Chapter V (25)

Legislative branch: bicameral Supreme Council or Zhogorku Kenesh
consists of the Assembly of People's Representatives (70 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and
the Legislative Assembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Assembly of People's Representatives--last held 5 February
1995 (next to be held NA 2000); Legislative Assembly--last held 5
February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: Assembly of People's Representatives--percent of
vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA; note--not all of the 70 seats
were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off
elections were held at later dates; the assembly meets twice yearly;
Legislative Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA;
note--not all of the 35 seats were filled at the 5 February 1995
elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates
note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995
elections

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed for 10-year
terms by the Supreme Council on recommendation of the president;
Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party or PSD
JEKSHEYEV, chairman]; National Unity Democratic Movement or DDNE
MASALIYEV, chairman]; Kyrgyzstan Erkin Party (Democratic Movement of

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Unity Democratic
Movement; Council of Free Trade Unions; Union of Entrepreneurs;

International organization participation: AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNOMSIL, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV
chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne M. SIGMUND
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, 720016 Bishkek
mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: red field with a yellow sun in the center
having 40 rays representing the 40 Kirghiz tribes; on the obverse
side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in
the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three
lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional
Kirghiz yurt

Economy

Economy--overview: Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor, mountainous
country with a predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, wool, and
meat are the main agricultural products and exports. Industrial
exports include gold, mercury, uranium, and hydropower. Kyrgyzstan
has been one of the most progressive countries of the former Soviet
Union in carrying out market reforms. Following a successful
stabilization program, which lowered inflation from 88% in 1994 to
15% for 1997, attention is turning toward stimulating growth. Much
of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in
production have been severe since the breakup of the Soviet Union in
December 1991, but by mid-1995 production began to recover and
exports began to increase. Pensioners, unemployed workers, and
government workers with salary arrears continue to suffer. Foreign
assistance played a substantial role in the country's economic
turnaround in 1996-97. The government has adopted a series of
measures to combat some of the severe economic problems such as
excessive debt and inadequate revenue collection, encountered in
1998.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$9.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 1.8% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,200 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 47%
industry: 12%
services: 41% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: 40% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 26.2% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18.4% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1.7 million

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and forestry 40%, industry
and construction 19%, other 41% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: 6% 1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $225 million
expenditures: $308 million, including capital expenditures of $11
million (1996 est.)

Industries: small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement,
shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold,
rare earth metals

Industrial production growth rate: 14% (1998 est.)
note: the gold industry spurted in 1998 giving industry as a whole a
boost on a small base while the rest of the economy, including
agriculture, lagged

Electricity--production: 13.49 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 9.56%
hydro: 90.44%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 10.92 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 6.32 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 3.75 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables,
grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool

Exports: $630 million (1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury,
uranium, hydropower; machinery; shoes

Exports--partners: China, UK, FSU

Imports: $670 million (1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: grain, lumber, industrial products, ferrous
metals, fuel, machinery, textiles, footwear

Imports--partners: Turkey, Cuba, US, Germany

Debt--external: $935 million (1997 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $329.4 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Kyrgyzstani som (KGS) = 100 tyiyn

Exchange rates: soms (KGS) per US$1--30.25 (February 1999), 20.838
(1998), 17.362 (1997), 12.810 (1996), 10.822 (1995), 10.842 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 356,000 (1996 est.)

Telephone system: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied
applications for household telephones
domestic: principally microwave radio relay; one cellular provider,
probably only limited to Bishkek region
international: connections with other CIS countries by landline or
microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections
with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satellite
earth stations--1 Intersputnik and 1 Intelsat; connected
internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note--one
state-run radio broadcast station

Radios: 825,000 (radio receiver systems with multiple speakers
for program diffusion 748,000)

Television broadcast stations: NA (repeater stations throughout
the country relay programs from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and
Turkey) (1997)

Televisions: 875,000

Transportation

Railways:
total: 370 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
lines
broad gauge: 370 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

Highways:
total: 18,500 km
paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,646 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 600 km (1990)

Pipelines: natural gas 200 km

Ports and harbors: Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)

Airports: 54 (1994 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 40
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 32 (1994 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, National Guard, Security Forces
(internal and border troops), Civil Defense
note: border troops controlled by Russia

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,146,595 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 930,017 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 46,561 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $10.8 million (1996)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1996)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: territorial dispute with Tajikistan on
southwestern boundary in Isfara Valley area

Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium
poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication
program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs
to Russia and Western Europe from Southwest Asia

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

@Laos ----

Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of
Vietnam

Geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 236,800 sq km
land: 230,800 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Utah

Land boundaries:
total: 5,083 km
border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km,
Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry
season (December to April)

Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m

Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold,
gemstones

Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 40% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)
note: rainy season irrigation--2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation--750
sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: floods, droughts, and blight

Environment--current issues: unexploded ordnance; deforestation;
soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to
potable water

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography--note: landlocked

People

Population: 5,407,453 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 1,235,797; female 1,203,520)
15-64 years: 52% (male 1,360,991; female 1,434,378)
65 years and over: 3% (male 78,195; female 94,572) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.74% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 39.93 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 12.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 89.32 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.21 years
male: 52.63 years
female: 55.87 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.55 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian

Ethnic groups: Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%,
Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien)
9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%

Religions: Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%

Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic
languages

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60%
male: 70%
female: 48% (1998 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form: Laos
local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short form: none

Data code: LA

Government type: Communist state

Capital: Vientiane

Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and
plural), 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural), and
1 special zone** (khetphiset, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo,
Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha,
Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet,
Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang

Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France)

National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation
of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)

Constitution: promulgated 14 August 1991

Legal system: based on traditional customs, French legal norms
and procedures, and Socialist practice

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February
1998); Vice President OUDOM Khattiya (since 26 February 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister SISAVAT Keobounphan (since 26
February 1998); Senior Deputy Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit
(since 20 April 1996); Deputy Prime Ministers KHAMPHOUI Keoboualapha
(since 15 August 1991), CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 26 February
1998), SOMSAVAT Lengsavad (since 26 February 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held
NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president with the
approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term
election results: KHAMTAI Siphandon elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (99 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note--by
presidential decree, on 27 October 1997, the number of seats
increased from 85 to 99)
elections: last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--LPRP
or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 99

Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court, the president of the
People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the vice
president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed
by the National Assembly Standing Committee

Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party
proscribed

Political pressure groups and leaders: noncommunist political
groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975

International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador VANG Rattanavong
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wendy Jean CHAMBERLIN
embassy: Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546

Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue
(double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue
band

Economy

Economy--overview: The government of Laos?one of the few remaining
official communist states--has been decentralizing control and
encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting
from an extremely low base, have been striking--growth averaged 7% in
1988-96. Because Laos depends heavily on its trade with Thailand, it
fell victim to the financial crisis in the region beginning in 1997.
Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure. It has
no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and
internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few
urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and
provides 80% of total employment. The predominant crop is glutinous
rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food,
but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause shortages in
various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future the economy
will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international
sources; Japan is currently the largest bilateral aid donor; aid
from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many
developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper
efforts to regain a high rate of GDP growth.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$6.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,260 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 51%
industry: 21%
services: 28% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: 46.1% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 26.4% (1992)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 112% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1 million-1.5 million

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 80% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1997 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $230.2 million
expenditures: $365.9 million, including capital expenditures of $317
million (1996)

Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power,
agricultural processing, construction, garments

Industrial production growth rate: 8.9% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 900 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.04%
hydro: 99.96%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)

Electricity--consumption: 287 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 640 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 27 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee,
sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

Exports: $330 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: wood products, garments, electricity,
coffee, tin

Exports--partners: Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France

Imports: $630 million (c.i.f., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel

Imports--partners: Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore

Debt--external: $1.2 billion (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: $290 million (1998)

Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at

Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1--4,217 (January 1999),
3,299.21 (1998), 1,256.73 (1997), 921.14 (1996), 804.69 (1995),
717.67 (1994)
note: as of September 1995, a floating exchange rate policy was
adopted

Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September

Communications

Telephones: 28,000 (1998 est.)

Telephone system: service to general public is poor but
improving, with over 28,000 telephones currently in service and an
additional 48,000 expected by 2001; the government relies on a
radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas
domestic: radiotelephone communications
international: satellite earth station--1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean
Region)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 5, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios: 580,000 (1995)

Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)

Televisions: 32,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 21,716 km
paved: 9,673.5 km
unpaved: 12,042.5 km (1998 est.)

Waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries;
2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft
drawing less than 0.5 m

Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km

Ports and harbors: none

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports: 52 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes militia
element), Lao People's Navy (LPN; includes riverine element), Air
Force, National Police Department

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,200,664 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 648,087 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 57,047 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $77.4 million (FY96/97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.2% (FY96/97)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: parts of the border with Thailand are
indefinite

Illicit drugs: world's third-largest illicit opium producer
(estimated cultivation in 1998--26,100 hectares, a 7% decrease over
1997; estimated potential production in 1998--140 metric tons, a 33%
decrease over 1997); potential heroin producer; transshipment point
for heroin and methamphetamines produced in Burma; illicit producer
of cannabis

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

@Latvia ------

Introduction

Background: Along with most of the other small nations of Europe,
Latvia shares a history of invasion by a succession of expansionist
nations, e.g., Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Russia. After a brief
period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was
annexed by the USSR in 1940 under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The
USSR recaptured Latvia from its German occupiers in 1944. Latvia
reestablished its independence in August 1991, a few months prior to
the collapse of the Soviet Union; the last Russian troops left in
1994. The status of ethnic Russians, who make up 30% of the
population, is an issue of concern to Moscow. Unemployment has
become a growing problem and Latvia hopes to receive an invitation
to begin EU accession talks by the end of 1999.

Geography

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between
Estonia and Lithuania

Geographic coordinates: 57 00 N, 25 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 64,589 sq km
land: 64,589 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
total: 1,150 km
border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km,
Russia 217 km

Coastline: 531 km

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

Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters

Terrain: low plain

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m

Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite

Land use:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 14% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: air and water pollution because of a
lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River
heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with
chemicals and petroleum products at military bases

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

People

Population: 2,353,874 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 216,369; female 207,242)
15-64 years: 67% (male 749,396; female 825,988)
65 years and over: 15% (male 114,038; female 240,841) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: -1.25% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 8.1 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 15.82 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -4.75 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: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female
total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 17.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.3 years
male: 61.24 years
female: 73.66 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.18 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian

Ethnic groups: Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%,
Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4%

Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 99% (1989 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form: Latvia
local long form: Latvijas Republika
local short form: Latvija
former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: LG

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Riga

Administrative divisions: 26 counties (singular--rajons) and 7
municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons,
Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles
Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas
Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*,
Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons,
Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas
Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons,
Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons

Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)

Constitution: the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the
1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Vilis KRISTOPANS (since 21
November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
appointed by the Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term
(amended from a three-year term on 4 December 1997); election last
held 18 June 1996 (next to be held by NA June/July 1999); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Guntis ULMANIS elected president in the first
round of balloting; percent of parliamentary vote--Guntis ULMANIS
53%, Ilga KREITUSE 25%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year
terms--amended from three-year term on 4 December 1997)
elections: last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--People's Party 21%, LC
18%, TSP 14%, TVB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 8%;
seats by party--People's Party 24, LC 21, TSP 16, TVB/LNNK 17, Social
Democrats 14, New Party 8

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges' appointments are
confirmed by Parliament

Political parties and leaders: New Party [Raimonds PAULS];
V. IVANOV]; Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly People's Front
ADAMSONS]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS
chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James H. HOLMES
embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE
09723

Flag description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white
(half-width), and maroon

Economy

Economy--overview: Developments in 1998 include an invitation to
join the World Trade Organization (the first Baltic country
invited), GDP growth of 3.6% (down from 6% in 1997), and reduced
inflation at 4.7% (from 8.4% in 1997). The drop in GDP growth is
largely attributable to the impact of Russia's financial crisis and
reduced investment in emerging markets following the Asian financial
troubles. Unofficial sanctions that Russia imposed in the spring
initially hit Latvia's exporters--Russia is among Latvia's top three
trade partners--but also prompted them to seek alternative markets.
Latvia continued its strict fiscal and monetary policy, including
its second balanced budget and had a 1.8% budget surplus. Its draft
1999 budget is based on conservative projections of 2% to 4% GDP
growth and 4.5% inflation. Unemployment climbed to 9.2% in 1998, a
considerable increase over the 6.7% rate in 1997. Latvia continued
to have a high current account deficit, estimated at about 9%.
Privatization of large state utilities--especially the energy
sector--was postponed and is unlikely to resume before late 1999. EU
accession remains Latvia's top priority, and Latvia expects to be
invited to start EU accession talks by the end of 1999. Continued
troubles in the Russian and East Asian economies probably will hold
growth to around 2.5% in 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$9.7 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3.6% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,100 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 28%
services: 65% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.3%
highest 10%: 22.1% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1.4 million (1997)

Labor force--by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture and forestry
16%, services 43% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 9.2% (1998)

Budget:
revenues: $1.33 billion
expenditures: $1.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)

Industries: buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic
fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines,
radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles;
dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate
products

Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 3.2 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 28.12%
hydro: 71.88%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 6.18 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 300 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 3.28 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables;
beef, milk, eggs; fish

Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: wood and wood products, machinery and
equipment, textiles, foodstuffs

Exports--partners: Russia 21%, Germany 14%, UK 14%, Sweden 8%
(1997)

Imports: $3.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: fuels, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports--partners: Russia 16%, Germany 16%, Finland 10%, Sweden 8%
(1997)

Debt--external: $212 million (1998)

Economic aid--recipient: $96.2 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Latvian lat (LVL) = 100 santims

Exchange rates: lats (LVL) per US$1--0.570 (January 1999), 0.590
(1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 710,848 (1997)

Telephone system: Lattelekom is 51% state owned, plans to
privatize in 2000 to satisfy EU concerns; 50,000 people are on the
waiting list to receive telephone service; Internet service is
available throughout Latvia
domestic: local--two cellular service providers; NMT-450 and GSM
standards provide service nationwide; over 75% of population
covered; intercity--two synchronous digital hierarchy fiber-optic
rings form the national backbone; 11 digital switching centers, 3
service centers
international: Latvia has international fiber-optic connectivity to
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, and an undersea fiber-optic cable to
Sweden

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note--there
are 25 stations of unknown type; 75% of commercial broadcasts must
be in the Latvian language; remainder mostly in Russian and European
languages

Radios: 1.4 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 30 (origin of TV broadcasts must
be 40% Latvian and 40% other European languages)

Televisions: NA; note--almost 100% of the population have TV
access, 16% have VCRs, and 20% have cable or satellite dishes (1995)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 2,412 km
broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)

Highways:
total: 55,942 km
paved: 21,426 km
unpaved: 34,516 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable

Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas
560 km (1992)

Ports and harbors: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils

Merchant marine:
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,429 GRT/44,583 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 3,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 50 (1994 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 36
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 27 (1994 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)

Military

Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense
Forces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 565,811 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 443,879 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 16,883 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $60 million (1999)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (1999)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: draft treaty delimiting the boundary with
Russia has not been signed; ongoing talks over maritime boundary
dispute with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from
Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and
Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to
CIS; limited production of illicit amphetamines, ephedrine, and
ecstasy for export

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

@Lebanon -------

Introduction

Background: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its
political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since
the end of the devastating 16-year civil war, which ended in 1991.
Under the Ta'if Accord--the blueprint for national reconciliation--the
Lebanese have established a more equitable political system,
particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political
process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the
government. Since the end of the civil war, the Lebanese have formed
six cabinets, conducted two legislative elections, and held their
first municipal elections in 35 years. Most of the militias have
been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has
seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the
war and extended central government authority over about one-half of
the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains its
weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel
maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a
proxy militia, the Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow
stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave
encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers
north to the strategic town of Jazzin. Syria maintains about 25,000
troops in Lebanon based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the
Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League
during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if Accord. Citing the
continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the
Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms
in the Ta'if Accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its
troops from Lebanon.

Geography

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Israel and Syria

Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total: 10,400 sq km
land: 10,230 sq km
water: 170 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries:
total: 454 km
border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km

Coastline: 225 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry
summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows

Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates
Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal al Makmal 3,087 m

Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state
in a water-deficit region

Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 8%
other: 61% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 860 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms

Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and
the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from
raw sewage and oil spills

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Geography--note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not
crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically
helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based
on religion, clan, and ethnicity

People

Population: 3,562,699 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 535,596; female 515,776)
15-64 years: 64% (male 1,084,121; female 1,196,678)
65 years and over: 6% (male 105,133; female 125,395) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.61% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 22.5 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.45 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 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: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 30.53 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.93 years
male: 68.34 years
female: 73.66 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

Religions: Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups--Alawite
or Nusayri, Druze, Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30% (11
legally recognized Christian groups--4 Orthodox Christian, 6
Catholic, 1 Protestant), Judaism NEGL%

Languages: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian widely
understood

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 90.8%
female: 82.2% (1997 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
conventional short form: Lebanon
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
local short form: Lubnan

Data code: LE

Government type: republic

Capital: Beirut

Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Biqa', Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal
Lubnan

Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate
under French administration)

National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)

Constitution: 23 May 1926, amended a number of times

Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code,
and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized
for women at age 21 with elementary education

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emile LAHUD (since 24 November 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Salim al-HUSS (since 4 December
1998)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president and members of the National Assembly; the current
Cabinet was formed in 1998
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year
term; election last held 15 October 1998 (next to be held NA 2004);
prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
in consultation with the National Assembly; by custom, the president
is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and
the speaker of the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim
election results: Emile LAHUD elected president; National Assembly
vote--118 votes in favor, 0 against, 10 abstentions

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis
Alnuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members
elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held in the summer of 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA
(one-half Christian and one-half Muslim)

Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil
and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases);
Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord) rules on
constitutionality of laws; Supreme Council (hears charges against
the president and prime minister as needed)

Political parties and leaders: political party activity is
organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political
groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and
followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL,
AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Farid ABBOUD
chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David SATTERFIELD
embassy: Antelias, Beirut
mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE
09836-0002

Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), white
(double width), and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered
in the white band

Economy

Economy--overview: The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged
Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and
all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and
banking hub. Peace has enabled the central government to restore
control in Beirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key
port and government facilities. Economic recovery has been helped by
a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and
medium-scale manufacturers, with family remittances, banking
services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid as
the main sources of foreign exchange. Lebanon's economy has made
impressive gains since the launch of "Horizon 2000," the
government's $20 billion reconstruction program in 1993. Real GDP
grew 8% in 1994 and 7% in 1995 before Israel's Operation Grapes of
Wrath in April 1996 stunted economic activity. During 1992-98,
annual inflation fell from more than 100% to 5%, and foreign
exchange reserves jumped to more than $6 billion from $1.4 billion.
Burgeoning capital inflows have generated foreign payments
surpluses, and the Lebanese pound has remained relatively stable.
Progress also has been made in rebuilding Lebanon's war-torn
physical and financial infrastructure. Solidere, a $2-billion firm,
is managing the reconstruction of Beirut's central business
district; the stock market reopened in January 1996; and
international banks and insurance companies are returning. The
government nonetheless faces serious challenges in the economic
arena. It has had to fund reconstruction by tapping foreign exchange
reserves and boosting borrowing. Reducing the government budget
deficit is a major goal of the LAHUD government. The stalled peace
process and ongoing violence in southern Lebanon could lead to wider
hostilities that would disrupt vital capital inflows. Furthermore,
the gap between rich and poor has widened in the 1990's, resulting
in grassroots dissatisfaction over the skewed distribution of the
reconstruction's benefits and leading the government to shift its
focus from rebuilding infrastructure to improving living conditions.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$15.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,500 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 23%
services: 73% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1 million
note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers
(1996 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: services 62%, industry 31%,
agriculture 7% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 18% (1997 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $4.9 billion
expenditures: $7.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)

Industries: banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles;
mineral and chemical products; wood and furniture products; oil
refining; metal fabricating

Industrial production growth rate: 25% (1993 est.)

Electricity--production: 8.4 billion kWh (1997 est.)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 87.72%
hydro: 12.28%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 6.01 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 310 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples,
vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish); sheep, goats

Exports: $711 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: foodstuffs and tobacco 20%, textiles 12%,
chemicals 11%, metal and metal products 11%, electrical equipment
and products 10%, jewelry 10%, paper and paper products 8% (1997)

Exports--partners: Saudi Arabia 14%, UAE 9%, France 7%, Syria 6%,
US 6%, Kuwait 4%, Jordan 4%, Turkey 4%

Imports: $7.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: foodstuffs 29%, machinery and transport
equipment 28%, consumer goods 18%, chemicals 9%, textiles 5%, metals
5%, fuels 3%, agricultural foods 3% (1997)

Imports--partners: Italy 13%, US 9%, France 9%, Germany 8%,
Switzerland 7%, Japan 4%, UK 4%, Syria 4% (1997)

Debt--external: $3 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $3.5 billion (pledges 1997-2001)

Currency: 1 Lebanese pound (LL) = 100 piasters

Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (LL) per US$1--1,508.0 (January
1999), 1,516.1 (1998), 1,539.5 (1997), 1,571.4 (1996), 1,621.4
(1995), 1,680.1 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 150,000 (1990 est.)

Telephone system: telecommunications system severely damaged by
civil war; rebuilding well underway
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria;
microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to
Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 1
note: government is licensing a limited number of the more than 100
AM and FM stations operated sporadically by various factions that
sprang up during the civil war

Radios: 2.37 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 28 (1997)

Televisions: 1.1 million (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 222 km
standard gauge: 222 km 1.435-m (from Beirut to the Syrian border)

Highways:
total: 6,270 km
paved: 6,270 km
unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 72 km (none in operation)

Ports and harbors: Al Batrun, Al Mina', An Naqurah, Antilyas, Az
Zahrani, Beirut, Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre

Merchant marine:
total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 267,562 GRT/403,252 DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 41, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
1, combination ore/oil 1, container 3, livestock carrier 6,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, vehicle carrier 3 (1998 est.)

Airports: 9 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army,
Navy, and Air Force)

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 925,834 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 573,093 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $445 million (1997)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 5% (1997)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since
June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon
since October 1976

Illicit drugs: inconsequential producer of hashish and heroin;
some heroine and cocaine processing mostly in the Bekaa valley; a
Lebanese/Syrian eradication campaign started in the early 1990s has
practically eliminated the opium and cannabis crops

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

@Lesotho -------

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Geographic coordinates: 29 30 S, 28 30 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 30,350 sq km
land: 30,350 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:
total: 909 km
border countries: South Africa 909 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, some
diamonds and other minerals

Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: 66%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 23% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic droughts

Environment--current issues: population pressure forcing
settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil
erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water
Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping

Geography--note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa

People

Population: 2,128,950 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 424,355; female 422,892)
15-64 years: 56% (male 573,285; female 610,636)
65 years and over: 4% (male 40,604; female 57,178) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.8% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 31.26 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 13.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 77.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.99 years
male: 51.37 years
female: 54.65 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.03 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
adjective: Basotho

Ethnic groups: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800

Religions: Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs

Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu,
Xhosa

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.3%
male: 81.1%
female: 62.3% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland

Data code: LT

Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Capital: Maseru

Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe,
Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek,
Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

Constitution: 2 April 1993

Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law;
judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of
Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996, succeeded to
the throne following the death of his father, King MOSHOESHOE II, on
16 January 1996); note--King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne
(November 1990 to February 1995) while his father was in exile
head of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since NA May
1998)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of
the constitution which came into effect after the March 1993
election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with no
executive or legislative powers; under traditional law the college
of chiefs has the power to determine who is next in the line of
succession, who shall serve as regent in the event that the
successor is not of mature age, and may even depose the monarch

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(33 members--22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by
the ruling party) and the Assembly (80 seats; members elected by
popular vote for five-year terms); note--number of seats in the
Assembly rose from 65 to 80 in the May 1998 election
elections: last held 23 May 1998 (next to be held in late 1999 or
early 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--LCD 61%; seats by
party--LCD 79, BCP 1
note: results contested; LCD, with only 61% of the vote, won 79 out
of 80 parliamentary seats based on a historical political consensus
for a "winner take all" formula

Judicial branch: High Court, chief justice appointed by the
monarch; Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or
traditional court

Political parties and leaders:
MOSISILI, leader; Shakhane MOKHEHLE, secretary general]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Eunice M. BULANE
chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Katherine H. PETERSON
embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)
mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho

Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side
corner; the upper half is white, bearing the brown silhouette of a
large shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a
diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner

Economy

Economy--overview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho's
only important natural resource is water. Its economy is based on
subsistence agriculture, livestock, and remittances from miners
employed in South Africa. The number of such mine workers has
declined steadily over the past several years. In 1996 their
remittances added about 33% to GDP compared with the addition of
roughly 67% in 1990. A small manufacturing base depends largely on
farm products which support the milling, canning, leather, and jute
industries. Agricultural products are exported primarily to South
Africa. Proceeds from membership in a common customs union with
South Africa form the majority of government revenue. Although
drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years,
completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 now
permits the sale of water to South Africa, generating royalties that
will be an important source of income for Lesotho. The pace of
parastatal privatization has increased in recent years. Civil
disorder in September 1998 destroyed 80% of the commercial
infrastructure in Maseru and two other major towns. Most firms were
not covered by insurance, and the rebuilding of small and medium
business will be a significant challenge in terms of both economic
growth and employment levels.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$5.1 billion (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 10% (1997 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1997 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 42%
services: 44% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: 49.2% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.9%
highest 10%: 43.4% (1986-87)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1997 est.)

Labor force: 689,000 economically active

Labor force--by occupation: 86% of resident population engaged in
subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners
work in South Africa

Unemployment rate: substantial unemployment and underemployment
effecting more than half of the labor force (1996 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $507 million
expenditures: $487 million, including capital expenditures of $170
million (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction;
tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 19.7% (1995)

Electricity--production: 0 kWh (1995)
note: electricity supplied by South Africa

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

Electricity--consumption: 335 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 335 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley;
livestock

Exports: $200 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Exports--commodities: manufactures 65% (clothing, footwear, road
vehicles), wool and mohair 7%, food and live animals 7% (1996)

Exports--partners: South African Customs Union 66%, North America
26%, EU 4% (1996)

Imports: $880 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Imports--commodities: food; building materials, vehicles,
machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1995)

Imports--partners: South African Customs Union 90%, Asia 6%, EU 2%
(1995)

Debt--external: $660 million (1997 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $123.7 million (1995)

Currency: 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente
note: maloti (M) is the plural form of loti

Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1--5.98380 (January 1999),
5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995),
3.55080 (1994); note--the Basotho loti is at par with the South
African rand

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 12,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: rudimentary system
domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay
system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 66,000

Television broadcast stations: NA

Televisions: 11,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 2.6 km; note--owned by, operated by, and included in the
statistics of South Africa
narrow gauge: 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 4,955 km
paved: 887 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: 29 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and
Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police (RLMP)

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 504,442 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 271,925 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Liberia -------

Introduction

Background: The 1995 Abuja Peace Accords ended seven years of
civil warfare in Liberia. More than 20,000 of the estimated 33,000
factional fighters gave up their arms to the Cease-Fire Monitoring
Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG).
Free and open presidential and legislative elections were held 19
July 1997; former faction leader, Charles TAYLOR, and his National
Patriotic Party won overwhelming victories. The years of civil
strife coupled with the flight of most business people disrupted
formal economic activity. A short-lived armed clash in September
1998 between government forces and supporters of factional leader
Roosevelt JOHNSON and continuing uncertainty about the security
situation have slowed the process of rebuilding the social and
economic structure of the war-torn country. For two centuries the US
has had uniquely close ties to Liberia and today is a major aid
donor.

Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Geographic coordinates: 6 30 N, 9 30 W

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 111,370 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries:
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone
306 km

Coastline: 579 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool
to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling
plateau and low mountains in northeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold

Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 59%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 19% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
(December to March)

Environment--current issues: tropical rain forest subject to
deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of
coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation

People

Population: 2,923,725 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 656,101; female 649,389)
15-64 years: 52% (male 775,429; female 738,904)
65 years and over: 3% (male 50,126; female 53,776) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 4.92% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 41.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 11.03 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 18.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: evidence from UNHCR indicates Liberians are being repatriated

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 100.63 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.88 years
male: 57.2 years
female: 62.64 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.02 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian

Ethnic groups: indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle,
Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai,
and Bella), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from
the US who had been slaves)

Religions: traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%

Languages: English 20% (official), about 20 tribal languages, of
which a few can be written and are used in correspondence