*Armenia, Geography
Location:Southeastern Europe, between Turkey and AzerbaijanMap references:Africa, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, MiddleEast, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:29,800 km2land area:28,400 km2comparative area:slightly larger than MarylandLand boundaries:total 1,254 km, Azerbaijan (east) 566 km, Azerbaijan (south) 221 km, Georgia164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 kmCoastline:0 km (landlocked)Maritime claims:none; landlockedInternational disputes:violent and longstanding dispute with Azerbaijan over ethnically Armenianexclave of Nagorno-Karabakh; some irredentism by Armenians living insouthern Georgia; traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkeyhave greatly subsidedClimate:continental, hot, and subject to droughtTerrain:high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land; fast flowingrivers; good soil in Aras River valleyNatural resources:small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, aluminaLand use:arable land:29%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:15%forest and woodland:0%other:56%Irrigated land:3,050 km2 (1990)Environment:pollution of Razdan and Aras Rivers; air pollution in Yerevan; energyblockade has led to deforestation as citizens scavenge for firewood, use ofLake Sevan water for hydropower has lowered lake level, threatened fishpopulationNote:landlocked
*Armenia, People
Population:3,481,207 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:1.23% (1993 est.)Birth rate:25.79 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:6.77 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:-6.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:28.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:71.77 yearsmale:68.36 yearsfemale:75.36 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:3.31 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Armenian(s)adjective:ArmenianEthnic divisions:Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other 2%Religions:Armenian Orthodox 94%Languages:Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%Literacy:age 9-49 can read and write (1970)total population:100%male:100%female:100%Labor force:1.63 millionby occupation:industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 18%, other 40%(1990)
*Armenia, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Armeniaconventional short form:Armenialocal long form:Hayastani Hanrapetut'yunlocal short form: Hayastanformer:Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian RepublicDigraph:AMType:republicCapital:YerevanAdministrative divisions:none (all rayons are under direct republic jurisdiction)Independence:23 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)Constitution:adopted NA April 1978; post-Soviet constitution not yet adoptedLegal system:based on civil law systemNational holiday:NAPolitical parties and leaders:Armenian National Movement, Husik LAZARYAN, chairman; National DemocraticUnion; National Self-Determination Association; Armenian Democratic LiberalOrganization, Ramkavar AZATAKAN, chairman; Dashnatktsutyan Party (ArmenianRevolutionary Federation, ARF), Rouben MIRZAKHANIN; Chairman ofParliamentary opposition - Mekhak GABRIYELYAN; Christian Democratic Union;Constitutional Rights Union; Republican PartySuffrage:18 years of age; universalElections:President:last held 16 October 1991 (next to be held NA); results - Levon AkopovichTER-PETROSYAN 86%; radical nationalists about 7%; note - Levon TER-PETROSYANwas elected Chairman of the Armenian Supreme Soviet 4 August 1990Supreme Soviet:last held 20 May 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote byparty NA; seats - (240 total) non-aligned 149, Armenian National Movement52, Armenian Democratic Liberal Organization 14, Dashnatktsutyan 12,National Democratic Union 9, Christian Democratic Union 1, ConstitutionalRights Union 1, National Self-Determination Association 1, Republican Party1Executive branch:president, council of ministers, prime ministerLegislative branch:unicameral Supreme SovietJudicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State:President Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN (since 16 October 1991), VicePresident Gagik ARUTYUNYAN (since 16 October 1991)
*Armenia, Government
Head of Government: Prime Minister Hrant BAGRATYAN (since NA February 1993); Supreme SovietChairman Babken ARARKTSYAN (since NA 1990)Member of:BSEC, CIS, CSCE, EBRD, IBRD, ICAO, IMF, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WHODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Rouben SHUGARIANchancery:122 C Street NW, Suite 360, Washington, DC 20001telephone:(202) 628-5766US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Designate Harry GILMOREembassy:18 Gen Bagramian, Yerevanmailing address:use embassy street addresstelephone:(7) (885) 215-1122, 215-1144FAX:(7) (885) 215-1122Flag:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and gold
*Armenia, Economy
Overview:Armenia under the old centrally planned Soviet system had built up textile,machine-building, and other industries and had become a key supplier tosister republics. In turn, Armenia had depended on supplies of raw materialsand energy from the other republics. Most of these supplies enter therepublic by rail through Azerbaijan (85%) and Georgia (15%). The economy hasbeen severely hurt by ethnic strife with Azerbaijan over control of theNagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, a mostly Armenian-populated enclavewithin the national boundaries of Azerbaijan. In addition to outrightwarfare, the strife has included interdiction of Armenian imports on theAzerbaijani railroads and expensive airlifts of supplies to beleagueredArmenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. An earthquake in December 1988 destroyedabout one-tenth of industrial capacity and housing, the repair of which hasnot been possible because the supply of funds and real resources has beendisrupted by the reorganization and subsequent dismantling of the centralUSSR administrative apparatus. Among facilities made unserviceable by theearthquake are the Yerevan nuclear power plant, which had supplied 40% ofArmenia's needs for electric power and a plant that produced one-quarter ofthe output of elevators in the former USSR. Armenia has some deposits ofnonferrous metal ores (bauxite, copper, zinc, and molybdenum) that arelargely unexploited. For the mid-term, Armenia's economic prospects seemparticularly bleak because of ethnic strife and the unusually highdependence on outside areas, themselves in a chaotic state oftransformation. The dramatic drop in output in 1992 is attributable largelyto the cumulative impact of the blockade; of particular importance was theshutting off in the summer of 1992 of rail and road links to Russia throughGeorgia due to civil strife in the latter republic.National product:GDP $NANational product real growth rate:-34% (1992)National product per capita:$NAInflation rate (consumer prices):20% per month (first quarter 1993)Unemployment rate:2% of officially registered unemployed but large numbers of underemployedBudget:revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NAExports:$30 million to outside the successor states of the former USSR (f.o.b.,1992)commodities:machinery and transport equipment, light industrial products, processed fooditems (1991)partners:NAImports:$300 million from outside the successor statees of the former USSR (c.i.f.,1992)commodities:machinery, energy, consumer goods (1991)partners:NAExternal debt:$650 million (December 1991 est.)Industrial production:growth rate -50% (1992 est.)
*Armenia, Economy
Electricity:2,875,000 kW capacity; 9,000 million kWh produced, 2,585 kWh per capita(1992)Industries:diverse, including (in percent of output of former USSR) metalcuttingmachine tools (5.5%), forging-pressing machines (1.9%), electric motors(9%), tires (1.5%), knitted wear (4.4%), hosiery (3.0%), shoes (2.2%), silkfabric (0.8%), washing machines (2.0%), chemicals, trucks, watches,instruments, and microelectronics (1990)Agriculture:accounts for about 20% of GDP; only 29% of land area is arable; employs 18%of labor force; citrus, cotton, and dairy farming; vineyards near Yerevanare famous for brandy and other liqueursIllicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; used as atransshipment point for illicit drugs to Western EuropeEconomic aid:wheat from US, TurkeyCurrency: retaining Russian ruble as currency (January 1993)Exchange rates:rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuationsFiscal year:calendar year
*Armenia, Communications
Railroads:840 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)Highways:11,300 km total; 10,500 km hard surfaced, 800 km earth (1990)Inland waterways:NA kmPipelines:natural gas 900 km (1991)Ports:none; landlockedAirports:total:12useable:10with permanent-surface runways:6with runways over 3,659 m:1with runways 2,440-3,659 m:4with runways 1,220-2,439 m:3Telecommunications:progress on installation of fiber optic cable and construction of facilitiesfor mobile cellular phone service remains in the negotiation phase for jointventure agreement; Armenia has about 260,000 telephones, of which about110,000 are in Yerevan; average telephone density is 8 per 100 persons;international connections to other former republics of the USSR are bylandline or microwave and to other countries by satellite and by leasedconnection through the Moscow international gateway switch; broadcaststations - 100% of population receives Armenian and Russian TV programs;satellite earth station - INTELSAT
*Armenia, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Air Force, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and bordertroops)Manpower availability:males age 15-49 848,223; fit for military service 681,058; reach militaryage (18) annually 28,101 (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:250 million rubles, NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of themilitary budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate couldproduce misleading results
*Aruba, Header
Affiliation: (part of the Dutch realm)
*Aruba, Geography
Location:in the southern Caribbean Sea, 28 km north of Venezuela and 125 km east ofColombiaMap references:Central America and the CaribbeanArea:total area:193 km2land area:193 km2comparative area:slightly larger than Washington, DCLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:68.5 kmMaritime claims:exclusive fishing zone:12 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:noneClimate:tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variationTerrain:flat with a few hills; scant vegetationNatural resources:negligible; white sandy beachesLand use:arable land:0%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:0%forest and woodland:0%other:100%Irrigated land:NA km2Environment:lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
*Aruba, People
Population:65,117 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:0.66% (1993 est.)Birth rate:15.33 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:6.05 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:-2.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:76.3 yearsmale:72.65 yearsfemale:80.13 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:1.83 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Aruban(s)adjective:ArubanEthnic divisions:mixed European/Caribbean Indian 80%Religions:Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, JewishLanguages:Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Englishdialect), English (widely spoken), SpanishLiteracy:total population:NA%male:NA%female:NA%Labor force:NAby occupation:most employment is in the tourist industry (1986)
*Aruba, Government
Names:conventional long form:noneconventional short form:ArubaDigraph:AAType:part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986upon separation from the Netherlands AntillesCapital:OranjestadAdministrative divisions:none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)Independence:none (part of the Dutch realm; in 1990, Aruba requested and received fromthe Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically giveindependence to the island in 1996)Constitution:1 January 1986Legal system:based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influenceNational holiday:Flag Day, 18 MarchPolitical parties and leaders:Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson ODUBER; Aruban People's Party (AVP),Henny EMAN; National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro KELLY; NewPatriotic Party (PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), BennyNISBET; Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo BERLINSKI; Democratic Action '86(AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Organization for Aruban Liberty (OLA), GlenbertCROESnote:governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADNSuffrage:18 years of age; universalElections:Legislature:last held 8 January 1993 (next to be held by NA January 1997); results -percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) MEP 9, AVP 8, ADN 1, PPA 1,OLA 1, other 1Executive branch:Dutch monarch, governor, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)Legislative branch:unicameral legislature (Staten)Judicial branch:Joint High Court of JusticeLeaders:Chief of State:Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented byGovernor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since NA)Head of Government:Prime Minister Nelson ODUBER (since NA February 1989)Member of:ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WTO (associate)Diplomatic representation in US:none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)Flag:blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the lower portion anda red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner
*Aruba, Economy
Overview:Tourism is the mainstay of the economy, although offshore banking and oilrefining and storage are also important. Hotel capacity expanded rapidlybetween 1985 and 1989 and nearly doubled in 1990 alone. Unemployment hassteadily declined from about 20% in 1986 to about 3% in 1991. The reopeningof the local oil refinery, once a major source of employment and foreignexchange earnings, promises to give the economy an additional boost.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $900 million (1991 est.)National product real growth rate:6% (1991 est.)National product per capita:$14,000 (1991 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.6% (1991)Unemployment rate:3% (1991 est.)Budget:revenues $145 million; expenditures $185 million, including capitalexpenditures of $42 million (1988)Exports:$902.4 million, including oil re-exports (f.o.b., 1991)commodities:mostly petroleum productspartners:US 64%, ECImports:$1,311.3 million, including oil for processing and re-export (f.o.b., 1991)commodities:food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum productspartners:US 8%, ECExternal debt:$81 million (1987)Industrial production:growth rate NA%Electricity:310,000 kW capacity; 945 million kWh produced, 14,610 kWh per capita (1992)Industries:tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refiningAgriculture:poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agricultural activity to thecultivation of aloes, some livestock, and fishingIllicit drugs:drug money laundering centerEconomic aid:Western (non-US) countries ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $220millionCurrency:1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 centsExchange rates:Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1 - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)Fiscal year:calendar year
*Aruba, Communications
Highways:NA km all-weather highwaysPorts:Oranjestad, Sint NicolaasAirports:total:2usable:2with permanent-surface runways:2with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:1with runways 1,220-2,439 m:0note:government-owned airport east of Oranjestad accepts transatlantic flightsTelecommunications:generally adequate; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links;72,168 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 1 submarine cableto Sint Maarten
*Aruba, Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands
*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Header
Affiliation: (territory of Australia)
*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Geography
Location:in the Indian Ocean, 320 km off the northwest coast of Australia, betweenAustralia and IndonesiaMap references:Oceania, Southeast AsiaArea:total area:5 km2land area:5 km2comparative area:about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DCnote:includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier IslandLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:74.1 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:12 nmcontinental shelf:200 m (depth) or to depth of explorationexclusive fishing zone:200 nmterritorial sea:3 nmInternational disputes:noneClimate:tropicalTerrain:low with sand and coralNatural resources:fishLand use:arable land:0%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:0%forest and woodland:0%other:100% (all grass and sand)Irrigated land:0 km2Environment:surrounded by shoals and reefs; Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserveestablished in August 1983
*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only seasonal caretakers
*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Government
Names:conventional long form:Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islandsconventional short form:Ashmore and Cartier IslandsDigraph:ATType:territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry for Arts,Sports, the Environment, Tourism, and TerritoriesCapital:none; administered from Canberra, AustraliaAdministrative divisions:none (territory of Australia)Independence:none (territory of Australia)Legal system:relevant laws of the Northern Territory of AustraliaDiplomatic representation in US:none (territory of Australia)US diplomatic representation:none (territory of Australia)
*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Economy
Overview: no economic activity
*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Communications
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
*Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Defense Forces
Note:defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the RoyalAustralian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
*Atlantic Ocean, Geography
Location:body of water between the Western Hemisphere and Europe/AfricaMap references: Africa, Antarctic Region, Arctic Region, Central America and the Caribbean,Europe, North America, South America, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:82.217 million km2comparative area:slightly less than nine times the size of the US; second-largest of theworld's four oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than Indian Oceanor Arctic Ocean)note:includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait,Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea,Weddell Sea, and other tributary water bodiesCoastline:111,866 kmInternational disputes:some maritime disputes (see littoral states)Climate:tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near CapeVerde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur fromMay to December, but are most frequent from August to NovemberTerrain:surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, andBaltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm water gyre (broad, circularsystem of currents) in the north Atlantic, counterclockwise warm water gyrein the south Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-AtlanticRidge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin;maximum depth is 8,605 meters in the Puerto Rico TrenchNatural resources:oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravelaggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stonesEnvironment:endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles,and whales; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, andeastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, LakeMaracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipalsewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea; icebergscommon in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic fromFebruary to August and have been spotted as far south as Bermuda and theMadeira Islands; icebergs from Antarctica occur in the extreme southernAtlanticNote:ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north Atlantic from Octoberto May and extreme south Atlantic from May to October; persistent fog can bea hazard to shipping from May to September; major choke points include theDardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals;strategic straits include the Dover Strait, Straits of Florida, MonaPassage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; north Atlantic shippinglanes subject to icebergs from February to August; the Equator divides theAtlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean
*Atlantic Ocean, Government
Digraph: ZH
*Atlantic Ocean, Economy
Overview:Economic activity is limited to exploitation of natural resources,especially fish, dredging aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and crude oil andnatural gas production (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
*Atlantic Ocean, Communications
Ports:Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain),Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon (Panama), Copenhagen(Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki(Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon(Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal(Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria),Oslo (Norway), Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam(Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad; Russia), Stockholm(Sweden)Telecommunications:numerous submarine cables with most between continental Europe and the UK,North America and the UK, and in the Mediterranean; numerous direct linksacross Atlantic via INTELSAT satellite networkNote:Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways
*Australia, Geography
Location:Oceania, between Indonesia and New ZealandMap references:Southeast Asia, Oceania, Antarctic Region, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:7,686,850 km2land area:7,617,930 km2comparative area:slightly smaller than the USnote:includes Macquarie IslandLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:25,760 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:12 nmcontinental shelf:200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory)Climate:generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in northTerrain:mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeastNatural resources:bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten,mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleumLand use:arable land:6%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:58%forest and woodland:14%other:22%Irrigated land:18,800 km2 (1989 est.)Environment:subject to severe droughts and floods; cyclones along coast; limitedfreshwater availability; irrigated soil degradation; regular, tropical,invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along west coast insummer; desertificationNote:world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country
*Australia, People
Population:17,827,204 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:1.41% (1993 est.)Birth rate:14.43 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:7.38 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:7.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:77.36 yearsmale: 74.24 yearsfemale:80.63 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:1.83 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Australian(s)adjective:AustralianEthnic divisions:Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, Aboriginal and other 1%Religions:Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%Languages:English, native languagesLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1980)total population:100%male:100%female:100%Labor force:8.63 million (September 1991)by occupation:finance and services 33.8%, public and community services 22.3%, wholesaleand retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and industry 16.2%, agriculture 6.1%(1987)
*Australia, Government
Names:conventional long form:Commonwealth of Australiaconventional short form:AustraliaDigraph:ASType:federal parliamentary stateCapital:CanberraAdministrative divisions:6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales,, NorthernTerritory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria,, Western AustraliaDependent areas:Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands,Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk IslandIndependence:1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901Legal system:based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservationsNational holiday:Australia Day, 26 JanuaryPolitical parties and leaders:government:Australian Labor Party, Paul John KEATINGopposition:Liberal Party, John HEWSON; National Party, Timothy FISCHER; AustralianDemocratic Party, John COULTEROther political or pressure groups:Australian Democratic Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splintergroup); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Partysplinter group)Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsoryElections:House of Representatives:last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA May 1996); results - percentof vote by party NA; seats - (147 total) Labor 80, Liberal-National 65,independent 2Senate:last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA May 1999); results - percentof vote by party NA; seats - (76 total) Liberal-National 36, Labor 30,Australian Democrats 7, Greens 2, independents 1Executive branch:British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,CabinetLegislative branch:bicameral Federal Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and alower house or House of RepresentativesJudicial branch:High Court
*Australia, Government
Leaders:Chief of State:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor GeneralWilliam George HAYDEN (since 16 February 1989)Head of Government:Prime Minister Paul John KEATING (since 20 December 1991); Deputy PrimeMinister Brian HOWE (since 4 June 1991)Member of:AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, COCOM,CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, G-8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, ZCDiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. COOKchancery:1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone:(202) 797-3000consulates general:Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (AmericanSamoa), and San FranciscoUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:(vacant)embassy:Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600mailing address:APO AP 96549telephone:[61] (6) 270-5000FAX:[61] (6) 270-5970consulates general:Melbourne, Perth, and Sydneyconsulate:BrisbaneFlag:blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a largeseven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is arepresentation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one smallfive-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars
*Australia, Economy
Overview:Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a percapita GDP comparable to levels in industrialized West European countries.Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agriculturalproducts, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Of the top 25 exports, 21 areprimary products, so that, as happened during 1983-84, a downturn in worldcommodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government ispushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition ininternational markets continues to be severe.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $293.5 billion (1992)National product real growth rate:2.5% (1992)National product per capita:$16,700 (1992)Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.8% (September 1992)Unemployment rate:11.3% (December 1992)Budget:revenues $68.5 billion; expenditures $78.0 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $NA (FY93)Exports: $41.7 billion (f.o.b., FY91)commodities:coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipmentpartners:Japan 26%, US 11%, NZ 6%, South Korea 4%, Singapore 4%, UK, Taiwan, HongKongImports:$37.8 billion (f.o.b., FY91)commodities:machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, crude oiland petroleum productspartners:US 24%, Japan 19%, UK 6%, FRG 7%, NZ 4% (1990)External debt:$130.4 billion (June 1991)Industrial production:growth rate NA%; accounts for 32% of GDPElectricity:40,000,000 kW capacity; 150,000 million kWh produced, 8,475 kWh per capita(1992)Industries:mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals,steelAgriculture:accounts for 5% of GDP and 37% of export revenues; world's largest exporterof beef and wool, second-largest for mutton, and among top wheat exporters;major crops - wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruit; livestock - cattle, sheep,poultryIllicit drugs:Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products;government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivationand output of poppy straw concentrateEconomic aid:donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.4 billionCurrency:1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
*Australia, Economy
Exchange rates:Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992),1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988)Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
*Australia, Communications
Railroads:40,478 km total; 7,970 km 1.600-meter gauge, 16,201 km 1.435-meter standardgauge, 16,307 km 1.067-meter gauge; 183 km dual gauge; 1,130 km electrified;government owned (except for a few hundred kilometers of privately ownedtrack) (1985)Highways:837,872 km total; 243,750 km paved, 228,396 km gravel, crushed stone, orstabilized soil surface, 365,726 km unimproved earthInland waterways:8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craftPipelines:crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural gas 5,600 kmPorts:Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart,Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, TownsvilleMerchant marine:82 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,347,271 GRT/3,534,926 DWT; includes2 short-sea passenger, 8 cargo, 7 container, 8 roll-on/roll-off, 1 vehiclecarrier, 17 oil tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 4 liquefied gas, 30 bulk, 2combination bulkAirports:total:481usable:439with permanent-surface runways:243with runways over 3,659 m:1with runways 2,440-3,659 m:20with runways 1,220-2,439 m:268Telecommunications:good international and domestic service; 8.7 million telephones; broadcaststations - 258 AM, 67 FM, 134 TV; submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua NewGuinea, and Indonesia; domestic satellite service; satellite stations - 4Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 6 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
*Australia, Defense Forces
Branches:Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air ForceManpower availability:males age 15-49 4,830,068; fit for military service 4,198,622; reachmilitary age (17) annually 135,591 (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $7.1 billion, 2.4% of GDP (FY92/93)
*Austria, Geography
Location:Central Europe, between Germany and HungaryMap references:Africa, Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area: 83,850 km2land area:82,730 km2comparative area:slightly smaller than MaineLand boundaries:total 2,496 km, Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 262 km, Switzerland164 kmCoastline:0 km (landlocked)Maritime claims:none; landlockedInternational disputes:noneClimate:temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlandsand snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showersTerrain:in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern andnorthern margins mostly flat or gently slopingNatural resources:iron ore, petroleum, timber, magnesite, aluminum, lead, coal, lignite,copper, hydropowerLand use:arable land:17%permanent crops:1%meadows and pastures:24%forest and woodland:39%other:19%Irrigated land:40 km2 (1989)Environment:population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poorsoils, and low temperatures elsewhereNote:landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with manyeasily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube
*Austria, People
Population:7,915,145 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:0.55% (1993 est.)Birth rate:11.54 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:10.42 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:4.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:76.4 yearsmale:73.18 yearsfemale:79.8 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:1.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Austrian(s)adjective:AustrianEthnic divisions:German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other 0.1%Religions:Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9%Languages:GermanLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1974)total population:99%male:NA%female:NA%Labor force:3.47 million (1989)by occupation:services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%, agriculture and forestry 8.1%note:an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other European countries;foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 6% of labor force (1988)
*Austria, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Austriaconventional short form:Austrialocal long form:Republik Oesterreichlocal short form:OesterreichDigraph:AUType: federal republicCapital:ViennaAdministrative divisions:9 states (bundeslander, singular - bundesland); Burgenland, Karnten,Niederosterreich, Oberosterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg,WienIndependence:12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)Constitution:1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1945)Legal system:civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative actsby a Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supremecourts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdictionNational holiday:National Day, 26 October (1955)Political parties and leaders:Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman;Austrian People's Party (OVP), Erhard BUSEK, chairman; Freedom Party ofAustria (FPO), Jorg HAIDER, chairman; Communist Party (KPO), WalterSILBERMAYER, chairman; Green Alternative List (GAL), Johannes VOGGENHUBER,chairmanOther political or pressure groups:Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Austrian Trade Union Federation(primarily Socialist); three composite leagues of the Austrian People'sParty (OVP) representing business, labor, and farmers; OVP-oriented Leagueof Austrian Industrialists; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief layorganization, Catholic ActionSuffrage:19 years of age, universal; compulsory for presidential electionsElections:President:last held 24 May 1992 (next to be held 1996); results of second ballot -Thomas KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%National Council:last held 7 October 1990 (next to be held October 1994); results - SPO 43%,OVP 32.1%, FPO 16.6%, GAL 4.5%, KPO 0.7%, other 0.32%; seats - (183 total)SPO 80, OVP 60, FPO 33, GAL 10Executive branch:president, chancellor, vice chancellor, Council of Ministers (cabinet)Legislative branch:bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung) consists of an upper councilor Federal Council (Bundesrat) and a lower council or National Council(Nationalrat)
*Austria, Government
Judicial branch:Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for civil and criminal cases,Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic cases,Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for constitutional casesLeaders:Chief of State: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992)Head of Government:Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986); Vice Chancellor ErhardBUSEK (since 2 July 1991)Member of:AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, COCOM(cooperating country), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG,OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNDOF, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZCDiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Friedrich HOESSchancery:3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035telephone:(202) 895-6700FAX:(202) 895-6750consulates general:Chicago, Los Angeles, and New YorkUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Roy Michael HUFFINGTONchancery:Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Unit 27937, Viennamailing address:APO AE 09222telephone:[43] (1) 31-339FAX:[43] (1) 310-0682consulate general:SalzburgFlag:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
*Austria, Economy
Overview:Austria boasts a prosperous and stable socialist market economy with asizable proportion of nationalized industry and extensive welfare benefits.Thanks to an excellent raw material endowment, a technically skilled laborforce, and strong links to German industrial firms, Austria occupiesspecialized niches in European industry and services (tourism, banking) andproduces almost enough food to feed itself with only 8% of the labor forcein agriculture. Increased export sales resulting from German unification,continued to boost Austria's economy through 1991. However, Germany'seconomic difficulties in 1992 slowed Austria's GDP growth to 2% from the 3%of 1991. Austria's economy, moreover, is not expected to grow by more than1% in 1993, and inflation is forecast to remain about 4%. Unemployment willlikely remain at current levels at least until 1994. Living standards inAustria are comparable with the large industrial countries of WesternEurope. Problems for the l990s include an aging population, the high levelof subsidies, and the struggle to keep welfare benefits within budgetarycapabilities. The continued opening of Eastern European markets, however,will increase demand for Austrian exports. Austria, a member of the EuropeanFree Trade Association (EFTA), in 1992 ratified the European Economic AreaTreaty, which will extend European Community rules on the free movement ofpeople, goods, capital and services to the EFTA countries, and Austriansplan to hold a national referendum within the next two years to vote on ECmembership.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $141.3 billion (1992)National product real growth rate:1.8% (1992)National product per capita:$18,000 (1992)Inflation rate (consumer prices):4% (1992 est.)Unemployment rate:6.4% (1992 est.)Budget:revenues $47.8 billion; expenditures $53.0 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $NA (1992 est.)Exports:$43.5 billion (1992 est.)commodities:machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber, textiles, paper products,chemicalspartners:EC 65.8% (Germany 39%), EFTA 9.1%, Eastern Europe/former USSR 9.0%, Japan1.7%, US 2.8% (1991)Imports:$50.7 billion (1992 est.)commodities:petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals,textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticalspartners:EC 67.8% (Germany 43.0%), EFTA 6.9%, Eastern Europe/former USSR 6.0%, Japan4.8%, US 3.9% (1991)External debt:$11.8 billion (1990 est.)Industrial production:growth rate 2.0% (1991)Electricity:17,600,000 kW capacity; 49,500 million kWh produced, 6,300 kWh per capita(1992)
*Austria, Economy
Industries:foods, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals, electrical, paper andpulp, tourism, mining, motor vehiclesAgriculture:accounts for 3.2% of GDP (including forestry); principal crops and animals -grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets, sawn wood, cattle, pigs, poultry;80-90% self-sufficient in foodIllicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan routeEconomic aid:donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.4 billionCurrency:1 Austrian schilling (S) = 100 groschenExchange rates:Austrian schillings (S) per US$1 - 11.363 (January 1993), 10.989 (1992),11.676 (1991), 11.370 (1990), 13.231 (1989), 12.348 (1988)Fiscal year:calendar year
*Austria, Communications
Railroads:5,749 km total; 5,652 km government owned and 97 km privately owned (0.760-,1.435- and 1.000-meter gauge); 5,394 km 1.435-meter standard gauge of which3,154 km is electrified and 1,520 km is double tracked; 339 km 0.760-meternarrow gauge of which 84 km is electrifiedHighways:95,412 km total; 34,612 km are the primary network (including 1,012 km ofautobahn, 10,400 km of federal, and 23,200 km of provincial roads); of thisnumber, 21,812 km are paved and 12,800 km are unpaved; in addition, thereare 60,800 km of communal roads (mostly gravel, crushed stone, earth)Inland waterways:446 kmPipelines:crude oil 554 km; natural gas 2,611 km; petroleum products 171 kmPorts:Vienna, Linz (Danube river ports)Merchant marine:29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 154,159 GRT/256,765 DWT; includes 23cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 1 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 3 bulkAirports:total:55usable:55with permanent-surface runways:20with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:6with runways 1,220-2,439 m:4Telecommunications:highly developed and efficient; 4,014,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6AM, 21 (545 repeaters) FM, 47 (870 repeaters) TV; satellite ground stationsfor Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and EUTELSAT systems
*Austria, Defense Forces
Branches:Army (including Flying Division)Manpower availability:males age 15-49 2,016,464; fit for military service 1,694,140; reachmilitary age (19) annually 50,259 (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, 0.9% of GDP (1993 est.)
*Azerbaijan, Geography
Location:Southeastern Europe, between Armenia and Turkmenistan, bordering the CaspianSeaMap references:Africa, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States,Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, Middle East, StandardTime Zones of the WorldArea:total area:86,600 km2land area:86,100 km2comparative area:slightly larger than Mainenote:includes the Nakhichevan' Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-KarabakhAutonomous Oblast; region's autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijan SupremeSoviet on 26 November 1991Land boundaries:total 2,013 km, Armenia (west) 566 km, Armenia (southwest) 221 km, Georgia322 km, Iran (south) 432 km, Iran (southwest) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey9 kmCoastline:0 km (landlocked)note:Azerbaijan does border the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)Maritime claims:NAnote:Azerbaijani claims in Caspian Sea unknown; 10 nm fishing zone provided forin 1940 treaty regarding trade and navigation between Soviet Union and IranInternational disputes:violent and longstanding dispute with Armenia over status ofNagorno-Karabakh, lesser dispute concerns Nakhichevan; some Azerbaijanisdesire absorption of and/or unification with the ethnically Azeri portion ofIran; minor irredentist disputes along Georgia borderClimate:dry, semiarid steppe; subject to droughtTerrain:large, flat Kura-Aras Lowland (much of it below sea level) with GreatCaucasus Mountains to the north, Karabakh Upland in west; Baku lies onAspheson Peninsula that juts into Caspian SeaNatural resources:petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, aluminaLand use:arable land:18%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:25%forest and woodland:0%other:57%Irrigated land:14,010 km2 (1990)
*Azerbaijan, Geography
Environment:local scientists consider Apsheron Peninsula, including Baku and Sumgait,and the Caspian Sea to be "most ecologically devastated area in the world"because of severe air and water pollutionNote:landlocked
*Azerbaijan, People
Population:7,573,435 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:1.5% (1993 est.)Birth rate:24.09 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:-2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:35.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:70.6 yearsmale:66.77 yearsfemale:74.63 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:2.76 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Azerbaijani(s)adjective: AzerbaijaniEthnic divisions:Azeri 82.7%, Russian 5.6%, Armenian 5.6%, Daghestanis 3.2%, other 2.9%, note- Armenian share may be less than 5.6% because many Armenians have fled theethnic violence since 1989 censusReligions:Moslem 87%, Russian Orthodox 5.6%, Armenian Orthodox 5.6%, other 1.8%Languages:Azeri 82%, Russian 7%, Armenian 5%, other 6%Literacy:age 9-49 can read and write (1970)total population:100%male:100%female:100%Labor force:2.789 millionby occupation:agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction 26%, other 42%(1990)
*Azerbaijan, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Azerbaijanconventional short form:Azerbaijanlocal long form:Azarbaijchan Respublikasylocal short form:noneformer:Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist RepublicDigraph:AJType:republicCapital:Baku (Baky)Administrative divisions:1 autonomous republic (avtomnaya respublika); Nakhichevan (administrativecenter at Nakhichevan)note:all rayons except for the exclave of Nakhichevan are under direct republicjurisdiction; 1 autonomous oblast, Nagorno-Karabakh (officially abolished byAzerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991) has declared itselfNagorno-Karabakh RepublicIndependence:30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)Constitution:adopted NA April 1978; writing a new constitution mid-1993Legal system:based on civil law systemNational holiday:NAPolitical parties and leaders:New Azerbaijan Party, ALIYEV; Musavat Party (Azerbaijan Popular Front -APF), Isa GAMBAROV; National Independence Party (main opposition party),Etibar MAMEDOV; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zardusht Ali ZADE; Party ofRevolutionary Revival (successor to the Communist Party), Sayad Afes OGLV,general secretary; Party of Independent Azerbaijan, SOVLEYMANOVOther political or pressure groups:self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh RepublicSuffrage:18 years of age; universalElections:President:last held 8 June 1992 (next to be held NA); results - Abdulfaz Ali ELCHIBEY,won 60% of voteNational Council:last held 30 September and 14 October 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (nextexpected to be held late 1993 for the National Council); seats for SupremeSoviet - (360 total) Communists 280, Democratic Bloc 45 (grouping ofopposition parties), other 15, vacant 20; note - on 19 May 1992 the SupremeSoviet was disbanded in favor of a Popular Front-dominated National Council;seats - (50 total) 25 Popular Front, 25 opposition elementsExecutive branch:president, council of ministersLegislative branch:National Parliament (National Assembly or Milli Mejlis)
*Azerbaijan, Government
Judicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State:President Ebulfez ELCHIBEY (since 7 June 1992)Head of Government:Prime Minister Penah HUSEYNOV (since 29 April 1993; resigned 7 June 1993;likely replacement - E'tibar MAMEDOV); National Parliament Chairman IsaGAMBAROV (since 19 May 1992; resigned 13 June 1993; likely replacementGeydar ALIYEV)Member of:BSEC, CSCE, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, IDB, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, ITU, NACC, OIC,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Hafiz PASHAYEVchancery:1615 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone:NAUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Richard MILESembassy:Hotel Intourist, Bakumailing address:APO AE 09862telephone:7-8922-91-79-56Flag:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent andeight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
*Azerbaijan, Economy
Overview:Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or Georgia,the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the Central Asian states inits majority Muslim population, high structural unemployment, and lowstandard of living. The economy's most prominent products are cotton, oil,and gas. Production from the Caspian oil and gas field has been in declinefor several years. With foreign assistance, the oil industry might generatethe funds needed to spur industrial development. However, civil unrest,marked by armed conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region between MuslimAzeris and Christian Armenians, makes foreign investors wary. Azerbaijanaccounted for 1.5% to 2% of the capital stock and output of the formerSoviet Union. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the ex-Sovietrepublics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, butits considerable energy resources brighten its propects somewhat. Oldeconomic ties and structures have yet to be replaced. A particularly gallingconstraint on economic revival is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said toconsume 25% of Azerbaijan's economic resources.National product:GDP $NANational product real growth rate:-25% (1992)National product per capita:$NAInflation rate (consumer prices):20% per month (1992 est.)Unemployment rate:0.2% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers ofunderemployed workersBudget:revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)Exports:$821 million to outside the successor states of the former USSR (f.o.b.,1992 est.)commodities:oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles, cotton (1991)partners:mostly CIS and European countriesImports:$300 million from outside the successor states of the former USSR (c.i.f.,1992 est.)commodities: machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs, textiles (1991)partners:European countriesExternal debt:$1.3 billion (1991 est.)Industrial production:growth rate -27% (1992)Electricity:6,025,000 kW capacity; 22,300 million kWh produced, 2,990 kWh per capita(1992)Industries:petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel,iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textilesAgriculture:cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs,sheep and goats
*Azerbaijan, Economy
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limitedgovernment eradication program; used as transshipment points for illicitdrugs to Western EuropeEconomic aid:wheat from TurkeyCurrency:1 manat (abbreviation NA) = 10 Russian rubles; ruble still usedExchange rates:NAFiscal year:calendar year
*Azerbaijan, Communications
Railroads:2,090 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)Highways:36,700 km total (1990); 31,800 km hard surfaced; 4,900 km earthPipelines:crude oil 1,130 km, petroleum products 630 km, natural gas 1,240 kmPorts:inland - Baku (Baky)Airports:total:65useable:33with permanent-surface runways:26with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 8with runways 1,220-2,439 m:23Telecommunications:domestic telephone service is of poor quality and inadequate; 644,000domestic telephone lines (density - 9 lines per 100 persons (1991)), 202,000persons waiting for telephone installations (January 1991); connections toother former USSR republics by cable and microwave and to other countriesvia the Moscow international gateway switch; INTELSAT earth stationinstalled in late 1992 in Baku with Turkish financial assistance with accessto 200 countries through Turkey; domestic and Russian TV programs arereceived locally and Turkish and Iranian TV is received from an INTELSATsatellite through a receive-only earth station
*Azerbaijan, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Air Force, Navy, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and bordertroops)Manpower availability:males age 15-49 1,842,917; fit for military service 1,497,640; reachmilitary age (18) annually 66,928 (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:2,848 million rubles, NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of themilitary budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate couldproduce misleading results
*The Bahamas, Geography
Location:in the western North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida and northwest ofCubaMap references:Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of theWorldArea:total area:13,940 km2land area:10,070 km2comparative area:slightly larger than ConnecticutLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:3,542 kmMaritime claims:continental shelf:200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone:200 nmterritorial sea: 3 nmInternational disputes:noneClimate:tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf StreamTerrain:long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hillsNatural resources:salt, aragonite, timberLand use:arable land:1%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:0%forest and woodland:32%other:67%Irrigated land:NA km2Environment:subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flooddamageNote:strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain
*The Bahamas, People
Population:268,726 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:1.62% (1993 est.)Birth rate:18.97 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:5.15 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:2.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:31.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:72.02 yearsmale:68.19 yearsfemale:75.96 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:1.9 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Bahamian(s) adjective:BahamianEthnic divisions:black 85%, white 15%Religions:Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%Languages:English, Creole, among Haitian immigrantsLiteracy:age 15 and over but definition of literacy not available (1963)total population:90%male:90%female:89%Labor force:127,400by occupation:government 30%, hotels and restaurants 25%, business services 10%,agriculture 5% (1989)
*The Bahamas, Government
Names:conventional long form:The Commonwealth of The Bahamasconventional short form:The BahamasDigraph:BFType:commonwealthCapital:NassauAdministrative divisions:21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma,Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island,High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, NewProvidence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, SandyPoint, San Salvador and Rum CayIndependence:10 July 1973 (from UK)Constitution:10 July 1973Legal system:based on English common lawNational holiday:National Day, 10 July (1973)Political parties and leaders:Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Sir Lynden O. PINDLING; Free NationalMovement (FNM), Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM; Vanguard Nationalist andSocialist Party (VNPS), Lionel CAREY, chairman; People's Democratic Force(PDF), Fred MITCHELLOther political or pressure groups:Vanguard Nationalist and Socialist Party (VNSP), a small leftist partyheaded by Lionel CAREY; Trade Union Congress (TUC), headed by ArlingtonMILLERSuffrage:18 years of age; universalElections:House of Assembly:last held 19 August 1992 (next to be held by August 1997); results - percentof vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) FNM 32, PLP 17Executive branch:British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,CabinetLegislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of an appointed upper house or Senate and adirectly elected lower house or House of AssemblyJudicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor GeneralSir Clifford DARLING (since 2 January 1992)Head of Government:Prime Minister Hubert INGRAHAM (since 19 August 1992)Member of:ACP, C, CCC, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFC,ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
*The Bahamas, Government
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Timothy Baswell DONALDSONchancery:2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone:(202) 319-2660consulates general:Miami and New YorkUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Chic HECHTembassy:Mosmar Building, Queen Street, Nassaumailing address:P. O. Box N-8197, Nassautelephone:(809) 322-1181 or 328-2206FAX:(809) 328-7838Flag:three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine witha black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
*The Bahamas, Economy
Overview:The Bahamas is a stable, middle-income, developing nation whose economy isbased primarily on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone providesabout 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs about 50,000 people or40% of the local work force. The economy has slackened in recent years, asthe annual increase in the number of tourists slowed. Nonetheless, percapita GDP is one of the highest in the region.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.6 billion (1991 est.)National product real growth rate:3% (1991)National product per capita:$10,200 (1991 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):7.2% (1991)Unemployment rate:16% (1991 est.)Budget:revenues $627.5 million; expenditures $727.5 million, including capitalexpenditures of $100 million (1992 est.)Exports:$306 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)commodities:pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfishpartners:US 41%, Norway 30%, Denmark 4%Imports:$1.14 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)commodities:foodstuffs, manufactured goods, mineral fuels, crude oilpartners:US 35%, Nigeria 21%, Japan 13%, Angola 11%External debt:$1.2 billion (December 1990)Industrial production:growth rate 3% (1990); accounts for 15% of GDPElectricity:424,000 kW capacity; 929 million kWh produced, 3,599 kWh per capita (1992)Industries:tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt production,rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral welded steel pipeAgriculture:accounts for 5% of GDP; dominated by small-scale producers; principalproducts-citrus fruit, vegetables, poultry; large net importer of foodIllicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaineEconomic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $1.0 million; Western (non-US)countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $345 millionCurrency: 1 Bahamian dollar (B$) = 100 centsExchange rates:Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1-1.00 (fixed rate)Fiscal year:calendar year