Chapter V (15)

Government type: transitional government
note: following a successful referendum on independence for the
Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National
Assembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and
Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; a
Constitutional Commission was also established to draft a
constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the
transitional legislature

Capital: Asmara (formerly Asmera)

Administrative divisions: 8 provinces (singular--awraja); Akale
Guzay, Barka, Denkel, Hamasen, Sahil, Semhar, Senhit, Seraye
note: in May 1995 the National Assembly adopted a resolution stating
that the administrative structure of Eritrea, which had been
established by former colonial powers, would consist of only six
provinces when the new constitution, then being drafted, became
effective in 1997; the new provinces, the names of which had not
been recommended by the US Board on Geographic Names for recognition
by the US Government, pending acceptable definition of the
boundaries, were: Anseba, Debub, Debubawi Keyih Bahri, Gash-Barka,
Maakel, and Semanawi Keyih Bahri; more recently, it has been
reported that these provinces have been redesignated regions and
renamed Southern Red Sea, Northern Red Sea, Anseba, Gash-Barka,
Southern, and Central

Independence: 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea
Autonomous Region)

National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24
May (1993)

Constitution: the transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May
1993, was replaced by a new constitution that was promulgated in May
1997

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: NA; note--it seems likely that the final version of the
constitution would follow the example set in the referendum of 1993
and extend suffrage to all persons 18 years of age or older

Executive branch:
chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority
note: the president is head of the State Council and National
Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly; election last
held 8 June 1993 (next to be held NA)
election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote--ISAIAS Afworki 95%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term
limits not established)
elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the new
constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old
Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member
Constituent Assembly which had been established in 1997 to discuss
and ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans
living abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly to
serve as the country's legislative body until country-wide elections
to a National Assembly are held; only 75 members will be elected to
the National Assembly--the other 75 will be members of the Central
Committee of the PFDJ

Judicial branch: the Supreme Court; 10 provincial courts; 29
district courts

Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and
Afworki, PETROS Solomon]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Eritrean Islamic Jihad or
NAWUD]; Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council or ELF-RC

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador SEMERE Russom
chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William CLARK
embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara
mailing address: P.O. Box 211, Asmara

Flag description: red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist
side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle
is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold
olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle

Economy

Economy--overview: With independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993,
Eritrea faced the bitter economic problem of a small, desperately
poor African country. The economy is largely based on subsistence
agriculture, with over 70% of the population involved in farming and
herding. The small industrial sector consists mainly of light
industries with outmoded technologies. Domestic output (GDP) is
substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad.
Government revenues come from custom duties and taxes on income and
sales. Road construction is a top domestic priority. Eritrea has
long-term prospects for revenues from the development of offshore
oil, offshore fishing, and tourism. Eritrea's economic future
depends on its ability to master fundamental social and economic
problems, e.g., overcoming illiteracy, promoting job creation,
expanding technical training, attracting foreign investment, and
streamlining the bureaucracy. The most immediate threat to the
economy, however, is the possible expansion of the armed conflict
with Ethiopia.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.5 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$660 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 20%
services: 62% (1995 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1998 est.)

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $226 million
expenditures: $453 million, including capital expenditures of $88
million (1996 est.)

Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: NA kWh

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%

Electricity--consumption: NA kWh

Electricity--exports: NA kWh

Electricity--imports: NA kWh

Agriculture--products: sorghum, lentils, vegetables, maize,
cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish

Exports: $95 million (1996 est.)

Exports--commodities: livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small
manufactures

Exports--partners: Ethiopia 67%, Sudan 10%, US 8%, Italy 4%, Saudi
Arabia, Yemen (1996)

Imports: $514 million (1996 est.)

Imports--commodities: processed goods, machinery, petroleum
products

Imports--partners: Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Italy, United Arab
Emirates (1996)

Debt--external: $46 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $149.9 million (1995)

Currency: 1 nafka = 100 cents

Exchange rates: nakfa per US$1 = 7.6 (January 1999), 7.2 (March
1998 est.)
note: following independence from Ethiopia, Eritrea continued to use
Ethiopian currency until November 1997 when Eritrea issued its own
currency, the nakfa, at approximately the same rate as the birr,
i.e., 7.2 nakfa per US$1

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: NA

Telephone system:
domestic: very inadequate; about 4 telephones per 100 families, most
of which are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders
to improve the system
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 1

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1 (government controlled) (1997)

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways:
total: 307 km
narrow gauge: 307 km 0.950-m gauge (1995 est.)
note: nonoperational since 1978 except for about a 5 km stretch that
was reopened in Massawa in 1994; rehabilitation of the remainder and
of the rolling stock is under way; links Ak'ordat and Asmara
(formerly Asmera) with the port of Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa)

Highways:
total: 4,010 km
paved: 874 km
unpaved: 3,136 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,947 GRT/5,747 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 20 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $196 million (1997)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 28.6% (1997)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: dispute over alignment of boundary with
Ethiopia led to armed conflict in 1998, which is still unresolved
despite arbitration efforts; Hanish Islands dispute with Yemen
resolved by arbitral tribunal in October 1998

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

@Estonia -------

Introduction

Background: In and out of Swedish and Russian control over the
centuries, this little Baltic state was re-incorporated into the
USSR after German occupation in World War II. Independence came with
the collapse of the USSR in 1991; the last Russian troops left in
1994. Estonia thus became free to promote economic and political
ties with Western Europe. The position of ethnic Russians (29% of
the population) remains an issue of concern to Moscow. European
Union (EU) membership negotiations, which began in 1998, remain a
domestic issue.

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 59 00 N, 26 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 45,226 sq km
land: 43,211 sq km
water: 2,015 sq km
note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont
combined

Land boundaries:
total: 633 km
border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km

Coastline: 3,794 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with
neighboring states
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Terrain: marshy, lowlands

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m

Natural resources: shale oil (kukersite), peat, phosphorite,
amber, cambrian blue clay, limestone, dolomite

Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 11%
forests and woodland: 44%
other: 20% (1996 est.)

Irrigated land: 110 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: flooding occurs frequently in the spring

Environment--current issues: air heavily polluted with sulfur
dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast;
contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products,
chemicals at former Soviet military bases; Estonia has more than
1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in
agricultural areas are heavily affected by organic waste; coastal
sea water is polluted in many locations

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

People

Population: 1,408,523 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 130,883; female 126,112)
15-64 years: 67% (male 455,112; female 491,819)
65 years and over: 15% (male 66,700; female 137,897) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.82% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 9.05 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 14.21 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -3.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 13.83 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.65 years
male: 62.61 years
female: 75 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.28 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian

Ethnic groups: Estonian 65.1%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%,
Byelorussian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.8% (1998)

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian
Orthodox, others include Baptist, Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist,
Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, Seventh Day Baptist,
Judaism

Languages: Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, English,
Finnish, other

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1998 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
conventional short form: Estonia
local long form: Eesti Vabariik
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: EN

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Tallinn

Administrative divisions: 15 counties (maakonnad,
singular--maakond): Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa
(Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu),
Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva),
Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuessaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa
(Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)

Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February (1918)

Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992

Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 5 October 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Mart SIIMANN (since 12 March 1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
approved by Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if
he or she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds
of balloting, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus
members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between
the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election
last held August-September 1996 (next to be held fall 2001); prime
minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
election results: Lennart MERI elected president by an electoral
assembly after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock between
MERI and RUUTEL; percent of electoral assembly vote--Lennart MERI
61%, Arnold RUUTEL 39%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 March 1995 (next to be held 7 March 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--KMU 32.22%, RE 16.18%, K
14.17%, Pro Patria and ERSP 7.85%, M 5.98%, Our Home is Estonia and
Right-Wingers 5.0%; seats by party--KMU 41, RE 19, K 16, Pro Patria
8, Our Home is Estonia 6, M 6, Right-Wingers 5

Judicial branch: National Court, chairman appointed by Parliament
for life

Political parties and leaders: Coalition Party and Rural Union or
SAVISAAR, chairman]; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League
ANDREJEV] made up of two parties: United People's Party and the
Russian Party of Estonia; note--Our Home is Estonia split when two
Russian Party of Estonia members withdrew; United People's Party
parties: Social Democratic Party or ESDP and Rural Center Party or
VEIDEMANN, chairwoman] (created by defectors from Center Party in
late spring 1996, Development Party faction split and now holds five

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UPU, WEU
(associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Grigore-Kaleu STOICESCU
chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Melissa WELLS
embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001
mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May
1990--three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

Economy

Economy--overview: Estonia's continued adherence to market
reforms, disciplined fiscal and monetary policies, and a liberal
free trade regime resulted in GDP growth in 1998 of 5.5% and a
decrease in inflation to 6.5% from 11.2% in 1997. A high but
slightly decreased current account deficit was estimated at 8.6%.
The fall in GDP growth is largely due to the impact of Russia's
financial crisis and reduced investment in emerging markets in the
wake of the Asian financial crisis. Like other small emerging
markets, Estonia will face difficulties in 1999 as a result of
continuing fallout from Asia. Key events of 1998 were the start of
official EU accession talks, banking sector consolidation--nine banks
were reduced to five--and the important role that Swedish capital
played in the large banks (Swedbank's acquisition of a majority
stake in Hansapank has accounted for the large increase in foreign
direct investment). The IMF urged Estonia to maintain a stable
economy and good reputation in international markets and to avoid
populist policies in the run-up to March 1999 parliamentary
elections. The government completed restructuring of
state-controlled Estonian Telecom, the sale of 49% of which will be
the flagship privatization in 1999 and the largest public equity
transaction in the Baltics. Estonia expects to join the World Trade
Organization in 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$7.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,500 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 24.3%
services: 69.5% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: 6.3% (1994 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 28.5% (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 717,000 (1997 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: industry 42%, agriculture and forestry
11%, services 47% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate: 9.6% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.37 billion
expenditures: $1.37 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)

Industries: oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors,
excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes,
apparel

Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)

Electricity--production: 8.065 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.96%
hydro: 0.04%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 5.581 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--exports: 1.2 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--imports: 210 million kWh (1997)

Agriculture--products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables; livestock and
dairy products; fish

Exports: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment 17%, textiles 16%,
food products 8%, transport equipment 8%, mineral products 8%,
chemical products 8% (1997)

Exports--partners: Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Latvia (1997)

Imports: $3.9 billion (c.i.f., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 21%, transport
equipment 12%, foodstuffs 10%, minerals 9%, textiles 8%, metals 8%,
chemical products 8% (1997)

Imports--partners: Finland, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Japan, US
(1997)

Debt--external: $270 million (January 1996)

Economic aid--recipient: $137.3 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: krooni (EEK) per US$1--13.473 (January 1999),
14.075 (1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996), 11.465 (1995), 12.991
(1994); note--krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed
rate of 8 to 1

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 531,000 (1997)

Telephone system: the Ministry of Transportation and
Communications (MOTC) administers Estonia's telephone system;
Internet services available throughout most of the country; about
150,000 unfilled subscriber requests
domestic: local--cellular phones services are growing and expanding
to develop rural networks under direction of the MOTC;
intercity--Estonia has a highly developed fiber-optic backbone
(double loop) system presently serving at least 16 major cities
(1998)
international: foreign investment in the form of joint business
ventures greatly improved Estonia's telephone service; fiber-optic
cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide
packet switched service

Radio broadcast stations: 27 commercial broadcast stations, 1
government broadcast station (1997); note--by law 51% of shows must
be produced within the EU; equal air time must be given to all
candidates during elections by public and private stations

Radios: 1.12 million (1997 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 7 (1997); note--Ministry of Culture
administers television licensing; mainly Estonian, European, and
Russian programming; by law 51% of shows must be produced within the
EU; equal air time must be given to all candidates during elections
by public and private stations

Televisions: 1.132 million (1997 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 1,018 km common carrier lines only; does not include
dedicated industrial lines
broad gauge: 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)

Highways:
total: 16,437 km
paved: 8,343 km (including 65 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,094 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 320 km perennially navigable

Pipelines: natural gas 420 km (1992)

Ports and harbors: Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu,
Tallinn

Merchant marine:
total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 337,163 GRT/348,749 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 22, combination bulk 1, container 5,
oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 6 (1998
est.)

Airports: 5 (1997 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)

Military

Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy/Coast Guard, Air and Air
Defense Force (not officially sanctioned), Maritime Border Guard,
Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and
border troops)

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 349,263 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 274,276 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 10,503 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $70 million (1999)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.2% (1999)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: Estonian and Russian negotiators reached
a technical border agreement in December 1996 which has not been
ratified

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from
Southwest Asia and the Caucasus via Russia, and cocaine from Latin
America to Western Europe and Scandinavia; possible precursor
manufacturing and/or trafficking

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

@Ethiopia --------

Introduction

Background: On 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary
Democratic Front (EPRDF) toppled the authoritarian government of
MENGISTU Haile-Mariam and took control in Addis Ababa. A new
constitution was promulgated in December 1994 and national and
regional popular elections were held in May and June 1995.

Geography

Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 38 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 1,127,127 sq km
land: 1,119,683 sq km
water: 7,444 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 5,311 km
border countries: Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 830 km,
Somalia 1,626 km, Sudan 1,606 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by
Great Rift Valley

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Denakil -125 m
highest point: Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m

Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper,
potash, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 40%
forests and woodland: 25%
other: 22% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,900 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley
susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts

Environment--current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil
erosion; desertification

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography--note: landlocked?entire coastline along the Red Sea was
lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993

People

Population: 59,680,383 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 13,787,810; female 13,703,546)
15-64 years: 51% (male 15,398,123; female 15,141,892)
65 years and over: 3% (male 745,737; female 903,275) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.16% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 44.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 21.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan, Kenya, and
Somalia for refuge from war and famine in earlier years, is expected
to continue slowly in 1998; small numbers of Sudanese and Somali
refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting in their own
countries, began returning to their homes in 1998

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 124.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 40.46 years
male: 39.22 years
female: 41.73 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.81 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Ethiopian(s)
adjective: Ethiopian

Ethnic groups: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%,
Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%

Religions: Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist
12%, other 3%-8%

Languages: Amharic, Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali,
Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.5%
male: 45.5%
female: 25.3% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form: Ethiopia
local long form: YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
local short form: YeItyop'iya
abbreviation: FDRE

Data code: ET

Government type: federal republic

Capital: Addis Ababa

Administrative divisions: 9 states and 2 chartered cities*: Addis
Ababa*; Afar; Amhara; Benshangul/Gumuz (Benishangul-Gumaz); Dire
Dawa*; Gambela (Gambella); Harari (Harar); Oromia (Oromiya); Somalia
(Somali); Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP);
Tigray (Tigre)

Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the
oldest in the world--at least 2,000 years

National holiday: National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of MENGISTU
regime)

Constitution: promulgated December 1994

Legal system: currently transitional mix of national and regional
courts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President NEGASSO Gidada (since 22 August 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since August 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided in the December 1994
constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and
approved by the House of People's Representatives
elections: president elected by the House of People's
Representatives for a six-year term; election last held June 1995
(next to be held NA 2001); prime minister designated by the party in
power following legislative elections
election results: NEGASSO Gidada elected president; percent of vote
by the House of People's Representatives--NA

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of
Federation or upper chamber (117 seats; members are chosen by state
assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's
Representatives or lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly
elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve
five-year terms)
elections: regional and national popular elections were held in May
and June 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--NA; note--EPRDF won
nearly all seats

Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court; the president and vice
president of the Federal Supreme Court are recommended by the prime
minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; for
other federal judges, the prime minister submits candidates selected
by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council to the House of
People's Representatives for appointment

Political parties and leaders: Ethiopian People's Revolutionary

Political pressure groups and leaders: Oromo Liberation Front or
OLF; All Amhara People's Organization; Southern Ethiopia People's
Democratic Coalition; numerous small, ethnically-based groups have
formed since former President MENGISTU'S defeat, including several
Islamic militant groups

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos
chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David H. SHINN
embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
yellow, and red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays
emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk
centered on the three bands; Ethiopia is the oldest independent
country in Africa, and the colors of her flag were so often adopted
by other African countries upon independence that they became known
as the pan-African colors

Economy

Economy--overview: Ethiopia remains one of the least developed
countries in the world. Its economy is based on agriculture, which
accounts for more than half of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total
employment; coffee generates 60% of export earnings. The
agricultural sector suffers from frequent periods of drought, poor
cultivation practices, and deterioration of internal security
conditions. The manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on inputs
from the agricultural sector. Over 90% of large-scale industry, but
less than 10% of agriculture, is state-run. The government is
considering selling off a portion of state-owned plants and is
implementing reform measures that are gradually liberalizing the
economy. A major medium-term problem is the improvement of roads,
water supply, and other parts of an infrastructure badly neglected
during years of civil strife. Renewed fighting with Eritrea dims
economic prospects for 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$32.9 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$560 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 12%
services: 33% (1995 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1998 est.)

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 80%,
government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $1 billion
expenditures: $1.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $415
million (FY96/97)

Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals,
metals processing, cement

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 1.32 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 7.58%
hydro: 87.12%
nuclear: 0%
other: 5.3% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.32 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed,
sugarcane, potatoes; hides, cattle, sheep, goats

Exports: $550 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: coffee, leather products, gold, oilseeds
(1995)

Exports--partners: Germany 26%, Japan 11%, Italy 10%, UK 8%,
Djibouti, Saudi Arabia (1996 est.)

Imports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: food and live animals, petroleum and
petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles and
aircraft (1994)

Imports--partners: Italy 11%, US 11%, Germany 7%, Saudi Arabia 4%
(1996 est.)

Debt--external: $10 billion (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: $367 million (FY95/96)

Currency: 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 (end of period)--7.58 (January
1999), 6.8640 (1997), 6.4260 (1996), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994)
note: since May 1993, the birr market rate has been determined in an
interbank market supported by weekly wholesale auction; prior to
that date, the official rate was pegged to US$1 = 5.000 birr

Fiscal year: 8 July--7 July

Communications

Telephones: 100,000 (1983 est.)

Telephone system: open wire and microwave radio relay system
adequate for government use
domestic: open wire and microwave radio relay
international: open wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio
relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1
Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 0, shortwave 1

Radios: 9 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 25 (1998)

Televisions: 150,000 (1998 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti
railroad)
narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge
note: in April 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia announced plans to
revitalize the century-old railroad that links their capitals

Highways:
total: 28,500 km
paved: 4,275 km
unpaved: 24,225 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: none; Ethiopia is landlocked and was by
agreement with Eritrea using the ports of Assab and Massawa, but
since the border dispute with Eritrea flared, Ethiopia has used the
port of Djibouti

Merchant marine:
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,264 GRT/94,489 DWT
ships by type: cargo 7, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 (1998
est.)

Airports: 84 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 73
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Police
note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the de jure
independence of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in
Eritrean possession and ships which belonged to the former Ethiopian
Navy and based at Djibouti have been sold

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 13,520,302 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,052,710 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 655,290 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $138 million (FY98/99)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY98/99)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: most of the southern half of the boundary
with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial
dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden; dispute over alignment of
boundary with Eritrea led to armed conflict in 1998, which is still
unresolved despite arbitration efforts

Illicit drugs: transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest
and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America as well
as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat
(chat) for local use and regional export

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

@Europa Island -------------

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 22 20 S, 40 22 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 28 sq km
land: 28 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 22.2 km

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

Climate: tropical

Terrain: NA

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 24 m

Natural resources: negligible

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: wildlife sanctuary

People

Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Europa Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Europa

Data code: EU

Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Independence: none (possession of France)

Legal system: NA

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)

Flag description: the flag of France is used

Economy

Economy--overview: no economic activity

Communications

Communications--note: 1 meteorological station

Transportation

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claimed by Madagascar

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

@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) ---------------------------------

Geography

Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic
Ocean, east of southern Argentina

Geographic coordinates: 51 45 S, 59 00 W

Map references: South America

Area:
total: 12,173 sq km
land: 12,173 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and
about 200 small islands

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,288 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain
occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year,
except in January and February, but does not accumulate

Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating
plains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Natural resources: fish, wildlife

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 99%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 1% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: deeply indented coast provides good natural
harbors; short growing season

People

Population: 2,758 (July 1999 est.)

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

Population growth rate: 2.43% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population

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

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

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

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Nationality:
noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island

Ethnic groups: British

Religions: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free
Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran,
Seventh-Day Adventist

Languages: English

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Colony of the Falkland Islands
conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Data code: FA

Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by
Argentina

Government type: NA

Capital: Stanley

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK;
also claimed by Argentina)

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by
Argentina)

National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Constitution: 3 October 1985; amended 1997

Legal system: English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Richard RALPH (since 29 January 1996;
to be replaced in May 1999 by Donald LAMONT); Chief Executive A. M.
GURR (since NA); Financial Secretary D. F. HOWATT (since NA)
cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative
Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial
secretary), and the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats--8
elected, 2 ex officio; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2001)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 8

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is a nonresident

Political parties and leaders: none; all independents

International organization participation: ICFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white
disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms
contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity)
above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands)
with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy was formerly based on agriculture,
mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of
economic activity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing
licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands
exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40
million per year, which goes to support the island's health,
education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish
taken. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish
winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the
UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. To encourage tourism,
the Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges
for visitors attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing.
The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British
Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around
the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial
reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day; to date no
exploitable site has been identified. An agreement between Argentina
and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty
conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential
oil reserves.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$NA

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA

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

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: 1,100 (est.)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding
and fishing)

Unemployment rate: full employment; labor shortage

Budget:
revenues: $66.1 million
expenditures: $66.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY97/98 est.)

Industries: wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and coins

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 10 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 10 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy
products

Exports: $7.6 million (1995)

Exports--commodities: wool, hides, meat

Exports--partners: UK, Netherlands, Japan (1992)

Imports: $24.7 million (1995)

Imports--commodities: fuel, food and drink, building materials,
clothing

Imports--partners: UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (1992)

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $1.7 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Falkland pound (LF) = 100 pence

Exchange rates: Falkland pound (LF) per US$1--0.6057 (January
1999), 0.5037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995),
0.6529 (1994); note--the Falkland pound is at par with the British
pound

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 1,180 (1991 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB
radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all
points on both islands
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
with links through London to other countries

Radio broadcast stations: 1 (government operated)

Radios: 1,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (operated by the British Forces
Broadcasting Service) (1997)

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 348 km
paved: 83 km
unpaved: 265 km

Ports and harbors: Stanley

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: British Forces Falkland Islands (includes
Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claimed by Argentina

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

@Faroe Islands -------------

Geography

Location: Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea
and the north Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland
to Norway

Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 7 00 W

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 1,399 sq km
land: 1,399 sq km
water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)

Area--comparative: eight times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,117 km

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

Climate: mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy,
windy

Terrain: rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m

Natural resources: fish, whales

Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 94% (1996)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one
uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically
located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic;
precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands

People

Population: 41,059 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 4,819; female 4,629)
15-64 years: 62% (male 13,600; female 11,811)
65 years and over: 15% (male 2,786; female 3,414) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: -2.03% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 12.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 9.08 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -23.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 10.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.56 years
male: 75.66 years
female: 81.58 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.36 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: Scandinavian

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran

Languages: Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Literacy: NA
note: similar to Denmark proper

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Faroe Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Foroyar

Data code: FO

Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948

Government type: NA

Capital: Torshavn

Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark;
self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark;
self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system: Danish

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January
1972), represented by High Commissioner Bente KLINTE, chief
administrative officer (since NA)
head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 9 May
1998)
cabinet: Landsstyri elected by the Faroese Parliament
elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
party that wins the most seats is usually elected prime minister by
the Faroese Parliament; election last held 30 April 1998 (next to be
held NA 2002)
election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent
of parliamentary vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32
seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis
from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held by NA July 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--Republicans 23.8%,
People's Party 21.3%, Social Democrats 21.9%, Coalition Party (Union
Party, Labor Front, Home Rule Party) 15%; seats by party--Republicans
8, People's Party 8, Social Democrats 7, Coalition Party 6, other
parties 3
note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on
11 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); results--percent of vote
by party--NA; seats by party--Social Democrats 1, Conservatives 1

Judicial branch: none

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party [Joannes
KALLSBERG]

International organization participation: NC, NIB

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description: white with a red cross outlined in blue 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

Economy--overview: After the severe economic troubles of the early
1990s, brought on by a drop in the vital fish catch, the Faroe
Islands have come back in the last few years, with unemployment down
to 5% in mid-1998. Nevertheless the total dependence on fishing
means the economy remains extremely vulnerable. The Faroese hope to
broaden their economic base by building new fish-processing plants.
Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the
immediate Faroese area, which may lay the basis for sustained
economic prosperity. The Faroese are supported by a substantial
annual subsidy from Denmark.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$700 million (1996 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 6% (1996 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$16,000 (1996 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 16%
services: 64% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1996 est.)

Labor force: 20,345 (1995 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: largely engaged in fishing,
manufacturing, transportation, and commerce

Unemployment rate: 5% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $467 million
expenditures: $468 million, including capital expenditures of $11
million (1996 est.)

Industries: fishing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 170 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 52.94%
hydro: 47.06%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 170 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon,
other fish

Exports: $362 million (f.o.b., 1995)

Exports--commodities: fish and fish products 92%, animal
feedstuffs, transport equipment (ships)

Exports--partners: Denmark 22.2%, UK 25.8%, Germany 9.7%, France
8.3%, Norway 6.2%, US 2.0%

Imports: $315.6 (c.i.f., 1995)

Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 17.0%,
consumer goods 33%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 26.9%, fuels
11.4%, fish and salt 6.7%

Imports--partners: Denmark 34.5%, Norway 15.9%, UK 8.4% Germany
7.8%, Sweden 5.8%, US 1.5%

Debt--external: $767 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $150 million (annual subsidy from
Denmark) (1995)

Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1--6.408 (January
1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1966), 5.602 (1995), 6.361
(1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 22,500 (3,500 cellular telephone subscribers) (1996)

Telephone system: good international communications; good
domestic facilities
domestic: digitalization was to hve been completed in 1998
international: satellite earth stations--1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic
submarine cable linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 13), shortwave 0

Radios: 11,800 (1996 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there are 29
low-power repeaters; satellite relays of MTV Europe, BBC World, and
Scansat TV3 Eurosport are also available) (1997)

Televisions: 11,600 (1996 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 458 km
paved: 450 km
unpaved: 8 km (1995 est.)

Ports and harbors: Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik,
Fuglafjorour

Merchant marine:
total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,853 GRT/13,481 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: no organized native military forces; only a
small Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Fiji ----

Geography

Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates: 18 00 S, 175 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 18,270 sq km
land: 18,270 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,129 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
rectilinear shelf claim added
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature
variation

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m

Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil
potential

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 10%
forests and woodland: 65%
other: 11% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to
January

Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertication, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography--note: includes 332 islands of which approximately 110
are inhabited

People

Population: 812,918 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 138,796; female 133,428)
15-64 years: 63% (male 257,130; female 256,834)
65 years and over: 4% (male 12,527; female 14,203) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.28% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 22.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.21 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -3.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 16.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.59 years
male: 64.19 years
female: 69.11 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian

Ethnic groups: Fijian 51%, Indian 44%, European, other Pacific
Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.)

Religions: Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%),
Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%
note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is
a Muslim minority (1986)

Languages: English (official), Fijian, Hindustani

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.6%
male: 93.8%
female: 89.3% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form: Fiji

Data code: FJ

Government type: republic
note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally
declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987

Capital: Suva

Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central,
Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970)

Constitution: 10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); a new
constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated on 25
July 1990; amended 25 July 1997 to allow non-ethnic Fijians greater
say in government and to make multi-party government mandatory;
entered into force 28 July 1998; note-- the May 1999 election will be
the first test of the amended constitution and will introduce open
voting--not racially prescribed--for the first time at the national
level

Legal system: based on British system

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (acting president
since 15 December 1993, president since 12 January 1994); Vice
President Ratu Josefa Iloilo ULUIVUDA (since 18 January 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Sitiveni RABUKA (since 2 June
1992); Deputy Prime Minister Taufa VAKATALE (since 7 August 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament
note: there is also a Presidential Council that advises the
president on matters of national importance and a Great Council of
Chiefs which consists of the highest ranking members of the
traditional chiefly system
elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a
five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA elected president; percent
of Great Council of Chiefs vote--NA

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(34 seats; 24 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 9 for Indians and others,
and 1 for the island of Rotuma; members appointed by the president
to serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (70
seats; 37 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 27 reserved for ethnic
Indians, and 6 for independents and others; members elected by
popular vote on a communal basis to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives--last held 18-25 February 1994
(next to be held 11 May 1999)
election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--SVT 31, NFP 20, FLP 7, FAP 5, GVP 4,
independents 2, ANC 1; note--results are for the last election before
the new constitution came into force
note: when the new constitution is applied to the upcoming May
elections, the composition of the legislative branch will change to
the following: Senate--32 seats (14 appointed by the Great Council of
Chiefs, nine appointed by the prime minister, eight appointed by the
leader of the opposition, and one appointed by the council of
Rotuma) and House of Representatives--71 seats (23 reserved for
ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for
other ethnic groups, one reserved for the Rotuman constituency
encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats)

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

Political parties and leaders: Fijian Political Party or SVT
Lewenivanua Vakarisito Party or VLV or Christian Fellowship Party
note: in early 1995, ethnic Fijian members of the All National
Congress or ANC merged with the Fijian Association or FA; the
remaining members of the ANC have renamed their party the General
Electors' Association

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU,
OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNIKOM, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador "Ratu" Napolioni MASIREWA
chancery: Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Larry M.
DINGER
embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva