Chapter V (4)

Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US
administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department
of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

Flag: the flag of the US is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: no economic activity

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

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat
landing area along the middle of the west coast

Airports: 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m

Transportation note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the
west coast

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited
annually by the US Coast Guard

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

@Bangladesh ----------

Map ---

Location: 24 00 N, 90 00 E -- Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of
Bengal, between Burma and India

Flag ----

Description: green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist
side of center; green is the traditional color of Islam

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between
Burma and India

Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E

Map references: Asia

Area:
total area: 144,000 sq km
land area: 133,910 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Land boundaries:
total: 4,246 km
border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

Coastline: 580 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: a portion of the boundary with India in
dispute; water-sharing problems with upstream riparian India over
the Ganges

Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid
summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)

Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Reng Tlang 957 m

Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber

Land use:
arable land: 67%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 4%
forest and woodland: 16%
other: 11%

Irrigated land: 27,380 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: many people are landless and forced to live on and
cultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable water;
water-borne diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of
fishing areas results from the use of commercial pesticides;
intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the
northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation;
deforestation; severe overpopulation
natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely
flooded during the summer monsoon season
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not
ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

People ------

Population: 123,062,800 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 24,434,219; female 23,436,359)
15-64 years: 58% (male 36,607,942; female 34,603,628)
65 years and over: 3% (male 2,175,017; female 1,805,635) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 1.85% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 30.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 11.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 102.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.86 years
male: 56.02 years
female: 55.69 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.57 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective: Bangladesh

Ethnic divisions: Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, tribals less than
1 million

Religions: Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, Buddhist, Christian, other

Languages: Bangla (official), English

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 38.1%
male: 49.4%
female: 26.1%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
former: East Pakistan

Data code: BG

Type of government: republic

Capital: Dhaka

Administrative divisions: 4 divisions; Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna,
Rajshahi
note: there may be two new divisions named Barisal and Sylhet

Independence: 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971)

Constitution: 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972,
suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November
1986, amended many times

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991)
was elected for a five-year term by National Parliament; election
last held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October 1996);
results - Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary vote
head of government: Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammad Habibur RAHMAN
(since 31 March 1996) was appointed by the president (see note under
Legislative branch entry)
cabinet: Advisory Council was appointed by the president on 3 April
1996

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad): elections last held 15
February 1996 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (330 total, 300 elected and 30 seats reserved for
women) seats by party NA; note - the election was held despite the
fact that it was boycotted by the major opposition parties; Prime
Minister Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN's party won a landslide victory, but,
under continuing pressure from the opposition, who called for an
annulment of the results, National Parliament passed a bill that
established a caretaker government to oversee new elections on a
date yet to be determined; President BISWAS then dissolved
Parliament and named a caretaker prime minister to replace Prime
Minister ZIAur RAHMAN

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the Chief Justices and other
judges are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),
Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN; Awami League (AL), Sheikh Hasina WAJED; Jatiyo
Party (JP), Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD (in jail); Jamaat-E-Islami (JI),
Motiur Rahman NIZAMI; Bangladesh Communist Party (BCP), Saifuddin
Ahmed MANIK; National Awami Party (Muzaffar); Workers Party, Rashid
Khan MENON; Jatiyo Samajtantik Dal (JSD), Serajul ALAM KHAN;
Ganotantri Party, leader NA; Islami Oikya Jote, leader NA; National
Democratic Party (NDP), leader NA; Muslim League, Khan A. SABUR;
Democratic League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; United People's Party,
Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed

International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCRO,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Humayun KABIR
chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 342-8372 through 8376
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador David N. MERRILL
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka
mailing address: G.P.O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000; Dhaka 1212
telephone: [880] (2) 884700 through 884722
FAX: [880] (2) 883-744

Flag: green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of
center; green is the traditional color of Islam

Economy -------

Economic overview: Despite sustained domestic and international
efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh
remains one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and
least developed nations. Annual GDP growth has averaged over 4% in
recent years from a low base. Its economy is overwhelmingly
agricultural, with the cultivation of rice the single most important
activity in the economy. Major impediments to growth include
frequent cyclones and floods, the inefficiency of state-owned
enterprises, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed
by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas),
inadequate power supplies, and, most recently, political
disturbances. In 1995, progress on Bangladesh's development agenda
has been slowed by frequent political unrest before and after
national elections in early 1996. Opposition parties have challenged
the government's authority by resigning from Parliament and
sponsoring numerous countrywide strikes that have crippled
transport, hindered business activity, and threatened to slow
economic growth in 1996.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $144.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 4.6% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,130 (1995 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 50.1 million
by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 21%, industry and mining
14% (1989)
note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman (1991)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $2.8 billion
expenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8
billion (FY92/93)

Industries: jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing,
steel, fertilizer

Industrial production growth rate: 8.5% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 2,740,000 kW
production: 9.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: jute, rice, wheat, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; beef,
milk, poultry

Illicit drugs: transit country for illegal drugs produced in
neighboring countries

Exports: $2.7 billion (1995 est.)
commodities: garments, jute and jute goods, leather, shrimp
partners: US 33%, Western Europe 39% (Germany 8.4%, Italy 6%)
(FY91/92 est.)

Imports: $4.7 billion (1995 est.)
commodities: capital goods, petroleum, food, textiles
partners: Hong Kong 7.5%, Singapore 7.4%, China 7.4%, Japan 7.1%
(FY91/92 est.)

External debt: $15.7 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $1.099 billion (1993)

Currency: 1 taka (Tk) = 100 poiska

Exchange rates: taka (Tk) per US$1 - 40.933 (January 19965),
40.278 (1995), 40.212 (1994), 39.567 (1993), 38.951 (1992), 36.596
(1991)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

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

Railways:
total: 2,892 km
broad gauge: 978 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,914 km 1.000-m gauge (1992)

Highways:
total: 13,627 km
paved: 8,546 km
unpaved: 5,081 km (1992)

Waterways: 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes
2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes)

Pipelines: natural gas 1,220 km

Ports: Chittagong, Dhaka, Chalna Port (Mongla)

Merchant marine:
total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 296,503 GRT/423,274 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 29, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3
(1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 15
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 6 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 249,800 (1994 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: poor domestic telephone service
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);
international radiotelephone communications and landline service to
neighboring countries

Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 11

Televisions: 350,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes
Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Village
Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 31,795,848
males fit for military service: 18,814,818 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $481 million,
1.7% of GDP (FY95/96)

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

@Barbados --------

Map ---

Location: 13 10 N, 59 32 W -- Caribbean, island between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Flag ----

Description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side),
gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold
band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the
past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)

Geography ---------

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates: 13 10 N, 59 32 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total area: 430 sq km
land area: 430 sq km
comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 97 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m

Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 77%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 9%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 14%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by
ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens
contamination of aquifers
natural hazards: hurricanes (especially June to October); periodic
landslides
international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
Hazardous Wastes

Geographic note: easternmost Caribbean island

People ------

Population: 257,030 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 31,263; female 29,822)
15-64 years: 66% (male 83,565; female 86,697)
65 years and over: 10% (male 9,929; female 15,754) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.26% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 15.29 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 8.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -4.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.35 years
male: 71.65 years
female: 77.25 years (1996 est.)

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

Nationality:
noun: Barbadian(s)
adjective: Barbadian

Ethnic divisions: African 80%, European 4%, other 16%

Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist
7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, unknown 3%, other 9%
(1980)

Languages: English

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995 est.)
total population: 97.4%
male: 98%
female: 96.8%

Government ----------

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

Data code: BB

Type of government: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Bridgetown

Administrative divisions: 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint
Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint
Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas
note: the city of Bridgetown may be given parish status

Independence: 30 November 1966 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

Constitution: 30 November 1966

Legal system: English common law; no judicial review of
legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a
hereditary monarch, represented by Acting Governor General Denys
WILLIAMS (since 21 December 1995) who was appointed by the queen
head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6
September 1994) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime
Minister Billie MILLER (since 6 September 1994)
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice of
the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governor
general
House of Assembly: election last held 6 September 1994 (next to be
held by January 1999); results - percentage vote by party NA; seats
- (28 total) BLP 19, DLP 8,NDP 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature, judges are appointed
by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Service

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Labor Party (DLP), David
THOMPSON; Barbados Labor Party (BLP), Owen ARTHUR; National
Democratic Party (NDP), Richard HAYNES

Other political or pressure groups: Barbados Workers Union, Leroy
TROTMAN; People's Progressive Movement, Eric SEALY; Workers' Party
of Barbados, Dr. George BELLE; Clement Payne Labor Union, David
COMMISSIONG

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

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMAN
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9218, 9219
FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanette W. HYDE
embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,
Bridgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
telephone: [1] (809) 436-4950
FAX: [1] (809) 429-5246

Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and
blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the
trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the
colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)

Economy -------

Economic overview: Historically, the Barbadian economy has been
dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but in
recent years the production has diversified into manufacturing and
tourism. Sluggish performances in the sugar and tourism sectors -
which declined by 25% and 8% respectively - tempered economic
expansion in 1995; output increased by 2% for the year, down from
nearly 4% in 1994. Improved weather conditions in 1995 are expected
to boost agriculture output in 1996. Since taking office in 1994,
Prime Minister ARTHUR has aggressively moved to promote foreign
direct investment as part of a policy designed to reduce nagging
unemployment. The government has also been active in promoting
regional integration initiatives.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $9,800 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.4%
industry: 39.3%
services: 54.3% (1994)

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

Labor force: 126,000 (1993)
by occupation: services and government 41%, commerce 15%,
manufacturing and construction 18%, transportation, storage,
communications, and financial institutions 8%, agriculture 6%,
utilities 2% (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate: 19.9% (September 1995)

Budget:
revenues: $550 million
expenditures: $710 million, including capital expenditures of $86
million (FY95/96 est.)

Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component
assembly for export

Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 152,100 kW
production: 510 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,841 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

Illicit drugs: one of many Caribbean transshipment points for
narcotics bound for the US and Europe

Exports: $158.6 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages,
chemicals, electrical components, clothing
partners: US 13%, UK 10%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Windward Islands 8%

Imports: $693 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction
materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components
partners: US 36%, UK 11%, Trinidad and Tobago 11%, Japan 3%

External debt: $408 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid: $NA

Currency: 1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1 - 2.0113 (fixed
rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 1,550 km
paved: 1,550 km

Ports: Bridgetown

Merchant marine:
total: 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 183,937 GRT/271,707 DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 21, combination bulk 3, oil tanker 3,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 87,343 (1991 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: island wide automatic telephone system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia

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

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 2 (1 pay)

Televisions: 69,350 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes Ground Forces and
Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 71,667
males fit for military service: 49,726 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

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

@Bassas da India ---------------

(possession of France)

Map ---

Location: 21 30 S, 39 50 E -- Southern Africa, islands in the
southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from
Madagascar to Mozambique

Flag ----

Description: the flag of France is used

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique
Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique

Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 39 50 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 0.2 sq km
land area: 0.2 sq km
comparative area: about one-third the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 35.2 km

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

International disputes: claimed by Madagascar

Climate: tropical

Terrain: a volcanic rock 2.4 meters high
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources: none

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

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: maritime hazard since it is usually under water
during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic
cyclones
international agreements: NA

People ------

Population: uninhabited

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India

Data code: BS

Type of government: French possession administered by a
Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion

Independence: none (possession of France)

Flag: the flag of France is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: no economic activity

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

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France

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

@Belarus -------

Map ---

Location: 53 00 N, 28 00 E -- Eastern Europe, east of Poland

Flag ----

Description: red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band
one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe of white
on the hoist side bears in red the Belarusian national ornament

Geography ---------

Location: Eastern Europe, east of Poland

Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N, 28 00 E

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:
total area: 207,600 sq km
land area: 207,600 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries:
total: 3,098 km
border countries: Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 605 km,
Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: none

Climate: cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional
between continental and maritime

Terrain: generally flat and contains much marshland
lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m
highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m

Natural resources: forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil
and natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 29%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 15%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 55%

Irrigated land: 1,490 sq km (1990)

Environment:
current issues: soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of
the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor
accident at Chornobyl'
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity,
Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Law of
the Sea

Geographic note: landlocked

People ------

Population: 10,415,973 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 1,136,499; female 1,090,101)
15-64 years: 66% (male 3,334,077; female 3,536,982)
65 years and over: 13% (male 429,574; female 888,740) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 0.2% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 12.15 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 13.64 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.89 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.57 years
male: 63.2 years
female: 74.21 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Belarusian(s)
adjective: Belarusian

Ethnic divisions: Byelorussian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%,
Ukrainian 2.9%, other 1.9%

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 60%, other (including Roman Catholic
and Muslim) 40% (early 1990's)

Languages: Byelorussian, Russian, other

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Belarus
conventional short form: Belarus
local long form: Respublika Byelarus'
local short form: none
former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: BO

Type of government: republic

Capital: Minsk

Administrative divisions: 6 voblastsi (singular - voblasts') and
one municipality* (harady, singular - horad); Brestskaya (Brest),
Homyel'skaya (Homyel'), Horad Minsk*, Hrodzyenskaya (Hrodna),
Mahilyowskaya (Mahilyow), Minskaya, Vitsyebskaya (Vitsyebsk)
note: the administrative centers of the voblastsi are included in
parentheses

Independence: 25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union); the Belarussian
Supreme Soviet issued a proclamation of independence; on 17 July
1990 Belarus issued a declaration of sovereignty

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 July (1990)

Constitution: adopted 15 March 1994; replaces constitution of
April 1978

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)
was elected for a five-year term by popular vote; election last held
24 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results -
Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 85%, Vyacheslav KEBICH 15%
head of government: Prime Minister Mikhail CHIGIR (since NA July
1994) was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime Ministers
Vladimir GARKUN (since NA), Sergey LING (since NA), Leonid SINITSYN
(since NA), Valeriy KOKAREV (since NA), Vladimir RUSAKEVICH (since
NA)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
note: first presidential elections took place in June-July 1994

Legislative branch: unicameral
Supreme Soviet: elections last held May, Nov-Dec 1995 (two rounds,
each with a run-off; next to be held NA 2000); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (260 total) KPB 42, Agrarian 33, CAB 9,
Party of People's Concord 8, UPNAZ 2, SDPB 2, BPR 1, Green Party 1,
Republican Party of Labor and Justice 1, BSP 1, NFB 1, Social and
Sports Party 1, Ecological Party 1, independents 95, vacant 62

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders: Belarusian Communist Party (KPB),
Vasiliy NOVIKOV, Viktor CHIKIN, chairmen; Agrarian Party, Semen
SHARETSKIY; Civic Accord Bloc (CAB); Party of People's Concord,
Gennadiy KARPENKO; Party of All-Belarusian Unity and Concord
(UPNAZ), Dmitriy BULAKOV; Belarusian Social-Democrat Hramada (SDBP),
Alex TRUSOV; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (BPR), Anatol
BARANKEVICH; Green Party of Belarus, Mikalay KARTASH; Republican
Party of Labor and Justice, Anatol NETSILKIN; Belarus Peasants
(BSP), Yevgeniy LUGIN, chairman; Belarusian Popular Front (NFB),
Zenon POZNYAK, chairman; Belarusian Social Sports Party, Vladimir
ALEKSANDROVICH; Ecological Party, Aleksiy MIKULICH; National
Democratic Party of Belarus (NDPB), Victor NAVUMENKA; United
Democratic Party of Belarus (ADPB), Aleksandr DOBROVOLSKIY;
Belarusian Socialist Party (SPB), Vyacheslav KUZNETSOV; Slavic
Assembly (SAB), Nikolai SYARECHEV; Liberal-Democratic Party (LDPB),
Vasil KRIVENKA; Belarusian Christian-Democratic Unity (BKDZ), Petr
SILKO; Polish Democratic Union (PDZ), Konstantin TARASEVICH; Party
of Beer Lovers, Yuriy GONCHAR; Belarusian Labor Party (BPP),
Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV

International organization participation: CCC, CE (guest), CIS,
EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC,
OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
(applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sergey Nikolayevich MARTYNOV
chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604
FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805
consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth Spencer YALOWITZ
embassy: Starovilenskaya #46-220002, Minsk
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [375] (172) 31-50-00
FAX: [375] (172) 34-78-53

Flag: red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half
the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe of white on the
hoist side bears in red the Belarusian national ornament

Economy -------

Economic overview: At the time of independence in late 1991,
Belarus was one of the most developed of the former Soviet states,
inheriting a modern - by Soviet standards - machine building sector
and robust agricultural sector. However, the breakup of the Soviet
Union and its traditional trade ties, as well as the government's
failure to embrace market reforms, has resulted in a sharp economic
decline. Privatization is virtually nonexistent and the system of
state orders and distribution persists. Although President
LUKASHENKO pronounces his 1995 macro stabilization policies a
success - annual inflation dropped from 2,220% in 1994 to 244% in
1995 - the IMF has criticized his insistence on maintaining the
steady exchange rate for Belarusian rubel, which has traded at
11,500 to the dollar since late 1994. The IMF suspended Minsk's $300
million standby program in November 1995 until the government would
agree to a devaluation of the rubel. The overvalued rubel has
especially hurt Belarusian exporters, most of which now operate at a
loss. In addition, the January 1995 Customs Union agreement with
Russia - which required Minsk to adjust its foreign trade practices
to mirror Moscow's - has resulted in higher import tariffs for
Belarusian consumers; tariffs have risen from 5%-20% to 20%-40%.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $49.2 billion (1995 estimate as
extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP real growth rate: -10% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $4,700 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 21%
industry: 49%
services: 30% (1991 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 244% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 4.259 million
by occupation: industry and construction 40%, agriculture and
forestry 21%, other 39% (1992)

Unemployment rate: 2.6% officially registered unemployed (December
1994); large numbers of underemployed workers

Budget:
revenues: $4.95 billion
expenditures: $5.47 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)

Industries: tractors, metal-cutting machine tools, off-highway
dump trucks up to 110-metric-ton load capacity, wheel-type earth
movers for construction and mining, eight-wheel-drive,
high-flotation trucks with cargo capacity of 25 metric tons for use
in tundra and roadless areas, equipment for animal husbandry and
livestock feeding, motorcycles, television sets, chemical fibers,
fertilizer, linen fabric, wool fabric, radios, refrigerators, other
consumer goods

Industrial production growth rate: -11% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 7,010,000 kW
production: 24.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 2,300 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture: grain, potatoes, vegetables; meat, milk

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis;
mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit
drugs to Western Europe

Exports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany

Imports: $4.6 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: fuel, natural gas, industrial raw materials, textiles,
sugar
partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany

External debt: $2 billion (September 1995 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $186 million (1993)
note: commitments, $3,930 million ($1,845 million disbursements),
1992-95

Currency: Belarusian rubel (BR)

Exchange rates: Belarusian rubels per US$1 - 11,500 (yearend
1995), 10,600 (yearend 1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 5,488 km
broad gauge: 5,488 km 1.520-m gauge (873 km electrified) (1993)

Highways:
total: 92,200 km
paved: 61,000 km (including graveled)
unpaved: 31,200 km (1994 est.)

Waterways: NA km; note - Belarus has extensive and widely used
canal and river systems

Pipelines: crude oil 1,470 km; refined products 1,100 km; natural
gas 1,980 km (1992)

Ports: Mazyr

Merchant marine:
note: claims 5% of former Soviet fleet (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 118
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 18
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5
with paved runways under 914 m: 11
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 62 (1994 est.)

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

Telephones: 1.849 million (1991 est.)

Telephone system: telephone service inadequate for the purposes of
either business or the population; about 70% of the telephones are
in homes; over 750,000 applications from households for telephones
remain unsatisfied (1992 est.); new investment centers on
international connections and business needs
domestic: the new NMT-450 analog cellular system is now operating in
Minsk
international: international traffic is carried by the Moscow
international gateway switch and also by satellite; satellite earth
stations - 1 Intelsat (through Canada) and 1 Eutelsat (through the
UK)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 35, FM 18, shortwave 0

Radios: 3.17 million (1991 est.) (5,615,000 with multiple speaker
systems for program diffusion)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (one national and one private;
the license of the private station was suspended during the
parliamentary elections of 1994)

Televisions: 3.5 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Republic Security
Forces (internal and border troops)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,635,570
males fit for military service: 2,067,676
males reach military age (18) annually: 76,006 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 892 billion rubels, 1% of GDP (1995); note -
conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current
exchange rate could produce misleading results

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

@Belgium -------

Map ---

Location: 50 50 N, 4 00 E -- Western Europe, bordering the North
Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Flag ----

Description: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side),
yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France

Geography ---------

Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France
and the Netherlands

Geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 30,510 sq km
land area: 30,230 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries:
total: 1,385 km
border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km,
Netherlands 450 km

Coastline: 64 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: median line with neighbors
exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68
km from coast)
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid,
cloudy

Terrain: flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills,
rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
lowest point: North Sea 0 m
highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m

Natural resources: coal, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 20%
forest and woodland: 21%
other: 34%

Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: Meuse River, a major source of drinking water,
polluted from steel production wastes; other rivers polluted by
animal wastes and fertilizers; industrial air pollution contributes
to acid rain in neighboring countries
natural hazards: flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal
land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West
European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of
the EU

People ------

Population: 10,170,241 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 930,919; female 886,632)
15-64 years: 66% (male 3,380,105; female 3,326,853)
65 years and over: 16% (male 663,760; female 981,972) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 0.33% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 10.3 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.09 years
male: 73.86 years
female: 80.51 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian

Ethnic divisions: Fleming 55%, Walloon 33%, mixed or other 12%

Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%

Languages: Dutch 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual 11%
(divided along ethnic lines)

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

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form: Belgium
local long form: Royaume de Belgique
local short form: Belgique

Data code: BE

Type of government: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Brussels

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (French: provinces, singular
- province; Flemish: provincien, singular - provincie); Antwerpen,
Brabant, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur,
Oost-Vlaanderen, West-Vlaanderen
note: constitutional reforms passed by Parliament in 1993 increased
the number of provinces to 10 by splitting the province of Brabant
into two new provinces, Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant

Independence: 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)

National holiday: National Day, 21 July (ascension of King LEOPOLD
to the throne in 1831)

Constitution: 7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993;
parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state

Legal system: civil law system influenced by English
constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993) is a
constitutional monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March
1992) was appointed by the king and then approved by Parliament
cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the king and approved by Parliament

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate (Flemish - Senaat French - Senat): elections last held 21 May
1995 (next to be held by the end of 1999); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (71 total, 40 directly elected; 31 will be
indirectly elected at a later date) CVP 7, SP 6, VLD 6, VU 2, AGALEV
1, VB 3, PS 5, PRL 5, PSC 3, ECOLO 2; note - before the 1995
elections, there were 184 seats
Chamber of Deputies(Flemish - Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordig:
elections last held 21 May 1995 (next to be held by the end of
1999); results - CVP 17.2%, PS 11.9%, SP 12.6%, VLD 13.1%, PRL
10.3%, PSC 7.7%, VB 7.8%, VU 4.7%, ECOLO 4.0%, AGALEV 4.4%, FN 2.3%;
seats - (150 total) CVP 29, PS 21, SP 20, VLD 21, PRL 18, PSC 12, VB
11, VU 5, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, FN 2; note - before the 1995 elections,
there were 212 seats

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van
Cassatie, French - Cour de Cassation), judges are appointed for life
by the Belgian monarch

Political parties and leaders: Flemish Christian Democrats (CVP -
Christian People's Party), Johan VAN HECKE, president; Francophone
Christian Democrats (PSC - Social Christian Party), Gerard DEPREZ,
president; Flemish Socialist Party (SP), Louis TOBBACK, president;
Francophone Socialist Party (PS), Philippe BUSQUIN, president;
Flemish Liberal Democrats (VLD), Herman DE CROO, president;
Francophone Liberal Reformation Party (PRL), Louis MICHEL,
president; Francophone Democratic Front (FDF), Olivier MAINGAIN,
president; Volksunie (VU), Bert ANCIAUX, president; Vlaams Blok
(VB), Karel DILLEN, chairman; National Front (FN), Daniel FERET,
president; AGALEV (Flemish Greens), no president; ECOLO (Francophone
Greens), no president; other minor parties

Other political or pressure groups: Christian and Socialist Trade
Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other
associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class
artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various
organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and
Wallonia; various peace groups such as the Flemish Action Committee
Against Nuclear Weapons and Pax Christi

International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AG
(observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN,
EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, 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, MINURSO, MTCR,
NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCRO,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andre ADAM
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alan J. BLINKEN
embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: APO AE 09724, PSC 82, Box 002, Brussels
telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111
FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725

Flag: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow,
and red; the design was based on the flag of France

Economy -------

Economic overview: This small private enterprise economy has
capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed
transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base.
Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the
north, although the government is encouraging reinvestment in the
southern region of Walloon. With few natural resources, Belgium must
import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large
volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on
the state of world markets. Two-thirds of its trade is with other EU
countries. The economy grew at a strong 4% annual pace during the
period 1988-90, slowed to 1% in 1991-92, dropped by 1.5% in 1993,
and recovered with moderate 2.3% growth in 1994 and 1995. Belgium's
public debt has risen to 140% of GDP, and the government is trying
to control its expenditures to bring the figure more into line with
other industrialized countries.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $197 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2.3% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $19,500 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 28%
services: 70% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 4.126 million
by occupation: services 63.6%, industry 28%, construction 6.1%,
agriculture 2.3% (1988)

Unemployment rate: 14% (1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries: engineering and metal products, motor vehicle
assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals,
textiles, glass, petroleum, coal

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 14,040,000 kW
production: 66 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 6,334 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain,
tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk

Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American
cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine entering the
European market

Exports: $108 billion (f.o.b., 1994) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic
Union (BLEU)
commodities: iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors,
diamonds, petroleum products
partners: EU 67.2% (Germany 19%), US 5.8%, former Communist
countries 1.4% (1994)

Imports: $140 billion (c.i.f., 1994) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic
Union
commodities: fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs
partners: EU 68% (Germany 22.1%), US 8.8%, former Communist
countries 0.8% (1994)

External debt: $31.3 billion (1992 est.)

Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $808 million (1993)

Currency: 1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 30.036 (January
1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994), 34.597 (1993), 32.150 (1992),
34.148 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 3,396 km (2,363 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)
standard gauge: 3,396 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 137,876 km
paved: 129,603 km (including 1,667 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,273 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use)

Pipelines: crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1,167 km; natural
gas 3,300 km

Ports: Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur,
Oostende, Zeebrugge

Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 64,220 GRT/83,360 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas
tanker 3, oil tanker 6 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 42
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 6
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 21
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 5.691 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system: highly developed, technologically advanced, and
completely automated domestic and international telephone and
telegraph facilities
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable
network; limited microwave radio relay network
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 39, shortwave 0

Radios: 100,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 32 (1987 est.)

Televisions: 3,315,662 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,571,588
males fit for military service: 2,135,375
males reach military age (19) annually: 61,986 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.6 billion,
1.7% of GDP (1995)

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

@Belize ------

Map ---

Location: 17 15 N, 88 45 W -- Middle America, bordering the
Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico

Flag ----

Description: blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the
bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of
arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in
front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I
Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a
green garland

Geography ---------

Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Guatemala and Mexico

Geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 45 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total area: 22,960 sq km
land area: 22,800 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:
total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Coastline: 386 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from
the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's
territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act,
1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for
the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences
with Guatemala

International disputes: border with Guatemala in dispute; talks to
resolve the dispute are stalled

Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to
February)

Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 2%
forest and woodland: 44%
other: 52%

Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage,
industrial effluents, agricultural runoff
natural hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to
December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Whaling

Geographic note: national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize
City to Belmopan because of hurricanes; only country in Central
America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

People ------

Population: 219,296 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 48,291; female 46,451)
15-64 years: 53% (male 59,132; female 57,498)
65 years and over: 4% (male 3,881; female 4,043) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.42% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 32.8 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.73 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.89 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: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 33.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.53 years
male: 66.58 years
female: 70.58 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.12 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean

Ethnic divisions: mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%,
other 8%

Religions: Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%,
Methodist 6%, Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal
2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)

Languages: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib)

Literacy: age 14 and over has ever attended school (1991 est.)
total population: 70.3%
male: 70.3%
female: 70.3%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras

Data code: BH

Type of government: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Belmopan

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal,
Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Constitution: 21 September 1981

Legal system: English law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a
hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Sir Colville
YOUNG (since 17 November 1993), who, according to the constitution,
must be a Belizean; was appointed by the queen
head of government: Prime Minister Manuel ESQUIVEL (since July 1993)
was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime Minister Dean
BARROW (since NA 1993)
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the advice
of the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly
Senate: consists of an eight-member appointed body; five members are
appointed on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of
the leader of the opposition, and one after consultation with the
Belize Advisory Council (this council serves as an independent body
to advise the governor general with respect to difficult decisions
such as granting pardons, commutations, stays of execution, the
removal of justices of appeal who appear to be incompetent, etc.)
National Assembly: elections last held 30 June 1993 (next to be held
NA June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28
total) PUP 13 UDP 15

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by
the governor general on advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders: People's United Party (PUP), George
PRICE, Florencio MARIN, Said MUSA; United Democratic Party (UDP),
Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean LINDO, Dean BARROW; National Alliance for
Belizean Rights, Philip GOLDSON

Other political or pressure groups: Society for the Promotion of
Education and Research (SPEAR), Assad SHOMAN; United Workers Front,
leader NA

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

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dean R. LINDO
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador George Charles BRUNO
embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize City; APO: Unit 7401, APO AA
34025
telephone: [501] (2) 77161 through 77163
FAX: [501] (2) 30802

Flag: blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom
edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the
coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a
mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in
the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green
garland

Economy -------

Economic overview: The small, essentially private enterprise
economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and
merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming increasing
importance. Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and provides
75% of export earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for
almost 40% of hard currency earnings. The US, Belize's main trading
partner, is assisting in efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with
an agricultural diversification program.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $575 million (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita: $2,750 (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: NA
services: NA (1995 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 51,500
by occupation: agriculture 30%, services 16%, government 15.4%,
commerce 11.2%, manufacturing 10.3%
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
(1985)

Unemployment rate: 10% (1993 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $126.8 million
expenditures: $123.1 million, including capital expenditures of
$44.8 million (FY90/91 est.)

Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism,
construction

Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (1990)

Electricity:
capacity: 34,532 kW
production: 110 million kWh
consumption per capita: 490 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber; fish,
cultured shrimp

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; an illicit
producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor
money-laundering center

Exports: $115 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: sugar, citrus fruits, bananas, clothing, fish products,
molasses, wood
partners: US 38%, UK, other EC (1994)

Imports: $281 million (c.i.f., 1993)
commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, food,
manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
partners: US 53%, UK, other EC, Mexico (1994)

External debt: $167.5 million (1992)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 2,560 km
paved: 336 km
unpaved: 2,224 km (1987 est.)

Waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft;
seasonally navigable

Ports: Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

Merchant marine:
total: 89 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 311,731 GRT/470,272 DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 60, container 6, liquefied gas tanker
1, oil tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4,
specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 35
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 25
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 15,917 (1990 est.)

Telephone system: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1

Televisions: 27,048 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Navy, Air Force,
and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 52,290
males fit for military service: 31,086
males reach military age (18) annually: 2,390 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $8.1 million, NA%
of GDP (FY95/96)

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

@Benin -----

Map ---

Location: 9 30 N, 2 15 E -- Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo

Flag ----

Description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red
with a vertical green band on the hoist side

Geography ---------

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Nigeria and Togo

Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 2 15 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 112,620 sq km
land area: 110,620 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:
total: 1,989 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km,
Togo 644 km

Coastline: 121 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low
mountains
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Tanekas 641 m

Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble,
timber

Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 4%
meadows and pastures: 4%
forest and woodland: 35%
other: 45%

Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1989 est.)