Chapter CVII: Section 3: , Taipei, Taiwan, telephone: 886 (2) 2162-2000, FAX (42)

Tanzania
Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The
economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for almost
half of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work
force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated
crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry traditionally featured
the processing of agricultural products and light consumer goods.
The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral
donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's out-of-date
economic infrastructure and to alleviate poverty. Growth in
1991-2002 featured a pickup in industrial production and a
substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Recent
banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and
investment. Continued donor assistance and solid macroeconomic
policies supported real GDP growth of nearly 6% in 2004.

Thailand
Thailand has a well developed infrastructure, a
free-enterprise economy, and welcomes foreign investment. Thailand
has fully recovered from the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis and was
one of East Asia's best performers in 2002-04. Increased consumption
and investment spending and strong export growth pushed GDP growth
up to 6.9% in 2003 and 6.1% in 2004 despite a sluggish global
economy. The highly popular government's expansionist policy,
including major support of village economic development, has raised
concerns about fiscal discipline and the health of financial
institutions. Bangkok has pursued preferential trade agreements with
a variety of partners in an effort to boost exports and maintain
high growth, and in 2004 began negotiations on a Free Trade
Agreement with the US. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took
8,500 lives in Thailand and caused massive destruction of property
in the southern provinces of Krabi, Phangnga, and Phuket.

Togo
This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on both
commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment
for 65% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still be
imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of export
earnings, with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo is
the world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate, but production
fell an estimated 22% in 2002 due to power shortages and the cost of
developing new deposits. The government's decade-long effort,
supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic
reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in
line with expenditures has moved slowly. Progress depends on
following through on privatization, increased openness in government
financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and
continued support from foreign donors.

Tokelau
Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack
of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine
agriculture to the subsistence level. The people rely heavily on aid
from New Zealand - about $4 million annually - to maintain public
services, with annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The
principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage
stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to
families from relatives in New Zealand.

Tonga
Tonga, a small, open, South Pacific island economy, has a
narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, coconuts, bananas,
and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make
up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high
proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. Tourism is the
second largest source of hard currency earnings following
remittances. The country remains dependent on external aid and
remittances from Tongan communities overseas to offset its trade
deficit. The government is emphasizing the development of the
private sector, especially the encouragement of investment, and is
committing increased funds for health and education. Tonga has a
reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well-developed social
services. High unemployment among the young, a continuing upturn in
inflation, and rising civil service expenditures are major issues
facing the government.

Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago, the leading Caribbean
producer of oil and gas, has earned a reputation as an excellent
investment site for international businesses. Tourism is a growing
sector, although not proportionately as important as in many other
Caribbean islands. The economy benefits from low inflation and a
growing trade surplus. Prospects for growth in 2004 are good as
prices for oil, petrochemicals, and liquified natural gas are
expected to remain high, and foreign direct investment continues to
grow to support expanded capacity in the energy sector. The
government is coping with a rise in violent crime.

Tromelin Island
no economic activity

Tunisia
Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural,
mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental
control of economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened
over the past decade with increasing privatization, simplification
of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressive
social policies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisia
relative to the region. Real growth slowed to a 15-year low of 1.9%
in 2002 because of agricultural drought and lackluster tourism.
Better rains in 2003 and 2004, however, helped push GDP growth above
5% for these years. Tourism also recovered after the end of combat
operations in Iraq. Tunisia is gradually removing barriers to trade
with the European Union. Broader privatization, further
liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign
investment, improvements in government efficiency, and reduction of
the trade deficit are among the challenges ahead.

Turkey
Turkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry
and commerce along with a traditional agriculture sector that in
2004 still accounted for more than 35% of employment. It has a
strong and rapidly growing private sector, yet the state still plays
a major role in basic industry, banking, transport, and
communication. The largest industrial sector is textiles and
clothing, which accounts for one-third of industrial employment; it
faces stiff competition in international markets with the end of the
global quota system. However, other sectors, notably the automotive
and electronics industries, are rising in importance within Turkey's
export mix. In recent years the economic situation has been marked
by erratic economic growth and serious imbalances. Real GNP growth
has exceeded 6% in many years, but this strong expansion has been
interrupted by sharp declines in output in 1994, 1999, and 2001.
Inflation, in recent years in the high double-digit range, fell to
9.3% by 2004 - a 30-year low. Despite these strong economic gains in
2002-04, which were largely due to renewed investor interest in
emerging markets, IMF backing, and tighter fiscal policy, the
economy is still plagued with high debt and deficits. The public
sector fiscal deficit exceeds 6% of GDP - due in large part to the
huge burden of interest payments, which accounted for more than 40%
of central government spending in 2004, and to populist spending.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Turkey remains low - averaging
less than $1 billion annually, but further economic and judicial
reforms and prospective EU membership are expected to boost FDI. A
major political and economic issue over the next decade is whether
or not Turkey will become a member of the EU.

Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is largely desert country with intensive
agriculture in irrigated oases and large gas and oil resources.
One-half of its irrigated land is planted in cotton; formerly it was
the world's tenth-largest producer. Poor harvests in recent years
have led to a nearly 46% decline in cotton exports. With an
authoritarian ex-Communist regime in power and a tribally based
social structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach to
economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain its
inefficient economy. Privatization goals remain limited. In
1998-2004, Turkmenistan suffered from the continued lack of adequate
export routes for natural gas and from obligations on extensive
short-term external debt. At the same time, however, total exports
rose by perhaps 30% in 2003 and 19% in 2004, largely because of
higher international oil and gas prices. Overall prospects in the
near future are discouraging because of widespread internal poverty,
the burden of foreign debt, the government's irrational use of oil
and gas revenues, and its unwillingness to adopt market-oriented
reforms. Turkmenistan's economic statistics are state secrets, and
GDP and other figures are subject to wide margins of error. In
particular, the rate of GDP growth is uncertain.

Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos economy is based on
tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital
goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the
leading source of tourists, accounting for more than half of the
annual 93,000 visitors in the late 1990s. Major sources of
government revenue also include fees from offshore financial
activities and customs receipts.

Tuvalu
Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of
nine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has no known mineral
resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the
primary economic activities. Fewer than 1,000 tourists, on average,
visit Tuvalu annually. Government revenues largely come from the
sale of stamps and coins and worker remittances. About 1,000
Tuvaluans work in Nauru in the phosphate mining industry. Nauru has
begun repatriating Tuvaluans, however, as phosphate resources
decline. Substantial income is received annually from an
international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia, NZ, and
the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. Thanks to wise
investments and conservative withdrawals, this fund has grown from
an initial $17 million to over $35 million in 1999. The US
government is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu because of
payments from a 1988 treaty on fisheries. In an effort to reduce its
dependence on foreign aid, the government is pursuing public sector
reforms, including privatization of some government functions and
personnel cuts of up to 7%. In 1998, Tuvalu began deriving revenue
from use of its area code for "900" lines and in 2000, from the
lease of its ".tv" Internet domain name. Royalties from these new
technology sources could increase substantially over the next
decade. With merchandise exports only a fraction of merchandise
imports, continued reliance must be placed on fishing and
telecommunications license fees, remittances from overseas workers,
official transfers, and income from overseas investments.

Uganda
Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile
soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and
cobalt. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy,
employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee accounts for the bulk
of export revenues. Since 1986, the government - with the support of
foreign countries and international agencies - has acted to
rehabilitate and stabilize the economy by undertaking currency
reform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing prices
of petroleum products, and improving civil service wages. The policy
changes are especially aimed at dampening inflation and boosting
production and export earnings. During 1990-2001, the economy turned
in a solid performance based on continued investment in the
rehabilitation of infrastructure, improved incentives for production
and exports, reduced inflation, gradually improved domestic
security, and the return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs.
Corruption within the government and slippage in the government's
determination to press reforms raise doubts about the continuation
of strong growth. In 2000, Uganda qualified for enhanced Highly
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief worth $1.3 billion and
Paris Club debt relief worth $145 million. These amounts combined
with the original HIPC debt relief added up to about $2 billion.
Growth for 2001-02 was solid despite continued decline in the price
of coffee, Uganda's principal export. Solid growth in 2003-04
reflected an upturn in Uganda's export markets.

Ukraine
After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the
most important economic component of the former Soviet Union,
producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic.
Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet
agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities
of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise,
its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (for
example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial and
mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of the
former USSR. Ukraine depends on imports of energy, especially
natural gas, to meet some 85% of its annual energy requirements.
Shortly after independence in December 1991, the Ukrainian
Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for
privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the
government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led
to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% of
the 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation to
hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Ukraine's dependence on
Russia for energy supplies and the lack of significant structural
reform have made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external
shocks. Ukrainian government officials have taken some steps to
reform the country's Byzantine tax code, such as the implementation
of lower tax rates aimed at bringing more economic activity out of
Ukraine's large shadow economy, but more improvements are needed,
including closing tax loopholes and eliminating tax privileges and
exemptions. Reforms in the more politically sensitive areas of
structural reform and land privatization are still lagging. Outside
institutions - particularly the IMF - have encouraged Ukraine to
quicken the pace and scope of reforms. GDP in 2000 showed strong
export-based growth of 6% - the first growth since independence -
and industrial production grew 12.9%. The economy continued to
expand in 2001 as real GDP rose 9% and industrial output grew by
over 14%. Growth of 4.6% in 2002 was more moderate, in part a
reflection of faltering growth in the developed world. In general,
growth has been undergirded by strong domestic demand, low
inflation, and solid consumer and investor confidence. Growth was a
sturdy 9.3% in 2003 and a remarkable 12% in 2004, despite a loss of
momentum in needed economic reforms.

United Arab Emirates
The UAE has an open economy with a high per
capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is
based on oil and gas output (about 30% of GDP), and the fortunes of
the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since
the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, the UAE has
undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of
small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard
of living. At present levels of production, oil and gas reserves
should last for more than 100 years. The government has increased
spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening
up its utilities to greater private sector involvement. In April
2004, the UAE signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
(TIFA) with Washington and in November 2004 agreed to undertake
negotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US.

United Kingdom
The UK, a leading trading power and financial center,
is one of the quartet of trillion dollar economies of Western
Europe. Over the past two decades the government has greatly reduced
public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare
programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient
by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less
than 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and
oil reserves; primary energy production accounts for 10% of GDP, one
of the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services,
particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by
far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to
decline in importance. GDP growth slipped in 2001-03 as the global
downturn, the high value of the pound, and the bursting of the "new
economy" bubble hurt manufacturing and exports. Output recovered in
2004, to 3.2% growth. The economy is one of the strongest in Europe;
inflation, interest rates, and unemployment remain low. The
relatively good economic performance has complicated the BLAIR
government's efforts to make a case for Britain to join the European
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Critics point out that the
economy is doing well outside of EMU, and they cite public opinion
polls that continue to show a majority of Britons opposed to the
euro. Meantime, the government has been speeding up the improvement
of education, transport, and health services, at a cost in higher
taxes.

United States
The US has the largest and most technologically
powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $40,100. In
this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms
make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments
buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private
marketplace. US business firms enjoy considerably greater
flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in
decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and
to develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers
to entry in their rivals' home markets than the barriers to entry of
foreign firms in US markets. US firms are at or near the forefront
in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical,
aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has narrowed
since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely
explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in
which those at the bottom lack the education and the
professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and
more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage,
and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains in
household income have gone to the top 20% of households. The
response to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 showed the
remarkable resilience of the economy. The war in March/April 2003
between a US-led coalition and Iraq, and the subsequent occupation
of Iraq, required major shifts in national resources to the
military. The rise in GDP in 2004 was undergirded by substantial
gains in labor productivity. The economy suffered from a sharp
increase in energy prices in the second half of 2004. Long-term
problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure,
rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population,
sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of family income
in the lower economic groups.

Uruguay
Uruguay's well-to-do economy is characterized by an
export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, and
high levels of social spending. After averaging growth of 5%
annually during 1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major
downturn, stemming largely from the spillover effects of the
economic problems of its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. For
instance, in 2001-02 massive withdrawals by Argentina of dollars
deposited in Uruguayan banks led to a plunge in the Uruguyan peso
and a massive rise in unemployment. Total GDP in these four years
dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year due to the serious
banking crisis. Unemployment rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation
surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with
the IMF limited the damage. The debt swap with private creditors
carried out in 2003, which extended the maturity dates on nearly
half of Uruguay's $11.3 billion in public debt, substantially
alleviated the country's amortization burden in the coming years and
restored public confidence. The economy grew about 10% in 2004 as a
result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, the weakness
of the dollar against the euro, growth in the region, low
international interest rates, and greater export competitiveness.

Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11%
consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than
60% of its population lives in densely populated rural communities.
Uzbekistan is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter, a
large producer of gold and oil, and a regionally significant
producer of chemicals and machinery. Following independence in
December 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style
command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and
prices. Uzbekistan responded to the negative external conditions
generated by the Asian and Russian financial crises by emphasizing
import substitute industrialization and by tightening export and
currency controls within its already largely closed economy. The
government, while aware of the need to improve the investment
climate, sponsors measures that often increase, not decrease, the
government's control over business decisions. A sharp increase in
the inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of
society since independence. In 2003, the government accepted the
obligations of Article VIII under the International Monetary Fund
(IMF), providing for full currency convertibility. However, strict
currency controls and tightening of borders have lessened the
effects of convertibility and have also led to some shortages that
have further stifled economic activity.

Vanuatu
This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on
small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the
population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with
about 50,000 visitors in 2004, are other mainstays of the economy.
Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum
deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market.
Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is
hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports,
vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main
markets and between constituent islands. GDP growth rose less than
3% on average in the 1990s. In response to foreign concerns, the
government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore
financial center. In mid-2002 the government stepped up efforts to
boost tourism. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a
second target for growth. Australia and New Zealand are the main
suppliers of tourists and foreign aid.

Venezuela
Venezuela continues to be highly dependent on the
petroleum sector, accounting for roughly one-third of GDP, around
80% of export earnings, and over half of government operating
revenues. A disastrous two-month national oil strike from December
2002 to February 2003, temporarily halted economic activity. The
economy remained in depression in 2003, declining by 9.2% after an
8.9% fall in 2002. Despite continued domestic instability, output
recovered strongly in 2004, aided by high oil prices. Both inflation
and unemployment remain fundamental problems.

Vietnam
Vietnam is a densely-populated, developing country that in
the last 30 years has had to recover from the ravages of war, the
loss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the
rigidities of a centrally planned economy. Substantial progress was
achieved from 1986 to 1997 in moving forward from an extremely low
level of development and significantly reducing poverty. Growth
averaged around 9% per year from 1993 to 1997. The 1997 Asian
financial crisis highlighted the problems in the Vietnamese economy
and temporarily allowed opponents of reform to slow progress towards
a market oriented economy. GDP growth of 8.5% in 1997 fell to 6% in
1998 and 5% in 1999. Growth then rose to 7% in 2000-04 even against
the background of global recession. Since 2001, however, Vietnamese
authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to economic
liberalization and international integration. They have moved to
implement the structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and
to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. However,
equitization of state-owned enterprises and reduction in the
proportion of non-performing loans has fallen behind schedule.
Vietnam's membership in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and entry
into force of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade in December 2001 have
led to even more rapid changes in Vietnam's trade and economic
regime. Vietnam's exports to the US doubled in 2002 and again in
2003. Vietnam is working toward accession to the WTO in 2005. Among
other benefits, accession will allow Vietnam to take advantage of
the phase out of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, which
eliminated quotas on textiles and clothing for WTO partners on 1
January 2005. Vietnam is working to promote job creation to keep up
with the country's high population growth rate. However, in 2004,
high levels of inflation prompted Vietnamese authorities to tighten
monetary and fiscal policies.

Virgin Islands
Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting
for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands normally host 2 million
visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum
refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch
assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being
imported. International business and financial services are a small
but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest
petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to
substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve
fiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the private
sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to
protect the environment.

Wake Island
Economic activity is limited to providing services to
contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods
must be imported.

Wallis and Futuna
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence
agriculture, with about 80% labor force earnings from agriculture
(coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing.
About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come
from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to
Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate
workers in New Caledonia.

West Bank
The West Bank - the larger of the two areas under the
Palestine Authority - has experienced a general decline in economic
growth and a degradation in economic conditions made worse since the
second intifadah began in September 2000. The downturn has been
largely the result of the Israeli closure policies - the imposition
of border closures in response to security incidents in Israel -
which disrupted labor and commodity market relationships. In 2001,
and even more severely in 2002, Israeli military measures in
Palestine Authority areas resulted in the destruction of much
capital plant, the disruption of administrative structure, and
widespread business closures. Including the Gaza Strip, the UN
estimates that more than 100,000 Palestinians out of the 125,000 who
used to work in Israeli settlements, or in joint industrial zones,
have lost their jobs. International aid of $2 billion to the West
Bank and Gaza strip in 2004 prevented the complete collapse of the
economy and allowed some reforms in the government's financial
operations. Meanwhile, unemployment has continued at more than half
the labor force. ARAFAT's death in 2004 leaves open more political
options that could affect the economy.

Western Sahara
Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing,
and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the
population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable
agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban
population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities
are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests
in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western
Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of
living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level.

World
Global output rose by 4.9% in 2004, led by China (9.1%),
Russia (6.7%), and India (6.2%). The other 14 successor nations of
the USSR and the other old Warsaw Pact nations again experienced
widely divergent growth rates; the three Baltic nations continued as
strong performers, in the 7% range of growth. Growth results posted
by the major industrial countries varied from a small gain in Italy
(1.3%) to a strong gain by the United States (4.4%). The developing
nations also varied in their growth results, with many countries
facing population increases that erode gains in output. Externally,
the nation-state, as a bedrock economic-political institution, is
steadily losing control over international flows of people, goods,
funds, and technology. Internally, the central government often
finds its control over resources slipping as separatist regional
movements - typically based on ethnicity - gain momentum, e.g., in
many of the successor states of the former Soviet Union, in the
former Yugoslavia, in India, in Iraq, in Indonesia, and in Canada.
Externally, the central government is losing decisionmaking powers
to international bodies, notably the European Union. In Western
Europe, governments face the difficult political problem of
channeling resources away from welfare programs in order to increase
investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment. The
addition of 75 million people each year to an already overcrowded
globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution, desertification,
underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Because of their own
internal problems and priorities, the industrialized countries
devote insufficient resources to deal effectively with the poorer
areas of the world, which, at least from an economic point of view,
are becoming further marginalized. The introduction of the euro as
the common currency of much of Western Europe in January 1999, while
paving the way for an integrated economic powerhouse, poses economic
risks because of varying levels of income and cultural and political
differences among the participating nations. The terrorist attacks
on the US on 11 September 2001 accentuate a further growing risk to
global prosperity, illustrated, for example, by the reallocation of
resources away from investment to anti-terrorist programs. The
opening of war in March 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq
added new uncertainties to global economic prospects. After the
coalition victory, the complex political difficulties and the high
economic cost of establishing domestic order in Iraq became major
global problems that continued into 2005.

Yemen
Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, has
reported strong growth since 2000, but its economic fortunes depend
mostly on oil. Yemen has embarked on an IMF-supported structural
adjustment program designed to modernize and streamline the economy,
which has led to substantial foreign debt relief and restructuring.
Yemen has worked to maintain tight control over spending and to
implement additional components of the IMF program, but a high
population growth rate and internal political dissension complicate
the government's task. Plans include a diversification of the
economy, encouragement of tourism, and more efficient use of scarce
water resources.

Zambia
Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform,
Zambia's economic growth remains somewhat below the 5% to 7% needed
to reduce poverty significantly. Privatization of government-owned
copper mines relieved the government from covering mammoth losses
generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for
copper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth.
Copper output increased in 2004 and is expected to increase again in
2005, due to higher copper prices and the opening of new mines. The
maize harvest was again good in 2004, helping boost GDP and
agricultural exports. Cooperation continues with international
bodies on programs to reduce poverty, including a new lending
arrangement with the IMF in the second quarter, 2004. A tighter
monetary policy will help cut inflation, but Zambia still has a
serious problem with fiscal discipline.

Zimbabwe
The government of Zimbabwe faces a wide variety of
difficult economic problems as it struggles with an unsustainable
fiscal deficit, an overvalued exchange rate, soaring inflation, and
bare shelves. Its 1998-2002 involvement in the war in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, for example, drained hundreds of millions of
dollars from the economy. Badly needed support from the IMF has been
suspended because of the country's failure to meet budgetary goals.
Inflation rose from an annual rate of 32% in 1998 to 133% at the end
of 2004, while the exchange rate fell from 24 Zimbabwean dollars per
US dollar to 6,200 in the same time period. The government's land
reform program, characterized by chaos and violence, has badly
damaged the commercial farming sector, the traditional source of
exports and foreign exchange and the provider of 400,000 jobs.

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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@2117 Pipelines (km)

Afghanistan
gas 387 km (2004)

Albania
gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2004)

Algeria
condensate 1,344 km; gas 85,946 km; liquid petroleum gas
2,213 km; oil 6,496 km (2004)

Angola
gas 214 km; liquid natural gas 14 km; liquid petroleum gas 30
km; oil 837 km; refined products 56 km (2004)

Argentina
gas 27,166 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 3,668 km;
refined products 2,945 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2004)

Armenia
gas 1,871 km (2004)

Australia
condensate/gas 492 km; gas 28,680 km; liquid petroleum gas
240 km; oil 4,773 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2004)

Austria
gas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 149 km (2004)

Azerbaijan
gas 4,451 km; oil 1,518 km (2004)

Bahrain
gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004)

Bangladesh
gas 2,012 km (2004)

Belarus
gas 5,223 km; oil 2,443 km; refined products 1,686 km (2004)

Belgium
gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2004)

Bolivia
gas 4,860 km; liquid petroleum gas 47 km; oil 2,457 km;
refined products 1,589 km; unknown (oil/water) 247 km (2004)

Brazil
condensate/gas 244 km; gas 10,739 km; liquid petroleum gas
341 km; oil 5,212 km; refined products 4,755 km (2004)

Brunei
gas 665 km; oil 439 km (2004)

Bulgaria
gas 2,425 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2004)

Burma
gas 2,056 km; oil 558 km (2004)

Cameroon
gas 90 km; liquid petroleum gas 9 km; oil 1,120 km (2004)

Canada
crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980
km (2003)

Chad
oil 205 km (2004)

Chile
gas 2,583 km; gas/lpg 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil
1,003 km; refined products 757 km (2004)

China
gas 15,890 km; oil 14,478 km; refined products 3,280 km (2004)

Colombia
gas 4,360 km; oil 6,134 km; refined products 3,140 km (2004)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
gas 54 km; oil 71 km (2004)

Congo, Republic of the
gas 53 km; oil 646 km (2004)

Costa Rica
refined products 242 km (2004)

Cote d'Ivoire
condensate 107 km; gas 223 km; oil 104 km (2004)

Croatia
gas 1,340 km; oil 583 km (2004)

Cuba
gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2004)

Czech Republic
gas 7,020 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km
(2004)

Denmark
condensate 12 km; gas 3,892 km; oil 455 km; oil/gas/water 2
km; unknown (oil/water) 64 km (2004)

Ecuador
extra heavy crude 578 km; gas 71 km; oil 1,386 km; refined
products 1,185 km (2004)

Egypt
condensate 289 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,115 km; liquid
petroleum gas 852 km; oil 5,032 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; refined
products 246 km (2004)

Equatorial Guinea
condensate 37 km; gas 39 km; liquid natural gas 4
km; oil 24 km (2004)

Estonia
gas 859 km (2004)

Finland
gas 694 km (2004)

France
gas 14,232 km; oil 3,024 km; refined products 4,889 km (2004)

Gabon
gas 210 km; oil 1,385 km (2004)

Georgia
gas 1,697 km; oil 1,027 km; refined products 232 km (2004)

Germany
condensate 325 km; gas 25,293 km; oil 3,540 km; refined
products 3,827 km (2004)

Ghana
refined products 74 km (2004)

Greece
gas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2004)

Guatemala
oil 480 km (2004)

Hungary
gas 4,397 km; oil 990 km; refined products 335 km (2004)

India
gas 6,171 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,195 km; oil 5,613 km;
refined products 5,567 km (2004)

Indonesia
condensate 850 km; condensate/gas 128 km; gas 8,506 km;
oil 7,472 km; oil/gas/water 66 km; refined products 1,329 km (2004)

Iran
condensate/gas 212 km; gas 16,998 km; liquid petroleum gas 570
km; oil 8,256 km; refined products 7,808 km (2004)

Iraq
gas 1,739 km; oil 5,418 km; refined products 1,343 km (2004)

Ireland
gas 1,795 km (2004)

Israel
gas 140 km; oil 1,509 km (2004)

Italy
gas 17,335 km; oil 1,136 km (2004)

Japan
gas 2,719 km; oil 170 km; oil/gas/water 60 km (2004)

Jordan
gas 10 km; oil 743 km (2004)

Kazakhstan
condensate 18 km; gas 10,370 km; oil 10,158 km; refined
products 1,187 km (2004)

Kenya
refined products 752 km (2004)

Korea, North
oil 154 km (2004)

Korea, South
gas 1,433 km; refined products 827 km (2004)

Kuwait
gas 169 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2004)

Kyrgyzstan
gas 367 km; oil 13 km (2004)

Laos
refined products 540 km (2004)

Latvia
gas 1,097 km; oil 409 km; refined products 415 km (2004)

Lebanon
oil 209 km (2004)

Libya
condensate 225 km; gas 3,611 km; oil 7,252 km (2004)

Liechtenstein
gas 20 km (2004)

Lithuania
gas 1,696 km; oil 331 km; refined products 109 km (2004)

Luxembourg
gas 155 km (2004)

Macedonia
gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2004)

Malaysia
condensate 279 km; gas 5,047 km; oil 1,841 km; refined
products 114 km (2004)

Mexico
crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km; natural
gas 13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km (2003)

Moldova
gas 606 km (2004)

Morocco
gas 695 km; oil 285 km (2004)

Mozambique
gas 649 km; refined products 292 km (2004)

Netherlands
condensate 325 km; gas 6,998 km; oil 590 km; refined
products 716 km (2004)

New Zealand
gas 2,213 km; liquid petroleum gas 79 km; oil 160 km;
refined products 304 km (2004)

Nicaragua
oil 54 km (2004)

Nigeria
condensate 105 km; gas 1,896 km; oil 3,638 km; refined
products 3,626 km (2004)

Norway
condensate 411 km; gas 6,199 km; oil 2,213 km; oil/gas/water
746 km; unknown (oil/water) 38 km (2004)

Oman
gas 3,754 km; oil 3,212 km (2004)

Pakistan
gas 9,945 km; oil 1,821 km (2004)

Papua New Guinea
oil 264 km (2004)

Peru
gas 388 km; oil 1,557 km; refined products 13 km (2004)

Philippines
gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 100 km (2004)

Poland
gas 13,552 km; oil 1,772 km (2004)

Portugal
gas 1,099 km; oil 8 km; refined products 174 km (2004)

Qatar
condensate 319 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,024 km; liquid
petroleum gas 87 km; oil 702 km; oil/gas/water 41 km (2004)

Romania
gas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2004)

Russia
condensate 122 km; gas 150,007 km; oil 75,539 km; refined
products 13,771 km (2004)

Saudi Arabia
condensate 212 km; gas 1,780 km; liquid petroleum gas
1,191 km; oil 5,068 km; refined products 1,162 km (2004)

Senegal
gas 564 km (2004)

Serbia and Montenegro
gas 3,177 km; oil 393 km (2004)

Singapore
gas 139 km (2004)

Slovakia
gas 6,769 km; oil 449 km (2004)

Slovenia
gas 2,526 km; oil 11 km (2004)

South Africa
condensate 100 km; gas 1,052 km; oil 847 km; refined
products 1,354 km (2004)

Spain
gas 7,306 km; oil 730 km; refined products 3,512 km (2004)

Sudan
gas 156 km; oil 2,365 km; refined products 810 km (2004)

Suriname
oil 51 km (2004)

Sweden
gas 798 km (2004)

Switzerland
gas 1,831 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2004)

Syria
gas 2,300 km; oil 2,183 km (2004)

Taiwan
condensate 25 km; gas 435 km (2004)

Tajikistan
gas 541 km; oil 38 km (2004)

Tanzania
gas 29 km; oil 866 km (2004)

Thailand
gas 3,112 km; refined products 265 km (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago
condensate 253 km; gas 1,117 km; oil 478 km
(2004)

Tunisia
gas 3,059 km; oil 1,203 km; refined products 345 km (2004)

Turkey
gas 3,177 km; oil 3,562 km (2004)

Turkmenistan
gas 6,549 km; oil 1,395 km (2004)

Ukraine
gas 20,069 km; oil 4,540 km; refined products 4,169 km (2004)

United Arab Emirates
condensate 469 km; gas 2,655 km; liquid
petroleum gas 300 km; oil 2,936 km; oil/gas/water 5 km (2004)

United Kingdom
condensate 370 km; gas 21,446 km; liquid petroleum
gas 59 km; oil 6,420 km; oil/gas/water 63 km; refined products 4,474
km (2004)

United States
petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km
(2003)

Uruguay
gas 192 km (2004)

Uzbekistan
gas 9,149 km; oil 869 km; refined products 33 km (2004)

Venezuela
extra heavy crude 992 km; gas 5,262 km; oil 7,360 km;
refined products 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2004)

Vietnam
condensate/gas 432 km; gas 210 km; oil 3 km; refined
products 206 km (2004)

Yemen
gas 88 km; oil 1,174 km (2004)

Zambia
oil 771 km (2004)

Zimbabwe
refined products 261 km (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@2118 Political parties and leaders

Afghanistan
note - includes only political parties approved by the
Ministry of Justice: Afghan Millat [Anwarul Haq AHADI]; De
Afghanistan De Solay Ghorzang Gond [Shahnawaz TANAI]; De Afghanistan
De Solay Mili Islami Gond [Shah Mahmood Polal ZAI]; Harakat-e-Islami
Afghanistan [Mohammad Asif MOHSINEE];
Hezb-e-Aarman-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Iihaj Saraj-u-din ZAFAREE];
Hezb-e-Aazadee Afghanistan [Abdul MALIK]; Hezb-e-Adalat-e-Islami
Afghanistan [Mohammad Kabeer MARZBAN]; Hezb-e-Afghanistan-e-Wahid
[Mohammad Wasil RAHEEMEE]; Hezb-e-Afghan Watan Islami Gond [leader
NA]; Hezb-e-Congra-e-Mili Afghanistan [Latif PEDRAM];
Hezb-e-Falah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad ZAREEF];
Hezb-e-Libral-e-Aazadee Khwa-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ajmal SOHAIL];
Hezb-e-Hambastagee Mili Jawanan-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Jamil
KARZAI]; Hezb-e-Hamnbatagee-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Khaleq NEMAT];
Hezb-e-Harakat-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Nadir AATASH];
Hezb-e-Harak-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ilhaj Said Hssain
ANWARY]; Hezb-e-Ifazat Az Uqoq-e-Bashar Wa Inkishaf-e-Afghanistan
[Baryalai NASRATEE]; Hezb-e-Istiqlal-e-Afghanistan [Dr. Gh. Farooq
NIJZRABEE]; Hezb-e-Jamhoree Khwahan [Sibghatullah SANJAR];
Hezb-e-Kar Wa Tawsiha-e-Afghanistan [Zulfiar OMID]; Hezb-e-Mili
Afghanistan [Abdul Rasheed AARYAN]; Hezb-e-Mili
Wahdat-e-Aqwam-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Shah KHOGYANEE];
Hezb-e-Nuhzhat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Ahmad Wali MASOUD];
Hezb-e-Paiwand-e-Mili Afghanistan [Said Mansoor NADIRI];
Hezb-e-Rastakhaiz-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Said ZAHIR];
Hezb-e-Refah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mia Gul WASEEQ];
Hezb-e-Risalat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Noor Aqa ROEEN];
Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Zubair PAIROZ];
Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mili Wa Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Usman
SALIGZADA]; Hezb-e-Sulh-e-Mili Islami Aqwam-e-Afghanistan [Abdul
Qahir SHARYATEE]; Hezb-e-Sulh Wa Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul
Qadir IMAMEE]; Hezb-e-Tafahum-e-Wa Democracy Afghanistan [Ahamad
SHAHEEN]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Karim
KHALILI]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ustad
Mohammad MOHAQQEQ]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul Rasheed
Jalili]; Jamahat-ul-Dahwat ilal Qurhan-wa-Sunat-ul-Afghanistan
[Mawlawee Samiullah NAJEEBEE]; Jombesh-e Milli [Abdul Rashid
DOSTAM]; Mahaz-e-Mili Islami Afghanistan [Said Ahmad GAILANEE];
Majmah-e-Mili Fahaleen-e-Sulh-e-Afghanistan [Shams ul Haq Noor
SHAMS]; Nuhzat-e-Aazadee Wa democracy Afghanistan [Abdul Raqeeb
Jawid KUHISTANEE]; Nuhzat-e-Hambastagee Mili Afghanistan [Peer Said
Ishaq GAILANEE]; Sazman-e-Islami Afghanistan-e-Jawan [Siad Jawad
HUSSAINEE]; Tahreek Wahdat-e-Mili [Sultan Mahmood DHAZI] (30 Sep
2004)

Albania
Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI];
Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nikolle LESI]; Communist Party of
Albania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or PAD
[Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality
Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIU]; Liberal Union Party or PBL
[Arjan STAROVA]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK
[Adriatik ALIMADHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party
of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Renewed Democratic Party
or PDR [Dashamir SHEHI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU];
Social Democracy Party or PDS [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party
or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI
[Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albanian Party of
Labor) [Fatos NANO]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel
DULE]

Algeria
Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; Democratic
National Rally or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA, chairman]; Islamic Salvation
Front or FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ and Dr. Abassi
MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR (self-exiled in Germany)]; National Entente
Movement or MEN [Ali BOUKHAZNA]; National Liberation Front or FLN
[Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general (also serves as Foreign
Minister)]; National Reform Movement or Islah (formerly MRN)
[Abdellah DJABALLAH]; National Renewal Party or PRA [Yacine
TERKMANE]; Progressive Republican Party [Khadir DRISS]; Rally for
Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SAADI, secretary general];
Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Fatah RABEI]; Socialist
Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general
(self-exiled in Switzerland)]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed
KHELIL]; Society of Peace Movement or MSP [Boujerra SOLTANI];
Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN]
note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted
in March 1997

American Samoa
Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party
[Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]

Andorra
Andorran Democratic Center Party or CDA (formerly Democratic
Party or PD) [leader NA]; Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA (formerly
Liberal Union or UL) [Albert PINTAT]; Social Democratic Party or PS
(formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND) [Mariona
GONZALEZ REOLIT]

Angola
Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA];
National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputed
leadership: Lucas NGONDA, Holden ROBERTO]; National Union for the
Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Isaias SAMAKUVA], largest
opposition party has engaged in years of armed resistance; Popular
Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS
SANTOS], ruling party in power since 1975; Social Renewal Party or
PRS [disputed leadership: Eduardo KUANGANA, Antonio MUACHICUNGO]
note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections
but only won a few seats and have little influence in the National
Assembly

Anguilla
Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Hubert HUGHES]; The
Anguilla United Front or AUF [Osbourne FLEMING, Victor BANKS], a
coalition of the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and the Anguilla
National Alliance or ANA; Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Roy
ROGERS]; Anguilla Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]

Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD];
Barbuda People's Movement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; United
Progressive Party or UPP [Baldwin SPENCER] (a coalition of three
opposition parties - United National Democratic Party or UNDP,
Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM, and Progressive Labor
Movement or PLM)

Argentina
Action for the Republic or AR [Domingo CAVALLO];
Alternative for a Republic of Equals or ARI [Elisa CARRIO]; Federal
Recreate Movement or RECREAR [Ricardo LOPEZ MURPHY]; Front for a
Country in Solidarity or Frepaso (a four-party coalition) [Dario
Pedro ALESSANDRO]; Interbloque Federal or IF (a broad coalition of
approximately 12 parties including RECREAR) [leader NA];
Justicialist Party or PJ (Peronist umbrella political organization)
[leader NA]; Radical Civic Union or UCR [Angel ROZAS]; Socialist
Party or PS [Ruben GIUSTINIANI]; Union For All [Patricia BULLRICH];
several provincial parties

Armenia
Agro-Industrial Party [Vladimir BADALIAN]; Armenia Party
[Myasnik MALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Alex
ARZUMANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party or HRAK
[Harutyun MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation
("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Vahan HOVHANISSIAN]; Democratic Party
[Aram SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party,
National Democratic Party, National Democratic Union, and the
People's Party) [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; National Democratic Party
[Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen
MANUKIAN]; National Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman];
People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party
[Albert BAZEYAN and Aram SARKISYAN, chairmen]; Republican Party or
RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Rule of Law Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN,
chairman]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant KHACHATURYAN];
United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENIAN]

Aruba
Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; Aruban
Liberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic
Movement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA
[Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People's
Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracy
or PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platform
or PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]

Australia
Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Labor Party
[Kim BEAZLEY]; Australian Progressive Alliance [Meg LEES];
Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Liberal Party [John Winston HOWARD];
The Nationals [Mark VAILE]; One Nation Party [Len HARRIS]; Family
First Party [Steve FIELDING]

Austria
Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Joerg HAIDER];
Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL]; Freedom Party
of Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic
Party of Austria or SPOe [Alfred GUSENBAUER]; The Greens [Alexander
VAN DER BELLEN]

Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF [Ali KARIMLI, leader of
"Reform" faction; Mirmahmud MIRALI-OGLU, leader of "Classic"
faction]; Civic Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLY]; Civic
Union Party [Ayaz MUTALIBOV]; Communist Party of Azerbaijan or CPA
[Ramiz AHMADOV]; Compatriot Party [Mais SAFARLI]; Democratic Party
for Azerbaijan or DPA [Rasul QULIYEV, chairman]; Justice Party
[Ilyas ISMAILOV]; Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat
HACIYEVA]; Musavat [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; New Azerbaijan Party or
NAP [vacant]; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan or PNIA
[Etibar MAMMADLI, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan
or SDP [Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV]
note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties

Bahamas, The
Free National Movement or FNM [Tommy TURNQUEST];
Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]

Bahrain
political parties prohibited but politically oriented
societies are allowed

Bangladesh
Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist
Party or BCP [Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party
or BNP [Khaleda ZIA, chairperson]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti
Fazlul Haq AMINI]; Jamaat-e-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI];
Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD];
Jatiya Party (Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR]

Barbados
Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor
Party or DLP [Clyde Mascoll]

Belarus
Pro-government parties: Agrarian Party or AP [leader NA];
Belarusian Communist Party or KPB [leader NA]; Belarusian Patriotic
Movement (Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR [Anatoliy BARANKEVICH,
chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus [Sergei GAYDUKEVICH];
Social-Sports Party [leader NA]; Opposition parties: Belarusian
Popular Front or BNF [Vintsuk VYACHORKA]; Belarusian Social-Democrat
Party Narodnaya Gromada or BSDP NG [Nikolay STATKEVICH, chairman];
Belarusian Social-Democratic Party Hromada [Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH,
chairman]; United Civic Party or UCP [Anatol LEBEDKO]; Party of
Communists Belarusian or PKB [Sergei KALYAKIN, chairman]; Women's
Party "Nadezhda" [Valentina MATUSEVICH, chairperson]
note: the opposition Belarusian Party of Labor [Aleksandr
BUKHVOSTOV] was liquidated in August 2004, but remains active

Belgium
Flemish parties: Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V
[Jo VANDEURZEN]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS];
GROEN! (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) [Vera DUA]; New Flemish
Alliance or NVA [Bart DE WEVER]; Socialist Party.Alternative or SP.A
[Caroline GENNEZ]; Spirit [Geert LAMBERT] (new party now associated
with SP.A); Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Frank VANHECKE]
Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX,
Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Center
of CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET];
Reformist Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS
[Elio DI RUPO]; other minor parties

Belize
People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic
Party or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party
chairman]

Benin
African Congress for Renewal or DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; African
Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN];
Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU];
Coalition of Democratic Forces [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]; Democratic
Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and
Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Jerome Sakia KINA]; Impulse for Progress
and Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Key Force or FC [leader NA];
Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, IDP, and four small parties);
Renaissance Party du Benin or PRB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star
Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union of Tomorrow's Benin
or UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU]
note: approximately 20 additional minor parties

Bermuda
Progressive Labor Party or PLP [William Alexander SCOTT];
United Bermuda Party or UBP [Grant GIBBONS]

Bhutan
no legal parties

Bolivia
Bolivian Socialist Falange or FSB [Romel PANTOJA]; Civic
Solidarity Union or UCS [Johnny FERNANDEZ]; Free Bolivia Movement or
MBL [Franz BARRIOS]; Marshal of Ayacucho Institutional Vanguard or
VIMA [Freddy ZABALA]; Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR
[Jaime PAZ Zamora]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Evo MORALES];
Movement Without Fear or MSM [Juan DEL GRANADO]; Nationalist
Democratic Action or ADN [Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez];
Nationalist Revolutionary Movement or MNR [leader NA]; New
Republican Force or NFR [Manfred REYES-VILLA]; Pachakuti Indigenous
Movement or MIP [Felipe QUISPE]; Socialist Party or PS [Jeres
JUSTINIANO]

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or
SNSD [Milorad DODIK]; Bosnian Party or BOSS [Mirnes AJANOVIC]; Civic
Democratic Party or GDS [Ibrahim SPAHIC]; Croatian Democratic Union
of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HDZ-BH [Barisa COLAK]; Croat Christian
Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HKDU [Mijo
IVANIC-LONIC]; Croat Party of Rights or HSP [Zdravko HRISTIC]; Croat
Peasants Party or HSS [Marko TADIC]; Democratic National Union or
DNZ [Fikret ABDIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Rasim KADIC];
New Croat Initiative or NHI [Kresimir ZUBAK]; Party for Bosnia and
Herzegovina or SBiH [Safet HALILOVIC]; Party of Democratic Action or
SDA [Sulejman TIHIC]; Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Mladen
IVANIC]; Serb Democratic Party or SDS [Dragan CAVIC - acting]; Serb
Radical Party of the Republika Srpska or SRS-RS [Milanko MIHAJLICA];
Serb Radical Party-Dr. Vojislav Seselj or SRS-VS [Radislav
KANJERIC]; Social Democratic Party of BIH or SDP [Zlatko
LAGUMDZIJA]; Social Democratic Union or SDU [Miro LAZOVIC];
Socialist Party of Republika Srpska or SPRS [Petar DJOKIC]

Botswana
Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Festus G. MOGAE];
Botswana National Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Congress
Party or BCP [Otlaadisa KOOSALETSE]; Botswana Alliance Movement or
BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]
note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the
BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats; the BAM parties
are: the United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; the
Independence Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]; and the Botswana
Progressive Union [D. K. KWELE]

Brazil
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Federal Deputy
Michel TEMER]; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Federal Deputy Roberto
JEFFERSON]; Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator
Eduardo AZAREDO]; Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Federal Deputy
Miguel ARRAES]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Renato RABELO];
Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos LUPI]; Democratic Socialist
Party or PSD [Pedro Miguel SANTANA LOPES]; Green Party or PV [Jose
Luiz de Franca PENNA]; Liberal Front Party or PFL [Senator Jorge
BORNHAUSEN]; Liberal Party or PL [Federal Deputy Valdemar COSTA
Neto]; National Order Reconstruction Party or PRONA [Federal Deputy
Dr. Eneas CARNEIRO]; Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Federal Deputy
Roberto FREIRE]; Progressive Party or PP [Federal Deputy Pedro
CORREA]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge ABDALA NOSSEIS];
Worker's Party or PT [Jose GENOINO]

British Virgin Islands
Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn
SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United
Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T.
O'NEAL]

Brunei
National Development Party (NDP) [Yassin AFFENDI]; National
Unity Party of Brunei (PPKB) [leader NA]; People's Awareness Party
(PAKAR) [leader NA]
note: parties are small and inactive (2005)

Bulgaria
Attack National Union [Volen Siderov]; ATAKA (Attack
Coalition) (coalition of parties headed by the Attack National
Union); Bulgarian Agrarian National Union-People's Union or BANU
[Anastasia MOZER]; Bulgarian People's Union or BPU (coalition of
UFD, IMRO, and BANU); Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei
STANISHEV]; Coalition for Bulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties
dominated by BSP) [Sergei STANISHEV]; Democrats for a Strong
Bulgaria or DSB [Ivan KOSTOV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization or IMRO [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights
and Freedoms or MRF [Ahmed DOGAN]; National Movement for Simeon II
or NMS2 [Simeon SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA]; New Time [Emil KOSHLUKOV]; Union
of Democratic Forces or UDF [Nadezhda MIKHAYLOVA]; Union of Free
Democrats or UFD [Stefan SOFIYANSKI]; United Democratic Forces or
UtDF (a coalition of center-right parties dominated by UDF)

Burkina Faso
African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and
Federation or RDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for Federation
and Democracy or CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for
Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement
for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE];
Party for African Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party
for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Socialist Party
or PS [leader NA]; Union of Greens for the Development of Burkina
Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]

Burma
National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, chairman,
AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary]; National Unity Party or NUP
(pro-government) [THA KYAW]; Shan Nationalities League for Democracy
or SNLD [KHUN HTUN OO]; and other smaller parties