Exports: $41.3 billion (f.o.b, 1994 est.) commodities: manufactures 56.7%, fuels 24.8%, foodstuffs 11.1%, raw materials 7.4% (1994 est.) partners: Japan 30%, US 14%, Singapore 9%, South Korea 6%, Taiwan 4% (1993)
Imports: $31.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: capital equipment 44.2%, intermed and raw materials 37.0%, consumer goods 11.5%, fuels 7.2% (1994 est.) partners: Japan 22%, US 11%, South Korea 7%, Germany 7%, Singapore 6%, Australia 5%, Taiwan 5% (1993)
External debt: $87 billion (1994)
Industrial production: growth rate 8.4% (1993 est.); accounts for 40% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 12,100,000 kW production: 44 billion kWh consumption per capita: 207 kWh (1993)
Industries: petroleum and natural gas, textiles, mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood, food, rubber
Agriculture: accounts for 21% of GDP; subsistence food production; small-holder and plantation production for export; main products are rice, cassava, peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra, other tropical products, poultry, beef, pork, eggs
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade, but not a major player; government actively eradicating plantings and prosecuting traffickers; growing role as transshipment point for Golden Triangle heroin; increasing indigenous methamphetamine abuse
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4 billion;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $25.9 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $213 million;Communist countries (1970-89), $175 million
Currency: 1 Indonesian rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen (sen no longer used)
Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1 - 2,203.6 (January 1995), 2,160.7 (1994), 2,087.1 (1993), 2,029.9 (1992), 1,950.3 (1991), 1,842.8 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Indonesia:Transportation
Railroads:total: 6,964 kmnarrow gauge: 6,389 km 1.067-m gauge (101 km electrified; 101 kmdouble track); 497 km 0.750-m gauge; 78 km 0.600-m gauge
Highways:total: 119,500 kmpaved: NAunpaved: NAundifferentiated: provincial 34,180 km; district 73,508 km; state11,812 km
Inland waterways: 21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura820 km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, Celebes 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km
Pipelines: crude oil 2,505 km; petroleum products 456 km; natural gas1,703 km (1989)
Ports: Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang, Semarang,Surabaya, Ujungpandang
Merchant marine:total: 438 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,942,527 GRT/2,818,296DWTships by type: bulk 26, cargo 259, chemical tanker 7, container 11,liquefied gas tanker 6, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 85, passenger6, passenger-cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger7, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 4
Airports:total: 450with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 35with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 42with paved runways under 914 m: 324with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 4with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 32
@Indonesia:Communications
Telephone system: 763,000 telephones (1986); domestic service fair,international service goodlocal: NAintercity: interisland microwave system and HF police net; 1 earthstation for a domestic satelliteinternational: 2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) earthstations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 618, FM 38, shortwave 0radios: NAnote: radiobroadcast coverage good
Television: broadcast stations: 9 televisions: NA
@Indonesia:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 55,883,688; males fit for military service 32,952,204; males reach military age (18) annually 2,247,586 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.4 billion, 1.5% ofGNP (FY94/95)
________________________________________________________________________
@Iran:Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the PersianGulf, between Iraq and Pakistan
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 1.648 million sq kmland area: 1.636 million sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries: total 5,440 km, Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km,Azerbaijan (north) 432 km, Azerbaijan (northwest) 179 km, Iraq 1,458km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
Coastline: 2,440 kmnote: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: natural prolongationexclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements, or median lines in thePersian Gulfterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; Iran occupies two islands in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE: Tunb as Sughra (Arabic), Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek (Persian) or Lesser Tunb, and Tunb al Kubra (Arabic), Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg (Persian) or Greater Tunb; it jointly administers with the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE, Abu Musa (Arabic) or Jazireh-ye Abu Musa (Persian); in 1992 the dispute over Abu Musa and the Tunb islands became more acute when Iran unilaterally tried to control the entry of third country nationals into the UAE portion of Abu Musa island, Tehran subsequently backed off in the face of significant diplomatic support for the UAE in the region, but in 1994 it increased its military presence on the disputed islands; periodic disputes with Afghanistan over Helmand water rights; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined
Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts,mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper,iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 27% forest and woodland: 11% other: 54%
Irrigated land: 57,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicleemissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents;deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in thePersian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable waternatural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; duststorms, sandstorms;earthquakes along the Western borderinternational agreements: party to - Endangered Species, HazardousWastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed,but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
@Iran:People
Population: 64,625,455 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45% (female 14,113,933; male 14,995,015)15-64 years: 51% (female 16,237,810; male 16,803,943)65 years and over: 4% (female 1,197,869; male 1,276,885) (July 1995est.)
Population growth rate: 2.29% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 34.85 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.85 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 54.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.97 years male: 65.77 years female: 68.22 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.93 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Iranian(s) adjective: Iranian
Ethnic divisions: Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%
Religions: Shi'a Muslim 95%, Sunni Muslim 4%, Zoroastrian, Jewish,Christian, and Baha'i 1%
Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkicdialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Baloch 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%,other 2%
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991)total population: 66%male: 74%female: 56%
Labor force: 15.4 million by occupation: agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21% note: shortage of skilled labor (1988 est.)
@Iran:Government
Names:conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iranconventional short form: Iranlocal long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iranlocal short form: Iran
Digraph: IR
Type: theocratic republic
Capital: Tehran
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari (West Azerbaijan), Azarbayjan-e Khavari (EastAzerbaijan), Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan,Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan, Khuzestan,Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran,Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjannote: there may be a new province named Ardabil formed from a part ofAzarbayjan-e Khavari (East Azerbaijan) which may have been renamedAzarbayjan-e Markazi (Central Azerbaijan); the name Bakhtaran may havebeen changed to Kermanshahan
Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
National holiday: Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of thepresidency and eliminate the prime ministership
Legal system: the Constitution codifies Islamic principles ofgovernment
Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal
Executive branch:supreme leader (rahbar) and functional chief of state: Leader of theIslamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)head of government: President Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI (since 3August 1989); election last held June 1993 (next to be held June1997); results - Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI was elected with 63% ofthe votecabinet: Council of Ministers; selected by the president withlegislative approval
Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami): elections last held 8 April 1992 (next to be held April 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (270 seats total) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: there are at least 76 licensed parties;the three most important are - Tehran Militant Clergy Association,Mohammad Reza MAHDAVI-KANI; Militant Clerics Association, MehdiMAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar MUSAVI-KHOINIHA; Fedaiyin IslamOrganization, Sadeq KHALKHALI
Other political or pressure groups: groups that generally support theIslamic Republic include Hizballah, Mojahedin of the IslamicRevolution, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam; armedpolitical groups that have been almost completely repressed by thegovernment include Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People'sFedayeen, Kurdish Democratic Party; the Society for the Defense ofFreedom
Member of: CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPEC,PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, DC chancery: Iranian Interests Section, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 965-4990
US diplomatic representation: protecting power in Iran is Switzerland
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red is centered in the white band; Allah Alkbar (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band
@Iran:Economy
Overview: Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service ventures. Over the past several years, the government has introduced several measures to liberalize the economy and reduce government intervention, but most of these changes have moved slowly because of political opposition. Iran has faced increasingly severe financial difficulties since mid-1992 due to an import surge that began in 1989 and general financial mismanagement. At yearend 1993 the Iranian Government estimated that it owed foreign creditors about $30 billion; an estimated $8 billion of this debt was in arrears. At yearend 1994, Iran rescheduled $12 billion in debt. Earnings from oil exports - which provide 90% of Iran's export revenues - are providing less relief to Iran than usual because of reduced oil prices.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $310 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: -2% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $4,720 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1994)
Unemployment rate: over 30% (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $16 billion (f.o.b., FY92/93 est.) commodities: petroleum 90%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides partners: Japan, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium/Luxembourg, Spain, and Germany
Imports: $18 billion (c.i.f., FY92/93 est.) commodities: machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products partners: Germany, Japan, Italy, UK, UAE
External debt: $30 billion (December 1993)
Industrial production: growth rate 4.6% (1993 est.); accounts for almost 30% of GDP, including petroleum
Electricity: capacity: 19,080,000 kW production: 50.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 745 kWh (1993)
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other building materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabricating, armaments and military equipment
Agriculture: accounts for about 20% of GDP; principal products - wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton, dairy products, wool, caviar; not self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy for the domestic andinternational drug trade; produced 35-70 metric tons in 1993; netopiate importer but also a key transshipment point for Southwest Asianheroin to Europe
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $1 billion;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $1.675 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $976 million
note: aid fell sharply following the 1979 revolution
Currency: 10 Iranian rials (IR) = 1 toman; note - domestic figures are generally referred to in terms of the toman
Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IR) per US$1 - 1,749.04 (January 1995), 1,748.75 (1994), 1,267.77 (1993), 65.552 (1992), 67.505 (1991); black market rate: 3,000 rials per US$1 (December 1994)
Fiscal year: 21 March - 20 March
@Iran:Transportation
Railroads:total: 4,850 km; note - 480 km under construction from Bafq toBandar-e 'Abbas; segment from Bafq to Sirjan has been completed and isoperational; section from Sirjan to Bandar-e 'Abbas still underconstructionbroad gauge: 90 km 1.676-m gaugenarrow gauge: 4,760 km 1.432-m gauge
Highways:total: 140,200 kmpaved: 42,694 kmunpaved: gravel, crushed stone 46,866 km; improved earth 49,440 km;unimproved earth 1,200 km
Inland waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 meters and is in use
Pipelines: crude oil 5,900 km; petroleum products 3,900 km; naturalgas 4,550 km
Ports: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war),Ahvaz, Bandar Beheshti, Bandar-e 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bandar-eBushehr, Bandar-e Khomeyni, Bandar-e Mah Shahr, Bandar-e Torkeman,Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye Lavan, Jazireh-ye Sirri, Khorramshahr(limited operation since November 1992), Now Shahr
Merchant marine:total: 132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,816,820 GRT/6,991,693DWTships by type: bulk 48, cargo 38, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 26, refrigerated cargo 3,roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:total: 261with paved runways over 3,047 m: 28with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 20with paved runways under 914 m: 46with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 2with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 18with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 101
@Iran:Communications
Telephone system: 2,143,000 telephones; 35 telephones/1,000 personslocal: NAintercity: microwave radio relay extends throughout country; systemcentered in Tehraninternational: 3 INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) earthstations; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Pakistan,Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber optic cableto UAE
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 77, FM 3, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 28televisions: NA
@Iran:Defense Forces
Branches: Islamic Republic of Iran Ground Forces, Navy, Air and AirDefense Force, Revolutionary Guards (includes Basij militia with itsground, air, and naval forces), Law Enforcement Forces
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 14,639,290; males fit formilitary service 8,703,732; males reach military age (21) annually615,096 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: according to official Iranian data, Iran spent1,785 billion rials, including $808 million in hard currency, in 1992and budgeted 2,507 billion rials, including $850 million in hardcurrency, for 1993note: conversion of rial expenditures into US dollars using thecurrent exchange rate could produce misleading results
________________________________________________________________________
@Iraq:Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran andKuwait
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 437,072 sq kmland area: 432,162 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Land boundaries: total 3,631 km, Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait242 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km
Coastline: 58 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; in November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands; potential dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Climate: mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows which melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq
Terrain: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 9% forest and woodland: 3% other: 75%
Irrigated land: 25,500 sq km (1989 est)
Environment:current issues: government water control projects have drained most ofthe inhabited marsh areas west of Al Qurnah by drying up or divertingthe feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Shi'aMuslims, who have inhabited these areas for thousands of years, hasbeen displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitatposes serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequatesupplies of potable water; development of Tigris-Euphrates Riverssystem contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; airand water pollution; soil degradation (salinization) and erosion;desertificationnatural hazards: duststorms, sandstorms, floodsinternational agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban;signed, but not ratified - Environmental Modification
@Iraq:People
Population: 20,643,769 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 48% (female 4,850,028; male 5,009,513)15-64 years: 49% (female 5,021,710; male 5,125,191)65 years and over: 3% (female 338,790; male 298,537) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.72% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 43.6 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.82 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 62.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.52 years male: 65.54 years female: 67.56 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.56 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Iraqi(s) adjective: Iraqi
Ethnic divisions: Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian orother 5%
Religions: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian orother 3%
Languages: Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian,Armenian
Literacy: age 15-45 can read and write (1985)total population: 89%male: 90%female: 88%
Labor force: 4.4 million (1989)by occupation: services 48%, agriculture 30%, industry 22%note: severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force was about1,600,000 (July 1990); since then, it has declined substantially
@Iraq:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Iraqconventional short form: Iraqlocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyahlocal short form: Al Iraq
Digraph: IZ
Type: republic
Capital: Baghdad
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (muhafazat, singular -muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf,Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar,Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit
Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate underBritish administration)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)
Constitution: 22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (provisionalConstitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but not adopted
Legal system: based on Islamic law in special religious courts, civillaw system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); VicePresident Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974); VicePresident Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991)head of government: Prime Minister SADDAM Husayn (since NA May 1994);Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979)Revolutionary Command Council: Chairman SADDAM Husayn, Vice ChairmanIzzat IBRAHIM al-Duricabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: unicameralNational Assembly (Majlis al-Watani): elections last held on 1 April1989 (next to be held NA); results - Sunni Arabs 53%, Shi'a Arabs 30%,Kurds 15%, Christians 2% (est.); seats - (250 total) number of seatsby party NAnote: in northern Iraq, a "Kurdish Assembly" was elected in May 1992and calls for Kurdish self-determination within a federated Iraq; theassembly is not recognized by the Baghdad government
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation
Political parties and leaders: Ba'th Party
Other political or pressure groups: political parties and activityseverely restricted; opposition to regime from disaffected members ofthe Ba'th Party, Army officers, and Shi'a religious and ethnic Kurdishdissidents; the Green Party (government-controlled)
Member of: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19,G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC,PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Iraq has an Interest Section in the Algerian Embassyin Washington, DCchancery: Iraqi Interests Section, 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC20036telephone: [1] (202) 483-7500FAX: [1] (202) 462-5066
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: (vacant); note - operations have been temporarilysuspended; a US Interests Section is located in Poland's embassy inBaghdadembassy: Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club), Baghdadmailing address: P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, Baghdadtelephone: [964] (1) 719-6138, 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791FAX: Telex 212287
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt that has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
@Iraq:Economy
Overview: The Ba'thist regime engages in extensive central planning and management of industrial production and foreign trade while leaving some small-scale industry and services and most agriculture to private enterprise. The economy has been dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s, financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran, led the government to implement austerity measures and to borrow heavily and later reschedule foreign debt payments. After the end of hostilities in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Agricultural development remained hampered by labor shortages, salinization, and dislocations caused by previous land reform and collectivization programs. The industrial sector, although accorded high priority by the government, also was under financial constraints. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic embargoes, and military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically changed the economic picture. Industrial and transportation facilities, which suffered severe damage, have been partially restored. Oil exports remain at less than 5% of the previous level. Shortages of spare parts continue. Living standards deteriorated even further in 1993 and 1994; consumer prices have more than doubled in both 1993 and 1994. The UN-sponsored economic embargo has reduced exports and imports and has contributed to the sharp rise in prices. The Iraqi government has been unwilling to abide by UN resolutions so that the economic embargo can be removed. The government's policies of supporting large military and internal security forces and of allocating resources to key supporters of the regime have exacerbated shortages. In brief, per capita output in 1993-94 is far below the 1989-90 level, but no precise estimate is available.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $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: $10.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990)commodities: crude oil and refined products, fertilizer, sulfurpartners: US, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, Netherlands, Spain (1990)
Imports: $6.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: manufactures, food partners: Germany, US, Turkey, France, UK (1990)
External debt: $50 billion (1989 est.), excluding debt of about $35billion owed to Gulf Arab states
Industrial production: growth rate NA%; manufacturing accounts for 10%of GNP (1989)
Electricity: capacity: 7,170,000 kW production: 25.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,247 kWh (1993)
Industries: petroleum production and refining, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing
Agriculture: accounted for 11% of GNP and 30% of labor force beforethe Gulf war; principal products - wheat, barley, rice, vegetables,dates, other fruit, cotton, wool; livestock - cattle, sheep; notself-sufficient in food output
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $3 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $647 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $3.9 billion
Currency: 1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1 - 3.2 (fixed official rate since 1982); black-market rate (March 1995) US$1 = 1200 Iraqi dinars; semi-official rate US$1 = 650 Iraqi dinars
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Iraq:Transportation
Railroads: total: 2,457 km standard gauge: 2,457 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways: total: 45,550 km paved: 38,400 km unpaved: 7,150 km (1989 est.)
Inland waterways: 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 meters and is in use; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft watercraft; Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of the Persian Gulf war
Pipelines: crude oil 4,350 km; petroleum products 725 km; natural gas1,360 km
Ports: Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, and Al Basrah have limitedfunctionality
Merchant marine:total: 36 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 795,346 GRT/1,431,154 DWT
ships by type: cargo 14, oil tanker 16, passenger 1, passenger-cargo1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3
Airports:total: 121with paved runways over 3,047 m: 21with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 34with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7with paved runways under 914 m: 22with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 3with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 16
@Iraq:Communications
Telephone system: 632,000 telephones; reconstitution of damagedtelecommunication facilities began after the Gulf war; most damagedfacilities have been rebuiltlocal: NAintercity: the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave radiorelay linksinternational: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1GORIZONT (Atlantic Ocean) in the Intersputnik system, and 1 ARABSATearth station; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan,Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; Kuwait line is probably non-operational
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 1, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 13televisions: NA
@Iraq:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Republican Guard and Special Republican Guard, Navy,Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard Force, Internal SecurityForces
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,626,610; males fit formilitary service 2,597,687; males reach military age (18) annually229,015 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GNP
________________________________________________________________________
@Ireland:Geography
Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island ofIreland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 70,280 sq kmland area: 68,890 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total 360 km, UK 360 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Northern Ireland question with the UK; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by ruggedhills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, petroleum, barite, copper,gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver
Land use: arable land: 14% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 71% forest and woodland: 5% other: 10%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: water pollution, especially of lakes, fromagricultural runoffnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Climate Change, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but notratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Desertification,Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Note: strategic location on major air and sea routes between NorthAmerica and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within60 miles of Dublin
@Ireland:People
Population: 3,550,448 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24% (female 415,640; male 440,468)15-64 years: 64% (female 1,125,638; male 1,155,823)65 years and over: 12% (female 237,098; male 175,781) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.33% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 14.04 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 8.48 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.99 years male: 73.15 years female: 79 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural)adjective: Irish
Ethnic divisions: Celtic, English
Religions: Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other1% (1981)
Languages: Irish (Gaelic), spoken mainly in areas located along thewestern seaboard, English is the language generally used
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)total population: 98%
Labor force: 1.37 millionby occupation: services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 28%,agriculture, forestry, and fishing 13.5%, energy and mining 1.5%(1992)
@Ireland:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Ireland
Digraph: EI
Type: republic
Capital: Dublin
Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork,Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim,Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon,Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK)
National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebescite
Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November1990); election last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November1997); results - Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%head of government: Prime Minister John BRUTON (since 15 December1994)cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by president with previous nomination ofthe prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) Senate (Seanad Eireann): elections last held NA February 1992 (next to be held NA February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor 9, Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6 House of Representatives (Dail Eireann): elections last held on 25 November 1992 (next to be held by November 1997); results - Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party 19.3%, Progressive Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein 1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total) Fianna Fail 68, Fine Gael 45, Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10 Democratic Left 4, Greens 1, independents 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Bertie AHERN; Labor Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Desmond O'MALLEY; The Workers' Party, Marion DONNELLY; Green Alliance, Bronwen MAHER note: Prime Minister BRUTON heads a three-party coalition consisting of the Fine Gael, the Labor Party, and the Democratic Left
Member of: Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA,FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA,NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL,UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO,WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Kennedy SMITH embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [353] (1) 6687122 FAX: [353] (1) 6689946
Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red
@Ireland:Economy
Overview: The economy is small and trade dependent. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 37% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's robust growth, the economy is also benefiting from a rise in consumer spending and recovery in both construction and business investment. Ireland has substantially reduced its external debt since 1987, to 40% of GDP in 1994. Over the same period, inflation has fallen sharply and chronic trade deficits have been transformed into annual surpluses. Unemployment remains a serious problem, however, and job creation is the main focus of government policy. To ease unemployment, Dublin aggressively courts foreign investors and recently created a new industrial development agency to aid small indigenous firms. Government assistance is constrained by Dublin's continuing deficit reduction measures.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $49.8 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 5.5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $14,060 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 16% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $16 billionexpenditures: $16.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1994)
Exports: $28 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: chemicals, data processing equipment, industrialmachinery, live animals, animal productspartners: EU 75% (UK 32%, Germany 13%, France 10%), US 9%
Imports: $26 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)commodities: food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleumand petroleum products, machinery, textiles, clothingpartners: EU 66% (UK 41%, Germany 8%, France 4%), US 15%
External debt: $20 billion (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 8.5% (1994 est.); accounts for 37% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 3,930,000 kW production: 14.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,938 kWh (1993)
Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal
Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; principal crops - turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; livestock - meat and dairy products; 85% self-sufficient in food; food shortages include bread grain, fruits, vegetables
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for hashish from North Africa tothe UK and Netherlands
Economic aid:donor: ODA commitments (1980-89), $90 million
Currency: 1 Irish pound (#Ir) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Irish pounds (#Ir) per US$1 - 0.6420 (January 1995), 0.6676 (1994), 0.6816 (1993), 0.5864 (1992), 0.6190 (1991), 0.6030 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Ireland:Transportation
Railroads:total: 1,947 kmbroad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (36 km electrified; 485 km doubletrack)
Highways:total: 92,327 kmpaved: 86,787 km (32 km of expressways)unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 5,540 km (1992)
Inland waterways: limited for commercial traffic
Pipelines: natural gas 225 km
Ports: Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes, Galway, Limerick, NewRoss, Waterford
Merchant marine:total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 129,996 GRT/160,419 DWTships by type: bulk 4, cargo 33, chemical tanker 2, container 2, oiltanker 1, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2
Airports:total: 44with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2with paved runways under 914 m: 32with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
@Ireland:Communications
Telephone system: 900,000 telephones; modern digital system usingcable and microwave radio relaylocal: NAintercity: microwave radio relayinternational: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 86televisions: NA
@Ireland:Defense Forces
Branches: Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police(Garda Siochana)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 926,831; males fit for militaryservice 749,646; males reach military age (17) annually 34,215 (1995est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $500 million, 1.3% ofGDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
(also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries) Note: The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in the data below. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives, Syria, and Jordan to determine the final status of the occupied territories. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace treaty. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace.
@Israel:Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 20,770 sq kmland area: 20,330 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total 1,006 km, Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km,Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
Coastline: 273 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: to depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: separated from Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank by the 1949 Armistice Line; the Gaza Strip and Jericho area, formerly occupied by Israel, are now administered largely by the Palestinian Authority; other areas of the West Bank outside Jericho are administered jointly by Israel and the Palestinian Authority; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982
Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; centralmountains; Jordan Rift Valley
Natural resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand,sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 40% forest and woodland: 6% other: 32%
Irrigated land: 2,140 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: limited arable land and natural fresh water resourcespose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution fromindustrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution fromindustrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticidesnatural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summerinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification,Marine Life Conservation
Note: there are 199 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites inthe West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in theGaza Strip, and 25 in East Jerusalem (August 1994 est.)
@Israel:People
Population: 5,433,134 (July 1995 est.) note: includes 122,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank, 14,500 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 4,800 in the Gaza Strip, and 149,000 in East Jerusalem (August 1994 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% 15-64 years: 61% 65 years and over: 10%
Population growth rate: 1.4% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 20.39 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.38 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.14 years male: 76 years female: 80.39 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Israeli(s) adjective: Israeli
Ethnic divisions: Jewish 82% (Israel born 50%, Europe/Americas/Oceaniaborn 20%, Africa born 7%, Asia born 5%), non-Jewish 18% (mostly Arab)(1993 est.)
Religions: Judaism 82%, Islam 14% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian 2%,Druze and other 2%
Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arabminority, English most commonly used foreign language
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992)total population: 95%male: 97%female: 93%
Labor force: 1.9 million (1992) by occupation: public services 29.3%, industry 22.1%, commerce 13.9%, finance and business 10.4%, personal and other services 7.4%, construction 6.5%, transport, storage, and communications 6.3%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.5%, other 0.6% (1992)
@Israel:Government
Names:conventional long form: State of Israelconventional short form: Israellocal long form: Medinat Yisra'ellocal short form: Yisra'el
Digraph: IS
Type: republic
Capital: Jerusalemnote: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital in 1950, but the US,like nearly all other countries, does not recognize this status, andmaintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv
Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz);Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
Independence: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate underBritish administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 14 May 1948 (Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May)
Constitution: no formal constitution; some of the functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the basic laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law
Legal system: mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat that it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993) electionlast held 24 March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1999); results -Ezer WEIZMAN elected by Knessethead of government: Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN (since NA July 1992)cabinet: Cabinet; selected from and approved by the Knesset
Legislative branch: unicameralparliament (Knesset): elections last held NA June 1992 (next to beheld by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120total) Labor 44, Likud 32, MERETZ 12, Tzomet 8, National ReligiousParty 6, SHAS 6, United Torah Jewry 4, Democratic Front for Peace andEquality (Hadash) 3, Moledet 3, Arab Democratic Party 2; note - in1994 four legislators broke party ranks, resulting in the followingnew distribution of seats - Labor Party 44, Likud bloc 32, MERETZ 12,National Religious Party 6, SHAS 6, Tzomet 5, United Torah Jewry 4,Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash) 3, Moledet 2, ArabDemocratic Party 2, independents 4 (1 in coalition, 3 voting withopposition)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:members of the government: Labor Party, Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN;MERETZ, Minister of Communications Shulamit ALONI; independent, GonenSEGEVnot in coalition, but voting with the government: Democratic Front forPeace and Equality (Hadash), Hashim MAHAMID; Arab Democratic Party,Abd al Wahab DARAWSHAHopposition parties: Likud Party, Binyamin NETANYAHU; Tzomet, RafaelEITAN; National Religious Party, Zevulun HAMMER; United Torah Jewry,Avraham SHAPIRA; Moledet, Rehavam ZEEVI; Peace Guard (independent),Shaul GUTMAN; SHAS, Arieh DERInote: Israel currently has a coalition government comprising 2 partiesand an independent that hold 57 seats of the Knesset's 120 seats
Other political or pressure groups: Gush Emunim, Israeli nationalistsadvocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip; PeaceNow supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and is criticalof government's Lebanon policy
Member of: AG (observer), CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD,ECE, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS(observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Itamar RABINOVICH chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500 FAX: [1] (202) 364-5610 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Martin INDYK embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv mailing address: PSC 98, Box 100, Tel Aviv; APO AE 09830 telephone: [972] (3) 517-4338 FAX: [972] (3) 663-449 consulate(s) general: Jerusalem
Flag: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag
@Israel:Economy
Overview: Israel has a market economy with substantial government participation. It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Industry employs about 22% of Israeli workers, construction 6.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.5%, and services most of the rest. Israel is largely self-sufficient in food production except for grains. Diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are leading exports. Israel usually posts current account deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the United States, which is its major source of economic and military aid. To earn needed foreign exchange, Israel has been targeting high-technology niches in international markets, such as medical scanning equipment. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR, which topped 450,000 during the period 1990-94, increased unemployment, intensified housing problems, and strained the government budget. At the same time, the immigrants bring to the economy valuable scientific and professional expertise.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $70.1 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 6.8% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $13,880 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.5% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $42.3 billionexpenditures: $45.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $11.1billion (FY92/93)
Exports: $16.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: machinery and equipment, cut diamonds, chemicals,textiles and apparel, agricultural products, metalspartners: US, EU, Japan