:Ukraine Government
Communists:Communist Party of Ukraine was banned by decree of the Supreme Council on 30August 1991Other political or pressure groups:Ukraninan People's Movement for Restructuring (RUKH)Member of:CIS, CSCE, CE, ECE, IAEA, IMF, INMARSAT, IOC, ITU, NACC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMODiplomatic representation:Ambassador Oleh H. BILORUS; Embassy at 1828 L Street, NW, Suite 711,Washington, DC 20036; telephone (202) 296-6960US:Ambassador Roman POPADIUK; Embassy at ;10 Vul. Yuriy Kotsubinskoho, Kiev(mailing address is APO AE 09862); telephone (044) 244-7349; FAX (044)244-7350Flag:two horizontal bars of equal size: azure (sky blue) top half, golden yellowbottom half (represents grainfields under a blue sky)
:Ukraine Economy
Overview:Because of its size, geographic location, Slavic population, and richresources, the loss of Ukraine was the final and most bitter blow to theSoviet leaders wishing to preserve some semblance of the old political,military, and economic power of the USSR. After Russia, the Ukrainianrepublic was far and away the most important economic component of theformer Soviet Union producing more than three times the output of thenext-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one fourthof Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantitiesof meat, milk, grain and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, itswell-developed and diversified heavy industry supplied equipment and rawmaterials to industrial and mining sites in other regions of the USSR. Inearly 1992 the continued wholesale disruption of economic ties and the lackof an institutional structure necessary to formulate and implement economicreforms preclude a near-term recovery of output.GDP:$NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate -10% (1991 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):83% (1991 est.)Unemployment rate:NA%Budget:not finalized as of May 1992Exports:$13.5 billion (1990)commodities:coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals, machineryand transport equipment, grain, meatpartners:Russia, Belarus, KazakhstanImports:$16.7 billion (1990)commodities:machinery and parts, transportation equipment, chemicals, textilespartners:none*** No entry for this item ***External debt:$10.4 billion (end of 1991 est.)Industrial production:growth rate -4.5% (1991)Electricity:NA kW capacity; 298,000 million kWh produced, 5,758 kWh per capita (1990)Industries:coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transportequipment, chemicals, food-processingAgriculture:grain, vegetables, meat, milkIllicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis and opium; mostly for domestic consumption;status of government eradication programs unknown; used as transshipmentpoints for illicit drugs to Western EuropeEconomic aid:$NA
:Ukraine Economy
Currency:as of August 1992 using ruble and Ukrainian coupons as legal tender; Ukraineplans to withdraw the ruble from circulation and convert to a coupon-basedeconomy on 1 October 1992; Ukrainian officials claim this will be an interimmove toward introducing a Ukrainian currency - the hryvnya - possibly asearly as January 1993Exchange rates:NAFiscal year:calendar year
:Ukraine Communications
Railroads:22,800 km all 1.500-meter gauge; does not include industrial lines (1990)Highways:273,700 km total (1990); 236,400 km hard surfaced, 37,300 km earthInland waterways:NA km perennially navigablePipelines:NAPorts:maritime - Berdyansk, Il'ichevsk Kerch', Kherson, Mariupol' (formerlyZhdanov), Nikolayev, Odessa, Sevastopol', Yuzhnoye; inland - KievMerchant marine:338 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,117,595 GRT/5,403,685 DWT; includes221 cargo, 11 container, 9 barge carriers, 59 bulk cargo, 9 petroleumtanker, 2 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 24 passengerCivil air:NA major transport aircraftAirports:NATelecommunications:inheriting part of the former USSR system, Ukraine has about 7 milliontelephone lines (13.5 telephones for each 100 persons); as of 31 January1990, 3.56 million applications for telephones could not be satisfied;international calls can be made via satellite, by landline to other CIScountries, and through the Moscow international switching center; satelliteearth stations employ INTELSAT, INMARSAT, and Intersputnik
:Ukraine Defense Forces
Branches:Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard; CISForces (Ground Navy, Air, and Defense)Manpower availability:males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service; NA reach military age (18)annuallyDefense expenditures:$NA, NA% of GDP
:United Arab Emirates Geography
Total area:83,600 km2Land area:83,600 km2Comparative area:slightly smaller than MaineLand boundaries:1,016 km total; Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 586 km, Qatar 20 kmCoastline:1,448 kmMaritime claims:Continental shelf:defined by bilateral boundaries or equidistant lineExclusive economic zone:200 nmTerritorial sea:3 nm (assumed), 12 nm for Ash Shariqah (Sharjah)Disputes:boundary with Qatar is unresolved; no defined boundary with Saudi Arabia; nodefined boundary with most of Oman, but Administrative Line in far north;claims two islands in the Persian Gulf occupied by Iran (Jazireh-ye Tonb-eBozorg or Greater Tunb, and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek or Lesser Tunb); claimsisland in the Persian Gulf jointly administered with Iran (Jazireh-ye AbuMusa or Abu Musa,)Climate:desert; cooler in eastern mountainsTerrain:flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desertwaste- land; mountains in eastNatural resources:crude oil and natural gasLand use:arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 2%; forestand woodland NEGL%; other 98%; includes irrigated NEGL%Environment:frequent dust and sand storms; lack of natural freshwater resources beingovercome by desalination plants; desertificationNote:strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vitaltransit point for world crude oil
:United Arab Emirates People
Population:2,522,315 (July 1992), growth rate 5.4% (1992)Birth rate:29 births/1,000 population (1992)Death rate:3 deaths/1,000 population (1992)Net migration rate:27 migrants/1,000 population (1992)Infant mortality rate:23 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)Life expectancy at birth:70 years male, 74 years female (1992)Total fertility rate:4.7 children born/woman (1992)Nationality:noun - Emirian(s), adjective - EmirianEthnic divisions:Emirian 19%, other Arab 23%, South Asian (fluctuating) 50%, otherexpatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8%; less than 20% of thepopulation are UAE citizens (1982)Religions:Muslim 96% (Shi`a 16%); Christian, Hindu, and other 4%Languages:Arabic (official); Persian and English widely spoken in major cities; Hindi,UrduLiteracy:68% (male 70%, female 63%) age 10 and over but definition of literacy notavailable (1980)Labor force:580,000 (1986 est.); industry and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%,government 5%; 80% of labor force is foreignOrganized labor:trade unions are illegal
:United Arab Emirates Government
Long-form name:United Arab Emirates (no short-form name); abbreviated UAEType:federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE central government andother powers reserved to member emiratesCapital:Abu DhabiAdministrative divisions:7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), `Ajman, AlFujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al QaywaynIndependence:2 December 1971 (from UK; formerly Trucial States)Constitution:2 December 1971 (provisional)Legal system:secular codes are being introduced by the UAE Government and in severalmember shaykhdoms; Islamic law remains influentialNational holiday:National Day, 2 December (1971)Executive branch:president, vice president, Supreme Council of Rulers, prime minister, deputyprime minister, Council of MinistersLegislative branch:unicameral Federal National Council (Majlis Watani Itihad)Judicial branch:Union Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State:President Shaykh Zayid bin Sultan Al NUHAYYAN, (since 2 December 1971),ruler of Abu Dhabi; Vice President Shaykh Maktum bin Rashid al-MAKTUM (since8 October 1990), ruler of DubayyHead of Government:Prime Minister Shaykh Maktum bin Rashid al-MAKTUM (since 8 October 1990),ruler of Dubayy; Deputy Prime Minister Sultan bin Zayid Al NUHAYYAN (since20 November 1990)Political parties and leaders:noneSuffrage:noneElections:noneOther political or pressure groups:a few small clandestine groups may be activeMember of:ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO(correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation:Ambassador Muhammad bin Husayn Al SHAALI; Chancery at Suite 740, 600 NewHampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037; telephone (202) 338-6500US:Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr.; Embassy at Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi(mailing address is P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi); telephone [971] (2) 336691,afterhours 338730; FAX [971] (2) 318441; there is a US Consulate General inDubayy (Dubai)Flag:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a thickervertical red band on the hoist side
:United Arab Emirates Economy
Overview:The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's highest incomes percapita outside the OECD nations. This wealth is based on oil and gas, andthe fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities.Since 1973, when petroleum prices shot up, the UAE has undergone a profoundtransformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities toa modern state with a high standard of living. At present levels ofproduction, crude oil reserves should last for over 100 years.GDP:exchange rate conversion - $33.7 billion, per capita $14,100 (1990); realgrowth rate 11% (1989)Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.5% (1990 est.)Unemployment rate:NEGL (1988)Budget:revenues $3.8 billion; expenditures $3.7 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $NA (1989 est.)Exports:$21.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.)commodities:crude oil 65%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, datespartners:Japan 35%, Singapore 6%, US 4%, Korea 3%Imports:$11.0 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.)commodities:food, consumer and capital goodspartners:Japan 14%, UK 10%, US 9%, Germany 9%External debt:$11.0 billion (December 1989 est.)Industrial production:NAElectricity:5,800,000 kW capacity; 17,000 million kWh produced, 7,115 kWh per capita(1991)Industries:petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boatbuilding, handicrafts, pearlingAgriculture:accounts for 2% of GDP and 5% of labor force; cash crop - dates; foodproducts - vegetables, watermelons, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish; only 25%self-sufficient in foodEconomic aid:donor - pledged $9.1 billion in bilateral aid to less developed countries(1979-89)Currency:Emirian dirham (plural - dirhams); 1 Emirian dirham (Dh) = 100 filsExchange rates:Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1 - 3.6710 (fixed rate)Fiscal year:calendar year
:United Arab Emirates Communications
Highways:2,000 km total; 1,800 km bituminous, 200 km gravel and graded earthPipelines:crude oil 830 km, natural gas, including natural gas liquids, 870 kmPorts:Al Fujayrah, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal `Ali, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid,Mina' Saqr, Mina' ZayidMerchant marine:55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,033,866 GRT/1,772,646 DWT; includes18 cargo, 8 container, 3 roll-on/roll-off, 20 petroleum tanker, 4 bulk, 1refrigerated cargo, 1 vehicle carrierCivil air:10 major transport aircraftAirports:37 total, 34 usable; 20 with permanent-surface runways; 7 with runways over3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 mTelecommunications:adequate system of microwave and coaxial cable; key centers are Abu Dhabiand Dubayy; 386,600 telephones; broadcast stations - 8 AM, 3 FM, 12 TV;satellite communications ground stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 2Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT; submarine cables to Qatar, Bahrain,India, and Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave to SaudiArabia
:United Arab Emirates Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Federal Police ForceManpower availability:males 15-49, 974,288; 533,673 fit for military serviceDefense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $1.47 billion, 5.3% of GDP (1989 est.)
:United Kingdom Geography
Total area:244,820 km2Land area:241,590 km2; includes Rockall and Shetland IslandsComparative area:slightly smaller than OregonLand boundaries:360 km; Ireland 360 kmCoastline:12,429 kmMaritime claims:Continental shelf:as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed uponboundariesExclusive fishing zone:200 nmTerritorial sea:12 nmDisputes:Northern Ireland question with Ireland; Gibraltar question with Spain;Argentina claims Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); Argentina claims SouthGeorgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Mauritius claims island of DiegoGarcia in British Indian Ocean Territory; Rockall continental shelf disputeinvolving Denmark, Iceland, and Ireland (Ireland and the UK have signed aboundary agreement in the Rockall area); territorial claim in Antarctica(British Antarctic Territory)Climate:temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North AtlanticCurrent; more than half of the days are overcastTerrain:mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east andsoutheastNatural resources:coal, crude oil, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk,gypsum, lead, silicaLand use:arable land 29%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 48%; forest andwoodland 9%; other 14%; includes irrigated 1%Environment:pollution control measures improving air, water quality; because of heavilyindented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal watersNote:lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and nowbeing linked by tunnel under the English Channel
:United Kingdom People
Population:57,797,514 (July 1992), growth rate 0.3% (1992)Birth rate:14 births/1,000 population (1992)Death rate:11 deaths/1,000 population (1992)Net migration rate:NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1992)Infant mortality rate:8 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)Life expectancy at birth:73 years male, 79 years female (1992)Total fertility rate:1.8 children born/woman (1992)Nationality:noun - Briton(s), British (collective pl.); adjective - BritishEthnic divisions:English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh 1.9%, Ulster 1.8%, WestIndian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%Religions:Anglican 27.0 million, Roman Catholic 5.3 million, Presbyterian 2.0 million,Methodist 760,000, Jewish 410,000Languages:English, Welsh (about 26% of population of Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic(about 60,000 in Scotland)Literacy:99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1978 est.)Labor force:26,177,000; services 60.6%, manufacturing and construction 27.2%, government8.9%, energy 2.1%, agriculture 1.2% (June 1991)Organized labor:40% of labor force (1991)
:United Kingdom Government
Long-form name:United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; abbreviated UKType:constitutional monarchyCapital:LondonAdministrative divisions:47 counties, 7 metropolitan counties, 26 districts, 9 regions, and 3 islandsareasEngland:39 counties, 7 metropolitan counties*; Avon, Bedford, Berkshire, Buckingham,Cambridge, Cheshire, Cleveland, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derby, Devon, Dorset,Durham, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucester, Greater London*, GreaterManchester*, Hampshire, Hereford and Worcester, Hertford, Humberside, Isleof Wight, Kent, Lancashire, Leicester, Lincoln, Merseyside*, Norfolk,Northampton, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Nottingham, Oxford,Shropshire, Somerset, South Yorkshire*, Stafford, Suffolk, Surrey, Tyne andWear*, Warwick, West Midlands*, West Sussex, West Yorkshire*, WiltshireNorthern Ireland:26 districts; Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge,Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Down,Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn, Londonderry, Magherafelt,Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, StrabaneScotland:9 regions, 3 islands areas*; Borders, Central, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife,Grampian, Highland, Lothian, Orkney*, Shetland*, Strathclyde, Tayside,Western Isles*Wales:8 counties; Clwyd, Dyfed, Gwent, Gwynedd, Mid Glamorgan, Powys, SouthGlamorgan, West GlamorganIndependence:1 January 1801, United Kingdom establishedConstitution:unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practiceDependent areas:Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands,Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Jersey,Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia andthe South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos IslandsLegal system:common law tradition with early Roman and modern continental influences; nojudicial review of Acts of Parliament; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservationsNational holiday:Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)Executive branch:monarch, prime minister, CabinetLegislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or House of Lords and alower house or House of CommonsJudicial branch:House of LordsLeaders:Chief of State:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES(son of the Queen, born 14 November 1948)Head of Government:Prime Minister John MAJOR (since 28 November 1990)
:United Kingdom Government
Political parties and leaders:Conservative and Unionist Party, John MAJOR; Labor Party, John SMITH;Liberal Democrats (LD), Jeremy (Paddy) ASHDOWN; Scottish National Party,Alex SALMOND; Welsh National Party (Plaid Cymru), Dafydd Iwan WIGLEY; UlsterUnionist Party (Northern Ireland), James MOLYNEAUX; Democratic UnionistParty (Northern Ireland), Rev. Ian PAISLEY; Ulster Popular Unionist Party(Northern Ireland), James KILFEDDER; Social Democratic and Labor Party(SDLP, Northern Ireland), John HUME; Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland), GerryADAMS; Alliance Party (Northern Ireland), John ALDERDICE; Democratic Left,Nina TEMPLESuffrage:universal at age 18Elections:House of Commons:last held 9 April 1992 (next to be held by NA April 1997); results -Conservative 41.9%, Labor 34.5%, Liberal Democratic 17.9%, other 5.7%; seats- (651 total) Conservative 336, Labor 271, Liberal Democratic 20, other 24Communists:15,961Other political or pressure groups:Trades Union Congress, Confederation of British Industry, National Farmers'Union, Campaign for Nuclear DisarmamentMember of:AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, C, CCC, CDB, CE, CERN, COCOM, CP, CSCE,EBRD, EC, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESCAP, ESA, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10,GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS,NATO, NEA, OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNSecurity Council, UN Trusteeship Council, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMODiplomatic representation:Ambassador Sir Robin RENWICK; Chancery at 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW,Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 462-1340; there are British ConsulatesGeneral in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, NewYork, and San Francisco, and Consulates in Dallas, Miami, and SeattleUS:Ambassador Raymond G. H. SEITZ; Embassy at 24/31 Grosvenor Square, London,W.1A1AE, (mailing address is FPO AE 09498-4040); telephone [44] (71)499-9000; FAX 409-1637; there are US Consulates General in Belfast andEdinburghFlag:blue with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged inwhite superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saintof Ireland) which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of SaintAndrew (patron saint of Scotland); known as the Union Flag or Union Jack;the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for anumber of other flags including dependencies, Commonwealth countries, andothersNote:Hong Kong is scheduled to become a Special Administrative Region of China in1997
:United Kingdom Economy
Overview:The UK is one of the world's great trading powers and financial centers, andits economy ranks among the four largest in Europe. The economy isessentially capitalistic with a generous admixture of social welfareprograms and government ownership. Prime Minister MAJOR has continued thebasic thrust of THATCHER's efforts to halt the expansion of welfare measuresand promote extensive reprivatization of the government economic sector.Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by Europeanstandards, producing about 60% of food needs with only 1% of the laborforce. Industry is a mixture of public and private enterprises, employingabout 27% of the work force and generating 22% of GDP. The UK is anenergy-rich nation with large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primaryenergy production accounts for 12% of GDP, one of the highest shares of anyindustrial nation. In mid-1990 the economy fell into recession after eightyears of strong economic expansion, which had raised national output by onequarter. Britain's inflation rate, which has been consistently well abovethose of her major trading partners, declined significantly in 1991. Between1986 and 1990 unemployment fell from 11% to about 6%, but crept back up to8% in 1991 because of the economic slowdown. As a major trading nation, theUK will continue to be greatly affected by world boom or recession, swingsin the international oil market, productivity trends in domestic industry,and the terms on which the economic integration of Europe proceeds.GDP:purchasing power equivalent - $915.5 billion, per capita $15,900; realgrowth rate -1.9% (1991 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.8% (1991)Unemployment rate:8.1% (1991)Budget:revenues $435 billion; expenditures $469 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $NA (FY92 est.)Exports:$186.4 billion (f.o.b., 1991)commodities:manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods,transport equipmentpartners:EC 53.2% (FRG 12.7%, France 10.5%, Netherlands 7.0%), US 12.4%Imports:$211.9 billion (c.i.f., 1991)commodities:manufactured goods, machinery, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumergoodspartners:EC 52.2% (FRG 15.6%, France 9.3%, Netherlands 8.4%), US 11.5%External debt:$10.5 billion (1990)Industrial production:growth rate 0% (1991)Electricity:98,000,000 kW capacity; 316,500 million kWh produced, 5,520 kWh per capita(1991)
:United Kingdom Economy
Industries:production machinery including machine tools, electric power equipment,equipment for the automation of production, railroad equipment,shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics andcommunications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper andpaper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other consumergoodsAgriculture:accounts for only 1.5% of GDP and 1% of labor force; highly mechanized andefficient farms; wide variety of crops and livestock products produced;about 60% self-sufficient in food and feed needs; fish catch of 665,000metric tons (1987)Economic aid:donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $21.0 billionCurrency:British pound or pound sterling (plural - pounds); 1 British pound (#) = 100penceExchange rates:British pounds (#) per US$1 - 0.5799 (March 1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603(1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987)Fiscal year:1 April-31 March
:United Kingdom Communications
Railroads:Great Britain - 16,629 km total; British Railways (BR) operates 16,629 km1.435-meter (standard) gauge (4,205 km electrified and 12,591 km double ormultiple track); several additional small standard-gauge and narrow-gaugelines are privately owned and operated; Northern Ireland Railways (NIR)operates 332 km 1.600-meter gauge, including 190 km double trackHighways:UK, 362,982 km total; Great Britain, 339,483 km paved (including 2,573 kmlimited-access divided highway); Northern Ireland, 23,499 km (22,907 paved,592 km gravel)Inland waterways:2,291 total; British Waterways Board, 606 km; Port Authorities, 706 km;other, 979 kmPipelines:crude oil (almost all insignificant) 933 km, petroleum products 2,993 km,natural gas 12,800 kmPorts:London, Liverpool, Felixstowe, Tees and Hartlepool, Dover, Sullom Voe,SouthamptonMerchant marine:224 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,905,571 GRT/4,840,862 DWT; includes7 passenger, 21 short-sea passenger, 37 cargo, 27 container, 14roll-on/roll-off, 10 refrigerated cargo, 1 vehicle carrier, 1 railcarcarrier, 66 petroleum tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 9 liquefied gas, 1combination ore/oil, 1 specialized tanker, 26 bulk, 1 combination bulkCivil air:618 major transport aircraftAirports:498 total, 385 usable; 249 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runwaysover 3,659 m; 37 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 133 with runways 1,220-2,439 mTelecommunications:technologically advanced domestic and international system; 30,200,000telephones; equal mix of buried cables, microwave and optical-fiber systems;excellent countrywide broadcast systems; broadcast stations - 225 AM, 525(mostly repeaters) FM, 207 (3,210 repeaters) TV; 40 coaxial submarinecables; 5 satellite ground stations operating in INTELSAT (7 Atlantic Oceanand 3 Indian Ocean), MARISAT, and EUTELSAT systems; at least 8 largeinternational switching centers
:United Kingdom Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Royal Navy (including Royal Marines), Royal Air ForceManpower availability:males 15-49, 14,462,820; 12,122,497 fit for military service; noconscriptionDefense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $42 billion, 4.3% of GDP (FY91)
:United States Geography
Total area:9,372,610 km2Land area:9,166,600 km2; includes only the 50 states and District of ColombiaComparative area:about three-tenths the size of Russia; about one-third the size of Africa;about one-half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil);slightly smaller than China; about two and one-half times the size ofWestern EuropeLand boundaries:12,248.1 km; Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,326km, Cuba (US naval base at Guantanamo) 29.1 kmCoastline:19,924 kmMaritime claims:Contiguous zone:12 nmContinental shelf:not specifiedExclusive economic zone:200 nmTerritorial sea:12 nmDisputes:maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Straitof Juan de Fuca); US Naval Base at Guantanamo is leased from Cuba and onlymutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease;Haiti claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica(but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims ofany other nation; Marshall Islands claims Wake IslandClimate:mostly temperate, but varies from tropical (Hawaii) to arctic (Alaska); aridto semiarid in west with occasional warm, dry chinook windTerrain:vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east;rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanictopography in HawaiiNatural resources:coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron,mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, crude oil, natural gas,timberLand use:arable land 20%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 26%; forest andwoodland 29%; other 25%; includes irrigated 2%Environment:pollution control measures improving air and water quality; acid rain;agricultural fertilizer and pesticide pollution; management of sparsenatural water resources in west; desertification; tsunamis, volcanoes, andearthquake activity around Pacific Basin; continuous permafrost in northernAlaska is a major impediment to developmentNote:world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and China)
:United States People
Population:254,521,000 (July 1992), growth rate 0.8% (1992)Birth rate:14 births/1,000 population (1992)Death rate:9 deaths/1,000 population (1992)Net migration rate:2 migrants/1,000 population (1992)Infant mortality rate:10 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)Life expectancy at birth:72 years male, 79 years female (1992)Total fertility rate:1.8 children born/woman (1992)Nationality:noun - American(s); adjective - AmericanEthnic divisions:white 84.1%, black 12.4%, other 3.5% (1989)Religions:Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10% (1989)Languages:predominantly English; sizable Spanish-speaking minorityLiteracy:98% (male 97%, female 98%) age 25 and over having completed 5 or more yearsof schooling (1989)Labor force:126,867,000 (includes armed forces and unemployed); civilian labor force125,303,000 (1991)Organized labor:16,568,000 members; 16.1% of total wage and salary employment which was102,786,000 (1991)
:United States Government
Long-form name:United States of America; abbreviated US or USAType:federal republic; strong democratic traditionCapital:Washington, DCAdministrative divisions:50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia,Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, RhodeIsland, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, WyomingIndependence:4 July 1776 (from England)Constitution:17 September 1787, effective 4 June 1789Dependent areas:American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island; Jarvis Island, JohnstonAtoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern MarianaIslands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake IslandLegal system:based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservationsNational holiday:Independence Day, 4 July (1776)Executive branch:president, vice president, CabinetLegislative branch:bicameral Congress consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house orHouse of RepresentativesJudicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State and Head of Government:President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989); Vice President Dan QUAYLE(since 20 January 1989)Political parties and leaders:Republican Party, Richard N. BOND, national committee chairman; JeanieAUSTIN, co-chairman; Democratic Party, Ronald H. BROWN, national committeechairman; several other groups or parties of minor political significanceSuffrage:universal at age 18Elections:President:last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results -George BUSH (Republican Party) 53.37%, Michael DUKAKIS (Democratic Party)45.67%, other 0.96%Senate:last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results -Democratic Party 51%, Republican Party 47%, other 2%; seats - (100 total)Democratic Party 56, Republican Party 44House of Representatives:last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results -Democratic Party 52%, Republican Party 44%, other 4%; seats - (435 total)Democratic Party 267, Republican Party 167, Socialist 1
:United States Government
Communists:Communist Party (claimed 15,000-20,000 members), Gus HALL, generalsecretary; Socialist Workers Party (claimed 1,800 members), Jack BARNES,national secretaryMember of:AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC, COCOM, CP, CSCE, EBRD,ECE, ECLAC, FAO, ESCAP, G-2, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NEA, OAS, OECD, PCA, SPC, UN,UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UN Security Council, UN Trusteeship Council,UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation:US Representative to the UN, Ambassador Thomas R. PICKERING; Mission at 799United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017; telephone (212) 415-4050, afterhours (212) 415-4444; FAX (212) 415-4443Flag:thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating withwhite; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows ofsix stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 starsrepresent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a numberof other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto RicoNote:since 18 July 1947, the US has administered the Trust Territory of thePacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship withthree of the four political units; the Northern Mariana Islands is aCommonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986);Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US that was approvedby the US Congress but to date the Compact process has not been completed inPalau, which continues to be administered by the US as the Trust Territoryof the Pacific Islands; the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compactof Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic ofthe Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US(effective 21 October 1986)
:United States Economy
Overview:The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economyin the world, with a per capita GDP of $22,470, the largest among majorindustrial nations. The economy is market oriented with most decisions madeby private individuals and business firms and with government purchases ofgoods and services made predominantly in the marketplace. In 1989 theeconomy enjoyed its seventh successive year of substantial growth, thelongest in peacetime history. The expansion featured moderation in wage andconsumer price increases and a steady reduction in unemployment to 5.2% ofthe labor force. In 1990, however, growth slowed to 1% because of acombination of factors, such as the worldwide increase in interest rates,Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August, the subsequent spurt in oil prices, anda general decline in business and consumer confidence. In 1991 output failedto recover, unemployment grew, and signs of recovery proved premature.Ongoing problems for the 1990s include inadequate investment in economicinfrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs, and sizable budget and tradedeficits.GDP:purchasing power equivalent - $5,673 billion, per capita $22,470; realgrowth rate -0.7% (1991)Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.2% (1991)Unemployment rate:6.6% (1991)Budget:revenues $1,054 billion; expenditures $1,323 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $NA (FY91)Exports:$428.1 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)commodities:capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials, consumergoods, agricultural productspartners:Western Europe 27.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 12.1% (1989)Imports:$499.4 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)commodities:crude and partly refined petroleum, machinery, automobiles, consumer goods,industrial raw materials, food and beveragespartners:Western Europe 21.5%, Japan 19.7%, Canada 18.8% (1989)External debt:NAIndustrial production:growth rate -1.9% (1991)Electricity:776,550,000 kW capacity; 3,020,000 million kWh produced, 12,080 kWh percapita (1990)Industries:leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified; petroleum, steel,motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, foodprocessing, consumer goods, fishing, lumber, miningAgriculture:accounts for 2% of GDP and 2.8% of labor force; favorable climate and soilssupport a wide variety of crops and livestock production; world's secondlargest producer and number one exporter of grain; surplus food producer;fish catch of 5.0 million metric tons (1988)
:United States Economy
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis for domestic consumption with 1987 productionestimated at 3,500 metric tons or about 25% of the available marijuana;ongoing eradication program aimed at small plots and greenhouses has notreduced productionEconomic aid:donor - commitments, including ODA and OOF, (FY80-89), $115.7 billionCurrency:United States dollar (plural - dollars); 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100centsExchange rates:British pounds:(#) per US$ - 0.5599 (March 1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099(1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987)Canadian dollars:(Can$) per US$ - 1.1926 (March 1992), 1.1457 (1991), 1.1668 (1990), 1.1840(1989), 1.2307 (1988), 1.3260 (1987)French francs:(F) per US$ - 5.6397, (March 1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801(1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987)Italian lire:(Lit) per US$ - 1,248.4 (March 1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990),1.372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987)Japanese yen:(Y) per US$ - 132.70 (March 1992), 134.71 (1991), 144.79 (1990), 137.96(1989), 128.15 (1988), 144.64 (1987)German deutsche marks:(DM) per US$ - 1.6611 (March 1992), 1.6595 (1991), 1.6157 (1990), 1.8800(1989), 1.7562 (1988), 1.7974 (1987)Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
:United States Communications
Railroads:270,312 kmHighways:6,365,590 km, including 88,641 km expresswaysInland waterways:41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes (est.)Pipelines:petroleum 275,800 km, natural gas 305,300 km (1985)Ports:Anchorage, Baltimore, Beaumont, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Cleveland,Duluth, Freeport, Galveston, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville,Long Beach, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Mobile, New Orleans, New York,Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), Richmond (California), San Francisco,Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, WilmingtonMerchant marine:396 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,969 GRT/20,179 DWT; includes 3passenger-cargo, 38 cargo, 25 bulk, 174 tanker, 13 tanker tug-barge, 14liquefied gas, 129 intermodal; in addition, there are 231 government-ownedvesselsCivil air:8,252 commercial multiengine transport aircraft (weighing 9,000 kg and over)including 6,036 jet, 831 turboprop, 1,382 piston (December 1989)Airports:14,177 total, 12,417 usable; 4,820 with permanent-surface runways; 63 withrunways over 3,659 m; 325 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2,524 with runways1,220-2,439 mTelecommunications:182,558,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 4,892 AM, 5,200 FM (including3,915 commercial and 1,285 public broadcasting), 7,296 TV (including 796commercial, 300 public broadcasting, and 6,200 commercial cable);495,000,000 radio receivers (1982); 150,000,000 TV sets (1982); satelliteground stations - 45 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 16 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
:United States Defense Forces
Branches:Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (including Marine Corps),Department of the Air ForceManpower availability:males 15-49, 66,458,000; NA fit for military serviceDefense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $323.5 billion, 5.7% of GNP (1991)
:Uruguay Geography
Total area:176,220 km2Land area:173,620 km2Comparative area:slightly smaller than Washington StateLand boundaries:1,564 km total; Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 kmCoastline:660 kmMaritime claims:Continental shelf:200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitationTerritorial sea:200 nm (overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nm)Disputes:short section of boundary with Argentina is in dispute; two short sectionsof the boundary with Brazil are in dispute (Arroyo de la Invernada area ofthe Rio Quarai and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Quarai and theUruguay)Climate:warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknownTerrain:mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowlandNatural resources:soil, hydropower potential, minor mineralsLand use:arable land 8%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 78%; forest andwoodland 4%; other 10%; includes irrigated 1%Environment:subject to seasonally high winds, droughts, floods
:Uruguay People
Population:3,141,533 (July 1992), growth rate 0.6% (1992)Birth rate:17 births/1,000 population (1992)Death rate:10 deaths/1,000 population (1992)Net migration rate:-1 migrant/1,000 population (1992)Infant mortality rate:23 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)Life expectancy at birth:69 years male, 76 years female (1992)Total fertility rate:2.4 children born/woman (1992)Nationality:noun - Uruguayan(s); adjective - UruguayanEthnic divisions:white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%Religions:Roman Catholic (less than half adult population attends church regularly)66%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other 30%Languages:SpanishLiteracy:96% (male 97%, female 96%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)Labor force:1,355,000 (1991 est.); government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%,commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%,other services 21% (1988 est.)Organized labor:Interunion Workers' Assembly/National Workers' Confederation (PIT/CNT) LaborFederation
:Uruguay Government
Long-form name:Oriental Republic of UruguayType:republicCapital:MontevideoAdministrative divisions:19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones,Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado,Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano,Tacuarembo, Treinta y TresIndependence:25 August 1828 (from Brazil)Constitution:27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973, newconstitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980Legal system:based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdictionNational holiday:Independence Day, 25 August (1828)Executive branch:president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)Legislative branch:bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General) consists of an upper chamberor Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamberof Representatives (Camera de Representantes)Judicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State and Head of Government:President Luis Alberto LACALLE (since 1 March 1990); Vice President GonzaloAGUIRRE Ramirez (since 1 March 1990)Political parties and leaders:National (Blanco) Party, Carlos CAT; Colorado Party, Jorge BATLLE Ibanez;Broad Front Coalition, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera - includes Communist Party ledby Jaime PEREZ and National Liberation Movement (MLN) or Tupamaros led byEleuterio FERNANDEZ Huidobro; New Space Coalition consists of the Party ofthe Government of the People (PGP), Hugo BATALLA; Christian Democratic Party(PDC), leader NA; and Civic Union, Humberto CIGANDASuffrage:universal and compulsory at age 18Elections:President:last held 26 November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results -Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera (Blanco) 37%, Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (Colorado)29%, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera (Broad Front) 20%Chamber of Senators:last held 26 November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results -Blanco 40%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 23% New Space 7%; seats - (30 total)Blanco 12, Colorado 9, Broad Front 7, New Space 2Chamber of Representatives:last held NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results -Blanco 39%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 22%, New Space 8%, other 1%; seats -(99 total) number of seats by party NACommunists:50,000
:Uruguay Government
Member of:AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA,RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UNMOGIP, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTODiplomatic representation:Ambassador Eduardo MACGILLICUDDY; Chancery at 1918 F Street NW, Washington,DC 20006; telephone (202) 331-1313 through 1316; there are UruguayanConsulates General in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York, and a Consulate inNew OrleansUS:Ambassador Richard C. BROWN; Embassy at Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo(mailing address is APO AA 34035); telephone [598] (2) 23-60-61 or 48-77-77;FAX [598] (2) 48-86-11Flag:nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating withblue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellowsun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternatelytriangular and wavy
:Uruguay Economy
Overview:The economy is slowly recovering from the deep recession of the early 1980s.In 1988 real GDP grew by only 0.5% and in 1989 by 1.5%. The recovery was ledby growth in the agriculture and fishing sectors, agriculture alonecontributing 20% to GDP, employing about 11% of the labor force, andgenerating a large proportion of export earnings. Raising livestock,particularly cattle and sheep, is the major agricultural activity. In 1991,domestic growth improved somewhat over 1990, but various government factors,including concentration on the external sector, adverse weather conditions,and greater attention to bringing down inflation and reducing the fiscaldeficit kept output from expanding rapidly. In a major step toward greaterregional economic cooperation, Uruguay joined Brazil, Argentina, andParaguay in forming the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur). PresidentLACALLE continues to press ahead with a broad economic reform plan to reducestate intervention in the economy, but he faces strong opposition.GDP:exchange rate conversion - $9.1 billion, per capita $2,935; real growth rate2.3% (1991 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):60% (1992 est.)Unemployment rate:8.5% (1991 est.)Budget:revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $165 million (1988)Exports:$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1991)commodities:hides and leather goods 17%, beef 10%, wool 9%, fish 7%, rice 4%partners:Brazil, US, Argentina, GermanyImports:$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1991)commodities:fuels and lubricants 15%, metals, machinery, transportation equipment,industrial chemicalspartners:Brazil 23%, Argentina 17%, US 10%, EC 27.1% (1990)External debt:$4.2 billion (1991 est.)Industrial production:growth rate -1.4% (1990), accounts for almost 25% of GDPElectricity:2,065,000 kW capacity; 5,677 million kWh produced, 1,819 kWh per capita(1991)Industries:meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles, footwear, leather apparel,tires, cement, fishing, petroleum refining, wineAgriculture:large areas devoted to livestock grazing; wheat, rice, corn, sorghum;self-sufficient in most basic foodstuffsEconomic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $105 million; Western (non-US)countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $420 million;Communist countries (1970-89), $69 millionCurrency:new Uruguayan peso (plural - pesos); 1 new Uruguayan peso (N$Ur) = 100centesimos
:Uruguay Economy
Exchange rates:new Uruguayan pesos (N$Ur) per US$1 - 2,732.8 (March 1992), 2,018.8 (1991),1,171.0 (1990), 605.5 (1989), 359.4 (1988), 226.7 (1987)Fiscal year:calendar year
:Uruguay Communications
Railroads:3,000 km, all 1.435-meter (standard) gauge and government ownedHighways:49,900 km total; 6,700 km paved, 3,000 km gravel, 40,200 km earthInland waterways:1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craftPorts:Montevideo, Punta del EsteMerchant marine:3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 56,737 GRT/104,143 DWT; includes 1cargo, 1 container, 1 petroleum tankerCivil air:11 major transport aircraftAirports:90 total, 83 usable; 16 with permanent-surface runways; none with runwaysover 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 16 with runways 1,220-2,439 mTelecommunications:most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwavenetwork; 337,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 99 AM, no FM, 26 TV, 9shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
:Uruguay Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy (including Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force,Grenadier Guards, PoliceManpower availability:males 15-49, 745,728; 605,392 fit for military service; no conscriptionDefense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $168 million, 2.2% of GDP (1988)
:Uzbekistan Geography
Total area:447,400 km2Land area:425,400 km2Comparative area:slightly larger than CaliforniaLand boundaries:6,221 km total; Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 kmCoastline:0 kmnote:Uzbekistan does border the Aral Sea (420 km)Maritime claims:none - landlockedDisputes:noneClimate:mostly mid latitude desert; semiarid grassland in eastTerrain:mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; Fergana valley in eastsurrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea inwestNatural resources:natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc,tungsten, molybdenumLand use:NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forestand woodland; NA% other; includes NA% irrigatedEnvironment:drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemicalpesticides and natural saltsNote:landlocked
:Uzbekistan People
Population:21,626,784 (July 1992), growth rate 2.4% (1992)Birth rate:34 births/1,000 population (1992)Death rate:7 deaths/1,000 population (1992)Net migration rate:-2 migrants/1,000 population (1992); note - 179,000 persons left Uzbekistanin 1990Infant mortality rate:65 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)Life expectancy at birth:64 years male, 70 years female (1992)Total fertility rate:4.2 children born/woman (1992)Nationality:noun - Uzbek(s); adjective - UzbekEthnic divisions:Uzbek 71%, Russian 8%, Tajik 5%, other 16%; note - includes 70% of CrimeanTatars since their World War II deportationReligions:Muslim (mostly Sunnis) 75-80%, other (includes Farsi) 20-25%Languages:Uzbek 85%, Russian 5%, other 10%Literacy:NA%Labor force:7,941,000; agriculture and forestry 39%, industry and construction 24%,other 37% (1990)Organized labor:NA
:Uzbekistan Government
Long-form name:Republic of UzbekistanType:republicCapital:Tashkent (Toshkent)Administrative divisions:11 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast') and 1 autonomous republic*(avtomnaya respublika); Andizhan, Bukhara, Dzhizak, Fergana, Karakalpakstan*(Nukus), Kashkadar'ya (Karshi), Khorezm (Urgench), Namangan, Samarkand,Surkhandar'ya (Termez), Syrdar'ya (Gulistan), Tashkent; note - anadministrative division has the same name as its administrative center(exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)Independence:31 August 1991 from the Soviet Union; note - formerly Uzbek Soviet SocialistRepublic in the Soviet UnionConstitution:NALegal system:NANational holiday:NAExecutive branch:presidentLegislative branch:unicameral Supreme SovietJudicial branch:NALeaders:Chief of State:President Islam KARIMOV (since 29 December 1991)Head of Government:Prime Minister Abdulhashim MUTALOV (since 13 January 1992)Political parties and leaders:People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (formerly Communist Party), IslamKARIMOV, chairman; ERK, Mukhammad SOLIKH, chairmanSuffrage:universal at age 18Elections:President:last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1996); results -Islam KARIMOV 86%, Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2%Supreme Soviet:last held NA March 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote byparty NA; seats - (500 total) Communist 450, ERK 10, other 40Communists:NAOther political or pressure groups:Birlik (Unity) Abdurakhim PULATOV, chairman; Islamic Renaissance Party,Abdulljon UTAEV, chairmanMember of:CIS, CSCE, IMF, NACC, UN UNCTADDiplomatic representation:NAUS:Charge d'Affaires Michael MOZUR; Embassy at Hotel Uzbekistan, ;55Chelendarskaya, Tashkent (mailing address is APO AE 09862); telephone [8](011) 7-3712-33-15-74
:Uzbekistan Government
Flag:three equal horizontal bands - blue (top), white, and green with a crescentmoon and 12 stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
:Uzbekistan Economy
Overview:Although Uzbekistan accounted for only 3.4% of total Soviet output, itproduced two-thirds of the USSR's cotton. Moscow's push for ever-increasingamounts of cotton included massive irrigation projects which causedextensive environmental damage to the Aral Sea and rivers of the republic.Furthermore, the lavish use of chemical fertilizers has caused extensivepollution and widespread health problems. Recently the republic has soughtto encourage food production at the expense of cotton. The small industrialsector specializes in such items as agricultural machinery, mineralfertilizers, vegetable oil, and electrical cranes. Uzbekistan also has someimportant natural resources including gold (about 30% of Soviet production),uranium, and natural gas. The Uzbek government has encouraged land reformbut has shied away from other aspects of economic reform.GDP:purchasing power equivalent - $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate -0.9%(1991)Inflation rate (consumer prices):83% (1991)Unemployment rate:NABudget:revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NAExports:$1.5 billion (1990)commodities:cotton, gold, textiles, chemical and mineral fertilizers, vegetable oilpartners:Russia, Ukraine, Eastern EuropeImports:$3.5 billion (1990)commodities:machinery and parts, consumer durables, grain, other foodspartners:principally other former Soviet republicsExternal debt:$2 billion (end of 1991 est.)Industrial production:growth rate 1.8% (1991)Electricity:11,400,000 kW capacity; 54,100 million kWh produced, 2,662 kWh per capita(1991)Industries:chemical and mineral fertilizers, vegetable oil, textilesAgriculture:cotton, with much smaller production of grain, fruits, vegetables, andlivestockIllicit drugs:illicit producers of cannabis and opium; mostly for domestic consumption;status of government eradication programs unknown; used as transshipmentpoints for illicit drugs to Western EuropeEconomic aid:$NACurrency:as of May 1992, retaining ruble as currencyExchange rates:NAFiscal year:calendar year
:Uzbekistan Communications
Railroads:3,460 km all 1.520-meter gauge (includes NA km electrified); does notinclude industrial lines (1990)Highways:78,400 km total (1990); 67,000 km hard-surfaced, 11,400 km earthInland waterways:NA kmPipelines:NAPorts:none - landlockedCivil air:NAAirports:NATelecommunications:poorly developed; telephone density NA; linked by landline or microwave withCIS member states and by leased connection via the Moscow internationalgateway switch to other countries; satellite earth stations - Orbita andINTELSAT (TV receive only)
:Uzbekistan Defense Forces
Branches:Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard; CISForces (Ground, Air and Air Defense)Manpower availability:males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service; NA reach military age (18)annuallyDefense expenditures:$NA, NA% of GDP
:Vanuatu Geography
Total area:14,760 km2Land area:14,760 km2; includes more than 80 islandsComparative area:slightly larger than ConnecticutLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:2,528 kmMaritime claims:(measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)Contiguous zone:24 nmContinental shelf:edge of continental margin or 200 nmExclusive economic zone:200 nmTerritorial sea:12 nmDisputes:noneClimate:tropical; moderated by southeast trade windsTerrain:mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plainsNatural resources:manganese, hardwood forests, fishLand use:arable land 1%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and pastures 2%; forest andwoodland 1%; other 91%Environment:subject to tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanismcauses minor earthquakesNote:located 5,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean aboutthree-quarters of the way between Hawaii and Australia
:Vanuatu People
Population:174,574 (July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992)Birth rate:35 births/1,000 population (1992)Death rate:5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)Net migration rate:0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)Infant mortality rate:30 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)Life expectancy at birth:67 years male, 72 years female (1992)Total fertility rate:5.1 children born/woman (1992)Nationality:noun - Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural); adjective - Ni-VanuatuEthnic divisions:indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, remainder Vietnamese, Chinese, andvarious Pacific IslandersReligions:Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%,Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%Languages:English and French (official); pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama)Literacy:53% (male 57%, female 48%) age 15 and over can read and write (1979)Labor force:NAOrganized labor:7 registered trade unions - largest include Oil and Gas Workers' Union,Vanuatu Airline Workers' Union
:Vanuatu Government
Long-form name:Republic of VanuatuType:republicCapital:Port-VilaAdministrative divisions:11 island councils; Ambrym, Aoba/Maewo, Banks/Torres, Efate, Epi, Malakula,Paama, Pentecote, Santo/Malo, Shepherd, TafeaIndependence:30 July 1980 (from France and UK; formerly New Hebrides)Constitution:30 July 1980Legal system:unified system being created from former dual French and British systemsNational holiday:Independence Day, 30 July (1980)Executive branch:president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers(cabinet)Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament; note - the National Council of Chiefs advises onmatters of custom and landJudicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State:President Frederick TIMAKATA (since 30 January 1989)Head of Government:Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT (since 16 December 1991); Deputy Prime MinisterSethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991)Political parties and leaders:Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS; Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), SergeVOHOR; Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE; National United Party(NUP), Walter LINI; Tan Union Party (TUP), Vincent BOULEKONE; NagriamelParty, Jimmy STEVENS; Friend Melanesian Party, leader NASuffrage:universal at age 18Elections:Parliament:last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held by November 1995); note - afterelection, a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and theNational United Party to form new government on 16 December 1991; seats -(46 total) UMP 19; NUP 10; VP 10; MPP 4; TUP 1; Nagriamel 1; Friend 1Member of:ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO,IOC, ITU, NAM, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMODiplomatic representation:Vanuatu does not have a mission in WashingtonUS:the ambassador in Papua New Guinea is accredited to VanuatuFlag:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green (bottom) with a blackisosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edgedyellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y facethe hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is aboar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow