*Ecuador, Government
Elections:President:runoff election held 5 July 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - SixtoDURAN-BALLEN elected as president and Alberto DAHIK elected as vicepresidentNational Congress:last held 17 May 1992 (next to be held NA May 1994); results - percent ofvote by party NA; seats - (77 total) PSC 20, PRE 15, PUR 12, ID 7, PC 6, DP5, PSE 3, MPD 3, PLRE 2, CFP 2, FRA 1, APRE 1Executive branch:president, vice president, CabinetLegislative branch:unicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)Judicial branch:Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)Leaders:Chief of State and Head of Government:President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN (since 10 August 1992); Vice President AlbertoDAHIK (since 10 August 1992)Member of:AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS,NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Edgar TERANchancery:2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone:(202) 234-7200consulates general:Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and SanFranciscoconsulate:San DiegoUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:(vacant); Charge d'Affaires James F. MACKembassy:Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quitomailing address:P. O. Box 538, Quito, or APO AA 34039-3420telephone:[593] (2) 562-890FAX:[593] (2) 502-052consulate general:GuayaquilFlag:three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with thecoat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag ofColombia that is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms
*Ecuador, Economy
Overview:Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. Growthhas been uneven because of natural disasters, fluctuations in global oilprices, and government policies designed to curb inflation. Banana exports,second only to oil, have suffered as a result of EC import quotas and bananablight. The new President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN, has a much more favorableattitude toward foreign investment than did his predecessor. Ecuador hasimplemented trade agreements with Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela andhas applied for GATT membership. At the end of 1991, Ecuador received astandby IMF loan of $105 million, which will permit the country to proceedwith the rescheduling of Paris Club debt. In September 1992, the governmentlaunched a new, macroeconomic program that gives more play to market forces;as of March 1993, the program seemed to be paying off.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $11.8 billion (1992)National product real growth rate:3% (1992)National product per capita:$1,100 (1992)Inflation rate (consumer prices): 70% (1992)Unemployment rate:8% (1992)Budget:revenues $1.9 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $NA (1992)Exports:$3.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992)commodities:petroleum 42%, bananas, shrimp, cocoa, coffeepartners:US 53.4%, Latin America, Caribbean, EC countriesImports:$2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992)commodities:transport equipment, vehicles, machinery, chemicalspartners:US 32.7%, Latin America, Caribbean, EC countries, JapanExternal debt:$12.7 billion (1992)Industrial production:growth rate 3.9% (1991); accounts for almost 40% of GDP, including petroleumElectricity:2,921,000 kW capacity; 7,676 million kWh produced, 700 kWh per capita (1992)Industries:petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal works, paper products, woodproducts, chemicals, plastics, fishing, timberAgriculture:accounts for 18% of GDP and 35% of labor force (including fishing andforestry); leading producer and exporter of bananas and balsawood; otherexports - coffee, cocoa, fish, shrimp; crop production - rice, potatoes,manioc, plantains, sugarcane; livestock sector - cattle, sheep, hogs, beef,pork, dairy products; net importer of foodgrains, dairy products, and sugarIllicit drugs:minor illicit producer of coca following the successful eradication campaignof 1985-87; significant transit country, however, for derivatives of cocaoriginating in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru; importer of precursor chemicalsused in production of illicit narcotics; important money-laundering hub
*Ecuador, Economy
Economic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $498 million; Western (non-US)countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.15 billion;Communist countries (1970-89), $64 millionCurrency:1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavosExchange rates:sucres (S/) per US$1 - 1,453.8 (August 1992), 1,046.25 (1991), 869.54(December 1990), 767.75 (1990), 526.35 (1989), 301.61 (1988)Fiscal year:calendar year
*Ecuador, Communications
Railroads:965 km total; all 1.067-meter-gauge single trackHighways:28,000 km total; 3,600 km paved, 17,400 km gravel and improved earth, 7,000km unimproved earthInland waterways:1,500 kmPipelines:crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 kmPorts:Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, EsmeraldasMerchant marine:45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 333,380 GRT/483,862 DWT; includes 2passenger, 4 cargo, 17 refrigerated cargo, 4 container, 1 roll-on/roll-off,15 oil tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 1 bulkAirports:total:174usable:173with permanent-surface runways:52with runway over 3,659 m:1with runways 2,440-3,659 m:6with runways 1,220-2,439 m:21Telecommunications:domestic facilities generally adequate; 318,000 telephones; broadcaststations - 272 AM, no FM, 33 TV, 39 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSATearth station
*Ecuador, Defense Forces
Branches:Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada Ecuatoriana), Air Force (FuerzaAerea Ecuatoriana), National PoliceManpower availability:males age 15-49 2,655,520; fit for military service 1,798,122; reachmilitary age (20) annually 109,413 (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Egypt, Geography
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, betweenSudan and LibyaMap references:Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:1,001,450 km2land area:995,450 km2comparative area:slightly more than three times the size of New MexicoLand boundaries:total 2,689 km, Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km, Sudan 1,273kmCoastline:2,450 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:24 nmcontinental shelf:200 m depth or to depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone:not specifiedterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with internationalboundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 km2, thedispute over this area escalated in 1993Climate:desert; hot, dry summers with moderate wintersTerrain:vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and deltaNatural resources:petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum,talc, asbestos, lead, zincLand use:arable land:3%permanent crops:2%meadows and pastures:0%forest and woodland:0%other:95%Irrigated land:25,850 km2 (1989 est.)Environment:Nile is only perennial water source; increasing soil salinization belowAswan High Dam; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring;water pollution; desertificationNote:controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder ofEastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest sea link between IndianOcean and Mediterranean; size and juxtaposition to Israel establish itsmajor role in Middle Eastern geopolitics
*Egypt, People
Population:59,585,529 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:2.3% (1993 est.)note:the US Bureau of the Census has lowered its 1993 estimate of growth to 2.0%on the basis of a 1992 Egyptian government survey, whereas estimates ofother observers go as high as 2.9%Birth rate:33 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:9 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:NEGLInfant mortality rate:78.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:60.46 yearsmale:58.61 yearsfemale:62.41 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:4.35 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Egyptian(s)adjective:EgyptianEthnic divisions:Eastern Hamitic stock 90%, Greek, Italian, Syro-Lebanese 10%Religions:Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94% (official estimate), Coptic Christian and other 6%(official estimate)Languages:Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classesLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1990)total population:48%male:63%female:34%Labor force:15 million (1989 est.)by occupation:government, public sector enterprises, and armed forces 36%, agriculture34%, privately owned service and manufacturing enterprises 20% (1984)note: shortage of skilled labor; 2,500,000 Egyptians work abroad, mostly in SaudiArabia and the Gulf Arab states (1988 est.)
*Egypt, Government
Names:conventional long form:Arab Republic of Egyptconventional short form:Egyptlocal long form:Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyahlocal short form:noneformer:United Arab Republic (with Syria)Digraph:EGType:republicCapital:CairoAdministrative divisions:26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr alAhmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, AlIsma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, AlWadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyu't, Bani Suwayf, BurSa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina, Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina, SuhajIndependence:28 February 1922 (from UK)Constitution:11 September 1971Legal system:based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicialreview by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity ofadministrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservationsNational holiday:Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952)Political parties and leaders:National Democratic Party (NDP), President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader,is the dominant party; legal opposition parties are Socialist Liberal Party(SLP), Kamal MURAD; Socialist Labor Party, Ibrahim SHUKRI; NationalProgressive Unionist Grouping (NPUG), Khalid MUHYI-AL-DIN; Umma Party, Ahmadal-SABAHI; New Wafd Party (NWP), Fu'ad SIRAJ AL-DIN; Misr al-Fatah Party(Young Egypt Party), Ali al-Din SALIH; The Greens Party, Hasan RAJABD;Nasserist Arab Democratic Party, Muhammad Rif'at al-MUHAMI; DemocraticUnionist Party, Mohammed 'Abd-al-Mun'im TURK; Democratic Peoples' Party,Anwar AFISInote:formation of political parties must be approved by governmentOther political or pressure groups:Islamic groups are illegal, but the largest one, the Muslim Brotherhood, istolerated by the government; trade unions and professional associations areofficially sanctionedSuffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsoryElections:Advisory Council:last held 8 June 1989 (next to be held June 1995); results - NDP 100%; seats- (258 total, 172 elected) NDP 172
*Egypt, Government
People's Assembly:last held 29 November 1990 (next to be held November 1995); results - NDP78.4%, NPUG 1.4%, independents 18.7%; seats - (437 total, 444 elected) NDP348, NPUG 6, independents 83; note - most opposition parties boycottedPresident:last held 5 October 1987 (next to be held October 1993); results - PresidentHosni MUBARAK was reelectedExecutive branch:president, prime minister, CabinetLegislative branch:unicameral People's Assembly (Majlis al-Cha'b); note - there is an AdvisoryCouncil (Majlis al-Shura) that functions in a consultative roleJudicial branch:Supreme Constitutional CourtLeaders:Chief of State:President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (was made acting President on 6 October1981 upon the assassination of President SADAT and sworn in as president on14 October 1981)Head of Government:Prime Minister Atef Mohammed Najib SEDKY (since 12 November 1986)Member of:ABEDA, ACC, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AG (observer), AL, AMF, CAEU,CCC, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, PCA,UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, UNRWA,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Ahmed MAHER El Sayedchancery:2310 Decatur Place NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone:(202) 232-5400consulates general:Chicago, Houston, New York, and San FranciscoUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Robert PELLETREAUembassy:Lazougi Street, Garden City, Cairomailing address:APO AE 09839 telephone:[20] (2) 355-7371FAX:[20] (2) 355-7375consulate general:AlexandriaFlag:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with thenational emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing the hoistside above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered inthe white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band;also similar to the flag of Syria that has two green stars and to the flagof Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in ahorizontal line centered in the white band
*Egypt, Economy
Overview:Egypt has one of the largest public sectors of all the Third Worldeconomies, most industrial plants being owned by the government.Overregulation holds back technical modernization and foreign investment.Even so, the economy grew rapidly during the late 1970s and early 1980s, butin 1986 the collapse of world oil prices and an increasingly heavy burden ofdebt servicing led Egypt to begin negotiations with the IMF forbalance-of-payments support. Egypt's first IMF standby arrangement concludedin mid-1987 was suspended in early 1988 because of the government's failureto adopt promised reforms. Egypt signed a follow-on program with the IMF andalso negotiated a structural adjustment loan with the World Bank in 1991. In1991-92 the government made solid progress on administrative reforms such asliberalizing exchange and interest rates but resisted implementing majorstructural reforms like streamlining the public sector. As a result, theeconomy has not gained momentum and unemployment has become a growingproblem. In 1992-93 tourism has plunged 20% or so because of sporadicattacks by Islamic extremists on tourist groups. President MUBARAK has citedpopulation growth as the main cause of the country's economic troubles. Theaddition of about 1.4 million people a year to the already huge populationof 60 million exerts enormous pressure on the 5% of the land area availablefor agriculture.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $41.2 billion (1992 est.)National product real growth rate:2.1% (1992 est.)National product per capita:$730 (1992 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):21% (1992 est.)Unemployment rate:20% (1992 est.)Budget:revenues $12.6 billion; expenditures $15.2 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $4 billion (FY92 est.)Exports:$3.6 billion (f.o.b., FY92 est.)commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, raw cotton, textiles, metalproducts, chemicalspartners:EC, Eastern Europe, US, JapanImports:$10.0 billion (c.i.f., FY92 est.)commodities:machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood products, durable consumergoods, capital goodspartners:EC, US, Japan, Eastern EuropeExternal debt:$38 billion (December 1991 est.)Industrial production:growth rate 7.3% (FY89 est.); accounts for 18% of GDPElectricity:14,175,000 kW capacity; 47,000 million kWh produced, 830 kWh per capita(1992)Industries:textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, petroleum, construction,cement, metals
*Egypt, Economy
Agriculture:accounts for 20% of GDP and employs more than one-third of labor force;dependent on irrigation water from the Nile; world's sixth-largest cottonexporter; other crops produced include rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruit,vegetables; not self-sufficient in food for a rapidly expanding population;livestock - cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats; annual fish catch about140,000 metric tonsIllicit drugs:a transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opiummoving to Europe and the US; popular transit stop for Nigerian couriers;large domestic consumption of hashish and heroin from Lebanon and SyriaEconomic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $15.7 billion; Western (non-US)countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $10.1 billion; OPECbilateral aid (1979-89), $2.9 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $2.4billionCurrency:1 Egyptian pound (#E) = 100 piastersExchange rates:Egyptian pounds (#E) per US$1 - 3.345 (November 1992), 2.7072 (1990), 2.5171(1989), 2.2233 (1988), 1.5183 (1987)Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
*Egypt, Communications
Railroads:5,110 km total; 4,763 km 1,435-meter standard gauge, 347 km 0.750-metergauge; 951 km double track; 25 km electrifiedHighways:51,925 km total; 17,900 km paved, 2,500 km gravel, 13,500 km improved earth,18,025 km unimproved earthInland waterways:3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, andnumerous smaller canals in the delta); Suez Canal, 193.5 km long (includingapproaches), used by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1 meters of waterPipelines:crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 kmPorts:Alexandria, Port Said, Suez, Bur Safajah, DamiettaMerchant marine:168 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,097,707 GRT/1,592,885 DWT; includes25 passenger, 6 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 88 cargo, 3refrigerated cargo, 14 roll-on/roll-off, 13 oil tanker, 16 bulk, 1 containerAirports:total:92usable:82with permanent-surface runways:66with runways over 3,659 m:2with runways 2,440-3,659 m:44with runways 1,220-2,439 m:24Telecommunications:large system by Third World standards but inadequate for presentrequirements and undergoing extensive upgrading; about 600,000 telephones(est.) - 11 telephones per 1,000 persons; principal centers at Alexandria,Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cableand microwave radio relay; international traffic is carried by satellite -one earth station for each of Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, Indian OceanINTELSAT, ARABSAT and INMARSAT; by 5 coaxial submarine cables, microwavetroposcatter (to Sudan), and microwave radio relay (to Libya, Israel, andJordan); broadcast stations - 39 AM, 6 FM, and 41 TV
*Egypt, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense CommandManpower availability:males age 15-49 14,513,752; fit for military service 9,434,020; reachmilitary age (20) annually 581,858 (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $2.05 billion, 5% of GDP (FY92/93)
*El Salvador, Geography
Location:Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean between Guatemala andHondurasMap references:Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of theWorldArea:total area:21,040 km2land area:20,720 km2comparative area:slightly smaller than MassachusettsLand boundaries:total 545 km, Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 kmCoastline:307 kmMaritime claims:territorial sea:200 nm; overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nmInternational disputes:land boundary dispute with Honduras mostly resolved by 11 September 1992International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; ICJ referred the maritimeboundary in the Golfo de Fonseca to an earlier agreement in this century andadvised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras andNicaragua likely would be requiredClimate:tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April)Terrain:mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateauNatural resources:hydropower, geothermal power, petroleumLand use:arable land:27%permanent crops:8%meadows and pastures:29%forest and woodland:6%other:30%Irrigated land:1,200 km2 (1989)Environment:the Land of Volcanoes; subject to frequent and sometimes very destructiveearthquakes; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollutionNote:smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline onCaribbean Sea
*El Salvador, People
Population:5,636,524 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:2.04% (1993 est.)Birth rate:33.12 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:6.53 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:-6.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:42.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:66.5 yearsmale:63.93 yearsfemale:69.2 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:3.87 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Salvadoran(s)adjective:SalvadoranEthnic divisions:mestizo 94%, Indian 5%, white 1%Religions:Roman Catholic 75%note:Roman Catholic about 75%; there is extensive activity by Protestant groupsthroughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1million Protestant evangelicals in El SalvadorLanguages:Spanish, Nahua (among some Indians)Literacy:age 15 and over can read and write (1990)total population:73%male:76%female:70%Labor force:1.7 million (1982 est.)by occupation:agriculture 40%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 15%, government 13%, financialservices 9%, transportation 6%, other 1%note:shortage of skilled labor and a large pool of unskilled labor, but manpowertraining programs improving situation (1984 est.)
*El Salvador, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of El Salvadorconventional short form:El Salvadorlocal long form:Republica de El Salvadorlocal short form:El SalvadorDigraph:ESType:republicCapital:San SalvadorAdministrative divisions:14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan,Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan,San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, UsulutanIndependence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)Constitution:20 December 1983Legal system:based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial review oflegislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservationsNational holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)Political parties and leaders:National Republican Alliance (Arena), Armando CALDERON Sol, president;Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Fidel CHAVEZ Mena, secretary general;National Conciliation Party (PCN), Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, president; DemocraticConvergence (CD) is a coalition of three parties - the Social DemocraticParty (PSD), Carlos Diaz BARRERA, secretary general; Democratic NationalistUnion (UDN), Mario AGUINADA Carranza, secretary general; and the PopularSocial Christian Movement (MPSC), Dr. Ruben Ignacio ZAMORA Rivas; AuthenticChristian Movement (MAC), Guillermo Antonia GUEVARA Lacayo, president;Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLM), Jorge Shafik HANDAL,general coordinator, has five factions - Popular Liberation Forces (FPL),Salvador SANCHEZ Ceren; Armed Forces of National Resistance (FARN), FermanCIENFUEGOS; People's Revolutionary Army (ERP), Joaquin VILLA LOBOS Huezo;Salvadoran Communist Party/Armed Forces of Liberation (PCES/FAL), JorgeShafik HANDAL; andCentral American Workers' Revolutionary Party (PRTC)/Popular LiberationRevolutionary Aermed Forces (FARLP), Francisco JOVELOther political or pressure groups:FMLN labor front organizations:National Union of Salvadoran Workers (UNTS), leftist umbrella front group,leads FMLN front network; National Federation of Salvadoran Workers(FENASTRAS), best organized of front groups and controlled by FMLN'sNational Resistance (RN); Social Security Institute Workers Union (STISSS),one of the most militant fronts, is controlled by FMLN's Armed Forces ofNational Resistance (FARN) and RN; Association of Telecommunications Workers(ASTTEL); Unitary Federation of Salvadoran Unions (FUSS), leftist; TreasuryMinistry Employees (AGEMHA)
*El Salvador, Government
FMLN nonlabor front organizations:Committee of Mothers and Families of Political Prisoners, DisappearedPersons, and Assassinated of El Salvador (COMADRES); Nongovernmental HumanRights Commission (CDHES); Committee of Dismissed and Unemployed of ElSalvador (CODYDES); General Association of Salvadoran University Students(AGEUS); National Association of Salvadoran Educators (ANDES-21 DE JUNIO);Salvadoran Revolutionary Student Front (FERS), associated with the PopularForces of Liberation (FPL); Association of National University Educators(ADUES); Salvadoran University Students Front (FEUS); Christian Committeefor the Displaced of El Salvador (CRIPDES), an FPL front; The Associationfor Communal Development in El Salvador (PADECOES), controlled by thePeople's Revolutionary Army (ERP); Confederation of Cooperative Associationsof El Salvador (COACES)labor organizations:Federation of Construction and Transport Workers Unions (FESINCONSTRANS),independent; Salvadoran Communal Union (UCS), peasant association;Democratic Workers Central (CTD), moderate; General Confederation of Workers(CGT), moderate; National Union of Workers and Peasants (UNOC), moderatelabor coalition of democratic labor organizations; United Workers Front(FUT)business organizations:National Association of Private Enterprise (ANEP), conservative; ProductiveAlliance (AP), conservative; National Federation of Salvadoran SmallBusinessmen (FENAPES), conservativeSuffrage:18 years of age; universalElections:Legislative Assembly:last held 10 March 1991 (next to be held March 1994); results - ARENA 44.3%,PDC 27.96%, CD 12.16%, PCN 8.99%, MAC 3.23%, UDN 2.68%; seats - (84 total)ARENA 39, PDC 26, PCN 9, CD 8, UDN 1, MAC 1President:last held 19 March 1989 (next to be held March 1994); results - AlfredoCRISTIANI (ARENA) 53.8%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 36.6%, other 9.6%Executive branch:president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)Judicial branch:Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)Leaders:Chief of State and Head of Government:President (Felix) Alfredo CRISTIANI Buchard (since 1 June 1989); VicePresident (Jose) Francisco MERINO Lopez (since 1 June 1989)Member of:BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMODiplomatic representation in US: chief of mission:Ambassador Miguel Angel SALAVERRIAchancery:2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone:(202) 265-9671 through 3482consulates general:Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
*El Salvador, Government
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Charge d'Affaires Peter F. ROMEROembassy:Final Boulevard, Station Antigua Cuscatlan, San Salvadormailing address:APO AA 34023telephone:[503] 78-4444FAX:[503] 78-6011Flag:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with thenational coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms featuresa round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICACENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat ofarms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by thewords REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; alsosimilar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an Xpattern centered in the white band
*El Salvador, Economy
Overview:The agricultural sector accounts for 24% of GDP, employs about 40% of thelabor force, and contributes about 66% to total exports. Coffee is the majorcommercial crop, accounting for 45% of export earnings. The manufacturingsector, based largely on food and beverage processing, accounts for 18% ofGDP and 15% of employment. Economic losses because of guerrilla sabotagetotal more than $2 billion since 1979. The costs of maintaining a largemilitary seriously constrain the government's efforts to provide essentialsocial services. Nevertheless, growth in national output during the period1990-92 exceeded growth in population for the first time since 1987.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $5.9 billion (1992 est.)National product real growth rate:4.6% (1992 est.)National product per capita:$1,060 (1992 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):17% (1992 est.)Unemployment rate:7.5% (1991)Budget:revenues $846 million; expenditures $890 million, including capitalexpenditures of $NA (1992 est.)Exports:$693 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:coffee 45%, sugar, shrimp, cottonpartners:US 33%, Guatemala, Germany, Costa RicaImports:$1.47 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)commodities:raw materials, consumer goods, capital goodspartners:US 43%, Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, GermanyExternal debt:$2.6 billion (December 1992)Industrial production:growth rate 4.7% (1991); accounts for 22% of GDPElectricity:713,800 kW capacity; 2,190 million kWh produced, 390 kWh per capita (1992)Industries:food processing, beverages, petroleum, nonmetallic products, tobacco,chemicals, textiles, furnitureAgriculture:accounts for 24% of GDP and 40% of labor force (including fishing andforestry); coffee most important commercial crop; other products -sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseeds, beef, dairy products, shrimp; notself-sufficient in foodIllicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaineEconomic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $2.95 billion, plus $250 millionfor 1992-96; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $525 millionCurrency:1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos
*El Salvador, Economy
Exchange rates:Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 - 8.7600 (January 1993), 9.1700 (1992),8.0300 (1991), fixed rate of 5.000 (1986-1989)Fiscal year:calendar year
*El Salvador, Communications
Railroads:602 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track; 542 km in useHighways:10,000 km total; 1,500 km paved, 4,100 km gravel, 4,400 km improved andunimproved earthInland waterways:Rio Lempa partially navigablePorts:Acajutla, CutucoAirports:total:105usable:74with permanent-surface runways:5with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:1with runways 1,220-2,439 m:5Telecommunications:nationwide trunk microwave radio relay system; connection into CentralAmerican Microwave System; 116,000 telephones (21 telephones per 1,000persons); broadcast stations - 77 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 2 shortwave; 1 AtlanticOcean INTELSAT earth station
*El Salvador, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy, Air ForceManpower availability:males age 15-49 1,305,853; fit for military service 836,192; reach militaryage (18) annually 71,101 (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $104 million, 3%-4% of GDP (1993 est.)
*Equatorial Guinea, Geography
Location:Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Cameroon andGabonMap references:Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:28,050 km2land area:28,050 km2comparative area:slightly larger than MarylandLand boundaries:total 539 km, Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 kmCoastline:296 kmMaritime claims:exclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty overislands in Corisco BayClimate:tropical; always hot, humidTerrain:coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanicNatural resources:timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uraniumLand use:arable land:8%permanent crops:4%meadows and pastures:4%forest and woodland:51%other:33%Irrigated land:NA km2Environment:subject to violent windstormsNote:insular and continental regions rather widely separated
*Equatorial Guinea, People
Population:399,055 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:2.6% (1993 est.)Birth rate:41.1 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:15.11 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:104.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:51.63 yearsmale:49.56 yearsfemale: 53.76 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:5.33 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)adjective:Equatorial Guinean or EquatoguineanEthnic divisions:Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang),Europeans less than 1,000, mostly SpanishReligions:nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practicesLanguages:Spanish (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, IboLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1990)total population:50%male:64%female:37%Labor force:172,000 (1986 est.)by occupation:agriculture 66%, services 23%, industry 11% (1980)note:labor shortages on plantations; 58% of population of working age (1985)
*Equatorial Guinea, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Equatorial Guineaconventional short form:Equatorial Guinealocal long form:Republica de Guinea Ecuatoriallocal short form:Guinea Ecuatorialformer:Spanish GuineaDigraph:EKType:republic in transition to multiparty democracyCapital:MalaboAdministrative divisions:7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, BiokoSur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-NzasIndependence:12 October 1968 (from Spain)Constitution:new constitution 17 November 1991Legal system:partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal customNational holiday:Independence Day, 12 October (1968)Political parties and leaders:ruling - Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), Brig. Gen. (Ret.)Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, party leaderSuffrage:universal adult at age NAElections:President:last held 25 June 1989 (next to be held 25 June 1996); results - PresidentBrig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO was reelected withoutoppositionChamber of People's Representatives:last held 10 July 1988 (next to be held 10 July 1993); results - PDGE is theonly party; seats - (41 total) PDGE 41Executive branch:president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers(cabinet)Legislative branch:unicameral House of Representatives of the People (Camara de Representantesdel Pueblo)Judicial branch:Supreme TribunalLeaders:Chief of State:President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August1979)Head of Government:Prime Minister Silvestre SIALE BILEKA (since 17 January 1992); Deputy PrimeMinister Miguel OYONO NDONG MIFUMU (since 22 January 1992)
*Equatorial Guinea, Government
Member of:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS (associate), NAM, OAS(observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Damaso OBIANG NDONGchancery:(temporary) 57 Magnolia Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553telephone:(914) 667-9664US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador John E. BENNETTembassy:Calle de Los Ministros, Malabomailing address: P.O. Box 597, Malabotelephone:[240] (9) 2185FAX:[240] (9) 2164Flag:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blueisosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered inthe white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars(representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shieldbearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the mottoUNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)
*Equatorial Guinea, Economy
Overview:The economy, devastated during the regime of former President Macias NGUEMA,is based on agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which account for about halfof GDP and nearly all exports. Subsistence agriculture predominates, withcocoa, coffee, and wood products providing income, foreign exchange, andgovernment revenues. There is little industry. Commerce accounts for about8% of GDP and the construction, public works, and service sectors for about38%. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese,uranium, and alluvial gold. Oil exploration, taking place under concessionsoffered to US, French, and Spanish firms, has been moderately successful.Increased production from recently discovered natural gas deposits willprovide a greater share of exports by 1995.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $144 million (1991 est.)National product real growth rate:-1% (1991 est.)National product per capita:$380 (1991 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.4% (1990)Unemployment rate:NA%Budget:revenues $26 million; expenditures $30 million, including capitalexpenditures of $3 million (1991 est.)Exports:$37 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)commodities:coffee, timber, cocoa beanspartners:Spain 38.2%, Italy 12.2%, Netherlands 11.4%, FRG 6.9%, Nigeria 12.4% (1988)Imports:$63.0 million (c.i.f., 1990)commodities:petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinerypartners:France 25.9%, Spain 21.0%, Italy 16%, US 12.8%, Netherlands 8%, FRG 3.1%,Gabon 2.9%, Nigeria 1.8% (1988)External debt: $213 million (1990)Industrial production:growth rate 6.8% (1990 est.)Electricity:23,000 kW capacity; 60 million kWh produced, 160 kWh per capita (1991)Industries:fishing, sawmillingAgriculture:cash crops - timber and coffee from Rio Muni, cocoa from Bioko; food crops -rice, yams, cassava, bananas, oil palm nuts, manioc, livestockEconomic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY81-89), $14 million; Western (non-US)countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89) $130 million;Communist countries (1970-89), $55 millionCurrency:1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimesExchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85(1988)
*Equatorial Guinea, Economy
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
*Equatorial Guinea, Communications
Highways:Rio Muni - 2,460 km; Bioko - 300 kmPorts:Malabo, BataMerchant marine:2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,413 GRT/6,699 DWT; includes 1 cargoand 1 passenger-cargoAirports:total:3usable:3with permanent-surface runways:2with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:1with runways 1,220-2,439 m:1Telecommunications:poor system with adequate government services; international communicationsfrom Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; 2,000 telephones;broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earthstation
*Equatorial Guinea, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, National PoliceManpower availability:males age 15-49 84,323; fit for military service 42,812 (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Eritrea, Geography
Location:Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea between Djibouti and SudanMap references:Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:121,320 km2land area:121,320 km2comparative area:slightly larger than PennsylvaniaLand boundaries:total 1,630 km, Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 kmCoastline:1,151 km (land and island coastline is 2,234 km)Maritime claims:territorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:noneClimate:hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the centralhighlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually); semiarid in western hills andlowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-September except on coast desertTerrain:dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands,descending on the east to a coastal desert plan, on the northwest to hillyterrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plainsNatural resources:gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil, fishLand use:arable land:3%permanent crops:2% (coffee)meadows and pastures:40%forest and woodland:5% other:50%Irrigated land:NA km2Environment:frequent droughts, famine; deforestation; soil eroision; overgrazing; lossof infrastructure from civil warfareNote:strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes andclose to Arabian oilfields, Eritrea retained the entire coastline ofEthiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 27April 1993
*Eritrea, People
Population:3,467,087 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:3.46% (1993 est.)Birth rate:NA births/1,000 populationDeath rate:NA deaths/1,000 populationNet migration rate:NA migrant(s)/1,000 populationInfant mortality rate:NA deaths/1,000 live birthsLife expectancy at birth:total population:NA yearsmale:NA yearsfemale:NA yearsTotal fertility rate:NA children born/womanNationality:noun:Eritrean(s)adjective:EritreanEthnic divisions:ethnic Tigrays 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coastdwellers) 3%Religions:Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, ProtestantLanguages:Tigre and Kunama, Cushitic dialects, Tigre, Nora Bana, ArabicLiteracy:NA%Labor force:NA
*Eritrea, Government
Names:conventional long form:noneconventional short form:Eritrealocal long form:nonelocal short form:noneformer:Eritrea Autonomous Region in EthiopiaDigraph:ERType:transitional governmentnote:on 29 May 1991 ISSAIAS Afeworke, secretary general of the Eritrean People'sLiberation Front (EPLF), announced the formation of the ProvisionalGovernment in Eritrea (PGE), in preparation for the 23-25 April 1993referendum on independence for the autonomous region of Eritrea; the resultwas a landslide vote for independence that was announced on 27 April 1993Capital:Asmara (formerly Asmera)Administrative divisions:NAIndependence:27 April 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea Autonomous Region)Constitution:transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993Legal system:NANational holiday:National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24 May (1993)Political parties and leaders:Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) (Christian Muslim), ISSAIASAferworke, PETROS Soloman; Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) (Muslim),ABDULLAH Muhammed; Eritrean Liberation Front - United Organization (ELF-UO),leader NAOther political or pressure groups:Oromo Liberation Front (OLF); Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP);numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed since Mengistu'sresignation, including several Islamic militant groupsSuffrage:NAElections:multinational election before 20 May 1997Executive branch:president, Eritrean National CouncilLegislative branch:National AssemblyJudicial branch:JudiciaryLeaders: Chief of State and Head of Government:President ISSAIAS AferworkeMember of:OAU, UN, UNCTAD
*Eritrea, Government
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:NAchancery:NAtelephone:NAUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Joseph P. O'NEILLembassy:NAmailing address:NAtelephone:251-4-113-720FAX:NAFlag:red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into tworight triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a goldwreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of thered triangle
*Eritrea, Economy
Overview:With independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993, Eritrea faces the bittereconomic problems of a small, desperately poor African country. Most of thepopulation will continue to depend on subsistence farming. Domestic outputis substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad. Governmentrevenues come from custom duties and income and sales taxes. Eritrea hasinherited the entire coastline of Ethiopia and has long-term prospects forrevenues from the devlopment of offshore oil, offshore fishing and touristdevelopment. For the time being, Ethiopia will be largely dependent onEritrean ports for its foreign trade.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $400 million (1992 est.)National product real growth rate:NA%National product per capita:$115 (1992 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA%Unemployment rate: NA%Budget:revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NAExports:$NAcommodities:NApartners:NAImports:$NAcommodities:NApartners:NAExternal debt:$NAIndustrial production:growth rate NA%Electricity:NA kW capacity; NA kWh produced, NA kWh per capitaIndustries:food processing, beverages, clothing and textilesAgriculture:NAEconomic aid:NACurrency:NAExchange rates:NAFiscal year:NA
*Eritrea, Communications
Railroads:307 km total; 307 km 1.000-meter gauge; 307 km 0.950-meter gauge(nonoperational) linking Ak'ordat and Asmera with the port of Mits'iwe (1993est.)Highways:3,845 km total; 807 km paved, 840 km gravel, 402 km improved earth, 1,796 kmunimproved earthPorts:Assab (formerly Aseb), Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa)Merchant marine:14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,837 GRT/90,492 DWT; includes 9cargo, 1 roll-on/roll off, 1 livestock carrier, 2 oil tanker, 1 refrigeratedcargoAirports:total:5usable:5 with permanent-surface runways:2with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:2with runways 1,220-2,439 m:2Telecommunications:NA
*Eritrea, Defense Forces
Branches:Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF)Manpower availability:males age 15-49 NA; fit for military service NA; reach military age (18)annually NADefense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Estonia, Geography
Location:Northeastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and RussiaMap references:Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:45,100 km2land area:43,200 km2comparative area:slightly larger than New Hampshire and Vermont combinednote:includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic SeaLand boundaries:total 557 km, Latvia 267 km, Russia 290 kmCoastline:1,393 kmMaritime claims:territorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:international small border strips along the northern (Narva) and southern(Petseri) sections of eastern border with Russia ceded to Russia in 1945 bythe Estonian SSRClimate:maritime, wet, moderate wintersTerrain:marshy, lowlandsNatural resources: shale oil, peat, phosphorite, amberLand use:arable land:22%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:11%forest and woodland:31%other:36%Irrigated land:110 km2 (1990)Environment:air heavily polluted with sulphur dioxide from oil-shale burning powerplants in northeast; radioactive wastes dumped in open reservoir inSillamae, a few dozen meters from Baltic Sea; contamination of soil andground water with petroleum products, chemicals at military bases
*Estonia, People
Population:1,608,469 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:0.52% (1993 est.)Birth rate:14.05 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:12.13 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:3.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:19.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:69.75 yearsmale:64.75 yearsfemale:74.99 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:2.01 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Estonian(s)adjective:EstonianEthnic divisions:Estonian 61.5%, Russian 30.3%, Ukrainian 3.17%, Belarusian 1.8%, Finn 1.1%,other 2.13% (1989)Religions:LutheranLanguages: Estonian (official), Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, otherLiteracy:age 9-49 can read and write (1970)total population:100%male:100%female:100%Labor force:796,000by occupation:industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38%(1990)
*Estonia, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Estoniaconventional short form:Estonialocal long form:Eesti Vabariiklocal short form:Eestiformer:Estonian Soviet Socialist RepublicDigraph:ENType:republicCapital:TallinnAdministrative divisions:none (all districts are under direct republic jurisdiction)Independence:6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)Constitution:adopted 28 June 1992Legal system:based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative actsNational holiday:Independence Day, 24 February (1918)Political parties and leaders:Popular Front of Estonia (Rahvarinne), NA chairman; Estonian ChristianDemocratic Party, Aivar KALA, chairman; Estonian Christian Democratic Union,Illar HALLASTE, chairman; Estonian Heritage Society (EMS), Trivimi VELLISTE,chairman; Estonian National Independence Party (ENIP), Lagle PAREK,chairman; Estonian Social Democratic Party, Marju LAURISTIN, chairman;Estonian Green Party, Tonu OJA; Independent Estonian Communist Party, VainoVALJAS; People's Centrist Party, Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman; Estonian RoyalistParty (ERP), Kalle KULBOK, chairman; Entrpreneurs' Party (EP), Tiit MADE;Estonian Fatherland Party, Mart LAAR, chairman; Safe Home; Moderates;Estonian CitizenSuffrage:18 years of age; universalElections:President:last held 20 September 1992; (next to be held NA); results - no candidatereceived majority; newly elected Parliament elected Lennart MERI (NA October1992)Parliament:last held 20 September 1992; (next to be held NA); results - Fatherland 21%,Safe Home 14%, Popular Front 13%, Moderates 10%, Estonian NationalIndependence Party 8%, Royalists 7%, Estonian Citizen 7%, EstonianEntrepreneurs 2%, other 18%; seats - (101 total) Fatherland 29, Safe Home18, Popular Front 15, Moderates 12, ENIP 10, Royalists 8, Estonian Citizen8, Estonian Entrepreneurs 1Congress of Estonia:last held March 1990 (next to be held NA); note - Congress of Estonia was aquasi-governmental structure which disbanded itself October 1992 after thenew Parliament and government were installedExecutive branch:president, prime minister, cabinet
*Estonia, Government
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament (Riigikogu)Judicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State:President Lennart MERI (since NA October 1992)Head of Government:Prime Minister Mart LAAR (since NA October 1992)Member of:CBSS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ILO, IMF, IMO, NACC,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPUDiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Toomas Hendrik IIVESchancery:(temporary) 630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2415, New York, NY 10111telephone:(212) 247-2131consulate general:New YorkUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Robert C. FRASUREembassy:Kentmanni 20, Tallin EE 0001mailing address:use embassy street addresstelephone:011-[358] (49) 303-182 (cellular) FAX:[358] (49) 306-817 (cellular)note:dialing to Baltics still requires use of an international operator unlessyou use the cellular phone linesFlag:pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equalhorizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
*Estonia, Economy
Overview:As of June 1993 Estonia ranks first among the 15 former Soviet republics inmoving from its obsolete command economy to a modern market economy. Yetserious problems remain. In contrast to the estimated 30% drop in output in1992, GDP should grow by a small percent in 1993. Of key importance has beenthe introduction of the kroon in August 1993 and the subsequent reductionsin inflation to 1%-2% per month. Starting in July 1991, under a new law onprivate ownership, small enterprises, such as retail shops and restaurants,were sold to private owners. The auctioning of large-scale enterprises isprogressing with the proceeds being held in escrow until the prior ownership(that is, Estonian or the Commonwealth of Independent States) can beestablished. Estonia ranks first in per capita consumption among the formerSoviet republics. Agriculture is well developed, especially meat production,and provides a surplus for export. Only about one-fifth of the work force isin agriculture. The major share of the work force engages in manufacturingboth capital and consumer goods based on raw materials and intermediateproducts from the other former Soviet republics. These manufactures are ofhigh quality by ex-Soviet standards and are exported to the other republics.Estonia's mineral resources are limited to major deposits of shale oil (60%of the old Soviet total) and phosphorites (400 million tons). Estonia has alarge, relatively modern port and produces more than half of its own energyneeds at highly polluting shale oil power plants. It has advantages in thetransition, not having suffered so long under the Soviet yoke and havingbetter chances of developing profitable ties to the Nordic and West Europeancountries. Like Latvia, but unlike Lithuania, the large portion of ethnicRussians (30%) in the population poses still another difficulty in thetransition to an independent market economy.National product:GDP $NANational product real growth rate:-30% (1992 est.)National product per capita:$NAInflation rate (consumer prices):1%-2% per month (first quarter 1993)Unemployment rate:3% (March 1993); but large number of underemployed workersBudget:revenues $223 million; expenditures $142 million, including capitalexpenditures of $NA (1992)Exports:$NAcommodities: textile 11%, wood products and timber 9%, dairy products 9%partners:Russia and the other former Soviet republics 50%, West 50% (1992)Imports:$NAcommodities:machinery 45%, oil 13%, chemicals 12%partners:Finland 15%, Russia 18%External debt:$650 million (end of 1991)Industrial production:growth rate -40% (1992)Electricity:3,700,000 kW capacity; 22,900 million kWh produced, 14,245 kWh per capita(1992)
*Estonia, Economy
Industries:accounts for 30% of labor force; oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates,electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper,shoes, apparelAgriculture:employs 20% of work force; very efficient; net exports of meat, fish, dairyproducts, and potatoes; imports of feedgrains for livestock; fruits andvegetablesIllicit drugs:transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia toWestern Europe; limited illicit opium producer; mostly for domesticproductionEconomic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 millionCurrency:1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 NA; (introduced in August 1992)Exchange rates:kroons (EEK) per US$1 - 12 (January 1993)Fiscal year:calendar year
*Estonia, Communications
Railroads:1,030 km (includes NA km electrified); does not include industrial lines(1990)Highways:30,300 km total (1990); 29,200 km hard surfaced; 1,100 km earthInland waterways:500 km perennially navigablePipelines:natural gas 420 km (1992)Ports: coastal - Tallinn, Novotallin, Parnu; inland - NarvaMerchant marine:68 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 394,501 GRT/526,502 DWT; includes 52cargo, 6 roll-on/roll-off, 2 short-sea passenger, 6 bulk, 2 containerAirports:total:29useable:18with permanent-surface runways:11with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:10with runways 1,220-2,439 m:8Telecommunications:300,000 telephone subscribers in 1990 with international direct dial serviceavailable to Finland, Germany, Austria, UK and France; 21 telephone linesper 100 persons as of 1991; broadcast stations - 3 TV (provide Estonianprograms as well as Moscow Ostenkino's first and second programs);international traffic is carried to the other former USSR republics bylandline or microwave and to other countries by leased connection to theMoscow international gateway switch via 19 incoming/20 outgoinginternational channels, by the Finnish cellular net, and by an old coppersubmarine cable to Finland soon to be replaced by an undersea fiber opticcable system; there is also a new international telephone exchange inTallinn handling 60 channels via Helsinki; 2 analog mobile cellular networkswith international roaming capability to Scandinavia are operating in majorcities
*Estonia, Defense Forces
Branches:Ground Forces, Maritime Border Guard, National Guard (Kaitseliit), SecurityForces (internal and border troops)Manpower availability:males age 15-49 387,733; fit for military service 306,056; reach militaryage (18) annually 11,570 (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:124.4 million kroons, NA% of GDP (forecast for 1993); note - conversion ofthe military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate couldproduce misleading results
*Ethiopia, Geography
Location:Eastern Africa, between Somalia and SudanMap references:Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea: total area:1,127,127 km2land area:1,119,683 km2comparative area:slightly less than twice the size of TexasLand boundaries:total 5,311 km, Djibouti 337 km, Erithea 912 km, Kenya 830 km, Somalia 1,626km, Sudan 1,606 kmCoastline:none - landlockedMaritime claims:none - landlockedInternational disputes:southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional AdministrativeLine; possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis;territorial dispute with Somalia over the OgadenClimate:tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation; some areas proneto extended droughtsTerrain:high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift ValleyNatural resources:small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potashLand use:arable land:12%permanent crops:1%meadows and pastures:41%forest and woodland:24%other:22%Irrigated land:1,620 km2 (1989 est.)Environment:geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcaniceruptions; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;frequent droughts; famineNote:landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jureindependence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993
*Ethiopia, People
Population:53,278,446 (July 1993 est.)note:Ethiopian demographic data, except population and population growth rate,include EritreaPopulation growth rate:3.41% (1993 est.)Birth rate:45.37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:14.23 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:2.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:108.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:52.21 yearsmale:50.6 yearsfemale:53.88 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:6.88 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Ethiopian(s)adjective:EthiopianEthnic divisions:Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%Religions:Muslim 45-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35-40%, animist 12%, other 5%Languages:Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic, English(major foreign language taught in schools)Literacy:age 10 and over can read and write (1983)total population:62%male:NA%female:NA%Labor force:18 millionby occupation:agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industryand construction 8% (1985)
*Ethiopia, Government
Names:conventional long form:noneconventional short form:Ethiopialocal long form:nonelocal short form: Ityop'iyaDigraph:ETType:transitional governmentnote:on 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)toppled the authoritarian government of MENGISTU Haile-Mariam and tookcontrol in Addis Ababa; the Transitional Government of Ethiopia (TGE),announced a two-year transitional periodCapital:Addis AbabaAdministrative divisions:14 administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedaderakababi) Addis Ababa, Afar, Amhara, Benishangul, Gambela,Gurage-Hadiya-Kambata, Harer, Kefa, Omo, Oromo, Sidamo, Somali, Tigray,WolaytaIndependence:oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - atleast 2,000 yearsConstitution:to be redrafted by 1993Legal system:NANational holiday:National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of Mengistu regime)Political parties and leaders:NAOther political or pressure groups:Oromo Liberation Front (OLF); Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP);numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed since Mengistu'sresignation, including several Islamic militant groupsSuffrage:18 years of age; universalElections:President:last held 10 September 1987; next election planned after new constitutiondrafted; results - MENGISTU Haile-Mariam elected by the now defunct NationalAssembly, but resigned and left Ethiopia on 21 May 1991Constituent Assembly:now planned for January 1994 (to ratify constitution to be drafted by end of1993)Executive branch:president, prime minister, Council of MinistersLegislative branch:unicameral Constituent AssemblyJudicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State:President MELES Zenawi (since 1 June 1991)