@Reunion, Defense Forces
Branches:French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie)Manpower availability:males age 15-49 170,810; fit for military service 88,108; reachmilitary age (18) annually 5,867 (1994 est.)Note:defense is the responsibility of France
@Romania, Geography
Location:Balkan State, Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea betweenBulgaria and UkraineMap references:Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of theWorldArea:total area:237,500 sq kmland area:230,340 sq kmcomparative area:slightly smaller than OregonLand boundaries:total 2,508 km, Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,Serbia and Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia), Ukraine (north) 362km, Ukraine (south) 169 kmCoastline:225 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:24 nmcontinental shelf:200-m depth or to depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:no official territorial claim by either Moldova or Romania, butnationalists in Romania seek the merger of Moldova with Romania;potential future dispute by Moldova and Romania against Ukraine overformer southern and northern Bessarabian areasClimate:temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunnysummers with frequent showers and thunderstormsTerrain:central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia onthe east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the WalachianPlain on the south by the Transylvanian AlpsNatural resources:petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore,saltLand use:arable land:43%permanent crops:3%meadows and pastures:19%forest and woodland:28%other:7%Irrigated land:34,500 sq km (1989 est.)Environment:current issues:soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in southfrom industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlandsnatural hazards:earthquakes most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure andclimate promote landslidesinternational agreements:party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law ofthe SeaNote:controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans,Moldova, and Ukraine
@Romania, People
Population:23,181,415 (July 1994 est.)note:the Romanian census of January 1992 gives the population for that dateas 22.749 million; the government estimates that population declinedin 1993 by 0.3%Population growth rate:0.06% (1994 est.)Birth rate:13.66 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:10.02 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:-3.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:19.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:71.74 yearsmale:68.81 yearsfemale:74.84 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:1.82 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:Romanian(s)adjective:RomanianEthnic divisions:Romanian 89.1%, Hungarian 8.9%, German 0.4%, Ukrainian, Serb, Croat,Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%Religions:Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman Catholic 6% (of which 3% are Uniate),Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 18%Languages:Romanian, Hungarian, GermanLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1978 est.)total population:98%male:NA%female:NA%Labor force:10,945,700by occupation:industry 38%, agriculture 28%, other 34% (1989)
@Romania, Government
Names:conventional long form:noneconventional short form:Romanialocal long form:nonelocal short form:RomaniaDigraph:ROType:republicCapital:BucharestAdministrative divisions:40 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality*(municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud,Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin,Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu,Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures,Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman,Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, VranceaIndependence:1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)National holiday:National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)Constitution:8 December 1991Legal system:former mixture of civil law system and Communist legal theory is beingrevised to conform with European normsSuffrage:18 years of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state:President Ion ILIESCU (since 20 June 1990, previously President ofProvisional Council of National Unity since 23 December 1989);election last held 27 September 1992 - with runoff between top twocandidates on 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - IonILIESCU 61.4%, Emil CONSTANTINESCU 38.6%head of government:Prime Minister Nicolae VACAROIU (since November 1992)cabinet:Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime ministerLegislative branch:bicameral ParliamentSenate (Senat):elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA 1996);results - PDSR 27.5%, CDR 22.5%, PP-(FSN) 11%, others 39%; seats -(143 total) PDSR 49, CDR 34, PP-(FSN) 18, PUNR 14, UDMR 12, PRM 6,PDAR 5, PSM 5House of Deputies (Adunarea Deputatilor):elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA 1996);results - PDSR 27.5%, CDR 22.5%, PP-(FSN) 11%, others 39%; seats -(341 total) PDSR 117, CDR 82, PP-(FSN) 43, PUNR 30, UDMR 27, PRM 16,PSM 13, other 13Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice, Constitutional CourtPolitical parties and leaders:Democratic Party (PD-(FSN)), Petre ROMAN; Party of Social Democracy inRomania (PDSR), Adrian NASTASE; Democratic Union of Hungarians inRomania (UDMR), Bela MARKO; National Liberal Party (PNL), MirceaIONESCU-QUINTUS; National Peasants' Christian and Democratic Party(PNTCD), Corneliu COPOSU; Romanian National Unity Party (PUNR),Gheorghe FUNAR; Socialist Labor Party (PSM), Ilie VERDET; AgrarianDemocratic Party of Romania (PDAR), Victor SURDU; The DemocraticConvention (CDR), Emil CONSTANTINESCU; Romania Mare Party (PRM),Corneliu Vadim TUDORnote:numerous other samll parties exist but almost all failed to gainrepresentation in the most recent electionOther political or pressure groups:various human rights and professional associationsMember of:ACCT (observer), BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI (participating), CSCE, EBRD,ECE, FAO, G-9, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO,IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,LORCS, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZCDiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:(vacant)chancery:1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone:(202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851FAX:(202) 232-4748consulate(s) general:New YorkUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador John R. DAVIS, Jr.embassy:Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharestmailing address:AmEmbassy (Buch), Unit 1315, Bucharest; APO AE 09213-1315telephone:[40] (1) 210-4042FAX:[40] (1) 210-0395Flag:three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; thenational coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band hasbeen removed; now similar to the flags of Andorra and Chad
@Romania, Economy
Overview:Despite the continuing difficulties in moving away from the formercommand system, the Romanian economy seems to have bottomed out in1993. Market oriented reforms have been introduced fitfully since thedownfall of CEAUSESCU in December 1989, with the result a growingprivate sector, especially in services. The slow pace of structuralreform, however, has exacerbated Romania's high inflation rate anderoded real wages. Agricultural production rebounded in 1993 from theprevious year's drought-reduced harvest; food supplies are adequate,but expensive. Bucharest resisted pressure to devalue its currencydespite a $638 million trade deficit in the first half of 1993 and theemergence of a black market for hard currency. Unable to support thecurrency, the national bank, nonetheless, was forced to depreciate thecurrency 65% over the course of the year. The return of winterrevealed that much of Romania's infrastructure had deteriorated overthe last four years due to reduced levels of public investment.Residents of the capital reported frequent disruptions of heating andwater services.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $63.7 billion (1993 est.)National product real growth rate:1% (1993)National product per capita:$2,700 (1993 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):6% per month (March 1994)Unemployment rate:11% (March 1994)Budget:revenues:$19 billionexpenditures:$20 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.1 billion (1991est.)Exports:$4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)commodities:metals and metal products 24%, mineral products 14%, textiles 10.7%,electric machines and equipment 9.3%, transport materials 9.2% (1993)partners:EC 36.1%, developing countries 27.4%, East and Central Europe 14.9%,EFTA 5.1%, Russia 5%, Japan 1.4%, US 1.3% (1993)Imports:$5.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)commodities:minerals 29%, machinery and equipment 17.2%, textiles 10%,agricultural goods 9% (1993)partners:EC 45.8%, East and Central Europe 8.6%, developing countries 22.6%,Russia 11%, EFTA 6.2%, US 5.0%, Japan 0.8% (1993)External debt:$4 billion (1993)Industrial production:growth rate -1% (1993 est.); accounts for 45% of GDPElectricity:capacity:22,500,000 kWproduction:59 billion kWhconsumption per capita:2,540 kWh (1992)Industries:mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, machinebuilding, food processing, petroleum production and refiningAgriculture:accounts for 18% of GDP and 28% of labor force; major wheat and cornproducer; other products - sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes,milk, eggs, meat, grapesIllicit drugs:transshipment point for southwest Asian heroin and Latin Americancocaine transiting the Balkan routeEconomic aid:$NACurrency:1 leu (L) = 100 baniExchange rates:lei (L) per US$1 - 1,387.16 (January 1994), 760.05 (1993), 307.95(1992), 76.39 (1991), 22.432 (1990), 14.922 (1989)Fiscal year:calendar year
@Romania, Communications
Railroads:11,275 km total; 10,860 km 1.435-meter gauge, 370 km narrow gauge, 45km broad gauge; 3,411 km electrified, 3,060 km double track;government owned (1987)Highways:total:72,799 kmpaved:35,970 kmunpaved:gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 27,729 km; unsurfaced earth9,100 km (1985)Inland waterways:1,724 km (1984)Pipelines:crude oil 2,800 km; petroleum products 1,429 km; natural gas 6,400 km(1992)Ports:Constanta, Galati, Braila, Mangalia; inland ports are Giurgiu,Drobeta-Turnu Severin, OrsovaMerchant marine:241 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,626,421 GRT/4,017,380 DWT,bulk 49, cargo 167, container 2, oil tanker 14, passenger-cargo 1,rail-car carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7Airports:total:234usable:74with permanent-surface runways:26with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:21with runways 1,060-2,439 m:24note:a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstripTelecommunications:poor service; about 2.3 million telephone customers; 89% of phonenetwork is automatic; cable and open wire; trunk network is microwave;present phone density is 9.85 per 100 residents; roughly 3,300villages with no service (February 1990); new digital internationaldirect dial exchanges are in Bucharest (1993); broadcast stations - 12AM, 5 FM, 13 TV (1990); 1 satellite ground station using INTELSAT
@Romania, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Paramilitary Forces, CivilDefenseManpower availability:males age 15-49 5,888,452; fit for military service 4,972,834; reachmilitary age (20) annually 193,901 (1994 est.)Defense expenditures:137 billion lei, 3% of GDP (1993); note - conversion of defenseexpenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate couldproduce misleading results
@Russia, Geography
Location:Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is sometimes included withEurope), between Europe and the North Pacific OceanMap references:Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States,Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, Standard TimeZones of the WorldArea:total area:17,075,200 sq kmland area:16,995,800 sq kmcomparative area:slightly more than 1.8 times the size of the USLand boundaries:total 20,139 km, Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China (southeast)3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 290 km, Finland 1,313 km,Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km, Latvia 217 km,Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,441 km, Norway 167km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Ukraine 1,576 kmCoastline:37,653 kmMaritime claims:continental shelf:200-m depth or to depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:inherited disputes from former USSR including: sections of theboundary with China; islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan andthe Habomai group occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, administeredby Russia, claimed by Japan; maritime dispute with Norway over portionof the Barents Sea; Russia may dispute current de facto maritimeborder of midpoint of Caspian Sea from shore; potential dispute withUkraine over Crimea; has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (buthas reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims ofany other nationClimate:ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much ofEuropean Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polarnorth; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid inSiberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along ArcticcoastTerrain:broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest andtundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regionsNatural resources:wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, naturalgas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timbernote:formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinderexploitation of natural resourcesLand use:arable land:8%permanent crops:NA%meadows and pastures:NA%forest and woodland:NA%other:NA%note:agricultural land accounts for 13% of the total land areaIrrigated land:56,000 sq km (1992)Environment:current issues:air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electricplants, and transportation in major cities; industrial andagricultural pollution of inland waterways and sea coasts;deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improperapplication of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimesintense radioactive contaminationnatural hazards:permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to developmentinternational agreements:party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Environmental Modification,Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSeaNote:largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably locatedin relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its size, much ofthe country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or toodry) for agriculture
@Russia, People
Population: 149,608,953 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.2% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 12.67 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 11.34 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 27 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.89 years male: 63.85 years female: 74.2 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Russian(s) adjective: Russian Ethnic divisions: Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash 1.2%, Bashkir 0.9%, Byelorussian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1% Religions: Russian Orthodox, Muslim, other Languages: Russian, other Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 75 million (1993 est.) by occupation: production and economic services 83.9%, government 16.1%
@Russia, Government
Names: conventional long form: Russian Federation conventional short form: Russia local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya local short form: Rossiya former: Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Digraph: RS Type: federation Capital: Moscow Administrative divisions: 21 autonomous republics (avtomnykh respublik, singular - avtomnaya respublika); Adygea (Maykop), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatia (Ulan-Ude), Chechenia (Groznyy), Chuvashia (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Gorno-Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Ingushetia (Nazran'), Kabardino-Balkaria (Nal'chik), Kalmykia (Elista), Karachay-Cherkessia (Cherkessk), Karelia (Petrozavodsk), Khakassia (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mari El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordovia (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Tatarstan (Kazan'), Tuva (Kyzyl), Udmurtia (Izhevsk), Yakutia (Yakutsk); 49 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast'); Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Belgorod, Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Chita, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orel, Orenburg, Penza, Perm', Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan', Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver', Tyumen', Ul'yanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl'; 6 krays (krayev, singular - kray); Altay (Barnaul), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Primorskiy (Vladivostok), Stavropol' note: the autonomous republics of Chechenia and Ingushetia were formerly the automous republic of Checheno-Ingushetia (the boundary between Chechenia and Ingushetia has yet to be determined); the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg are federal cities; an administrative division has the same name as its administrative center (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses) Independence: 24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, June 12 (1990) Constitution: adopted 12 December 1993 Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Boris Nikolayevich YEL'TSIN (since 12 June 1991) election last held 12 June 1991 (next to be held 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA%; note - no vice president; if the president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier succeeds him; the premier serves as acting president until a new presidential election, which must be held within three months head of government: Premier and Chairman of the Council of Ministers Viktor Stepanovich CHERNOMYRDIN (since 14 December 1992); First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Oleg SOSKOVETS (since 30 April 1993) Security Council: (originally established as a presidential advisory body in June 1991, but restructured in March 1992 with responsibility for managing individual and state security) Presidential Administration: (drafts presidential edicts and provides staff and policy support to the entire executive branch) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president Group of Assistants: (schedules president's appointments, processes presidential edicts and other official documents, and houses the president's press service and primary speechwriters) Council of Heads of Republics: (includes the leaders of the 21 ethnic-based Republics) Council of Heads of Administrations: (includes the leaders of the 68 autonomous territories and regions, and the mayors of Moscow and St. Petersburg) Presidential Council: (prepares policy papers for the president) Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly Federation Council: elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); note - two members elected from each of Russia's 89 territorial units for a total of 176 deputies; 2 seats unfilled as of 15 May 1994 (Chechenia did not participate in the election); Speaker Vladimir SHUMEYKO (Russia's Choice) State Duma: elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (450 total) Russia's Choice 78, New Regional Policy 66, Liberal Democrats 63, Agrarian Party 55, Communist Party of the Russian Federation 45, Unity and Accord 30, Yavlinskiy Bloc 27, Women of Russia 23, Democratic Party of Russia 15, Russia's Path 12, other parties 23, affiliation unknown 12, unfilled (as of 13 March 1994; Chechnya did not participate in the election) 1; Speaker Ivan RYBKIN (Agrarian Party) Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (highest court for criminal, civil, and administrative cases), Superior Court of Arbitration (highest court that resolves economic disputes) Political parties and leaders: pro-market democrats: Party of Russian Unity and Accord, Sergey SHAKHRAY; Russia's Choice electoral association, Yegor GAYDAR; Russian Movement for Democratic Reforms electoral association, Anatoliy SOBCHAK; Yavlinskiy-Boldyrev-Lukin Bloc electoral association, Grigoriy YAVLINSKIY centrists/special interest parties: Civic Union for Stability, Justice, and Progress, Arkadiy VOL'SKIY; Constructive-Ecological Movement of Russia, Anatoliy PANFILOV; Democratic Party of Russia, Nikolay TRAVKIN; Dignity and Charity Federal Political Movement, Konstantin FROLOV; Russia's Future-New Names electoral association, Vyacheslav LASHCHEVSKIY; Women of Russia Party, Alevtina FEDULOVA anti-market and/or ultranationalist parties: Agrarian Party, Mikhail LAPSHIN; Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Gennadiy ZYUGANOV; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY note: more than 20 political parties and associations tried to gather enough signatures to run slates of candidates in the 12 December 1993 legislative elections, but only 13 succeeded Other political or pressure groups: NA Member of: BSEC, CBSS, CCC, CE (guest), CERN (observer), CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NACC, NSG, OAS (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UN Trusteeship Council, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Vladimir Petrovich LUKIN chancery: 1125 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 628-7551 and 8548 consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco, and Seattle consulate(s): Washington US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas R. PICKERING embassy: Novinskiy Bul'var 19/23, Moscow mailing address: APO AE 09721 telephone: [7] (095) 252-2451 through 2459 FAX: [7] (095)-4261/4270 consulate(s): St. Petersburg, Vladivostok Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
@Russia, Economy
Overview: Russia, a vast country with a wealth of natural resources, a well-educated population, and a diverse industrial base, continues to experience severe difficulties in moving from its old centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. President YEL'TSIN's government has made some progress toward a market economy by freeing most prices, slashing defense spending, unifying foreign exchange rates, and launching an ambitious privatization program. Yet much of the old order persists and YEL'TSIN faces formidable opposition to further measures such as the reduction of subsidies to old-line industries. Output continues to fall although the mix is gradually becoming more responsive to Russia's needs. According to Russian official data, GDP declined by 12% in 1993 compared with 19% in 1992. Industrial output in 1993 fell 16% with all major sectors taking a hit. Agricultural production, meanwhile, was down 6%. The grain harvest totalled 99 million tons - some 8 million tons less than in 1992. Unemployment climbed in 1993 but remained low by Western standards. The official number of unemployed rose from 578,000 at the beginning of 1993 to about 1 million - or roughly 1.4% of the work force - by yearend. According to the Russian labor minister, the actual number of unemployed probably was closer to 4 million. Government fears of large-scale unemployment continued to hamper industrial restructuring efforts. According to official statistics, average real wages remained flat. Nonetheless, a substantial portion of the population, particularly the elderly and people in remote areas, finds its well-being steadily shrinking. The disparity in incomes between the rich and poor continued to rise in 1993, primarily reflecting the high earnings of enterprise managers and persons employed in the emerging private sector. The government tried to narrow the income gap by raising the wages of budget-funded workers - mainly teachers and health care specialists. Official data may overstate hardships, because many Russians supplement their income by moonlighting or by bartering goods and services, activities that often go unreported. Russia made good progress on privatization in 1993 despite active opposition from key cabinet members, hard-line legislators, and antireform regional leaders. By yearend, for example, roughly 35% of Russia's medium and large state enterprises had been auctioned, while the number of private farms in Russia increased by 86,000, reaching a total of 170,000. As a result, about 6% of agricultural land now has been privatized. Financial stabilization continued to remain a challenge for the government. Moscow tightened financial policies in early 1993 - including postponing planned budget spending - and succeeded in reducing monthly inflation from 27% in January to 20% in May and June. In the summer, however, the government relaxed austerity measures in the face of mounting pressure from industry and agriculture, sparking a new round of inflation; the monthly inflation rate jumped to 25% in August. In response, Moscow announced a package of measures designed to curb government spending and inflation. It included eliminating bread subsidies, delaying payment obligations, raising interest rates, and phasing out concessionary Central Bank credits to enterprises and regions. The measures met with some success; the monthly inflation rate declined to 13% in December. According to official statistics, Russia's 1993 trade with nations outside the former Soviet Union produced a $16 billion surplus, up from $6 billion in 1992. Moscow arrested the steep drop in exports that it had been suffering as a result of ruptured ties with former trading partners, output declines, and erratic efforts to move to world prices. Foreign sales - comprised largely of oil, natural gas, and other raw materials - grew slightly. Imports were down by 15% or so as a result of new import taxes and Moscow's reluctance to increase its debt burden by purchasing grain and other goods with foreign credits. Russian trade with other former Soviet republics continued to decline and yielded a surplus of some $5 billion. At the same time, Russia paid only a fraction of the roughly $20 billion in debt coming due in 1993, and by mid-year, Russia's foreign debt had amounted to $81.5 billion. While Moscow reached agreement to restructure debts with Paris Club official creditors in April 1993, Moscow's refusal to waive its right to sovereign immunity kept Russia and its bank creditors from agreeing to restructure Moscow's commercial loans. Capital flight continued to be a serious problem in 1993, with billions of dollars in assets owned by Russians being parked abroad at yearend. Russia's capital stock continues to deteriorate because of insufficient maintenance and new construction. The capital stock on average is twice the age of capital stock in the West. Many years will pass before Russia can take full advantage of its natural resources and its human assets. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $775.4 billion (1993 estimate from the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as extrapolated to 1993 using official Russian statistics, which are very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990) National product real growth rate: -12% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $5,190 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 21% per month (average 1993); 13% per month (December 1993) Unemployment rate: 1.4% (1 January 1994; official data) Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $43 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood and wood products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and military manufactures partners: Europe, North America, Japan, Third World countries, Cuba Imports: $27 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, consumer goods, grain, meat, sugar, semifinished metal products partners: Europe, North America, Japan, Third World countries, Cuba External debt: $81.5 billion (mid-year 1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -16% (1993 est.) Electricity: capacity: 213,000,000 KW production: 956 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,782 kWh (1 January 1992) Industries: complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; ship- building; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables Agriculture: grain, sugar beet, sunflower seeds, meat, milk, vegetables, fruits; because of its northern location does not grow citrus, cotton, tea, and other warm climate products Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for domestic consumption; government has active eradication program; used as transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe and Latin America Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1990-93), $13 billion; other countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1988-93), $115 billion Currency: 1 ruble (R) = 100 kopeks Exchange rates: rubles per US$1 - 1,247 (27 December 1993), 415 (24 December 1992); nominal exchange rate still deteriorating but real exchange rate strengthening Fiscal year: calendar year
@Russia, Communications
Railroads:158,100 km all 1.520-meter broad gauge; 86,800 km in common carrierservice, of which 48,900 km are diesel traction and 37,900 km areelectric traction; 71,300 km serves specific industry and is notavailable for common carrier use (30 June 1993)Highways:total:893,000 kmpaved and gravel:677,000 kmunpaved:216,000 kmInland waterways:total navigable routes in general use 100,000 km; routes withnavigation guides serving the Russian River Fleet 95,900 km; of whichroutes with night navigational aids 60,400 km; man-made navigableroutes 16,900 km (30 June 1993)Pipelines:crude oil 48,000 km; petroleum products 15,000 km; natural gas 140,000km (30 June 1993)Ports:coastal - St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Petropavlovsk,Arkhangel'sk, Novorossiysk, Vladivostok, Nakhodka, Kholmsk, Korsakov,Magadan, Tiksi, Tuapse, Vanino, Vostochnyy, Vyborg; inland -Astrakhan', Nizhniy Novgorod, Kazan', Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Samara,Moscow, Rostov, VolgogradMerchant marine:867 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,084,988 GRT/11,124,929 DWT,barge carrier 2, bulk cargo 26, cargo 454, chemical tanker 9,combination bulk 28, combination ore/oil 16, container 82,multi-function large load carrier 3, oil tanker 125, passenger 6,passenger cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 17, roll-on/roll-off cargo 74,short-sea passenger 18, specialized tanker 2Airports:total:2,550usable:964with permanent-surface runways:565with runways over 3,659 m:19with runways 2,440-3,659 m:275with runways 1,220-2,439 m:426Telecommunications:Russia is enlisting foreign help, by means of joint ventures, to speedup the modernization of its telecommunications system; NMT-450 analogcellular telephone networks are operational and growing in Moscow andSt. Petersburg; expanded access to international E-mail serviceavailable via Sprint network; intercity fiberoptic cable installationremains limited; the inadequacy of Russian telecommunications is asevere handicap to the economy, especially with respect tointernational connections; total installed telephones 24,400,000, ofwhich in urban areas 20,900,000 and in rural areas 3,500,000; ofthese, total installed in homes 15,400,000; total pay phones for longdistant calls 34,100; telephone density is about 164 telephones per1,000 persons (in 1992, only 661,000 new telephones were installedcompared with 855,000 in 1991 and in 1992 the number of unsatisfiedapplications for telephones reached 11,000,000); international trafficis handled by an inadequate system of satellites, land lines,microwave radio relay and outdated submarine cables; this trafficpasses through the international gateway switch in Moscow whichcarries most of the international traffic for the other countries ofthe Commonwealth of Independent States; a new Russian Raduga satellitewill link Moscow and St. Petersburg with Rome from whence calls willbe relayed to destinations in Europe and overseas; satellite groundstations - INTELSAT, Intersputnik, Eutelsat (Moscow), INMARSAT,Orbita; broadcast stations - 1,050 AM/FM/SW (reach 98.6% ofpopulation), 7,183 TV; receiving sets - 54,200,000 TVs, 48,800,000radio receivers, 74,300,000 radio receivers with multiple speakersystems for program diffusion
@Russia, Defense Forces
Branches:Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces, Air Defense Forces, Strategic RocketForces, Command and General Support, Security ForcesManpower availability:males age 15-49 37,706,825; fit for military service 29,623,429; reachmilitary age (18) annually 1,098,307 (1994 est.)Defense expenditures:$NA, NA% of GDP
@Rwanda, Geography
Location:Central Africa, between Tanzania and ZaireMap references:Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:26,340 sq kmland area:24,950 sq kmcomparative area:slightly smaller than MarylandLand boundaries:total 893 km, Burundi 290 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km, Zaire217 kmCoastline:0 km (landlocked)Maritime claims:none; landlockedInternational disputes:noneClimate:temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January);mild in mountains with frost and snow possibleTerrain:mostly grassy uplands and hills; mountains in westNatural resources:gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), natural gas,hydropowerLand use:arable land:29%permanent crops:11%meadows and pastures:18%forest and woodland:10%other:32%Irrigated land:40 sq km (1989 est.)Environment:current issues:deforestation; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosionnatural hazards:periodic droughtsinternational agreements:party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but notratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the SeaNote:landlocked; predominantly rural population
@Rwanda, People
Population:8,373,963 (July 1994 est.)note:the demographic estimates were prepared before civil strife, startingin April 1994, set in motion substantial and continuing populationchangesPopulation growth rate:2.78% (1994 est.)Birth rate:49.17 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:21.35 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:118.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:40.25 yearsmale:39.33 yearsfemale:41.21 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:8.19 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:Rwandan(s)adjective:RwandanEthnic divisions:Hutu 90%, Tutsi 9%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%Religions:Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 1%, indigenous beliefs andother 25%Languages:Kinyarwanda (official), French (official), Kiswahili used incommercial centersLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population:50%male:64%female:37%Labor force:3.6 millionby occupation:agriculture 93%, government and services 5%, industry and commerce 2%note:49% of population of working age (1985)
@Rwanda, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Rwandaconventional short form:Rwandalocal long form:Republika y'u Rwandalocal short form:RwandaDigraph:RWType:republic; presidential systemnote:a new, interim government formed in August 1992 to last until peaceaccord; political parties are working to form a multiethicalbroad-based transitonal government to lead them to elections in 1995Capital:KigaliAdministrative divisions:10 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture in French; plural -NA, singular - prefegitura in Kinyarwanda); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu,Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali, RuhengeriIndependence:1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)National holiday:Independence Day, 1 July (1962)Constitution:18 June 1991Legal system:based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law;judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdictionSuffrage:universal adult at age NAExecutive branch:chief of state:Interim President Dr. Theodore SINDIKUBWABO (since 8 April 1994,following the death of President Juvenal HABYARIMANA on 6 April 1994)the last election was held 19 December 1988 (next planned for 1995);results - the late President Juvenal HABYARIMANA was reelectedhead of government:Prime Minister Jean KAMBANDA, appointed by President SINDIKUBWABWO 8April 1994 following the assassination of Agatha UWILINGIYIMANA on 7April 1994cabinet:Council of Ministers; appointed by the presidentLegislative branch:unicameralNational Development Council:(Conseil National de Developpement) elections last held 19 December1988 (new elections to be held in 1995); results - MRND was the onlyparty; seats - (70 total) MRND 70Judicial branch:Constitutional Court (consists of the Court of Cassation and theCouncil of State in joint session)Political parties and leaders:Republican National Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND);significant independent parties include: Democratic RepublicanMovement (MDR); Liberal Party (PL); Democratic and Socialist Party(PSD); Coalition for the Defense of the Republic (CDR); Party forDemocracy in Rwanda (PADER); Christian Democratic Party (PDL)note:formerly a one-party state, Rwanda legalized independent parties inmid-1991; since then, at least 10 new political parties haveregisteredOther political or pressure groups:Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), Alexis KANYARENGWE, Chairman (since1990); Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), the RPF military wing, Maj. Gen.Paul KAGAME, commanderMember of:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO,ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS,NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Aloys UWIMANAchancery:1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone:(202) 232-2882FAX:(202) 232-4544US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:(vacant)embassy:Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigalimailing address:B. P. 28, Kigalitelephone:[250] 75601 through 75603FAX:[250] 72128note:embassy closed on 10 April 1994 and personnel withdrawn because ofsevere civil strife and consequent danger for foreign nationalsFlag:three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green witha large black letter R centered in the yellow band; uses the popularpan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Guinea, whichhas a plain yellow band
@Rwanda, Economy
Overview:Almost 50% of GDP comes from the agricultural sector; coffee and teamake up 80-90% of total exports. The amount of fertile land islimited, however, and deforestation and soil erosion have createdproblems. The industrial sector in Rwanda is small, contributing only17% to GDP. Manufacturing focuses mainly on the processing ofagricultural products. The Rwandan economy remains dependent oncoffee/tea exports and foreign aid. Weak international prices since1986 have caused the economy to contract and per capita GDP todecline. A structural adjustment program with the World Bank began inOctober 1990. Ethnic-based insurgency in 1990-93 devastated wide areasof the north and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. A peaceaccord in mid-1993 temporarily ended most of the fighting, but massiveresumption of civil warfare in April 1994 in the capital city Kigalihas been taking thousands of lives and severely damaging short-termeconomic prospectsNational product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $6.8 billion (1993 est.)National product real growth rate:1.3% (1992 est.)National product per capita:$800 (1993 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.5% (1992 est.)Unemployment rate:NA%Budget:revenues:$350 millionexpenditures:$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)Exports:$66.6 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:coffee 63%, tea, cassiterite, wolframite, pyrethrumpartners:Germany, Belgium, Italy, Uganda, UK, France, USImports:$259.5 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:textiles, foodstuffs, machines and equipment, capital goods, steel,petroleum products, cement and construction materialpartners:US, Belgium, Germany, Kenya, JapanExternal debt:$845 million (1991 est.)Industrial production:growth rate -2.2% (1991); accounts for 17% of GDPElectricity:capacity:30,000 kWproduction:130 million kWhconsumption per capita:15 kWh (1991)Industries:mining of cassiterite (tin ore) and wolframite (tungsten ore), tin,cement, agricultural processing, small-scale beverage production,soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettesAgriculture:accounts for almost 50% of GDP and about 90% of the labor force; cashcrops - coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums);main food crops - bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; stock raising;self-sufficiency declining; country imports foodstuffs as farmproduction fails to keep up with a 2.8% annual growth in populationEconomic aid:recipient:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $128 million; Western(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $45 million; Communistcountries (1970-89), $58 millionnote:in October 1990 Rwanda launched a Structural Adjustment Program withthe IMF; since September 1991, the EC has given $46 million and the US$25 million in support of this program (1993)Currency:1 Rwandan franc (RF) = 100 centimesExchange rates:Rwandan francs (RF) per US$1 - 145.45 (December 1993), 133.35 (1992),125.14 (1991), 82.60 (1990), 79.98 (1989)Fiscal year:calendar year
@Rwanda, Communications
Highways:total:4,885 kmpaved:460 kmunpaved:gravel, improved earth 1,725 km; unimproved earth 2,700 kmInland waterways:Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craftAirports:total:8usable:7with permanent-surface runways:3with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:1with runways 1,220-2,439 m:2Telecommunications:telephone system does not provide service to the general public but isintended for business and government use; the capital, Kigali, isconnected to the centers of the prefectures by microwave radio relay;the remainder of the network depends on wire and high frequency radio;international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboringcountries and satellite communications to more distant countries;satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 SYMPHONIEstation in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service); broadcaststations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV
@Rwanda, Defense Forces
Branches:Army (including Air Wing), Gendarmerienote:Rwanda plans to demobilize and reorganize with RPF elements during1994Manpower availability:males age 15-49 1,733,246; fit for military service 883,291Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $37 million, 1.6% of GDP (1988 est.)
@Saint Helena
Header Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK)
@Saint Helena, Geography
Location:Southern Africa, in the South Atlantic Ocean, 1,920 km west of Angola,about two-thirds of the way between South America and AfricaMap references:AfricaArea:total area:410 sq kmland area:410 sq kmcomparative area:slightly more than 2.3 times the size of Washington, DCnote:includes Ascension, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, NightingaleIsland, and Tristan da CunhaLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:60 kmMaritime claims:exclusive fishing zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:noneClimate:tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade windsTerrain:rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plainsNatural resources:fish; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns,no mineralsLand use:arable land:7%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:7%forest and woodland:3%other:83%Irrigated land:NA sq kmEnvironment:current issues:NAnatural hazards:active volcanism on Tristan da Cunhainternational agreements:NANote:Napoleon Bonaparte's place of exile and burial (the remains were takento Paris in 1840); harbors at least 40 species of plants unknownanywhere else in the world
@Saint Helena, People
Population:6,741 (July 1994 est.)Population growth rate:0.31% (1994 est.)Birth rate:9.64 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:6.55 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:37.24 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:74.75 yearsmale:72.68 yearsfemale:76.58 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:1.14 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:Saint Helenian(s)adjective:Saint HelenianEthnic divisions:NAReligions:Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman CatholicLanguages:EnglishLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1987)total population:98%male:97%female:98%Labor force:2,516by occupation:professional, technical, and related workers 8.7%, managerial,administrative, and clerical 12.8%, sales people 8.1%, farmer,fishermen, etc. 5.4%, craftspersons, production process workers 14.7%,others 50.3% (1987)
@Saint Helena, Government
Names:conventional long form:noneconventional short form:Saint HelenaDigraph:SHType:dependent territory of the UKCapital:JamestownAdministrative divisions:1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena,Tristan da Cunha*Independence:none (dependent territory of the UK)National holiday:Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen, 10 June 1989 (secondSaturday in June)Constitution:1 January 1989Legal system:NASuffrage:NAExecutive branch:chief of state:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government:Governor A. N. HOOLE (since NA)cabinet:Executive CouncilLegislative branch:unicameralLegislative Council:elections last held October 1984 (next to be held NA); results -percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected) number ofseats by party NAJudicial branch:Supreme CourtPolitical parties and leaders:Saint Helena Labor Party; Saint Helena Progressive Partynote:both political parties inactive since 1976Member of:ICFTUDiplomatic representation in US:none (dependent territory of the UK)US diplomatic representation:none (dependent territory of the UK)Flag:blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and theSaint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; theshield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship
@Saint Helena, Economy
Overview:The economy depends primarily on financial assistance from the UK. Thelocal population earns some income from fishing, the raising oflivestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, alarge proportion of the work force has left to seek employmentoverseas.National product:GDP $NANational product real growth rate:NA%National product per capita:$NAInflation rate (consumer prices):-1.1% (1986)Unemployment rate:NA%Budget:revenues:$3.2 millionexpenditures:$2.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1984 est.)Exports:$23,900 (f.o.b., 1984)commodities:fish (frozen and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), handicraftspartners:South Africa, UKImports:$2.4 million (c.i.f., 1984)commodities:food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials,motor vehicles and parts, machinery and partspartners:UK, South AfricaExternal debt:$NAIndustrial production:growth rate NA%Electricity:capacity:9,800 kWproduction:10 million kWhconsumption per capita:1,390 kWh (1989)Industries:crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishingAgriculture:maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being developed;crawfishing on Tristan da CunhaEconomic aid:recipient:Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1992-93), $13.5 millionCurrency:1 Saint Helenian pound (#S) = 100 penceExchange rates:Saint Helenian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6033(1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989);note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British poundFiscal year:1 April - 31 March
@Saint Helena, Communications
Highways:total:NA (mainland 107 km, Ascension NA, Tristan da Cunha NA)paved:169.7 km (mainland 87 km, Ascension 80 km, Tristan da Cunha 2.70 km)unpaved:NA (mainland 20 km earth roads, Ascension NA, Tristan da Cunha NA)Ports:Jamestown (Saint Helena), Georgetown (Ascension)Airports:total:1usable:1with permanent-surface runways:1with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:1with runways 1,220-2,439 m:0Telecommunications:1,500 radio receivers; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 550telephones in automatic network; HF radio links to Ascension, theninto worldwide submarine cable and satellite networks; major coaxialsubmarine cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and UK atAscension; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
@Saint Helena, Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Saint Kitts and Nevis, Geography
Location: Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago Map references: Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 269 sq km land area: 269 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 135 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November) Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors Natural resources: negligible Land use: arable land: 22% permanent crops: 17% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 17% other: 41% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to hurricanes (July to October) international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
@Saint Kitts and Nevis, People
Population: 40,671 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.72% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 23.7 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 9.98 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -6.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 19.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.11 years male: 63.14 years female: 69.27 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s) adjective: Kittsian, Nevisian Ethnic divisions: black African Religions: Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic Languages: English Literacy: age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% Labor force: 20,000 (1981)
@Saint Kitts and Nevis, Government
Names:conventional long form:Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevisconventional short form:Saint Kitts and Nevisformer:Federation of Saint Christopher and NevisDigraph:SCType:constitutional monarchyCapital:BasseterreAdministrative divisions:14 parishs; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, SaintGeorge Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward,Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, SaintPaul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, SaintThomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto PointIndependence:19 September 1983 (from UK)National holiday:Independence Day, 19 September (1983)Constitution:19 September 1983Legal system:based on English common lawSuffrage:universal adult at age NAExecutive branch:chief of state:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by GovernorGeneral Sir Clement Athelston ARRINDELL (since 19 September 1983,previously Governor General of the Associated State since NA November1981)head of government:Prime Minister Dr. Kennedy Alphonse SIMMONDS (since 19 September 1983,previously Premier of the Associated State since NA February 1980);Deputy Prime Minister Sydney Earl MORRIS (since NA)cabinet:Cabinet; appointed by the governor general in consultation with theprime ministerLegislative branch:unicameralHouse of Assembly:elections last held 29 November 1993 (next to be held by 21 March1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (14 total, 11elected) PAM 4, SKNLP 4, NRP 1, CCM 2Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme CourtPolitical parties and leaders:People's Action Movement (PAM), Dr. Kennedy SIMMONDS; Saint Kitts andNevis Labor Party (SKNLP), Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS; Nevis Reformation Party(NRP), Simeon DANIEL; Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Vance AMORYMember of:ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IMF,INTERPOL, LORCS, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:(vacant); Minister-Counselor (Deputy Chief of Mission), Charged'Affaires ad interim Aubrey Eric HARTchancery:Suite 608, 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037telephone:(202) 833-3550FAX:(202) 833-3553US diplomatic representation:no official presence since the Charge d'Affaires resides in SaintJohn's (Antigua and Barbuda)Flag:divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black bandbearing two white five-pointed stars; the black band is edged inyellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red
@Saint Kitts and Nevis, Economy
Overview:The economy has historically depended on the growing and processing ofsugarcane and on remittances from overseas workers. In recent years,tourism and export-oriented manufacturing have assumed larger roles.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $163 million (1992)National product real growth rate:4.1% (1992)National product per capita:$4,000 (1992)Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.9% (1992)Unemployment rate:12.2% (1990)Budget:revenues:$85.7 millionexpenditures:$85.8 million, including capital expenditures of $42.4 million (1993est.)Exports:$32.4 million (f.o.b., 1992)commodities:sugar, clothing, electronics, postage stampspartners:US 53%, UK 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 5%, OECS 5% (1988)Imports:$100 million (f.o.b., 1992)commodities:foodstuffs, intermediate manufactures, machinery, fuelspartners:US 36%, UK 17%, Trinidad and Tobago 6%, Canada 3%, Japan 3%, OECS 4%(1988)External debt:$43.3 million (1992)Industrial production:growth rate 11.8% (1988 est.); accounts for 11% of GDPElectricity:capacity:15,800 kWproduction:45 million kWhconsumption per capita:1,120 kWh (1992)Industries:sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear,beveragesAgriculture:accounts for 7% of GDP; cash crop - sugarcane; subsistence crops -rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing potential not fullyexploited; most food importedIllicit drugs:transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the USEconomic aid:recipient:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-88), $10.7 million; Western(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $67millionCurrency:1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 centsExchange rates:East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)Fiscal year:calendar year
@Saint Kitts and Nevis, Communications
Railroads:58 km 0.760-meter gauge on Saint Kitts for sugarcaneHighways:total:300 kmpaved:125 kmunpaved:otherwise improved 125 km; unimproved earth 50 kmPorts:Basseterre (Saint Kitts), Charlestown (Nevis)Airports:total:2usable:2with permanent-surface runways:2with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:1with runways 1,220-2,439 m:0Telecommunications:good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radio connections and international linkvia Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin; 2,400 telephones; broadcaststations - 2 AM, no FM, 4 TV
@Saint Kitts and Nevis, Defense Forces
Branches:Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast GuardDefense expenditures:$NA, NA% of GDP
@Saint Lucia, Geography
Location:Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about two-thirds of the waybetween Puerto Rico and Trinidad and TobagoMap references:Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zonesof the WorldArea:total area:620 sq kmland area:610 sq kmcomparative area:slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DCLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:158 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:24 nmexclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:noneClimate:tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from Januaryto April, rainy season from May to AugustTerrain:volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleysNatural resources:forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermalpotentialLand use:arable land:8%permanent crops:20%meadows and pastures:5%forest and woodland:13%other:54%Irrigated land:10 sq km (1989 est.)Environment:current issues:deforestation; soil erosionnatural hazards:subject to hurricanes and volcanic activityinternational agreements:party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Whaling
@Saint Lucia, People
Population: 145,090 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.52% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 23.12 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.84 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -12.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.36 years male: 67.06 years female: 71.83 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.5 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian Ethnic divisions: African descent 90.3%, mixed 5.5%, East Indian 3.2%, Caucasian 0.8% Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3% Languages: English (official), French patois Literacy: age 15 and over having ever attended school (1980) total population: 67% male: 65% female: 69% Labor force: 43,800 by occupation: agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)
@Saint Lucia, Government
Names:conventional long form:noneconventional short form:Saint LuciaDigraph:STType:parliamentary democracyCapital:CastriesAdministrative divisions:11 quarters; Anse La Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, GrosIslet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux FortIndependence:22 February 1979 (from UK)National holiday:Independence Day, 22 February (1979)Constitution:22 February 1979Legal system:based on English common lawSuffrage:18 years of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by GovernorGeneral Sir Stanislaus Anthony JAMES (since 10 October 1988)head of government:Prime Minister John George Melvin COMPTON (since 3 May 1982); VicePresident George MALLET (since NA)cabinet:Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the primeministerLegislative branch:bicameral ParliamentSenate:consists of an 11-member body, 6 appointed on the advice of the primeminister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 2 afterconsultation with religious, economic, and social groupsHouse of Assembly:elections last held 27 April 1992 (next to be held by April 1997);results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) UWP 11, SLP6Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme CourtPolitical parties and leaders:United Workers' Party (UWP), John COMPTON; Saint Lucia Labor Party(SLP), Julian HUNTE; Progressive Labor Party (PLP), George ODLUMMember of:ACCT (associate), ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD,ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatoryuser), INTERPOL, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Dr. Joseph Edsel EDMUNDSchancery:Suite 309, 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 30037telephone:(202) 463-7378 or 7379FAX:(202) 887-5746consulate(s) general:New YorkUS diplomatic representation:no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown(Barbados)Flag:blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upperedges of the arrowhead have a white border
@Saint Lucia, Economy
Overview:Since 1983 the economy has shown an impressive average annual growthrate of almost 5% because of strong agricultural and tourist sectors.Saint Lucia also possesses an expanding industrial base supported byforeign investment in manufacturing and other activities, such as dataprocessing. The economy, however, remains vulnerable because theimportant agricultural sector is dominated by banana production, whichis subject to periodic droughts and tropical storms. The economyexhibited relatively strong growth in 1992-93 based on a recovery ofthe agricultural and manufacturing sectors and continued growth inconstruction and tourism.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $433 million (1993 est.)National product real growth rate:6.6% (1992 est.)National product per capita:$3,000 (1993 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.1% (1992)Unemployment rate:NA%Budget:revenues:$121 millionexpenditures:$127 million, including capital expenditures of $104 million (1992est.)Exports:$122.8 million (f.o.b., 1992)commodities:bananas 60%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oilpartners:UK 56%, US 22%, CARICOM 19% (1991)Imports:$276 million (f.o.b., 1992)commodities:manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 21%,food and live animals, chemicals, fuelspartners:US 34%, CARICOM 17%, UK 14%, Japan 7%, Canada 4% (1991)External debt:$96.4 million (1992 est.)Industrial production:growth rate 3.5% (1990 est.); accounts for 12% of GDPElectricity:capacity:32,500 kWproduction:112 million kWhconsumption per capita:740 kWh (1992)Industries:clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugatedcardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processingAgriculture:accounts for 14% of GDP and 43% of labor force; crops - bananas,coconuts, vegetables, citrus fruit, root crops, cocoa; imports foodfor the tourist industryIllicit drugs:transit country for South American drugs destined for the US andEuropeEconomic aid:recipient:Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $120 millionCurrency:1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 centsExchange rates:East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)