Chapter V (38)

Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.4160 (January
1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992),
6.4829 (1991)

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

Railways: 0 km

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

Ports: Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 4
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 3 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: NA

Telephone system:
domestic: local telephone service
international: satellite earth station - 1 of NA type (for
communication with Norwegian mainland only)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 2), shortwave 0
note: there are five meteorological/radio stations

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

Defense note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)

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

@Swaziland ---------

Map ---

Location: 26 30 S, 31 30 E -- Southern Africa, between Mozambique
and South Africa

Flag ----

Description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple
width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the
red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a
staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

Geographic coordinates: 26 30 S, 31 30 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 17,360 sq km
land area: 17,200 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:
total: 535 km
border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open
negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African
territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long
ago part of the Swazi Kingdom

Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate

Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m

Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower,
forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc

Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: NEGL
meadows and pastures: 62%
forest and woodland: 7%
other: 20%

Irrigated land: 640 sq km (1993 est.)

Environment:
current issues: limited access to potable water; wildlife
populations being depleted because of excessive hunting;
overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change,
Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South
Africa

People ------

Population: 998,730 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 227,634; female 229,129)
15-64 years: 52% (male 247,156; female 271,096)
65 years and over: 2% (male 9,864; female 13,851) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.24% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 42.91 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 10.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 88.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.26 years
male: 53.25 years
female: 61.4 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.05 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi

Ethnic divisions: African 97%, European 3%

Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%

Languages: English (official, government business conducted in
English), siSwati (official)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 76.7%
male: 78%
female: 75.6%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland

Data code: WZ

Type of government: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth

Capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)

Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini,
Shiselweni

Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)

National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)

Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended
12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978,
but has not been formally presented to the people

Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory
courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: NA; note - no suffrage before September 1993; 55 of the
65 seats in the House of Assembly were filled by popular vote in the
elections of September and October 1993; of a population of less
than 1 million, the electorate numbered 283,693

Executive branch:
chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) is a
hereditary monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Prince Jameson Mbilini DLAMINI
(since 12 November 1993); appointed by the king
cabinet: Cabinet; designated by the king

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament is advisory
Senate: consists of 30 members (10 appointed by the House of
Assembly and 20 appointed by the king)
House of Assembly: elections last held 26 September and 11 October
1993 (next to be held NA); results - balloting is done on a nonparty
basis; of the total of 65 seats, 10 are appointed by the king and 55
are elected by secret, popular vote; candidates for election are
nominated by the local council of each constituency and for each
constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first
round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round

Judicial branch: High Court, judges are appointed by the king;
Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the king

Political parties and leaders:
note: political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated
on 13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding
large public gatherings
illegal parties: Peoples' United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Mario
MASUKU; Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), Benedict TSABEDZE;
Swaziland Communist Party (SWACOPA), Mphandlana SHONGWE; Swaziland
Liberation Front (FROLISA); Convention for Full Democracy in
Swaziland (COFUDESWA), Sabelo DLAMINI; Swaziland National Front
(SWANAFRO); Ngwane Socialist Revolutionary Party (NGWASOREP)

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

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KHANYA
chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 362-6683, 6685
FAX: [1] (202) 244-8059

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador John T. SPROTT
embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
telephone: [268] 46441 through 46445
FAX: [268] 45959

Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width),
and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band
is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff
decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally

Economy -------

Economic overview: This small landlocked economy is based largely
on subsistence agriculture, which occupies more than 60% of the
population. Manufacturing features a number of agroprocessing
factories. Mining has declined in importance in recent years;
high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted by 1978, and health
concerns cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of sugar and
forestry products are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded
by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique,
Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa, from which it
receives 90% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its
exports. Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines
supplement domestically produced income by as much as 20%.
Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drougth persist as problems for the
future.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2.6% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $3,700 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 40%
services: 35% (1995 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.7% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 160,355 (1986 est.)
by occupation: private sector about 65%, public sector 35%

Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $342 million
expenditures: $410 million, including capital expenditures of $130
million (1994 est.)

Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar

Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1993 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 120,000 kW
production: 410 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,003 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus,
pineapples, corn, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep

Exports: $798 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: sugar, edible concentrates, wood pulp, cotton yarn,
asbestos
partners: South Africa 50%, EU countries, Canada

Imports: $827 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment,
petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals
partners: South Africa 90%, Switzerland, UK 2.6%

External debt: $240 million (1992)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996),
3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563
(1991), 2.5863 (1990); note - the Swazi emalangeni is at par with
the South African rand

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

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

Railways:
total: 297 km; note - includes 71 km which are not in use
narrow gauge: 297 km 1.067-m gauge (single track)

Highways:
total: 2,960 km
paved: 804 km
unpaved: 2,156 km (1993 est.)

Ports: none

Airports:
total: 17
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 10
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 30,364 (1993 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and
low-capacity, microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios: 129,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 10

Televisions: 12,500 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), Royal Swaziland
Police Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 220,097
males fit for military service: 127,285 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $22 million, NA%
of GDP (FY93/94)

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

@Sweden ------

Map ---

Location: 62 00 N, 15 00 E -- Northern Europe, bordering the
Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Skagerrak, between Finland and
Norway

Flag ----

Description: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of
the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Geography ---------

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of
Bothnia, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway

Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 15 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 449,964 sq km
land area: 410,928 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries:
total: 2,205 km
border countries: Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km

Coastline: 3,218 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool,
partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north

Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m

Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber,
uranium, hydropower potential

Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 2%
forest and woodland: 64%
other: 27%

Irrigated land: 1,120 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: acid rain damaging soils and lakes; pollution of the
North Sea and the Baltic Sea
natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in
the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Geographic note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking
Baltic and North Seas

People ------

Population: 8,900,954 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 860,940; female 815,967)
15-64 years: 64% (male 2,884,687; female 2,794,593)
65 years and over: 17% (male 654,439; female 890,328) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 0.56% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 11.55 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 11.43 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 5.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.06 years
male: 75.62 years
female: 80.63 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish

Ethnic divisions: white, Lapp (Sami), foreign-born or
first-generation immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes,
Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%,
Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987)

Languages: Swedish
note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local long form: Konungariket Sverige
local short form: Sverige

Data code: SW

Type of government: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Stockholm

Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular and plural);
Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus
Lan, Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan,
Kalmar Lan, Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan,
Malmohus Lan, Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan,
Skaraborgs Lan, Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan,
Varmlands Lan, Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands
Lan

Independence: 6 June 1523, Gustav VASA was elected king; 6 June
1809, a constitutional monarchy was established

National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June

Constitution: 1 January 1975

Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973) is a
constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice
Desiree, daughter of the King (born 14 July 1977)
head of government: Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since 21 March
1996) was elected by the Riksdag
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Riksdag): elections last held 18 September 1994 (next to
be held NA September 1998); results - Social Democrats 45.4%,
Moderate Party (Conservatives) 22.3%, Center Party 7.7%, Liberals
7.2%, Left Party 6.2%, Greens 5.8%, Christian Democrats 4.1%, New
Democracy Party 1.2%; seats - (349 total) Social Democrats 162,
Moderate Party (Conservatives) 80, Center Party 27, Liberals 26,
Left Party 22, Greens 18, Christian Democrats 14; note - the New
Democracy Party did not receive a seat because parties require a
minimum of 4.0% of votes for a seat in parliament

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen), judges are
appointed by the government (prime minister and cabinet)

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Goran
PERSSON; Moderate Party (conservative), Carl BILDT; Liberal People's
Party, Maria LEISSNER; Center Party, Olof JOHANSSON; Christian
Democratic Party, Alf SVENSSON; New Democracy Party, Vivianne
FRANZEN; Left Party (VP; Communist), Gudrun SCHYMAN; Communist
Workers' Party, Rolf HAGEL; Green Party, no formal leader but party
spokesperson is Briger SCHLAUG

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB,
ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 8, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NC,
NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP,
UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carl Henrik Sihver LILJEGREN
chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas L. SIEBERT
embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [46] (8) 783 53 00
FAX: [46] (8) 661 19 64

Flag: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the
flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in
the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy -------

Economic overview: Aided by peace and neutrality during World War
I through World War II, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of
living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive
welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent
internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force.
Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an
economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately-owned firms
account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering
sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. In 1993, agriculture
accounted for only 2% of GDP and 2% of the jobs. In recent years,
however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by
budgetary difficulties, inflation, growing unemployment, and a
gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. In
November 1992, Sweden broke its tie to the EC's ECU (European
Currency Unit), and depreciation of the krona has boosted export
competitiveness and helped lift Sweden out of its 1991-93 recession.
To curb the budget deficit and bolster confidence in the economy,
the government adopted an adjustment program in November 1994 that
aims to eliminate the government budget deficit and to stabilize the
debt to GDP ratio. Sweden has harmonized its economic policies with
those of the EU, which it joined at the start of 1995.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $177.3 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 3.5% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $20,100 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 27%
services: 71% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1995)

Labor force: 4.552 million (84% unionized, 1992)
by occupation: community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining
and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%,
banking, insurance 9.0%, communications 7.2%, construction 7.0%,
agriculture, fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991)

Unemployment rate: 7.8% (December 1995) plus about 6% in training
programs

Budget:
revenues: $109.4 billion
expenditures: $146.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY95/96)

Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio
and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products,
processed foods, motor vehicles

Industrial production growth rate: 11.7% (1994)

Electricity:
capacity: 34,560,000 kW
production: 141 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 14,891 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: grains, sugar beets, potatoes; meat, milk

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics shipped via the
former Soviet Republics and Baltic states for the European market

Exports: $61.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and
wood, iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum
products
partners: EU 59.1% (Germany 13.2%, UK 10.2%, Denmark 6.9%, France
5.1%), Norway 8.1%, Finland 4.8%, US 8.0% (1994)

Imports: $51.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing
partners: EU 62.6% (Germany 18.4%, UK 9.5%, Denmark 6.6%, France
5.5%), Finland 6.3%, Norway 6.1%, US 8.5% (1994)

External debt: $66.5 billion (1994)

Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $1.769 billion (1993)

Currency: 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 oere

Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 6.7240 (January
1996), 7.1333 (1995), 7.7160 (1994), 7.7834 (1993), 5.8238 (1992),
6.0475 (1991)

Fiscal year: 1 January - 31 December (Sweden changed its fiscal
year from 1 July - 30 June in 1995)

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

Railways:
total: 12,624 km (includes 953 km of privately-owned railways)
standard gauge: 11,767 km 1.435-m gauge (7,320 km electrified and
1,152 km double track)
other: 857 km NA-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 135,859 km
paved: 97,818 km (including 936 km of expressways)
unpaved: 38,041 km (1991 est.)

Waterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges

Pipelines: natural gas 84 km

Ports: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar,
Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall

Merchant marine:
total: 169 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,993,422
GRT/2,183,215 DWT
ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 35, chemical tanker 24, combination
ore/oil 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 32, railcar carrier 2,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 38, short-sea passenger
7, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 14 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 251
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 85
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 26
with paved runways under 914 m: 127
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 7.41 million (1986 est.)

Telephone system: excellent domestic and international facilities;
automatic system
domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cable carry most voice traffic;
parallel microwave radio relay network carries some additional
telephone channels
international: 5 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations
- 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic
and Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth
station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland,
and Norway)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 360 (mostly repeaters),
shortwave 0

Radios: 7.272 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 880 (mostly repeaters)

Televisions: 3.5 million

Defense -------

Branches: Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,133,816
males fit for military service: 1,867,031
males reach military age (19) annually: 51,357 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $5.8 billion,
2.5% of GDP (FY94/95)

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

@Switzerland -----------

Map ---

Location: 47 00 N, 8 00 E -- Central Europe, east of France

Flag ----

Description: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in
the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

Geography ---------

Location: Central Europe, east of France

Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 41,290 sq km
land area: 39,770 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries:
total: 1,852 km
border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km,
Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: none

Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy,
rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with
occasional showers

Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with
a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m

Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 40%
forest and woodland: 26%
other: 23%

Irrigated land: 250 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air
burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of
agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
natural hazards: avalanches, landslides, flash floods
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, 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, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern
Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains
the highest elevations in Europe

People ------

Population: 7,207,060 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 638,728; female 610,546)
15-64 years: 68% (male 2,495,325; female 2,405,226)
65 years and over: 15% (male 424,394; female 632,841) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 0.59% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 11.35 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 9.64 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 4.2 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.62 years
male: 74.58 years
female: 80.82 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Ethnic divisions:
total population: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%,
other 6%
Swiss nationals: German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%,
other 1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 47.6%, Protestant 44.3%, other 8.1%
(1980)

Languages: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 12%, Romansch 1%, other
4%
note: figures for Swiss nationals only: German 74%, French 20%,
Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1%

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

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation
conventional short form: Switzerland
local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German),
Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)
local short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera
(Italian)

Data code: SZ

Type of government: federal republic

Capital: Bern

Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton
in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular
- kanton in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft,
Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden,
Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt
Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri,
Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich

Independence: 1 August 1291

National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss
Confederation, 1 August (1291)

Constitution: 29 May 1874

Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal
decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Jean-Pascal
DELAMURAZ (1996 calendar year; presidency rotates annually); Vice
President Arnold KOLLER (term runs concurrently with that of
president); the president is appointed each year from the Federal
Council by the Federal Assembly
cabinet: Federal Council (German - Bundesrat, French - Censeil
Federal, Italian - Consiglio Federale) was elected for a four-year
term by the Federal Assembly from among its own members

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (German -
Bundesversammlung, French - Assemblee Federale, Italian - Assemblea
Federale)
Council of States: (German - Standerat, French - Conseil des Etats,
Italian - Consiglio degli Stati); elections last held throughout
1995 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (46 total) PRD 17, PDC 17, UDC 4, PSS 3, LPS 3, LdU 1,
Ticino League 1
National Council: (German - Nationalrat, French - Conseil National,
Italian - Consiglio Nazionale); elections last held 20 October 1995
(next to be held NA October 1999); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (200 total) PRD 45, PSS 54, PDC 34, UDC 30, GPS 8,
LPS 7, FPS 6, LdU 6, SD 3, EVP 3, PdA 2, Ticino League 2

Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court, judges elected for
six-year terms by the Federal Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Radical Free Democratic Party
(PRD), Franz STEINEGGER, president; Social Democratic Party (PSS),
Peter BODENMANN, president; Christian Democratic People's Party
(PDC), Anton COTTIER, president; Swiss People's Party (UDC), Hans
UHLMANN, president; Green Party (GPS), Verena DIENER, president;
Freedom Party (FPS), Roland BORER; Liberal Party (LPS), Christoph
EYMANN, president; Alliance of Independents' Party (LdU), Monica
WEBER, president; Ticino League, Giuliano BIGNASCA, president; and
other minor parties including Swiss Democratic Party (SD), Workers'
Party (PdA), and the Evangelical People's Party (EVP); note - see
elections

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA,
FAO, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OSCE, PCA, UN (observer), UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNITAR, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlo JAGMETTI
chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New
York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [41] (31) 357 70 11
FAX: [41] (31) 357 73 44
consulate(s) general: Zurich

Flag: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the
center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

Economy -------

Economic overview: Switzerland, a fundamentally prosperous and
stable modern economy with a per capita GDP roughly 10% above that
of the big West European economies, is experiencing short-term
difficulties. After recovering slowly in 1994-95 from recession, the
Swiss economy remains weak, mainly because of the strong Swiss franc
and weak growth in Swiss export market, especially in other European
countries. Over the near term, growth may average barely 1%, with
more than one-half of this increase resulting from growth in
inventories. Weak domestic consumer demand is the principal culprit;
stagnation in real disposable income is combining with a reluctance
to reduce saving rates in the face of an uncertain employment
outlook. Switzerland's leading sectors, including financial
services, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and special-purpose
machines, will therefore be more reliant on export markets at the
same time they are being squeezed by the strong franc. Consequently,
growth in machinery and equipment investment, for example, is
expected to taper off. On the other side, import growth has been
fueled by the strong franc; there are growing indications that Swiss
manufacturers are substituting imported inputs for domestic ones.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $158.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 1.2% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $22,400 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 33.5%
services: 63.5% (1991)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 3.48 million (900,000 foreign workers, mostly Italian)
by occupation: services 50%, industry and crafts 34%, government
10%, agriculture and forestry 6% (1992)

Unemployment rate: 3.3% (1995)

Budget:
revenues: $31 billion
expenditures: $36.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995)

Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision
instruments

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 15,430,000 kW
production: 58 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 6,699 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs

Illicit drugs: money-laundering center; transit country for South
American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin

Exports: $69.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: machinery and equipment, precision instruments, metal
products, foodstuffs, textiles and clothing
partners: Western Europe 63.1% (EU countries 56%, other 7.1%), US
8.8%, Japan 3.4%

Imports: $68.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: agricultural products, machinery and transportation
equipment, chemicals, textiles, construction materials
partners: Western Europe 79.2% (EU countries 72.3%, other 6.9%), US
6.4%

External debt: $NA

Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $793 million (1993)

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

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

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 5,719 km (1,432 km double track)
standard gauge: 3,283 km 1.435-m gauge (99% electrified; 310 km
nongovernment owned)
narrow gauge: 1,255 km 1.000-m gauge (99% electrified; 1,181 km
nongovernment owned)
other: 1,181 km NA-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 71,118 km
paved: 71,118 km (including 1,514 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to
Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes

Pipelines: crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km

Ports: Basel

Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 410,581 GRT/727,744 DWT
ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 2,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, specialized tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 67
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 4
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
with paved runways under 914 m: 40
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 5,622,976 (1986 est.)

Telephone system: excellent domestic and international services
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean
and Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 265, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 18 (repeaters 1,322)

Televisions: 2.513 million (1994 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Air Force and Antiaircraft Command, Frontier
Guards, Fortification Guards

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,893,587
males fit for military service: 1,623,414
males reach military age (20) annually: 41,425 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.74 billion,
1.4% of GDP (1995)

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

@Syria -----

Map ---

Location: 35 00 N, 38 00 E -- Middle East, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and
black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line
centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has
a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an
Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle
centered in the white band

Geography ---------

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Lebanon and Turkey

Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 38 00 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total area: 185,180 sq km
land area: 184,050 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than North Dakota
note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory

Land boundaries:
total: 2,253 km
border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon
375 km, Turkey 822 km

Coastline: 193 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 41 nm
territorial sea: 35 nm

International disputes: Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Hatay
question with Turkey; dispute over Turkey's water development plans
for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; Syrian troops in northern,
central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976

Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August)
and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold
weather with snow or sleet periodically hitting Damascus

Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal
plain; mountains in west
lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m

Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese
ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum

Land use:
arable land: 28%
permanent crops: 3%
meadows and pastures: 46%
forest and woodland: 3%
other: 20%

Irrigated land: 10,000 sq km (1992)

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification; water pollution from dumping of raw sewage and
wastes from petroleum refining; inadequate supplies of potable water
natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
international agreements: party to - Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not
ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification, Environmental Modification

Geographic note: there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian
land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1995
est.)

People ------

Population: 15,608,648 (July 1996 est.)
note: in addition, there are 31,300 people living in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - 16,500 Arabs (15,000 Druze and
1,500 Alawites) and 14,800 Israeli settlers (August 1995 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 3,738,671; female 3,557,474)
15-64 years: 50% (male 4,013,355; female 3,843,466)
65 years and over: 3% (male 227,249; female 228,433) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.37% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 39.56 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.86 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 40 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.13 years
male: 65.94 years
female: 68.38 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.91 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Syrian(s)
adjective: Syrian

Ethnic divisions: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%

Religions: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim
sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities
in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)

Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic,
Circassian, French widely understood

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 70.8%
male: 85.7%
female: 55.8%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic
conventional short form: Syria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
local short form: Suriyah
former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)

Data code: SY

Type of government: republic under military regime since March 1963

Capital: Damascus

Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (muhafazat, singular -
muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As
Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib,
Rif Dimashq, Tartus

Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under
French administration)

National holiday: National Day, 17 April (1946)

Constitution: 13 March 1973

Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special
religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971; see
note) was reelected for a seven-year term by universal suffrage;
election last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held NA December
1998); results - President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected for a fourth
seven-year term with 99.98% of the vote; note - President ASAD
seized power in the November 1970 coup, assumed presidential powers
22 February 1971, and was confirmed as president in the 12 March
1971 national elections; Vice Presidents 'Abd al-Halim ibn Said
KHADDAM (since NA), Rifaat al-ASAD (since NA), and Muhammad Zuhayr
MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984) were appointed by the president
head of government: Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November
1987), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March
1984), Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981), and Rashid AKHTARINI
(since 4 July 1992) were appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab): elections last held 24-25 August
1994 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (250 total) National Progressive Front 167, independents
83

Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are
appointed for four-year terms by the president; High Judicial
Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts

Political parties and leaders:
National Progressive Front includes: the ruling Arab Socialist
Renaissance (Ba'th) Party, Hafiz al-ASAD, president of the republic,
secretary general of the party, and chairman of the National
Progressive Front; Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP), 'Abd al-Ghani
KANNUT; Arab Socialist Union (ASU), Jamal ATASSI; Syrian Communist
Party (SCP), Wisal FARHAH; Arab Socialist Unionist Movement, Sami
SOUFAN; and Democratic Socialist Union Party, Ghassan UTHMAN

Other political or pressure groups: non-Ba'th parties have little
effective political influence; Communist party ineffective;
conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood

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

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Walid MUALEM
chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313
FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS
embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street No. 2, Damascus
mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone: [963] (11) 333-2814, 333-0788, 332-0783
FAX: [963] (11) 224-7938

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black
with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line
centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has
a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an
Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle
centered in the white band

Economy -------

Economic overview: During 1990-92 Syria's state-dominated economy
benefited from the Gulf war, increased oil production, good weather,
and economic reform. Economic growth averaged roughly 10%. The war
led to a Syrian aid windfall of nearly $5 billion from Arab,
European, and Japanese donors. Most positive economic trends ended
in 1993 due to the dissipation of the Gulf war boom, a domestic
financial crisis, and economic policy missteps. Economic growth has
dropped below 5%, income inequality is increasing, the government
budget deficit is growing, and international accounts are weakening.
For the long run, Syria's economy is saddled with a large number of
poorly performing public sector firms and low industrial
productivity. Oil production is likely to ebb by the end of the
decade. Unemployment will likely rise as the more than 60% of the
population under age 20 moves into the labor force. The economic
benefits of any peace treaty with Israel will depend in large part
on the pace of economic reform.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $91.2 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 4.4% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $5,900 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 25%
services: 45% (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15.1% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 4.7 million (1995 est.)
by occupation: services 42%, industry 36%, agriculture 22% (1990
est.)

Unemployment rate: 8% (1994 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.5 billion
expenditures: $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)

Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco,
phosphate rock mining, petroleum

Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 4,160,000 kW
production: 13.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 865 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas; beef,
lamb, eggs, poultry, milk

Illicit drugs: a transit point for Lebanese and Turkish refined
cocaine going to Europe and heroin and hashish bound for regional
and Western markets

Exports: $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: petroleum 66%, cotton, fruits and vegetables 14%,
textiles 9%, animal products 4%, industrial products 3%
partners: EU 61%, Arab countries 24%, former CEMA countries, China,
Yugoslavia 5%, US and Canada 3% (1993 est.)

Imports: $5.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: machinery 25%, metal products 16%, transport equipment
15%, foodstuffs 12%, textiles 10%
partners: EU 37%, former CEMA countries, China, Yugoslavia 17%, US
and Canada 7%, Arab countries 6% (1993 est.)

External debt: $21.2 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $259 million (1993)

Currency: 1 Syrian pound (LS) = 100 piastres

Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (LS) per US$1 - 11.225 (official
fixed rate), 26.6 ("blended rate" used by the UN and diplomatic
missions), 42.0 ("neighboring country rate" - applies to most state
enterprise imports), 48.0 - 52.0 (offshore rate) (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 1,998 km
broad gauge: 1,766 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 232 km 1.050-m gauge

Highways:
total: 31,569 km
paved: 24,308 km (including 712 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,261 km (1991 est.)

Waterways: 870 km; minimal economic importance

Pipelines: crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km

Ports: Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus

Merchant marine:
total: 99 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 294,355 GRT/454,990 DWT
ships by type: bulk 12, cargo 85, livestock carrier 1, vehicle
carrier 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 99
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 15
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 62
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 541,465 (1992 est.)

Telephone system: fair system currently undergoing significant
improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology
domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable;
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon,
and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel

Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: 3.392 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 17

Televisions: 700,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air
Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 3,590,557
males fit for military service: 2,011,610
males reach military age (19) annually: 164,598 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $875 million, 8%
of GDP (1994 est.); note - based on official budget data that
understate actual spending

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

@Taiwan ------

Map ---

Location: 23 30 N, 121 00 E -- Eastern Asia, islands bordering the
East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait,
north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China

Flag ----

Description: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

Geography ---------

Location: Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea,
Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the
Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China

Geographic coordinates: 23 30 N, 121 00 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total area: 35,980 sq km
land area: 32,260 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware
combined
note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,448 km

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

International disputes: involved in complex dispute over the
Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and
possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by
Vietnam and Taiwan; Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku
Islands/Diaoyu Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan

Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon
(June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year

Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to
gently rolling plains in west
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Yu Shan 3,997 m

Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone,
marble, and asbestos

Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 5%
forest and woodland: 55%
other: 15%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: water pollution from industrial emissions, raw
sewage; air pollution; contamination of drinking water supplies;
trade in endangered species
natural hazards: earthquakes and typhoons
international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Marine Life
Conservation

People ------

Population: 21,465,881 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 2,605,495; female 2,436,864)
15-64 years: 69% (male 7,505,344; female 7,252,188)
65 years and over: 8% (male 907,310; female 758,680) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.89% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 15.01 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.52 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.02 years
male: 73.43 years
female: 78.82 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Ethnic divisions: Taiwanese 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%

Religions: mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%,
Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%

Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka
dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 86%
male: 93%
female: 79%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Taiwan
local long form: none
local short form: T'ai-wan

Data code: TW

Type of government: multiparty democratic regime; opposition
political parties legalized in March 1989

Capital: Taipei

Administrative divisions: some of the ruling party in Taipei claim
to be the government of all China; in keeping with that claim, the
central administrative divisions include 2 provinces (sheng,
singular and plural) and 2 municipalities* (shih, singular and
plural) - Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province
including Quemoy and Matsu), Kao-hsiung*, T'ai-pei*, and Taiwan (the
island of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands); note - the more
commonly referenced administrative divisions are those of Taiwan
Province - 16 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5
municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2 special
municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua,
Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan,
Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung,
T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**,
T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital is at
Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un
note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization

National holiday: National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary of
the Revolution)

Constitution: 1 January 1947, amended in 1992, presently
undergoing revision

Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President LI Teng-hui (succeeded to the presidency
following the death of President CHIANG Ching-kuo 13 January 1988,
elected by the National Assembly 21 March 1990, reelected by popular
vote in the first-ever direct elections for president 23 March
1996); election last held 23 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000);
results - LI Teng-hui 54%, PENG Ming-min 21%, LIN Yang-kang 15%, and
CHEN Li-an 10%; Vice President-elect LIEN Chan (to be inaugurated 20
May 1996)
head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIEN
Chan (since 23 February 1993) and Vice Premier (Vice President of
the Executive Yuan) HSU Li-teh (since 23 February 1993) were
appointed by the president; note - LIEN Chan will continue to serve
as premier until 20 May 1996 when he will be inaugurated as vice
president; a new premier is expected to be appointed sometime in May
1996
cabinet: Executive Yuan was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan and unicameral
National Assembly
Legislative Yuan: elections last held 2 December 1995 (next to be
held NA December 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
- (164 total) KMT 85, DPP 54, CNP 21, independents 4; note - since
the election, there has been a change in the distribution of seats -
KMT 83, DPP 54, CNP 21, independents 6
National Assembly: elections last held 23 March 1996 (next to be
held NA 2000); results - KMT 55%, DPP 30%, CNP 14%, other 1%; seats
- (334 total) KMT 183, DPP 99, CNP 46, other 6

Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan, justices nominated and appointed
for nine-year terms by the president

Political parties and leaders: Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist
Party), LI Teng-hui, chairman; Democratic Progressive Party (DPP),
leader NA; Chinese New Party (CNP), leader NA; Labor Party (LP),
leader NA

Other political or pressure groups: Taiwan independence movement,
various environmental groups
note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the
mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization
and the increased representation of the opposition Democratic
Progressive Party in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate
on the island's national identity; advocates of Taiwan independence,
both within the DPP and the ruling Kuomintang, oppose the ruling
party's traditional stand that the island will eventually unify with
mainland China; the aims of the Taiwan independence movement include
establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; other
organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World
United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan
Nation Building

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC,
IOC, WCL, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US: none; unofficial commercial and
cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through
a private instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office (TECRO) with headquarters in Taipei and field
offices in Washington and 10 other US cities

US diplomatic representation: none; unofficial commercial and
cultural relations with the people of Taiwan are maintained through
a private institution, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which
has offices in Taipei at #7, Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3,
telephone [886] (2) 709-2000, FAX [886] (2) 702-7675, and in
Kao-hsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3d Road, telephone [886] (7) 224-0154
through 0157, FAX [886] (7) 223-8237, and the American Trade Center
at Room 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade
Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, telephone [886]
(2) 720-1550

Flag: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

Economy -------

Economic overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with
considerable government guidance of investment and foreign trade and
partial government ownership of some large banks and industrial
firms. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 9% a year during the
past three decades. Export growth has been even faster and has
provided the impetus for industrialization. Inflation and
unemployment are low. Agriculture contributes about 4% to GDP, down
from 35% in 1952. Taiwan currently ranks as number 13 among major
trading countries. Traditional labor-intensive industries are
steadily being replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive
industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand,
Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The tightening of
labor markets has led to an influx of foreign workers, both legal
and illegal.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $290.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $13,510 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 37.3%
services: 59.1% (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 8.874 million
by occupation: services 49%, industry 39%, agriculture 11% (1993
est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1995)

Budget:
revenues: $30.3 billion
expenditures: $30.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1991 est.)

Industries: electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food
processing, plywood, sugar milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum
refining

Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (1994 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 21,460,000 kW
production: 108 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 4,789 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, vegetables, fruit, tea;
pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish catch increasing, reached 1.4
million metric tons in 1988

Illicit drugs: an important heroin transit point; also a drug
money laundering center

Exports: $93 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: electrical machinery 19.7%, electronic products 19.6%,
textiles 10.9%, footwear 3.3%, foodstuffs 1.0%, plywood and wood
products 0.9% (1993 est.)
partners: US 27.6%, Hong Kong 21.7%, EU countries 15.2%, Japan 10.5%
(1994 est.)

Imports: $85.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: machinery and equipment 15.7%, electronic products
15.6%, chemicals 9.8%, iron and steel 8.5%, crude oil 3.9%,
foodstuffs 2.1% (1993 est.)
partners: Japan 30.1%, US 21.7%, EU countries 17.6% (1993 est.)

External debt: $620 million (1992 est.)

Economic aid: $NA