, other
NEGL% (1994)

Languages: Russian, Norwegian

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Svalbard

Data code: SV

Type of government: territory of Norway administered by the
Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing
in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920)
sovereignty was given to Norway

Capital: Longyearbyen

Independence: none (territory of Norway)

National holiday: NA

Legal system: NA

Executive branch:
Chief of State: King HARALD V (of Norway since 17 January 1991) is a
hereditary monarch
Head of Government: Governor Ann-Krisitin OLSEN (since NA) and
Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993) are
responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
note: Norwegian inhabitants participate in Norwegian national
elections

International organization participation: none

Flag: the flag of Norway is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on
Svalbard. By treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty
powers have equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to
Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal
companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining
are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are
essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company
employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs
many of the local services, and provides most of the local
infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear,
fox, and walrus.

Labor force: NA

Budget:
revenues: $11.6 million
expenditures: $11.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 21,000 kW
production: 45 million kWh
consumption per capita: 13,860 kWh (1992)

Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere