Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Congress: (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui) elections last held March 1993 (next to be held March 1998); results - CCP is the only party but there are also independents; seats - (2,977 total) (elected at county or xian level)
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court
Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party (CCP), JIANGZemin, general secretary of the Central Committee (since 24 June1989); eight registered small parties controlled by CCP
Other political or pressure groups: such meaningful opposition asexists consists of loose coalitions, usually within the party andgovernment organization, that vary by issue
Member of: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (observer), PCA, UN, UN SecurityCouncil, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ,UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador LI Daoyu chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500 through 2502 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador J. Stapleton ROY embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, Beijing; FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [86] (1) 5323831 FAX: [86] (1) 5323178 consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang
Flag: red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner
@China:Economy
Overview: Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been trying to move the economy from the sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more productive and flexible economy with market elements, but still within the framework of monolithic Communist control. To this end the authorities switched to a system of household responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a strong surge in production, particularly in agriculture in the early 1980s. Industry also has posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment and modern production methods have helped spur production of both domestic and export goods. Aggregate output has more than doubled since 1978. On the darker side, the leadership has often experienced in its hybrid system the worst results of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude, corruption) and of capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation). Beijing thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals. In 1992-94 annual growth of GDP accelerated, particularly in the coastal areas - to more than 10% annually according to official claims. In late 1993 China's leadership approved additional long-term reforms aimed at giving more play to market-oriented institutions and at strengthening the center's control over the financial system. In 1994 strong growth continued in the widening market-oriented areas of the economy. At the same time, the government struggled to (a) collect revenues due from provinces, businesses, and individuals; (b) keep inflation within bounds; (c) reduce extortion and other economic crimes; and (d) keep afloat the large state-owned enterprises, most of which had not participated in the vigorous expansion of the economy. From 60 to 100 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many barely subsisting through part-time low-pay jobs. Popular resistance, changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres have weakened China's population control program, which is essential to the nation's long-term economic viability. One of the most dangerous long-term threats to continued rapid economic growth is the deterioration in the environment, notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table especially in the north.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.9788 trillion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992 by use of official Chinese growth statistics for 1993-94; because of the difficulties with official statistics in this time of rapid change, the result may overstate China's GDP by as much as 25%)
National product real growth rate: 11.8% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $2,500 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25.5% (December 1994 over December1993)
Unemployment rate: 2.7% in urban areas (1994); substantialunderemployment
Budget: deficit $13.7 billion (1994)
Exports: $121 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: textiles, garments, footwear, toys, machinery andequipment, weapon systemspartners: Hong Kong, Japan, US, Germany, South Korea, Russia (1993)
Imports: $115.7 billion (c.i.f., 1994)commodities: rolled steel, motor vehicles, textile machinery, oilproducts, aircraftpartners: Japan, Taiwan, US, Hong Kong, Germany, South Korea (1993)
External debt: $100 billion (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 17.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 162,000,000 kW production: 746 billion kWh consumption per capita: 593 kWh (1993)
Industries: iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles and apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers, consumer durables, food processing, autos, consumer electronics, telecommunications
Agriculture: accounts for almost 30% of GDP; among the world's largest producers of rice, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, and pork; commercial crops include cotton, other fibers, and oilseeds; produces variety of livestock products; basically self-sufficient in food; fish catch of 13.35 million metric tons (including fresh water and pond raised) (1991)
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium; bulk of production is inYunnan Province (which produced 25 metric tons in 1994); transshipmentpoint for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle
Economic aid:donor: to less developed countries (1970-89) $7 billionrecipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $220.7 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-87), $13.5 billion
Currency: 1 yuan (Y) = 10 jiao
Exchange rates: yuan (Y) per US$1 - 8.4413 (January 1995), 8.6187 (1994), 5.7620 (1993), 5.5146 (1992), 5.3234 (1991), 4.7832 (1990) note: beginning 1 January 1994, the People's Bank of China quotes the midpoint rate against the US dollar based on the previous day's prevailing rate in the interbank foreign exchange market
Fiscal year: calendar year
@China:Transportation
Railroads:total: 65,780 kmstandard gauge: 55,180 km 1.435-m gauge (7,174 km electrified; morethan 11,000 km double track)narrow gauge: 600 km 1.000-m gauge; 10,000 km 0.762-m to 1.067-m gaugededicated industrial lines
Highways:total: 1.029 million kmpaved: 170,000 kmunpaved: gravel/improved earth 648,000 km; unimproved earth 211,000 km(1990)
Inland waterways: 138,600 km; about 109,800 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 9,700 km; petroleum products 1,100 km; naturalgas 6,200 km (1990)
Ports: Aihui, Changsha, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Harbin,Huangpu, Nanning, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shantou,Tanggu, Xiamen, Xingang, Zhanjiang
Merchant marine:total: 1,628 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,013,532GRT/24,027,766 DWTships by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 298, cargo 849, chemical tanker14, combination bulk 10, container 98, liquefied gas tanker 4,multifunction large load carrier 1, oil tanker 212, passenger 24,passenger-cargo 25, refrigerated cargo 21, roll-on/roll-off cargo 24,short-sea passenger 44, vehicle carrier 1note: China beneficially owns an additional 250 ships (1,000 GRT orover) totaling approximately 8,831,462 DWT that operate underPanamanian, Hong Kong, Maltese, Liberian, Vanuatu, Cypriot, SaintVincent and the Grenadines, Bahamian, and Singaporean registry
Airports:total: 204with paved runways over 3,047 m: 17with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 69with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 89with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9with paved runways under 914 m: 7with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 7with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3with unpaved runways under 914 m: 3
@China:Communications
Telephone system: 20,000,000 telephones (summer 1994); domestic andinternational services are increasingly available for private use;unevenly distributed internal system serves principal cities,industrial centers, and most townships; expanding phone lines,interprovincial fiber optic links, satellite communications,cellullar/mobile communications, etc.local: NAintercity: fiber optic trunk lines, 55 earth stations for domesticsatellitesinternational: 5 INTELSAT earth stations (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 IndianOcean) and 1 INMARSAT earth station; several international fiber opticlinks to Japan and Hong Kong
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 274, FM NA, shortwave 0radios: 215 million
Television:broadcast stations: 202 (repeaters 2,050)televisions: 75 million
@China:Defense Forces
Branches: People's Liberation Army (PLA), which includes the Ground Forces, Navy (includes Marines and Naval Aviation), Air Force, Second Artillery Corps (the strategic missile force), People's Armed Police (internal security troops, nominally subordinate to Ministry of Public Security, but included by the Chinese as part of the "armed forces" and considered to be an adjunct to the PLA in war time)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 351,330,411; males fit for military service 194,286,619; males reach military age (18) annually 9,841,658 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: defense budget - 63.09 billion yuan, NA% of GDP (1995 est.); note - conversion of the defense budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
________________________________________________________________________
(territory of Australia)
@Christmas Island:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south ofIndonesia
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total area: 135 sq kmland area: 135 sq kmcomparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 138.9 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Natural resources: phosphate
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: almost completely surrounded by a reef which can be amaritime hazardinternational agreements: NA
Note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
@Christmas Island:People
Population: 889 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -9% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Net migration rate: NA
Infant mortality rate: NA
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Total fertility rate: NA
Nationality: noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic divisions: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, noindigenous population
Religions: Buddhist 36.1%, Muslim 25.4%, Christian 17.7% (RomanCatholic 8.2%, Church of England 3.2%, Presbyterian 0.9%, UnitingChurch 0.4%, Methodist 0.2%, Baptist 0.1%, and other 4.7%), none12.7%, unknown 4.6%, other 3.5% (1981)
Languages: English
Labor force: NAby occupation: all workers are employees of the Phosphate MiningCompany of Christmas Island, Ltd.
@Christmas Island:Government
Names:conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Islandconventional short form: Christmas Island
Digraph: KT
Type: territory of Australia
Capital: The Settlement
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958
Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of Australia
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Administrator M. J. GRIMES (since NA)cabinet: Advisory Council
Legislative branch: none
Judicial branch: none
Political parties and leaders: none
Member of: none
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
@Christmas Island:Economy
Overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine as no longer economically viable. Plans have been under way to reopen the mine and also to build a casino and hotel to develop tourism.
National product: GDP $NA
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $NAcommodities: phosphatepartners: Australia, NZ
Imports: $NA commodities: consumer goods partners: principally Australia
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 11,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 17,800 kWh (1990)
Industries: phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Agriculture: NA
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704, (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Christmas Island:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports: Flying Fish Cove
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
@Christmas Island:Communications
Telephone system: NA telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: NA
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 1televisions: NA
@Christmas Island:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
________________________________________________________________________
(possession of France)
@Clipperton Island:Geography
Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, southwest of Mexico
Map references: World
Area:total area: 7 sq kmland area: 7 sq kmcomparative area: about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 11.1 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claimed by Mexico
Climate: tropical
Terrain: coral atoll
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all coral)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Note: reef about 8 km in circumference
@Clipperton Island:People
Population: uninhabited
@Clipperton Island:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Clipperton Islandlocal long form: nonelocal short form: Ile Clippertonformer: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Digraph: IP
Type: French possession administered by France from French Polynesia by High Commissioner of the Republic
Capital: none; administered by France from French Polynesia
Independence: none (possession of France)
@Clipperton Island:Economy
Overview: The only economic activity is a tuna fishing station.
@Clipperton Island:Transportation
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
@Clipperton Island:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of France
________________________________________________________________________
(territory of Australia)
@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total area: 14 sq kmland area: 14 sq kmcomparative area: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DCnote: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2.6 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of the year; moderate rain fall
Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: there are no natural fresh water resources on theisland, groundwater does accumulate in natural underground reservoirsnatural hazards: cyclones may occur in the early months of the yearinternational agreements: NA
Note: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and othervegetation
@Cocos (keeling) Islands:People
Population: 604 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.98% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:noun: Cocos Islander(s)adjective: Cocos Islander
Ethnic divisions:West Island: EuropeansHome Island: Cocos Malays
Religions: Sunni Muslims
Languages: English
Labor force: NA
@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Government
Names:conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islandsconventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Digraph: CK
Type: territory of Australia
Capital: West Island
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Suffrage: NA
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Administrator B. CUNNINGHAM (since NA)cabinet: Islands Council; Chairman of the Islands Council Haji WAHINbin Bynie (since NA)
Legislative branch: unicameral Islands Council
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: NA
Member of: none
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Economy
Overview: Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia.
National product: GDP $NA
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $NAcommodities: coprapartners: Australia
Imports: $NA commodities: foodstuffs partners: Australia
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 1,000 kW production: 2 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,980 kWh (1990)
Industries: copra products
Agriculture: gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports: none; lagoon anchorage only
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Communications
Telephone system: NA telephoneslocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: linked by telephone, telex, and facsimilecommunications via satellite with Australia
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0radios: 250 (1985)
Television:broadcast stations: 0televisions: NA
@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
________________________________________________________________________
@Colombia:Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, betweenPanama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betweenEcuador and Panama
Map references: South America
Area:total area: 1,138,910 sq kmland area: 1,038,700 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Montananote: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, andSerranilla Bank
Land boundaries: total 7,408 km, Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km,Panama 225 km, Peru 2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km
Coastline: 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448km)
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela inthe Gulf of Venezuela; territorial dispute with Nicaragua overArchipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank
Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Terrain: flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high AndesMountains, eastern lowland plains
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel,gold, copper, emeralds
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 29% forest and woodland: 49% other: 16%
Irrigated land: 5,150 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides;air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissionsnatural hazards: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasionalearthquakes; periodic droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but notratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change,Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Note: only South American country with coastlines on both NorthPacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
@Colombia:People
Population: 36,200,251 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 32% (female 5,784,010; male 5,925,600)15-64 years: 63% (female 11,642,870; male 11,245,235)65 years and over: 5% (female 888,358; male 714,178) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.7% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 21.89 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 4.69 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 26.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.48 years male: 69.68 years female: 75.38 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Colombian(s) adjective: Colombian
Ethnic divisions: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Indian 3%, Indian 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1985)total population: 88%male: 88%female: 88%
Labor force: 12 million (1990)by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)
@Colombia:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Colombiaconventional short form: Colombialocal long form: Republica de Colombialocal short form: Colombia
Digraph: CO
Type: republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Capital: Bogota
Administrative divisions: 32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Constitution: 5 July 1991
Legal system: based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Ernesto SAMPER Pizano(since 7 August 1994); election last held 29 May 1994 (next to be heldMay 1998) and resulted in no candidate receiving more than 50% of thetotal vote; a run-off election to select a president from the twoleading candidates was held on 19 June 1994; results - Ernesto SAMPERPizano (Liberal Party) 50.4%, Andres PASTRANA Arango (ConservativeParty) 48.6%, blank votes 1%; Humberto de la CALLE was elected vicepresident in a new proceedure that replaces the traditionaldesignation of vice presidents by newly elected presidents.cabinet: Cabinet
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso)Senate (Senado): elections last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held NAMarch 1998); preliminary results - percent of vote by party NA; seats- (102 total) Liberal Party 59, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, andNDF) 31, other 12House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes): elections lastheld 13 March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998); preliminaryresults - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (161 total) LiberalParty 89, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF) 53, AD/M-19 2,other 17
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justical),Constitutional Court, Council of State
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party (PL), Juan Guillermo ANGEL; Conservative Party (PC), Fabio VALENCIA Cossio; National Salvation Movement (MSN), Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado; New Democratic Force (NDF), Andres PASTRANA Arango; Democratic Alliance M-19 (AD/M-19) is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident liberals and conservatives; Patriotic Union (UP) is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and Colombian Communist Party (PCC), Carlos ROMERO
Other political or pressure groups: three insurgent groups are active in Colombia - Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Manuel MARULANDA and Alfonso CANO; National Liberation Army (ELN), Manuel PEREZ; and dissidents of the recently demobilized People's Liberation Army (EPL), Francisco CARABALLO; Francisco CARABALLO was captured by the government in June 1994
Member of: AG, CCC, CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos LLERAS de la Fuentechancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), andWashington, DCconsulate(s): Atlanta and Tampa
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Myles R. R. FRECHETTE embassy: Calle 38, No. 8-61, Bogota mailing address: Apartado Aereo 3831, Bogota; APO AA 34038 telephone: [57] (1) 320-1300 FAX: [57] (1) 288-5687 consulate(s): Barranquilla
Flag: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
@Colombia:Economy
Overview: Colombia's economy has grown steadily since 1991, when the government implemented sweeping economic reform measures. President SAMPER, who took office in August 1994, has pledged to maintain those reforms while expanding government assistance for poor Colombians, who continue to make up about 40% of the population. In an effort to bring down inflation, SAMPER has arranged a "social pact" with business and labor to curtail price hikes and trim inflation to 18%. The rapid development of oil, coal, and other nontraditional industries, along with copious inflows of capital and strengthening of prices for coffee, have helped keep growth at 5%-6%. Development of the massive Cusiana oilfield provides the means to sustain this level over the next several years. Exporters say, however, that their sales have been hampered by the appreciation of the Colombian peso, and farmers have sought government help in adjusting to greater foreign competition. Moreover, increased foreign investment and even greater domestic growth have been hindered by an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure and by violence stemming from drug trafficking and persistent rural insurgency.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $172.4 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 5.7% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $4,850 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22.6% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.9% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $16 billion (1995 est.)expenditures: $21 billion (1995 est.)
Exports: $8.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: petroleum, coffee, coal, bananas, fresh cut flowerspartners: US 39%, EC 25.7%, Japan 2.9%, Venezuela 8.5% (1992)
Imports: $10.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products partners: US 36%, EC 18%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 6.5%, Japan 8.7% (1992)
External debt: $12.6 billion (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1994 est.); accounts for about 20% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 10,220,000 kW production: 33 billion kWh consumption per capita: 890 kWh (1993)
Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, metal products, cement; mining - gold, coal, emeralds, iron, nickel, silver, salt
Agriculture: growth rate 3.8% (1994 est.); accounts for about 15% of GDP; crops make up two-thirds and livestock one-third of agricultural output; climate and soils permit a wide variety of crops, such as coffee, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseeds, vegetables; forest products and shrimp farming are becoming more important
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis; about 45,000 hectares of coca under cultivation; the world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of cocaine to the US and other international drug markets; active eradication program against narcotics crop
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.6 billion;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $3.3 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $399 million
Currency: 1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 846.67 (January 1995), 844.84 (1994), 863.06 (1993), 759.28 (1992), 633.05 (1991), 502.26 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Colombia:Transportation
Railroads: total: 3,386 km standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 3,236 km 0.914-m gauge (2,611 km in use)
Highways: total: 107,377 km (1991) paved: 12,778 km unpaved: gravel/earth 94,599 km
Inland waterways: 14,300 km, navigable by river boats
Pipelines: crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; naturalgas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km
Ports: Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar,San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo
Merchant marine:total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 104,577 GRT/142,617 DWTships by type: bulk 6, cargo 9, container 4, oil tanker 3
Airports:total: 1,307with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 31with paved runways under 914 m: 734with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 80with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 419
@Colombia:Communications
Telephone system: 1,890,000 telephones; modern system in many respects
local: NAintercity: nationwide microwave radio relay system; 11 domestic earthstationsinternational: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 413, FM 0, shortwave 28radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 33televisions: NA
@Colombia:Defense Forces
Branches: Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, includesMarines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana),National Police (Policia Nacional)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 9,851,980; males fit formilitary service 6,640,348; males reach military age (18) annually349,599 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.2 billion (1992est.)
________________________________________________________________________
@Comoros:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 2,170 sq kmland area: 2,170 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 340 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims French-administered Mayotte
Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Natural resources: negligible
Land use: arable land: 35% permanent crops: 8% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 16% other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: soil degradation and erosion results from cropcultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestationnatural hazards: cyclones and tsunamis possible during rainy season(December to April); Mount Kartala on Grand Comore is an activevolcanointernational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Note: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
@Comoros:People
Population: 549,338 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 48% (female 131,334; male 132,327)15-64 years: 49% (female 137,083; male 133,629)65 years and over: 3% (female 7,860; male 7,105) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.56% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 46.22 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 10.6 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 77.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.27 years male: 56.04 years female: 60.57 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.73 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran
Ethnic divisions: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions: Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend ofSwahili and Arabic)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)total population: 48%male: 56%female: 40%
Labor force: 140,000 (1982)by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3%
@Comoros:Government
Names:conventional long form: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comorosconventional short form: Comoroslocal long form: Republique Federale Islamique des Comoreslocal short form: Comores
Digraph: CN
Type: independent republic
Capital: Moroni
Administrative divisions: three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja),Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni,Moroni, and Mutsamudu
Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution: 7 June 1992
Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Said Mohamed DJOHAR (since 11 March 1990);election last held 11 March 1990 (next to be held March 1996); results- Said Mohamed DJOHAR (UDZIMA) 55%, Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (UNDC) 45%
head of government: Prime Minister Halifa HOUMADI (since 13 October1994); note - HOUMADI is the fifteenth prime minister appointed byPresident DJOHAR in the last three yearscabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale): elections last held 12-20 December 1993 (next to be held by NA January 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (42 total) Ruling Coalition: RDR 15, UNDC 5, MWANGAZA 2; Opposition: UDZIMA 8, other smaller parties 10; 2 seats remained unfilled
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: over 20 political parties are currentlyactive, the most important of which are; Comoran Union for Progress(UDZIMA), Omar TAMOU; Islands' Fraternity and Unity Party (CHUMA),Said Ali KEMAL; Comoran Party for Democracy and Progress (PCDP), AliMROUDJAE; Realizing Freedom's Capability (UWEZO), Mouazair ABDALLAH;Democratic Front of the Comoros (FDR), Moustapha CHELKH; DialogueProposition Action (DPA/MWANGAZA), Said MCHAWGAMA; Rally for Changeand Democracy (RACHADE), Hassan HACHIM; Union for Democracy andDecentralization (UNDC), Mohamed Taki Halidi IBRAHAM; Rally forDemocracy and Renewal (RDR); Comoran Popular Front (FPC), MohamedHASSANALI, Mohamed El Arif OUKACHA, Abdou MOUSTAKIM (SecretaryGeneral)
Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, INTELSAT(nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Ahamadu DJIMBANAO (ambassador tothe US and Canada)chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal andIslamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 336 East 45thStreet, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712
US diplomatic representation: none; ambassador to Port Louis,Mauritius, is accredited to Comoros
Flag: green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its points facing upward; there are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the design, the most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992
@Comoros:Economy
Overview: One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of several islands that have poor transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the leading sector of the economy. It contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for 90% of imports. The government is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be reached in the late 1990s.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $370 million (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 0.9% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $700 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15.8% (1989)
Budget:revenues: $83 millionexpenditures: $92 million, including capital expenditures of $32million (1992)
Exports: $13.7 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities: vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, coprapartners: US 44%, France 40%, Germany 6%, Africa 5% (1992)
Imports: $40.9 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement,consumer goodspartners: France 34%, South Africa 14%, Kenya 8%, Japan 4% (1992)
External debt: $160 million (1992 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate -6.5% (1989 est.); accounts for 6% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 16,000 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 27 kWh (1993)
Industries: perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks
Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; most of population works in subsistence agriculture and fishing; plantations produce cash crops for export - vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra; principal food crops - coconuts, bananas, cassava; world's leading producer of essence of ylang-ylang (for perfumes) and second-largest producer of vanilla; large net food importer
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY80-89), $10 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $435 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $22 million;Communist countries (1970-89), $18 million
Currency: 1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 297.07 (January 1995),416.40 (1994), 254.57 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26(1990)note: beginning 12 January 1994, the Comoran franc was devalued to 75per French franc from 50 per French franc at which it had been fixedsince 1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Comoros:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 750 km paved: bituminous 210 km unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 540 km
Ports: Fomboni, Moroni, Mutsamudo
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 4with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
@Comoros:Communications
Telephone system: over 1,800 telephones; sparse system of radio relayand high-frequency radio communication stations for interisland andexternal communications to Madagascar and Reunionlocal: NAintercity: high frequency radio and microwave radio relayinternational: high frequency radio
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 0televisions: NA
@Comoros:Defense Forces
Branches: Comoran Security Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 117,349; males fit for military service 70,178 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
________________________________________________________________________
@Congo:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, betweenAngola and Gabon
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 342,000 sq kmland area: 341,500 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries: total 5,504 km, Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km,Central African Republic 467 km, Gabon 1,903 km, Zaire 2,410 km
Coastline: 169 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm
International disputes: long segment of boundary with Zaire along theCongo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands hasbeen made)
Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June toOctober); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularlyenervating climate astride the Equator
Terrain: coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northernbasin
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium,copper, phosphates, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 29% forest and woodland: 62% other: 7%
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollutionfrom the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable;deforestationnatural hazards: seasonal floodinginternational agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Ozone LayerProtection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified -Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea,Tropical Timber 94
Note: about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire,or along the railroad between them
@Congo:People
Population: 2,504,996 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44% (female 543,324; male 548,840)15-64 years: 53% (female 682,927; male 645,045)65 years and over: 3% (female 49,879; male 34,981) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.32% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 39.86 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 16.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 109.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.09 years male: 45.23 years female: 49 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic divisions: south: Kongo 48% north: Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12% center: Teke 17%, Europeans 8,500 (mostly French)
Religions: Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages: French (official), African languages (Lingala and Kikongoare the most widely used)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1984)total population: 60%male: 71%female: 49%
Labor force: 79,100 wage earnersby occupation: agriculture 75%, commerce, industry, and government 25%
@Congo:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of the Congoconventional short form: Congolocal long form: Republique Populaire du Congolocal short form: Congoformer: Congo/Brazzaville
Digraph: CF
Type: republic
Capital: Brazzaville
Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha
Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)
Constitution: new constitution approved by referendum March 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Pascal LISSOUBA (since August 1992);election last held August 1992 (next to be held August 1997); results- President Pascal LISSOUBA won with 61% of the votehead of government: Prime Minister Jacques Joachim YHOMBI-OPANGO(since 23 June 1993)cabinet: Council of Ministers; named by the president