Chapter V (2)

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21
September 1979) was originally elected without opposition under a
one party system and stood for election in Angola's first multiparty
elections on 29-30 September 1992; DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the
total vote, making a run-off election necessary between him and
second-place Jonas SAVIMBI; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) disputed
the results of the first election; the civil war was resumed
head of government: Prime Minister Marcolino Jose Carlos MOCO (since
2 December 1992) was appointed by the president and is answerable to
the Assembly
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional): elections last held 29-30
September 1992 (next to be held NA); results (disputed) - percentage
of vote by party NA; seats (223 total) - seats by party NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal da Relacao), judges of
the Supreme Court are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: Popular Movement for the Liberation
of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, is the ruling
party and has been in power since 1975; National Union for the Total
Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, is a legal
party despite its history of armed resistance to the government;
five minor parties have small numbers of seats in the National
Assembly

Other political or pressure groups: Front for the Liberation of
the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), N'ZITA Tiago, leader of largest
faction (FLEC-FAC)
note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed
struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province

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

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu"
embassy: 1819 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald K. STEINBERG
embassy: No. 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda
mailing address: C.P. 6484, Luanda; American Embassy, Luanda,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550 (pouch)
telephone: [244] (2) 345-481, 346-418
FAX: [244] (2) 346-924

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a
centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half
a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)

Economy -------

Economic overview: Angola is an economy in disarray. Despite its
abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world's
lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for
80%-90% of the population but accounts for less than 15% of GDP. Oil
production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy,
contributing about 50% to GDP. Despite the signing of a peace accord
in November 1994 between the Angola Government and the UNITA
insurgents, sporadic fighting continues and many farmers remain
reluctant to return to their fields. As a result, much of the
country's food must still be imported. To take advantage of its rich
resources - notably gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic
fisheries, and arable land, in addition to its large oil deposits -
Angola will need to observe the cease-fire, implement the peace
agreement, and reform government policies.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.4 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 4% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $700 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 56%
services: 32% (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% monthly average (1994 est.)

Labor force: 2.783 million economically active
by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry 15% (1985 est.)

Unemployment rate: 24% with extensive underemployment (1993 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $928 million
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963
million (1992 est.)

Industries: petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar,
bauxite, uranium, and gold; fish processing; food processing;
brewing; tobacco; sugar; textiles; cement; basic metal products

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 620,000 kW
production: 1.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 189 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton,
manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest
products; fish

Illicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for
cocaine and heroin destined for Western Europe and other African
states

Exports: $3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee,
sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
partners: US, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil

Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities: capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment),
food, vehicles and spare parts, textiles and clothing, medicines,
substantial military deliveries
partners: Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain

External debt: $12 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $189 million (1993)

Currency: 1 new kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei

Exchange rates: new kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 900,000 (official rate
25 April 1995), 1,900,000 (black market rate 6 April 1995), 600,000
(official rate 10 January 1995), 90,000 (official rate 1 June 1994),
180,000 (black market rate 1 June 1994); 7,000 (official rate 16
December 1993), 50,000 (black market rate 16 December 1993); 3,884
(July 1993); 550 (April 1992); 90 (November 1991); 60 (October 1990)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 2,952 km (1995 est.); note - limited trackage in use because
of landmines still in place from the civil war
narrow gauge: 2,798 km 1.067-m gauge; 154 km 0.600-m gauge

Highways:
total: 72,626 km
paved: 18,157 km
unpaved: 54,469 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 1,295 km navigable

Pipelines: crude oil 179 km

Ports: Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malogo, Namibe, Porto
Amboim, Soyo

Merchant marine:
total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 63,776 GRT/99,863 DWT
ships by type: cargo 11, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 143
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 11
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4
with paved runways under 914 m: 40
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 24
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 48 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 78,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: telephone service limited mostly to government
and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military
links
domestic: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and
tropospheric scatter
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 13, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 6

Televisions: 50,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Police
Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,373,087
males fit for military service: 1,195,176
males reach military age (18) annually: 106,456 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, 31%
of GDP (1993)

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

@Anguilla --------

(dependent territory of the UK)

Map ---

Location: 18 15 N, 63 10 W -- Caribbean, island in the Caribbean
Sea, east of Puerto Rico

Flag ----

Description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half
of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an
interlocking circular design on a white background with blue wavy
water below

Geography ---------

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto
Rico

Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 63 10 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total area: 91 sq km
land area: 91 sq km
comparative area: about half the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 61 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m

Natural resources: salt, fish, lobster

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: NA%
forest and woodland: NA%
other: NA% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some
commercial salt ponds)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet
increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July
to October)
international agreements: NA

People ------

Population: 10,424 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (male 1,491; female 1,450)
15-64 years: 64% (male 3,418; female 3,275)
65 years and over: 8% (male 342; female 448) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.45% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 17.84 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 22.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.7 years
male: 73.75 years
female: 79.74 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.04 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan

Ethnic divisions: black African

Religions: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%,
Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%

Languages: English (official)

Literacy: age 12 and over can read and write (1984 est.)
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95%

Government ----------

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

Data code: AV

Type of government: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: The Valley

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May

Constitution: Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended
1990

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a
hereditary monarch; represented by Governor Alan HOOLE (since 1
November 1995)
head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 March
1994) was appointed by the governor from members of the House of
Assembly
cabinet: Executive Council was appointed by the governor from among
the elected members of the House of Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Assembly: elections last held 16 March 1994 (next to be
held March 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11
total, 7 elected) ANA 2, AUP 2, ADP 2, independent 1

Judicial branch: High Court, judge provided by Eastern Caribbean
Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Anguilla National Alliance (ANA),
David CARFY; Anguilla United Party (AUP), Hubert HUGHES; Anguilla
Democratic Party (ADP), Victor BANKS

International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CDB,
Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate)

Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the
UK)

US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half
of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an
interlocking circular design on a white background with blue wavy
water below

Economy -------

Economic overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, and the
economy depends heavily on tourism, offshore banking, lobster
fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Output growth has averaged
about 7% in recent years, mainly as a result of boom in tourism
thanks to economic expansion in North America and the UK. The
economy, and especially the tourism sector, suffered a setback in
late 1995 due to the effects of Hurricane Luis in September.
Agricultural output had only just begun to recover from a drought in
1994 when Luis hit. Anguillan officials have put substantial effort
into developing the offshore financing sector. A comprehensive
package of financial services legislation was enacted in late 1994.
In the medium term, prospects for the economy will depend on the
tourism sector and, therefore, on continuing income growth in the
industrialized nations.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $53 million (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 6.5% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita: $7,600 (1994 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1994)

Labor force: 4,400 (1992)
by occupation: commerce 36%, services 29%, construction 18%,
transportation and utilities 10%, manufacturing 3%,
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%

Unemployment rate: 7% (1992 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $13.5 million (1993)
expenditures: $17.6 million, including capital expenditures of
$740,000 (1995 est.)

Industries: tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 2,000 kW
production: 6 million kWh
consumption per capita: 862 kWh (1992)

Agriculture: pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes; sheep, goats,
pigs, cattle, poultry; fishing (including lobster)

Exports: $556,000 (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: lobster and salt
partners: NA

Imports: $33.5 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: NA
partners: NA

External debt: $NA

Economic aid: $NA

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

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

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 105 km
paved: 65 km
unpaved: 40 km (1992 est.)

Ports: Blowing Point, Road Bay

Merchant marine: none

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

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

Telephones: 890

Telephone system:
domestic: modern internal telephone system
international: microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin
(Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: 2,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

@Antarctica ----------

Map ---

Location: 90 00 S, 0 00 E -- continent mostly south of the
Antarctic Circle

Geography ---------

Location: continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle

Geographic coordinates: 90 00 S, 0 00 E

Map references: Antarctic Region

Area:
total area: 14 million sq km (est.)
land area: 14 million sq km (est.)
comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
note: second-smallest continent (after Australia)

Land boundaries: 0 km
note: see entry on International disputes

Coastline: 17,968 km

Maritime claims: none, but see entry on International disputes

International disputes: Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see
Antarctic Treaty Summary below); sections (some overlapping) claimed
by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France (Adelie Land), New Zealand
(Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land), and UK; the US and most
other nations do not recognize the territorial claims of other
nations and have made no claims themselves (the US reserves the
right to do so); no formal claims have been made in the sector
between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west

Climate: severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation,
and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West
Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has
the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January
along the coast and average slightly below freezing

Terrain: about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock,
with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain
ranges up to about 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal areas include
parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic
Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers
form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice
shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Vinson Massif 5,140 m

Natural resources: none presently exploited; iron ore, chromium,
copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and
hydrocarbons have been found in small, uncommercial quantities

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment:
current issues: in October 1991 it was reported that the ozone
shield, which protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet
radiation, had dwindled to the lowest level recorded over Antarctica
since 1975 when measurements were first taken
natural hazards: katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward
from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the
plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise
along the coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of
West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest
continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface
at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent
period; mostly uninhabitable

People ------

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are seasonally
staffed research stations
Summer (January) population: over 4,115 total; Argentina 207,
Australia 268, Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Chile 256, China NA, Ecuador
NA, Finland 11, France 78, Germany 32, Greenpeace 12, India 60,
Italy 210, Japan 59, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 264, Norway
23, Peru 39, Poland NA, South Africa 79, Spain 43, Sweden 10, UK
116, Uruguay NA, US 1,666, former USSR 565 (1989-90)
Winter (July) population: over 1,046 total; Argentina 150, Australia
71, Brazil 12, Chile 73, China NA, France 33, Germany 19, Greenpeace
5, India 1, Japan 38, South Korea 14, NZ 11, Poland NA, South Africa
12, UK 69, Uruguay NA, US 225, former USSR 313 (1989-90)
Year-round stations: 42 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1,
Chile 3, China 2, Finland 1, France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 2,
South Korea 1, NZ 1, Poland 1, South Africa 3, UK 5, Uruguay 1, US
3, former USSR 6 (1990-91)
Summer-only stations: over 38 total; Argentina 7, Australia 3, Chile
5, Germany 3, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 4, NZ 2, Norway 1, Peru 1,
South Africa 1, Spain 1, Sweden 2, UK 1, US numerous, former USSR 5
(1989-90); note - the disintegration of the former USSR has placed
the status and future of its Antarctic facilities in doubt; stations
may be subject to closings at any time because of ongoing economic
difficulties

Government ----------

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

Data code: AY

Type of government:
Antarctic Treaty Summary: The Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December
1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal
framework for the management of Antarctica. Administration is
carried out through consultative member meetings - the 18th
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was in Japan in April 1993.
Currently, there are 42 treaty member nations: 26 consultative and
16 acceding. Consultative (voting) members include the seven nations
that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims
overlap) and 19 nonclaimant nations. The US and some other nations
that have made no claims have reserved the right to do so. The US
does not recognize the claims of others. The year in parentheses
indicates when an acceding nation was voted to full consultative
(voting) status, while no date indicates the country was an original
1959 treaty signatory. Claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia,
Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant
consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1983), China (1985),
Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989), Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy
(1987), Japan, South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989),
Poland (1977), South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988), Uruguay
(1985), the US, and Russia. Acceding (nonvoting) members, with year
of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Bulgaria (1978),
Canada (1988), Colombia (1988), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1993),
Denmark (1965), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984),
North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971),
Slovakia (1993), Switzerland (1990), and Ukraine (1992).
Article 1: area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military
activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military
personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any
other peaceful purpose
Article 2: freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall
continue
Article 3: free exchange of information and personnel in cooperation
with the UN and other international agencies
Article 4: does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial
claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in
force
Article 5: prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive
wastes
Article 6: includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south
of 60 degrees 00 minutes south
Article 7: treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial
observation, to any area and may inspect all stations,
installations, and equipment; advance notice of all activities and
of the introduction of military personnel must be given
Article 8: allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by
their own states
Article 9: frequent consultative meetings take place among member
nations
Article 10: treaty states will discourage activities by any country
in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty
Article 11: disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties
concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ
Articles 12 13 14: deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending
the treaty among involved nations
Other agreements: more than 170 recommendations adopted at treaty
consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed
Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora (1964);
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972);
Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
(1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but was
subsequently rejected; in 1991 the Protocol on Environmental
Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed and awaits
ratification; this agreement provides for the protection of the
Antarctic environment through five specific annexes on marine
pollution, fauna, and flora, environmental impact assessments, waste
management, and protected areas; it also prohibits all activities
relating to mineral resources except scientific research; 21 parties
have ratified Protocol as of April 1996

Legal system: US law, including certain criminal offenses by or
against US nationals, such as murder, may apply to areas not under
jurisdiction of other countries. Some US laws directly apply to
Antarctica. For example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C.
section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the
following activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute:
The taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of
nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protected or
scientific areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the
importation into the US of certain items from Antarctica. Violation
of the Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000
in fines and 1 year in prison. The Departments of Treasury,
Commerce, Transportation, and Interior share enforcement
responsibilities. Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation
Act of 1978, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to
notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room
5801, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such
plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more
information contact Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs,
National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230 (703)
306-1031.

Economy -------

Economic overview: No economic activity at present except for
fishing off the coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad.

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

Ports: none; offshore anchorage

Airports: 50 landing facilities at different locations operated by
16 national governments party to the Treaty; one additional air
facility operated by commercial (nongovernmental) tourist
organization; helicopter pads at 25 of these locations; runways at
13 locations are gravel, sea ice, glacier ice, or compacted snow
surface suitable for wheeled fixed-wing aircraft; no paved runways;
12 locations have snow-surface skiways limited to use by
ski-equipped planes - 8 runways/skiways greater than 3,000 m,10
runways/skiways 1,000 to 3,000 m, 3 runways/skiways less than 1,000
m, and 4 of unspecified or variable length; airports generally
subject to severe restrictions and limitations resulting from
extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; airports do not meet
ICAO standards; advance approval from the respective governmental or
non-governmental operating organization required for landing (1995
est.)

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

Telephones: NA

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: the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a
military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and
fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the
testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military
personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other
peaceful purposes

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

@Antigua and Barbuda -------------------

Map ---

Location: 17 03 N, 61 48 W -- Caribbean, islands between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto
Rico

Flag ----

Description: red with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the
top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands
of black (top), light blue, and white with a yellow rising sun in
the black band

Geography ---------

Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates: 17 03 N, 61 48 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total area: 440 sq km
land area: 440 sq km
comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
note: includes Redonda

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 153 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 marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands with some
higher volcanic areas
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m

Natural resources: negligible; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 7%
forest and woodland: 16%
other: 59%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: water management - a major concern because of
limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the
clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to
run off quickly
natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October);
periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

People ------

Population: 65,647 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 25% (male 8,386; female 8,043)
15-64 years: 69% (male 22,589; female 22,548)
65 years and over: 6% (male 1,820; female 2,261) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.76% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 16.83 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.32 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -3.9 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 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 17.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.64 years
male: 71.55 years
female: 75.84 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan

Ethnic divisions: black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian

Religions: Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some
Roman Catholic

Languages: English (official), local dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of
schooling (1960 est.)
total population: 89%
male: 90%
female: 88%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda

Data code: AC

Type of government: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Saint John's

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*;
Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint
Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip

Independence: 1 November 1981 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981)

Constitution: 1 November 1981

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a
hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General James B.
CARLISLE (since NA 1993) who was chosen by the queen on advice from
the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March
1994) was appointed by the governor general
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the governor general
on the advice of the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: 17- member body appointed by the governor general
House of Representatives: elections last held 8 March 1994 (next to
be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17
total) ALP 11, UPP 5, independent 1

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint
Lucia), one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands
and presides over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Political parties and leaders: Antigua Labor Party (ALP), Lester
Bryant BIRD; United Progressive Party (UPP), headed by Baldwin
SPENCER, a coalition of three opposition political parties-the
United National Democratic Party (UNDP); the Antigua Caribbean
Liberation Movement (ACLM); and the Progressive Labor Movement (PLM)

Other political or pressure groups: Antigua Trades and Labor Union
(ATLU), William ROBINSON; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Hugh
MARSHALL

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel Alexander HURST
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 362-5211, 5166, 5122
FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225
consulate(s) general: Miami

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Antigua and Barbuda (embassy closed 30 June 1994); the US Ambassador
to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda

Flag: red with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top
edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of
black (top), light blue, and white with a yellow rising sun in the
black band

Economy -------

Economic overview: Tourism continues to be by far the dominant
activity in the economy but the combined share in GDP of transport
and communications, trade, and public utilities has increased
markedly in recent years. Tourism's direct contribution to output in
1994 was about 20%. In addition, increased tourist arrivals helped
spur growth in the construction and transport sectors. The dual
island nation's agricultural production is mainly directed to the
domestic market; the sector is constrained by the limited water
supply and labor shortages that reflect the pull of higher wages in
tourism and construction. Manufacturing - which accounts for 3.5% of
GDP - comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products
being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components. Prospects for
economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on income
growth in the industrialized world, especially in the US, which
accounts for about half of all tourist arrivals.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $425 million (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 4.2% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita: $6,600 (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 19.3%
services: 77.2% (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (1994)

Labor force: 30,000
by occupation: commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry
7% (1983)

Unemployment rate: 5%-10%(1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $134 million
expenditures: $135.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995)

Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing,
alcohol, household appliances)

Industrial production growth rate: -4.9% (1993 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 52,100 kW
production: 95 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,242 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts,
cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock

Illicit drugs: a long-time but relatively minor transshipment
point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe and recent
transshipment point for heroin from Europe to the US; more
significant as a drug money laundering center

Exports: $40.9 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, food and live
animals 4%, machinery and transport equipment 17%
partners: OECS 26%, Barbados 15%, Guyana 4%, Trinidad and Tobago 2%,
US 0.3%

Imports: $443.8 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: food and live animals, machinery and transport
equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil
partners: US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%, other 50%

External debt: $377 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid: $NA

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

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

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

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

Railways:
total: 77 km
narrow gauge: 64 km 0.760-m gauge; 13 km 0.610-m gauge (used almost
exclusively for handling sugarcane)

Highways:
total: 240 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Ports: Saint John's

Merchant marine:
total: 367 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,573,063
GRT/2,147,243 DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 247, chemical tanker 6, combination
bulk 1, container 72, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 3,
refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off cargo 16
note: a flag of convenience registry: Germany owns 12 ships,
Slovenia 3, Croatia 2, Cyprus 1, and US 1 (1995 est.)

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

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

Telephones: 6,700

Telephone system:
domestic: good automatic telephone system
international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station -
1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Saba
(Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe

Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 2

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 2

Televisions: 28,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua
and Barbuda Police Force (includes the Coast Guard)

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

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.4 million, 1%
of GDP (FY90/91)

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

@Arctic Ocean ------------

Map ---

Location: 90 00 N, 0 00 E -- body of water mostly north of the
Arctic Circle

Geography ---------

Location: body of water mostly north of the Arctic Circle

Geographic coordinates: 90 00 N, 0 00 E

Map references: Arctic Region

Area:
total area: 14.056 million sq km
comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of the US;
smallest of the world's four oceans (after Pacific Ocean, Atlantic
Ocean, and Indian Ocean)
note: includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea,
East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Kara
Sea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary water bodies

Coastline: 45,389 km

International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral
states); Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute
between Norway and Russia

Climate: polar climate characterized by persistent cold and
relatively narrow annual temperature ranges; winters characterized
by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and
clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and
foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow

Terrain: central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar
icepack that averages about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure
ridges may be three times that size; clockwise drift pattern in the
Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight line movement from the
New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland
and Iceland); the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the
summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends
to the encircling land masses; the ocean floor is about 50%
continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the
remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges
(Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonsov Ridge)
lowest point: Fram Basin -4,665 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources: sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits,
polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals
(seals and whales)

Environment:
current issues: endangered marine species include walruses and
whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from
disruptions or damage
natural hazards: ice islands occasionally break away from northern
Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland
and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually
icelocked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure
icing from October to May
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea
(northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait);
strategic location between North America and Russia; shortest marine
link between the extremes of eastern and western Russia, floating
research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover
in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean;
snow cover lasts about 10 months

Government ----------

Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for
hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic
Data Codes appendix

Economy -------

Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to the
exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas,
fish, and seals.

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

Ports: Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)

Transportation note: sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land
routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route
(Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways

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

Telephone system:
international: no submarine cables

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

@Argentina ---------

Map ---

Location: 34 00 S, 64 00 W -- Southern South America, bordering
the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top),
white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant
yellow sun with a human face known as the Sun of May

Geography ---------

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic
Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay

Geographic coordinates: 34 00 S, 64 00 W

Map references: South America

Area:
total area: 2,766,890 sq km
land area: 2,736,690 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

Land boundaries:
total: 9,665 km
border countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km,
Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km

Coastline: 4,989 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: short section of the boundary with Uruguay
is in dispute; short section of the boundary with Chile is
indefinite; claims British-administered Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas); claims British-administered South Georgia and the South
Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica

Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in
southwest

Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to
rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western
border
lowest point: Salinas Chicas -40 m
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m

Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin,
copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium

Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 4%
meadows and pastures: 52%
forest and woodland: 22%
other: 13%

Irrigated land: 17,600 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: erosion results from inadequate flood controls and
improper land use practices; irrigated soil degradation;
desertification; air pollution in Buenos Aires and other major
cities; water pollution in urban areas; rivers becoming polluted due
to increased pesticide and fertilizer use
natural hazards: Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to
earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the
Pampas and northeast; heavy flooding
international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification,
Marine Life Conservation

Geographic note: second-largest country in South America (after
Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between South
Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle
Channel, Drake Passage)

People ------

Population: 34,672,997 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (male 4,904,380; female 4,707,293)
15-64 years: 63% (male 10,851,004; female 10,834,593)
65 years and over: 9% (male 1,414,412; female 1,961,315) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 1.1% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 19.41 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 8.62 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.18 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 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 28.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.66 years
male: 68.37 years
female: 75.12 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.62 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Argentine(s)
adjective: Argentine

Ethnic divisions: white 85%, mestizo, Indian, or other nonwhite
groups 15%

Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20%
practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6%

Languages: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.2%
female: 96.2%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Argentine Republic
conventional short form: Argentina
local long form: Republica Argentina
local short form: Argentina

Data code: AR

Type of government: republic

Capital: Buenos Aires

Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia), and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Buenos
Aires; Catamarca; Chaco; Chubut; Cordoba; Corrientes; Distrito
Federal*; Entre Rios; Formosa; Jujuy; La Pampa; La Rioja; Mendoza;
Misiones; Neuquen; Rio Negro; Salta; San Juan; San Luis; Santa Cruz;
Santa Fe; Santiago del Estero; Tierra del Fuego, Antartida e Islas
del Atlantico Sur; Tucuman
note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica or
Argentina's claims to the Falkland Islands

Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain)

National holiday: Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)

Constitution: 1 May 1853; revised August 1994

Legal system: mixture of US and West European legal systems; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Carlos Saul MENEM
(since 8 July 1989) was elected for a four-year term by universal
suffrage; election last held 14 May 1995 (next to be held May 1999);
results - Carlos Saul MENEM was reelected; Vice President Carlos
RUCKAUF
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
Senate: elections last held NA May 1995 (next to be held NA);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) PJ 38,
others 34
Chamber of Deputies: one-half of the members elected every two years
to four-year terms; elections last held 14 May 1995; (next to be
held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (257
total) PJ 132, UCR 68, Frepaso 26, other 31

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), the nine Supreme
Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of the
Senate

Political parties and leaders: Justicialist Party (PJ), Carlos
Saul MENEM, Peronist umbrella political organization; Radical Civic
Union (UCR), Rodolfo TERRAGNO, moderately left-of-center party;
Union of the Democratic Center (UCD), conservative party; Dignity
and Independence Political Party (MODIN), Aldo RICO, right-wing
party; Grand Front (Frente Grande), Carlos ALVAREZ, center-left
coalition; Front for a Country in Solidarity (Frepaso, a four party
coalition), leader Jose Octavio BORDON; several provincial parties

Other political or pressure groups: Peronist-dominated labor
movement; General Confederation of Labor (CGT), Peronist-leaning
umbrella labor organization; Argentine Industrial Union
(manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Society (large
landowners' association); business organizations; students; the
Roman Catholic Church; the Armed Forces

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
Australia Group, BCIE, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G- 6, G-11, G-15, G-19,
G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MTCR, NSG (observer), OAS,
OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMIR, UNAVEM
III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR,
UNMIH, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Enrique GRANILLO OCAMPO
chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6400 through 6403
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador James R. CHEEK
embassy: 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires
mailing address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034
telephone: [54] (1) 777-4533, 4534
FAX: [54] (1) 777-0197

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and
light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with
a human face known as the Sun of May

Economy -------

Economic overview: Argentina, rich in natural resources, benefits
also from a highly literate population, an export-oriented
agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base.
Nevertheless, following decades of mismanagement and statist
policies, the economy in the late 1980s was plagued with huge
external debts and recurring bouts of hyperinflation. Elected in
1989, in the depths of recession, President MENEM has implemented a
comprehensive economic restructuring program that shows signs of
putting Argentina on a path of stable, sustainable growth.
Argentina's currency has traded at par with the US dollar since
April 1991, and inflation has fallen to its lowest level in 20
years. Argentines have responded to the relative price stability by
repatriating flight capital and investing in domestic industry.
After registering impressive 7.4% growth in 1994, based largely on
inflows of foreign capital and strong domestic consumption, the
Argentine economy stumbled in 1995 as financial pressures fueled by
the Mexican peso crisis and political squabbling within the MENEM
administration undermined investor confidence and triggered capital
outflows. By yearend, GDP had contracted 4.4%, unemployment reached
16%, and Buenos Aires struggled to meet fiscal targets. On the trade
front, exports soared during the first half of 1995 - largely
because of strong demand in Brazil and high commodity prices - while
anemic domestic consumption lowered imports; the resulting yearend
trade surplus was about $1.2 billion. However, because exports
contribute only 7.5% to GDP, increased foreign sales had little
impact on aggregate growth. High unemployment will continue to
plague the MENEM administration for the next several years as
provincial entities are readied for privatization and more public
sector employees are laid off.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $278.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: -4.4%

GDP per capita: $8,100 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 31%
services: 63% (1992 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 10.9 million
by occupation: agriculture 12%, industry 31%, services 57% (1985
est.)

Unemployment rate: 16% (1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $48.46 billion
expenditures: $46.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.5
billion (1994 est.)

Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables,
textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel

Industrial production growth rate: -4.6% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 17,330,000 kW
production: 54.8 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 1,610 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, corn, sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets; livestock

Illicit drugs: increasing use as a transshipment country for
cocaine headed for Europe and the US

Exports: $20.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, manufactures
partners: US 9%, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Netherlands

Imports: $19.5 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and
lubricants, agricultural products
partners: US 21%, Brazil, Germany, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands

External debt: $90 billion (December 1995)

Economic aid: $NA

Currency: 1 nuevo peso argentino = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: pesos per US$1 - 1.00000 (January 1996), 0.99975
(1995), 0.99901 (1994), 0.99895 (1993), 0.99064 (1992), 0.95355
(1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 37,910 km
broad gauge: 24,124 km 1.676-m gauge (142 km electrified)
standard gauge: 2,765 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 11,021 km 1.000-m gauge (26 km electrified)

Highways:
total: 215,578 km
paved: 61,440 km
unpaved: 154,138 km

Waterways: 11,000 km navigable

Pipelines: crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km;
natural gas 9,918 km

Ports: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepcion
del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos,
Rosario, Santa Fe, Ushuaia

Merchant marine:
total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 303,448 GRT/458,864 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 11, chemical tanker 1, container 3, oil
tanker 14, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 1,253
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 25
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 54
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 46
with paved runways under 914 m: 511
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 60
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 549 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 2.7 million (1983 est.)

Telephone system: 12,000 public telephones; extensive modern
system but many families do not have telephones; despite extensive
use of microwave radio relay, the telephone system frequently
grounds out during rainstorms, even in Buenos Aires
domestic: microwave radio relay and a domestic satellite system with
40 earth stations serve the trunk network
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 171, FM 0, shortwave 13

Radios: 22.3 million (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 231

Televisions: 7.165 million (1991 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic,
Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval
Prefecture (Coast Guard only), National Aeronautical Police Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 8,707,014
males fit for military service: 7,063,304
males reach military age (20) annually: 310,107 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.7 billion,
1.5% of GDP (1995)

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

@Armenia -------

Map ---

Location: 40 00 N, 45 00 E -- Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and
gold

Geography ---------

Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:
total area: 29,800 sq km
land area: 28,400 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries:
total: 1,254 km
border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan
exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: supports ethnic Armenians in
Nagorno-Karabakh in their separatist conflict against the
Azerbaijani Government; traditional demands on former Armenian lands
in Turkey have subsided

Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Terrain: high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land;
fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point: Aragats Lerr 4,095 m

Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum,
zinc, alumina

Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 3%
meadows and pastures: 20%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 60%

Irrigated land: 3,050 sq km (1990)

Environment:
current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT;
energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to
deforestation as citizens scavenge for firewood; pollution of
Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich, a
result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking
water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant without
adequate (IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systems
natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification

Geographic note: landlocked

People ------

Population: 3,463,574 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (male 497,461; female 476,649)
15-64 years: 64% (male 1,085,935; female 1,132,282)
65 years and over: 8% (male 111,661; female 159,586) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.02% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 16.27 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 7.73 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -8.3 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: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 38.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.06 years
male: 64.44 years
female: 73.92 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.06 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian

Ethnic divisions: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other
(mostly Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989)
note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from
======================================================================

@Aruba -----

(part of the Dutch realm)

Map ---

Location: 12 30 N, 69 58 W -- Caribbean, island in the Caribbean
Sea, north of Venezuela

Flag ----

Description: blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across
the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in
the upper hoist-side corner

Geography ---------

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of
Venezuela

Geographic coordinates: 12 30 N, 69 58 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total area: 193 sq km
land area: 193 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 68.5 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m

Natural resources: negligible; white sandy beaches

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

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
international agreements: NA

People ------

Population: 67,794 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 7,850; female 7,155)
15-64 years: 69% (male 22,499; female 24,596)
65 years and over: 9% (male 2,353; female 3,341) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.31% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 14.62 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 6.24 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -5.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.93 male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate: 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.68 years
male: 73 years
female: 80.55 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban

Ethnic divisions: mixed European/Caribbean Indian 80%

Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim,
Confucian, Jewish

Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese,
Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish

Literacy: NA

Government ----------

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

Data code: AA

Type of government: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in
internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the
Netherlands Antilles

Capital: Oranjestad

Administrative divisions: none (self-governing part of the
Netherlands)

Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm; in 1990, Aruba
requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the
agreement to automatically give independence to the island in 1996)