@Somalia, Communications
Highways:total:22,500 kmpaved:2,700 kmunpaved:gravel 3,000 km; improved, stabilized earth 16,800 km (1992)Pipelines:crude oil 15 kmPorts:Mogadishu, Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Bender Cassim (Boosaaso)Merchant marine:2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,554 GRT/6,892 DWT, cargo 1,refrigerated cargo 1Airports:total:76usable:59with permanent-surface runways:8with runways over 3,659 m:2with runways 2,440-3,659 m:6with runways 1,220-2,439 m:24Telecommunications:the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed ordismantled by the civil war factions; all relief organizations dependon their own private systems (1993)
@Somalia, Defense Forces
Branches:NAManpower availability:males age 15-49 1,630,864; fit for military service 915,368Defense expenditures:$NA, NA% of GDP
@South Africa, Geography
Location:Southern Africa, at the extreme southern tip of the continentMap references:Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:1,219,912 sq kmland area:1,219,912 sq kmcomparative area:slightly less than twice the size of Texasnote:includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince EdwardIsland)Land boundaries:total 4,750 km, Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km,Namibia 855 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 kmCoastline:2,798 kmMaritime claims:continental shelf:200-m depth or to depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:the dispute with Namibia over Walvis Bay and 12 offshore islands hasbeen resolved and these territories were transferred to Namibiansovereignty on 1 March 1994; Swaziland has asked South Africa to opennegotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territoriesthat are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of theSwazi KingdomClimate:mostly semiarid; subtropical along coast; sunny days, cool nightsTerrain:vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plainNatural resources:gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel,phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium,salt, natural gasLand use:arable land:10%permanent crops:1%meadows and pastures:65%forest and woodland:3%other:21%Irrigated land:11,280 sq km (1989 est.)Environment:current issues:lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive waterconservation and control measures; growth in water usage threatens tooutpace supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urbandischarge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion;desertificationnatural hazards:subject to prolonged droughtsinternational agreements:party to - Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping,Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law ofthe SeaNote:South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completelysurrounds Swaziland
@South Africa, People
Population:43,930,631 (July 1994 est.)Population growth rate:2.62% (1994 est.)Birth rate:33.58 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:7.53 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:47.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:65.11 yearsmale:62.37 yearsfemale:67.94 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:4.37 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:South African(s)adjective:South AfricanEthnic divisions:black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6%Religions:Christian (most whites and Coloreds and about 60% of blacks), Hindu(60% of Indians), Muslim 2%Languages:eleven official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Ndebele,Pedi, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, ZuluLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1980)total population:76%male:78%female:75%Labor force:13.4 million economically active (1990)by occupation:services 35%, agriculture 30%, industry 20%, mining 9%, other 6%
@South Africa, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of South Africaconventional short form:South AfricaAbbreviation:RSADigraph:SFType:republicCapital:Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative); Bloemfontein(judicial)Administrative divisions:9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Eastern Transvaal, Kwa Zulu/Natal, NorthernCape, Northern Transvaal, Northwest, Orange Free State,Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging, Western Capenote:previously the administrative divisions consisted of 4 provinces;Cape, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal; there were 10 homelands notrecognized by the US - 4 independent (Bophuthatswana, Ciskei,Transkei, Venda) and 6 other (Gazankulu, Kangwane, KwaNdebele,KwaZulu, Lebowa, QwaQwa)Independence:31 May 1910 (from UK)National holiday:Republic Day, 31 May (1910)Constitution:27 April 1994 (interim constitution, replacing the constitution of 3September 1984)Legal system:based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservationsSuffrage:18 years of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state and head of government:Executive President Nelson MANDELA (since 10 May 1994); DeputyExecutive President Frederik W. DE KLERK (since 10 May 1994); DeputyExecutive President Thabo MBEKI (since 10 May 1994)note:any political party that wins 20% or more of the National Assemblyvotes in a general election is entitled to name a Deputy ExecutivePresidentcabinet:Cabinet appointed by the Executive PresidentLegislative branch:bicameralNational Assembly:elections held 26-29 April 1994 (next to be held NA); results - ANC62.6%, NP 20.4%, IFP 10.5%, FF 2.2%, DP 1.7%, PAC 1.2%, ACDP 0.5%,other 0.9%; seats - (400 total) ANC 252, NP 82, IFP 43, FF 9, DP 7,PAC 5, ACDP 2Senate:the Senate is composed of members who are nominated by the nineprovincial parliaments (which are elected in parallel with theNational Assembly) and has special powers to protect regionalinterests, including the right to limited self-determination forethnic minorities; seats - (90 total) ANC 61, NP 17, FF 4, IFP 5, DP 3note:when the National Assembly meets in joint session with the Senate toconsider the provisions of the Constitution, the combined group isreferred to as the Constitutional AssemblyJudicial branch:Supreme CourtPolitical parties and leaders:African National Congress (ANC), Cyril RAMAPHOSA; National Party (NP),Frederik W. DE KLERK, president; Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP),Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president; Freedom Front (FF), Constand VILJOEN,president; Democratic Party (DP); Pan Africanist Congress (PAC),Clarence MAKWETU, president; African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP)note:in addition to these seven parties which won seats in the NationalAssembly, twelve other parties won votes in the national elections inApril 1994Other political or pressure groups:NA;;Member of:BIS, CCC, ECA, GATT, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO (suspended), ICC, IDA,IFC, IMF, INTELSAT, IOC, ISO, ITU (suspended), LORCS, OAU, SACU, UN,UNCTAD, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO (suspended), ZCDiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Harry Heinz SCHWARZchancery:3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone:(202) 232-4400consulate(s) general:Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, and New YorkUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Princeton N. LYMANembassy:877 Pretorius St., Arcadia 0083mailing address:P.O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001telephone:[27] (12) 342-1048FAX:[27] (12) 342-2244 or 2299consulate(s) general:Cape Town, Durban, JohannesburgFlag:two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by acentral green band which splits into a horozontal Y, the arms of whichend at the corners of the hoist side, embracing a black isocelestriangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; thered and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms bynarrow white stripesnote:prior to 26 April 1994 the flag was actually four flags in one - threeminiature flags reproduced in the center of the white band of theformer flag of the Netherlands, which has three equal horizontal bandsof orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags are a verticallyhanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a horizontal flag ofthe UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal flag of the oldTransvaal Republic adjoining on the other side
@South Africa, Economy
Overview:Many of the white one-seventh of the South African population enjoyincomes, material comforts, and health and educational standards equalto those of Western Europe. In contrast, most of the remainingpopulation suffers from the poverty patterns of the Third World,including unemployment and lack of job skills. The main strength ofthe economy lies in its rich mineral resources, which providetwo-thirds of exports. Economic developments for the remainder of the1990s will be driven largely by the new government's attempts toimprove black living conditions and to set the country on anaggressive export-led growth path. The shrinking economy in recentyears has absorbed less than 5% of the more than 300,000 workersentering the labor force annually. Local economists estimate that theeconomy must grow between 5% and 6% in real terms annually to absorball of the new entrants.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $171 billion (1993 est.)National product real growth rate:1.1% (1993 est.)National product per capita:$4,000 (1993 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.7% (1993 est.)Unemployment rate:50% (1994 est.)Budget:revenues:$26.3 billionexpenditures:$34 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.5 billion (FY94est.)Exports:$24.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993)commodities:gold 27%, other minerals and metals 20-25%, food 5%, chemicals 3%partners:Italy, Japan, US, Germany, UK, other EC countries, Hong KongImports:$18.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993)commodities:machinery 32%, transport equipment 15%, chemicals 11%, oil, textiles,scientific instrumentspartners:Germany, US, Japan, UK, ItalyExternal debt:$17 billion (1993 est.)Industrial production:growth rate NA%; accounts for about 40% of GDPElectricity:capacity:46,000,000 kWproduction:180 billion kWhconsumption per capita:4,100 kWh (1991)Industries:mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium),automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel,chemical, fertilizer, foodstuffsAgriculture:accounts for about 5% of GDP and 30% of labor force; diversifiedagriculture, with emphasis on livestock; products - cattle, poultry,sheep, wool, milk, beef, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables;self-sufficient in foodIllicit drugs:transshipment center of heroin and cocaine; cocaine consumption on theriseEconomic aid:many aid packages for the new government are still being prepared;current aid pledges include US $600 million over 3 years; UK $150million over 3 years; Australia $21 million over 3 yearsCurrency:1 rand (R) = 100 centsExchange rates:rand (R) per US$1 - 3.4551 (March 1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992),2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989)Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
@South Africa, Communications
Railroads:20,638 km route distance total; 20,324 km of 1.067-meter gaugetrackage (counts double and multiple tracking as single track); 314 kmof 610 mm gauge; substantial electrification of 1.067 meter gaugeHighways:total:188,309 kmpaved:54,013 kmunpaved:crushed stone, gravel, improved earth 134,296 kmPipelines:crude oil 931 km; petroleum products 1,748 km; natural gas 322 kmPorts:Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha, MosselbaaiMerchant marine:5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 213,273 GRT/201,043 DWT,container 4, vehicle carrier 1Airports:total:886usable:718with permanent-surface runways:140with runways over 3,659 m:5with runways 2,440-3,659 m:10with runways 1,220-2,439 m:213Telecommunications:the system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highestcapacity in Africa; it consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines,coaxial cables, radio relay links, fiber optic cable, andradiocommunication stations; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town,Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria; over 4,500,000telephones; broadcast stations - 14 AM, 286 FM, 67 TV; 1 submarinecable; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 2Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
@South Africa, Defense Forces
Branches:the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) includes Army, Navy,Air Force, and Medical Services of the former South Africa, the armedforces of the former homelands, and the ANC and PAC militarycomponents; the initial strength of the SANDF has been set at about100,000 active duty members with plans to reduce it to about 40,000 by1997; it is manned mostly by nonwhites, but the higher officer gradesare held by whites; the South African Police (SAP) have incorporatedthe police forces of the former homelands since the elections of 1994;a National Peacekeeping Force (NPKF) to ensure peaceful proceeduresduring the 1994 elections was established briefly from the militarycomponents of the principal political factions, but was dissolved on 2June 1994, following the elections.Manpower availability:males age 15-49 10,557,346; fit for military service 6,437,240; reachmilitary age (18) annually 431,832 (1994 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $2.9 billion, about 2.5% of GDP (FY93budget)
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Header Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK)
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Geography
Location:Southern South America, in the South Atlantic Ocean, off the southArgentine coast, southeast of the Falkland IslandsMap references:Antarctic RegionArea:total area:4,066 sq kmland area:4,066 sq kmcomparative area:slightly larger than Rhode Islandnote:includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird IslandLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:NA kmMaritime claims:territorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:administered by the UK, claimed by ArgentinaClimate:variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year, interspersedwith periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snowTerrain:most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged andmountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep,glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanicorigin with some active volcanoesNatural resources:fishLand use:arable land:0%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:0%forest and woodland:0%other:100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparsevegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen)Irrigated land:0 sq kmEnvironment:current issues:NAnatural hazards:the South Sandwich Islands are subject to active volcanisminternational agreements:NANote:the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which providegood anchorage; reindeer, introduced early in this century, live onSouth Georgia; weather conditions generally make it difficult toapproach the South Sandwich Islands
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, People
Population:no indigenous population; there is a small military garrison on SouthGeorgia, and the British Antarctic Survey has a biological station onBird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Government
Names:conventional long form:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islandsconventional short form:noneDigraph:SXType:dependent territory of the UKCapital:none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison townAdministrative divisions:none (dependent territory of the UK)Independence:none (dependent territory of the UK)National holiday:Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)Constitution:3 October 1985Legal system:English common lawExecutive branch:chief of state:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented byCommissioner David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992; resident atStanley, Falkland Islands)Legislative branch:no electionsJudicial branch:none
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Economy
Overview:Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potentialsource of income from harvesting fin fish and krill. The islandsreceive income from postage stamps produced in the UK.Budget:revenues:$291,777expenditures:$451,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)Electricity:capacity:900 kWproduction:2 million kWhconsumption per capita:NA (1992)
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Communications
Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA Ports: Grytviken on South Georgia Airports: total: 5 usable: 5 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: coastal radio station at Grytviken; no broadcast stations
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Spain, Geography
Location:Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and theMediterranean Sea, between Portugal and FranceMap references:Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:504,750 sq kmland area:499,400 sq kmcomparative area:slightly more than twice the size of Oregonnote:includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places ofsovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco -Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon deVelez de la GomeraLand boundaries:total 1,903.2 km, Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km,Portugal 1,214 kmCoastline:4,964 kmMaritime claims:exclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls five places of sovereignty(plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastalenclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as theislands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and IslasChafarinasClimate:temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudyalong coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and coolalong coastTerrain:large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyreneesin northNatural resources:coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum,zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropowerLand use:arable land:31%permanent crops:10%meadows and pastures:21%forest and woodland:31%other:7%Irrigated land:33,600 sq km (1989 est.)Environment:current issues:pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from untreated sewage and effluentsfrom the offshore production of oil and gas; air pollution;deforestation; desertificationnatural hazards:NAinternational agreements:party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, NuclearTest Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber,Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-NitrogenOxides, Law of the SeaNote:strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
@Spain, People
Population: 39,302,665 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.25% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 11.05 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 8.82 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.71 years male: 74.45 years female: 81.21 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish Ethnic divisions: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types Religions: Roman Catholic 99%, other sects 1% Languages: Castilian Spanish, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2% Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 95% male: 97% female: 93% Labor force: 14.621 million by occupation: services 53%, industry 24%, agriculture 14%, construction 9% (1988)
@Spain, Government
Names:conventional long form:Kingdom of Spainconventional short form:Spainlocal short form:EspanaDigraph:SPType:parliamentary monarchyCapital:MadridAdministrative divisions:17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidadautonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria,Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Communidad Valencia,Extremadura, Galicia, Islas Baleares, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia,Navarra, Pais Vasconote:there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of Morocco(Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon deVelez de la Gomera) with administrative status unknownIndependence:1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)National holiday:National Day, 12 OctoberConstitution:6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978Legal system:civil law system, with regional applications; does not acceptcompulsory ICJ jurisdictionSuffrage:18 years of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state:King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975)head of government:Prime Minister Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez (since 2 December 1982); DeputyPrime Minister Narcis SERRA y Serra (since 13 March 1991)cabinet:Council of Ministers; designated by the prime ministerCouncil of State:is the supreme consultative organ of the governmentLegislative branch:bicameral The General Courts or National Assembly (Las CortesGenerales)Senate (Senado):elections last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held by NA June 1997);results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (255 total) PSOE 117,PP 107, CiU 15, PNV 5, IU 2, other 9Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados):elections last held 6 June 1993 (next to be held by NA June 1997);results by percent of party NA; seats - (350 total) PSOE 159, PP 141,IU 18, CiU 17, PNV 5, CN 4, HB 2, other 4Judicial branch:Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo)Political parties and leaders:principal national parties, from right to left:Popular Party (PP), Jose Maria AZNAR; Social Democratic Center (CDS),Rafael Calvo ORTEGA; Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), FelipeGONZALEZ Marquez, secretary general; Socialist Democracy Party (DS),Ricardo Garcia DAMBORENEA; Spanish Communist Party (PCE), JulioANGUITA; United Left (IU) a coalition of parties including the PCE, abranch of the PSOE, and other small parties, Julio ANGUITAchief regional parties:Convergence and Unity (CiU), Jordi PUJOL Saley and Miguel ROCA inCatalonia; Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), Xabier ARZALLUS and JoseAntonio ARDANZA; Basque Solidarity (EA), Carlos GARAICOETXEA Urizza;Basque Popular Unity (HB), Jon IDIGORAS and Inaki ESNAOLA; BasqueSocialist Party (PSE), coalition of the PSE, EE and PSOE, Jose MariaBANEGAS and Jon LARRINAGA; Andalusian Progress Party (PA), PedroPACHECO; Canarian Coalition (CN), Dimas MARTIN; Catalan RepublicanLeft, Angel COLOM; Galician Coalition, Senen BERNARDEZ; AragoneseRegionalist Party (PAR), Jose Maria MUR Bernad; Valencian Union (UV),Vicente GONZALEZ Lizondo, Manuel CAMPILLOS MartinezOther political or pressure groups:on the extreme left, the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) and theFirst of October Antifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO) use terrorism tooppose the government; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977)include the Communist-dominated Workers Commissions (CCOO); theSocialist General Union of Workers (UGT), and the smaller independentWorkers Syndical Union (USO); business and landowning interests; theCatholic Church; Opus Dei; university studentsMember of:AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM,CSCE, EBRD, AfDB, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-8, GATT, IADB,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA(observer), LORCS, MTRC, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZCDiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Jaime De OJEDA y Eiseleychancery:2700 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone:(202) 265-0190 or 0191consulate(s) general:Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York,San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Richard N. GARDNERembassy:Serrano 75, 28006 Madridmailing address:APO AE 09642telephone:[34] (1) 577-4000FAX:[34] (1) 577-5735consulate(s) general:Barcelonaconsulate(s):BilbaoFlag:three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and redwith the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band;the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars ofHercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) oneither side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar
@Spain, Economy
Overview:After the economic boom of 1986-90, the Spanish economy fell intorecession along with the economies of other EU member states. Real GDPbarely grew in 1992 and declined by approximately 1% in 1993.Unemployment, now nearly one-fourth of the workforce, and the sharpdownturn in business investment have contributed to sagging domesticdemand. Devaluation of the peseta since September 1992 has madeSpanish exports more competitive, but an export-led recovery in 1994will depend largely on economic recovery in Spain's major market - theother EU nations. A solid recovery will also require appropriatedomestic policy actions, including controlling the budget deficit andwage increases, reforming labor market regulations, and possiblyloosening monetary policy another notch. Foreign investors,principally from other EU countries, have invested over $60 billion inSpain since 1986. Despite the recession, inflation remained at about5% in 1993. The main source of inflationary pressure is the fiscaldeficit.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $498 billion (1993)National product real growth rate:-1% (1993)National product per capita:$12,700 (1993)Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.5% (1993 est.)Unemployment rate:22% (yearend 1993)Budget:revenues:$97.7 billionexpenditures:$128 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)Exports:$72.8 billion (f.o.b., 1993)commodities:cars and trucks, semifinished manufactured goods, foodstuffs,machinerypartners:EC 71.2%, US 4.8%, other developed countries 7.9% (1992)Imports:$92.5 billion (c.i.f., 1993)commodities:machinery, transport equipment, fuels, semifinished goods, foodstuffs,consumer goods, chemicalspartners:EC 60.7%, US 7.4%, other developed countries 11.5%, Middle East 5.9%(1992)External debt:$90 billion (1993 est.)Industrial production:growth rate -1.7% (1992)Electricity:capacity:46,600,000 kWproduction:157 billion kWhconsumption per capita:4,000 kWh (1992)Industries:textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metalsand metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machinetools, tourismAgriculture:accounts for about 5% of GDP and 14% of labor force; major products -grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus fruit,beef, pork, poultry, dairy; largely self-sufficient in food; fishcatch of 1.4 million metric tons is among top 20 nationsIllicit drugs:key European gateway country for Latin American cocaine and NorthAfrican hashish entering the European marketEconomic aid:recipient:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $1.9 billion; Western(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-79), $545millionnote:not currently a recipientCurrency:1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimosExchange rates:pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 136.6 (May 1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38(1992), 103.91 (1991), 101.93 (1990), 118.38 (1989)Fiscal year:calendar year
@Spain, Communications
Railroads:15,430 km total; Spanish National Railways (RENFE) operates 12,691 km(all 1,668-mm gauge, 6,184 km electrified, and 2,295 km double track);FEVE (government-owned narrow-gauge railways) operates 1,821 km(predominantly 1,000-mm gauge, 441 km electrified); privately ownedrailways operate 918 km (predominantly 1,000-mm gauge, 512 kmelectrified, and 56 km double track)Highways:total:318,022 km (1988)paved:178,092 km (including 2,142 km of expressways)unpaved:139,930 kmInland waterways:1,045 km, but of minor economic importancePipelines:crude oil 265 km; petroleum products 1,794 km; natural gas 1,666 kmPorts:Algeciras, Alicante, Almeria, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena,Castellon de la Plana, Ceuta, El Ferrol del Caudillo, Puerto de Gijon,Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Mahon, Malaga,Melilla, Rota, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Sagunto, Tarragona, Valencia,Vigo, and 175 minor portsMerchant marine:192 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,328,730 GRT/2,213,671 DWT,bulk 21, cargo 55, chemical tanker 14, container 11, liquefied gas 5,oil tanker 29, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 12, roll-on/roll-offcargo 33, short-sea passenger 6, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier1Airports:total:105usable:99with permanent-surface runways:60with runways over 3,659 m:4with runways 2,440-3,659 m:22with runways 1,220-2,439 m:26Telecommunications:generally adequate, modern facilities; 15,350,464 telephones;broadcast stations - 190 AM, 406 (134 repeaters) FM, 100 (1,297repeaters) TV; 22 coaxial submarine cables; 2 communications satelliteearth stations operating in INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and IndianOcean); MARECS, INMARSAT, and EUTELSAT systems; tropospheric links
@Spain, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, National Police, CoastalCivil GuardManpower availability:males age 15-49 10,377,990; fit for military service 8,396,405; reachmilitary age (20) annually 337,764 (1994 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $5.8 billion, 1.3% of GDP (1994 est.)
@Spratly Islands, Geography
Location:Southeastern Asia, in the South China Sea, between Vietnam and thePhilippinesMap references:Asia, Southeast AsiaArea:total area:NA sq km but less than 5 km2land area:less than 5 sq kmcomparative area:NAnote:includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered overthe South China SeaLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:926 kmMaritime claims:NAInternational disputes:all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam;parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984,Brunei established an exclusive economic zone, which encompassesLouisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the islandClimate:tropicalTerrain:flatNatural resources:fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potentialLand use:arable land:0%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:0%forest and woodland:0%other:100%Irrigated land:0 sq kmEnvironment:current issues:NAnatural hazards:subject to typhoonsinternational agreements:NANote:strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in thecentral South China Sea; serious navigational hazard; includesnumerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
@Spratly Islands, People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered garrisons
@Spratly Islands, Government
Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands Digraph: PG
@Spratly Islands, Economy
Overview:Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity tonearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests thepotential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largelyunexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves;commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.Industries:none
@Spratly Islands, Communications
Ports: no natural harbors Airports: total: 4 usable: 4 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0
@Spratly Islands, Defense Forces
Note:about 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, thePhilippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
@Sri Lanka, Geography
Location:Southern Asia, 29 km southeast of India across the Palk Strait in theIndian OceanMap references:Asia, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:65,610 sq kmland area:64,740 sq kmcomparative area:slightly larger than West VirginiaLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:1,340 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:24 nmcontinental shelf:200 nm or the edge of continental marginexclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:noneClimate:tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwestmonsoon (June to October)Terrain:mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interiorNatural resources:limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clayLand use:arable land:16%permanent crops:17%meadows and pastures:7%forest and woodland:37%other:23%Irrigated land:5,600 sq km (1989 est.)Environment:current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened bypoaching; coastal degradation from mining activities and increasedpollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastesand sewage runoffnatural hazards:occasional cyclones and tornadoesinternational agreements:party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, OzoneLayer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea,Marine Life ConservationNote:strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
@Sri Lanka, People
Population:18,129,850 (July 1994 est.)note:since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armedTamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamilcivilians have fled the island; as of late 1992, nearly 115,000 werehoused in refugee camps in south India, another 95,000 lived outsidethe Indian camps, and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought politicalasylum in the WestPopulation growth rate:1.18% (1994 est.)Birth rate:18.51 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:5.77 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:-0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:21.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:71.9 yearsmale:69.37 yearsfemale:74.55 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:2.12 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:Sri Lankan(s)adjective:Sri LankanEthnic divisions:Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%Religions:Buddhist 69%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8%Languages:Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (nationallanguage) 18%note:English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about 10% ofthe populationLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population:88%male:93%female:84%Labor force:6.6 millionby occupation:agriculture 45.9%, mining and manufacturing 13.3%, trade and transport12.4%, services and other 28.4% (1985 est.)
@Sri Lanka, Government
Names:conventional long form:Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lankaconventional short form:Sri Lankaformer:CeylonDigraph:CEType:republicCapital:ColomboAdministrative divisions:8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western,Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, WesternIndependence:4 February 1948 (from UK)National holiday:Independence and National Day, 4 February (1948)Constitution:adopted 16 August 1978Legal system:a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim,Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdictionSuffrage:18 years of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state and head of government:President Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA (since 7 May 1993); election lastheld 19 December 1988 (next to be held NA December 1994); results -Ranasinghe PREMADASA (UNP) 50%, Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE (SLFP) 45%,other 5%; note - following the assassination of President PREMADASA on1 May 1993, Prime Minister WIJETUNGA became acting president; on 7 May1993, he was confirmed by a vote of Parliament to finish out the termof the assassinated presidentcabinet:Cabinet; appointed by the president in consultation with the primeministerLegislative branch:unicameralParliament:elections last held 15 February 1989 (next to be held by NA February1995); results - UNP 51%, SLFP 32%, SLMC 4%, TULF 3%, USA 3%, EROS 3%,MEP 1%, other 3%; seats - (225 total) UNP 125, SLFP 67, other 33Judicial branch:Supreme CourtPolitical parties and leaders:United National Party (UNP), Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA; Sri LankaFreedom Party (SLFP), Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress(SLMC), M. H. M. ASHRAFF; All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), C. G.Kumar PONNAMBALAM; People's United Front (MEP, or Mahajana EksathPeramuna), Dinesh GUNAWARDENE; Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF),M. SIVASITHAMBARAM; New Socialist Party (NSSP, or Nava Sama SamajaParty), Vasudeva NANAYAKKARA; Lanka Socialist Party/Trotskyite (LSSP,or Lanka Sama Samaja Party), Colin R. DE SILVA; Sri Lanka People'sParty (SLMP, or Sri Lanka Mahajana Party), Ossie ABEYGUNASEKERA;Communist Party, K. P. SILVA; Communist Party/Beijing (CP/B), N.SHANMUGATHASAN; Democratic United National Front (DUNF), G. M.PREMACHANDRA; Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), DouglasDEVANANDA; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), leader NA;Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRL), SureshPREMACHANDRAN; Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS),Shankar RAJI; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE),Dharmalingam SIDARTHAN; Liberal Party (LP), Chanaka AMARATUNGA; CeylonWorkers Congress (CLDC), S. THONDAMAN; several ethnic Tamil and Muslimparties, represented in either parliament or provincial councilsnote:the United Socialist Alliance (USA), which was formed in 1987 andincluded the NSSP, LSSP, SLMP, CP/M, and CP/B, was defunct as of 1993,following the formation of the People's Alliance Party (PEP)Other political or pressure groups:Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other smaller Tamilseparatist groups; other radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups; Buddhistclergy; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups; labor unionsMember of:AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Ananda W.P. GURUGEchancery:2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone:(202) 483-4025 through 4028FAX:(202) 232-7181consulate(s):New YorkUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Teresita C. SCHAFFERembassy:210 Galle Road, Colombo 3mailing address:P. O. Box 106, Colombotelephone:[94] (1) 44-80-07FAX:[94] (1) 57-42-64Flag:yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equalvertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is alarge dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and thereis a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as aborder that goes around the entire flag and extends between the twopanels
@Sri Lanka, Economy
Overview:Industry - dominated by the fast-growing apparel industry - hassurpassed agriculture as the main source of export earnings andaccounts for over 16% of GDP. The economy has been plagued by highrates of unemployment since the late 1970s. Economic growth, which hasbeen depressed by ethnic unrest, accelerated in 1991-93 as domesticconditions began to improve and conditions for foreign investmentbrightened.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $53.5 billion (1993 est.)National product real growth rate:5% (1993 est.)National product per capita:$3,000 (1993 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):11.6% (1992)Unemployment rate:15% (1991 est.)Budget:revenues:$2.3 billionexpenditures:$3.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.5 billion (1993)Exports:$2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)commodities:garments and textiles, teas, gems, petroleum products, coconuts,rubber, other agricultural products, marine products, graphitepartners:US 33.4%, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Japan, France, Singapore (1992)Imports:$3 billion (c.i.f., 1992)commodities:food and beverages, textiles and textile materials, petroleum andpetroleum products, machinery and equipmentpartners:Japan, India, US 4.3%, UK, Singapore, Germany, Hong King, Taiwan,South Korea (1991)External debt:$5.2 billion (1991)Industrial production:growth rate 7% (1991 est.); accounts for 16.5% of GDPElectricity:capacity:1,300,000 kWproduction:3.6 billion kWhconsumption per capita:200 kWh (1992)Industries:processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agriculturalcommodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobaccoAgriculture:accounts for one-fourth of GDP and nearly half of labor force; mostimportant staple crop is paddy rice; other field crops - sugarcane,grains, pulses, oilseeds, roots, spices; cash crops - tea, rubber,coconuts; animal products - milk, eggs, hides, meat; notself-sufficient in rice productionEconomic aid:recipient:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1 billion; Western(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $5.1billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $169 million; Communistcountries (1970-89), $369 millionCurrency:1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 centsExchange rates:Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1 - 49.672 (January 1994), 48.322(1993), 43.687 (1992), 41.372 (1991), 40.063 (1990), 36.047 (1989)Fiscal year:calendar year
@Sri Lanka, Communications
Railroads:1,948 km total (1990); all 1.868-meter broad gauge; 102 km doubletrack; no electrification; government ownedHighways:total:75,263 kmpaved:mostly bituminous treated 27,637 kmunpaved:crushed stone, gravel 32,887 km; improved, unimproved earth 14,739 kmInland waterways:430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craftPipelines:crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987)Ports:Colombo, TrincomaleeMerchant marine:26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 289,115 GRT/453,609 DWT, bulk 2,cargo 12, container 1, oil tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 8Airports:total:14usable:13with permanent-surface runways:12with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:1with runways 1,220-2,439 m:8Telecommunications:very inadequate domestic service, good international service; 114,000telephones (1982); broadcast stations - 12 AM, 5 FM, 5 TV; submarinecables extend to Indonesia and Djibouti; 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earthstations
@Sri Lanka, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Police ForceManpower availability:males age 15-49 4,906,666; fit for military service 3,825,774; reachmilitary age (18) annually 178,213 (1994 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $417 million, 3.5% of GDP (1994 est.)
@Sudan, Geography
Location:Northern Africa, along the Red Sea, between Egypt and EritreaMap references:Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:2,505,810 sq kmland area:2.376 million sq kmcomparative area:slightly more than one-quarter the size of the USLand boundaries:total 7,687 km, Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km,Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya383 km, Uganda 435 km, Zaire 628 kmCoastline:853 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:18 nmcontinental shelf:200-m depth or to depth of exploitationterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:administrative boundary with Kenya does not coincide withinternational boundary; administrative boundary with Egypt does notcoincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle,"a barren area of 20,580 sq km, the dispute over this area escalated in1993, this area continues to be in disputeClimate:tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April toOctober)Terrain:generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and westNatural resources:small reserves of petroleum, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc,tungsten, mica, silverLand use:arable land:5%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:24%forest and woodland:20%other:51%Irrigated land:18,900 sq km (1989 est.)Environment:current issues:contaminated water supplies present human health risks; wildlifepopulations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion;desertificationnatural hazards:dust stormsinternational agreements:party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, NuclearTest Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified -BiodiversityNote:largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries
@Sudan, People
Population:29,419,798 (July 1994 est.)Population growth rate:2.36% (1994 est.)Birth rate:41.95 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:12.09 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:-6.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:79.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:54.27 yearsmale:53.4 yearsfemale:55.19 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:6.09 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:Sudanese (singular and plural)adjective:SudaneseEthnic divisions:black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%Religions:Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5%(mostly in south and Khartoum)Languages:Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic,Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, Englishnote:program of Arabization in processLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population:27%male:43%female:12%Labor force:6.5 millionby occupation:agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%, government 6%note:labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled employment (1983est.); 52% of population of working age (1985)
@Sudan, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of the Sudanconventional short form:Sudanlocal long form:Jumhuriyat as-Sudanlocal short form:As-Sudanformer:Anglo-Egyptian SudanDigraph:SUType:ruling military junta - Revolutionary Command Council - dissolved on16 October 1993 and government civilianizedCapital:KhartoumAdministrative divisions:9 states (wilayat, singular - wilayat or wilayah*); A'ali an Nil, AlWusta*, Al Istiwa'iyah*, Al Khartum, Ash Shamaliyah*, Ash Sharqiyah*,Bahr al Ghazal, Darfur, KurdufanIndependence:1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)National holiday:Independence Day, 1 January (1956)Constitution:12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interimconstitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June1989Legal system:based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991,the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law inthe northern states; the council is still studying criminal provisionsunder Islamic law; Islamic law applies to all residents of the sixnorthern states regardless of their religion; some separate religiouscourts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservationsSuffrage:noneExecutive branch:Chief of State and Head of Government:President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October1993); prior to 16 October 1993, BASHIR served concurrently as Chiefof State, Chairman of the RCC, Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence(since 30 June 1989); Vice President Major General al-Zubayr MuhammadSALIH (since 19 October 1993); note - upon its dissolution on 16October 1993, the RCC's executive and legislative powers were devolvedto the President and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), Sudan'sappointed legislative bodycabinet:Cabinet; appointed by the president; note - on 30 October 1993President BASHIR announced a new, predominantly civilian cabinet,consisting of 20 federal ministers, most of whom retained theirprevious cabinet positionsnote:Lt. Gen. BASHIR's government is dominated by members of Sudan'sNational Islamic Front, a fundamentalist political organization formedfrom the Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; front leader Hasan al-TURABIcontrols Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policiesLegislative branch:appointed 300-member Transitional National Assembly; officiallyassumes all legislative authority for Sudan until the eventual,unspecified resumption of national electionsJudicial branch:Supreme Court, Special Revolutionary CourtsPolitical parties and leaders:none; banned following 30 June 1989 coupOther political or pressure groups:National Islamic Front, Hasan al-TURABIMember of:ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Ahmad SULAYMANchancery:2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone:(202) 338-8565 through 8570FAX:(202) 667-2406US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Donald K. PETTERSONembassy:Shar'ia Ali Abdul Latif, Khartoummailing address:P. O. Box 699, Khartoum, or APO AE 09829telephone:74700 or 74611FAX:Telex 22619 AMEM SDFlag:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with agreen isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
@Sudan, Economy
Overview:Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic political instability, adverseweather, high inflation, a drop in remittances from abroad, andcounterproductive economic policies. The economy is dominated bygovernmental entities that account for more than 70% of newinvestment. The private sector's main areas of activity areagriculture and trading, with most private industrial investmentpredating 1980. The economy's base is agriculture, which employs 80%of the work force. Industry mainly processes agricultural items.Sluggish economic performance over the past decade, attributablelargely to declining annual rainfall, has reduced levels of per capitaincome and consumption. A large foreign debt and huge arrearagescontinue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the International MonetaryFund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan noncooperative becauseof its nonpayment of arrearages to the Fund. The governmentimplemented a comprehensive economic reform program in 1992 thatincluded slashing the fiscal deficit, liberalizing foreign exchangeregulations, and lifting most price controls, but it had backtrackedon most reforms by mid-1993 because of its fear of generating adomestic backlash. The government's failure to pursue economic reform,its continued prosecution of the civil war, and its growinginternational isolation have led to a further deterioration of thenon-agricultural sectors of the economy during 1993. Agriculture, onthe other hand, after several disappointing years, enjoyed favorablegrowing conditions in 1993, and its strong performance produced anoverall growth rate in GNP of about 7%.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $21.5 billion (1993 est.)National product real growth rate:7% (FY93 est.)National product per capita:$750 (1993 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):105% (FY93 est.)Unemployment rate:30% (FY93 est.)Budget:revenues:$374.4 millionexpenditures:$1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $214 million (1993est.)Exports:$350 million (f.o.b., FY93 est.)commodities:cotton 52%, sesame, gum arabic, peanutspartners:Western Europe 46%, Saudi Arabia 14%, Eastern Europe 9%, Japan 9%, US3% (FY88)Imports:$1.1 billion (c.i.f., FY93 est.)commodities:foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery andequipment, medicines and chemicals, textilespartners:Western Europe 32%, Africa and Asia 15%, US 13%, Eastern Europe 3%(FY88)External debt:$17 billion (June 1993 est.)Industrial production:growth rate 6.8% (FY93 est.); accounts for 11% of GDP (FY92)Electricity:capacity:610,000 kWproduction:905 million kWhconsumption per capita:40 kWh (1991)Industries:cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling,shoes, petroleum refiningAgriculture:accounts for 35% of GDP and 80% of labor force; water shortages;two-thirds of land area suitable for raising crops and livestock;major products - cotton, oilseeds, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic,sheep; marginally self-sufficient in most foodsEconomic aid:recipient:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.5 billion; Western(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $5.1billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $3.1 billion; Communistcountries (1970-89), $588 millionCurrency:1 Sudanese pound (#Sd) = 100 piastresExchange rates:official rate - Sudanese pounds (#Sd) per US$1 - 215 (January 1994),333.3 (December 1993), 90.1 (March 1992), 5.4288 (1991), 4.5004 (fixedrate since 1987); note - the commercial rate is 300 (January 1994)Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
@Sudan, Communications
Railroads:5,516 km total; 4,800 km 1.067-meter gauge, 716 km 1.6096-meter-gaugeplantation lineHighways:total:20,703 kmpaved:bituminous treated 2,000 kmunpaved:gravel 4,000 km; improved earth 2,304 km; unimproved earth 12,399 kmInland waterways:5,310 km navigablePipelines:refined products 815 kmPorts:Port Sudan, SawakinMerchant marine:10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 89,842 GRT/122,379 DWT, cargo 8,roll-on/roll-off cargo 2Airports:total:70usable:58with permanent-surface runways:9with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:7with runways 1,220-2,439 m:29Telecommunications:large, well-equipped system by African standards, but barely adequateand poorly maintained by modern standards; consists of microwave radiorelay, cable, radio communications, troposcatter, and a domesticsatellite system with 14 stations; broadcast stations - 11 AM, 3 TV;satellite earth stations for international traffic - 1 Atlantic OceanINTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT
@Sudan, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy, Air ForceManpower availability:males age 15-49 6,640,123; fit for military service 4,080,715; reachmilitary age (18) annually 305,885 (1994 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $339 million, 2.2% of GDP (1989 est.)
@Suriname, Geography
Location:Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean betweenFrench Guiana and GuyanaMap references:South America, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:163,270 sq kmland area:161,470 sq kmcomparative area:slightly larger than GeorgiaLand boundaries:total 1,707 km, Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 kmCoastline:386 kmMaritime claims:exclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and RiviereMarouini (both headwaters of the Lawa Rivier); claims area in Guyanabetween New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari Rivers (allheadwaters of the Courantyne)Climate:tropical; moderated by trade windsTerrain:mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swampsNatural resources:timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp, bauxite, iron ore, andsmall amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, goldLand use:arable land:0%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:0%forest and woodland:97%other:3%Irrigated land:590 sq km (1989 est.)Environment:current issues:NAnatural hazards:NAinternational agreements:party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, ShipPollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Law of the SeaNote:mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna whichfor the most part is not threatened because of the lack ofdevelopment; relatively small population most of which lives along thecoast
@Suriname, People
Population:422,840 (July 1994 est.)Population growth rate:1.57% (1994 est.)Birth rate:25.31 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:6 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:-3.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:31.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:69.45 yearsmale:66.94 yearsfemale:72.08 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:2.79 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:Surinamer(s)adjective:SurinameseEthnic divisions:Hindustani (East Indian) 37%, Creole (black and mixed) 31%, Javanese15.3%, Bush black 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, Europeans 1%,other 1.1%Religions:Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant 25.2%(predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%Languages:Dutch (official), English widely spoken, Sranan Tongo (Surinamese,sometimes called Taki-Taki) is native language of Creoles and much ofthe younger population and is lingua franca among others, HindiSuriname Hindustani (a variant of Bhoqpuri), JavaneseLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population:95%male:95%female:95%Labor force:104,000 (1984)by occupation:NA
@Suriname, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Surinameconventional short form:Surinamelocal long form:Republiek Surinamelocal short form:Surinameformer:Netherlands Guiana, Dutch GuianaDigraph:NSType:republicCapital:ParamariboAdministrative divisions:10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo,Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca,Sipaliwini, WanicaIndependence:25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)National holiday:Independence Day, 25 November (1975)Constitution:ratified 30 September 1987Legal system:NASuffrage:18 years of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state and head of government:President Ronald R. VENETIAAN (since 16 September 1991); VicePresident and Prime Minister Jules R. AJODHIA (since 16 September1991); election last held 6 September 1991 (next to be held NA May1996); results - elected by the National Assembly - Ronald VENETIAAN(NF) 80% (645 votes), Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115 votes), HansPRADE (DA '91) 6% (49 votes)cabinet:Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president from members of theNational Assemblynote:Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant powerLegislative branch:unicameralNational Assembly (Assemblee Nationale):elections last held 25 May 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results- percent of vote NA; seats - (51 total) NF 30, NDP 10, DA '91 9,Independent 2Judicial branch:Supreme CourtPolitical parties and leaders:The New Front (NF), a coalition of four parties (NPS, VHP, KTPI, SPA),leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN; Progressive Reform Party (VHP), JaggernathLACHMON; National Party of Suriname (NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party ofNational Unity and Solidarity (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname LaborParty (SPA) Fred DERBY; Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), WinstonJESSURUN, a coalition of four parties (AF, HPP, Pendawa Lima, BEP)formed in January 1991; Alternative Forum (AF), Gerard BRUNINGS,Winston JESSURUN; Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Panalal PARMESSAR;Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY;Pendawa Lima, Marsha JAMIN; National Democratic Party (NDP), DesireBOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), IrIwan KROLIS, chairman;Other political or pressure groups:Surinamese Liberation Army (SLA), Ronnie BRUNSWIJK, Johan "Castro"WALLY; Union for Liberation and Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; MandelaBushnegro Liberation Movement, Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica,Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJOMember of:ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, GATT, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO,ICFTU, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, INTELSAT (nonsignatoryuser), ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUTchancery:Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone:(202) 244-7488 or 7490 through 7492FAX:(202) 244-5878consulate(s) general:MiamiUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Roger R. GAMBLEembassy:Dr. Sophie Redmonstraat 129, Paramaribomailing address:P. O. Box 1821, Paramaribotelephone:[597] 472900, 477881, or 476459FAX:[597] 410025Flag:five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red(quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a largeyellow five-pointed star centered in the red band