Legal system: US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may apply to areas not under jurisdiction of other countries. Some US laws directly apply to Antarctica. For example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the following activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute: The taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protected or scientific areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importation into the US of certain items from Antarctica. Violation of the Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and 1 year in prison. The Departments of Treasury, Commerce, Transportation, and Interior share enforcement responsibilities. Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room 5801, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more information contact Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230 (703-306-1031).
@Antarctica:Economy
Overview: No economic activity at present except for fishing off the coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad.
@Antarctica:Transportation
Ports: none; offshore anchorage
Airports: 42 landing facilities at different locations operated by 15 national governments party to the Treaty; one additional air facility operated by commercial (nongovernmental) tourist organization; helicopter pads at 36 of these locations; runways at 14 locations are gravel, sea ice, glacier ice, or compacted snow surface suitable for wheeled fixed-wing aircraft; no paved runways; 15 locations have snow-surface skiways limited to use by ski-equipped planes - 11 runways/skiways 1,000 to 3,000 m, 5 runways/skiways less than 1,000 m, 8 runways/skiways greater than 3,000 m, and 5 of unspecified or variable length; airports generally subject to severe restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; airports do not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the respective governmental or non-governmental operating organization required for landing
@Antarctica:Communications
Telephone system: local: NA intercity: NA international: NA
Radio:broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NAradios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: NAtelevisions: NA
@Antarctica:Defense Forces
Note: the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes
________________________________________________________________________
@Antigua And Barbuda:Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 440 sq kmland area: 440 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington,DCnote: includes Redonda
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 153 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands with some higher volcanic areas
Natural resources: negligible; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 16% other: 59%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: water management - a major concern because of limitednatural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing oftrees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly
natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October);periodic droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Whaling
@Antigua And Barbuda:People
Population: 65,176 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25% (female 8,062; male 8,390)15-64 years: 69% (female 22,342; male 22,334)65 years and over: 6% (female 2,231; male 1,817) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.68% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 17.08 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 5.35 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.4 years male: 71.32 years female: 75.57 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
Ethnic divisions: black African, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian
Religions: Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some RomanCatholic
Languages: English (official), local dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over has completed five or more years ofschooling (1960)total population: 89%male: 90%female: 88%
Labor force: 30,000by occupation: commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry 7%(1983)
@Antigua And Barbuda:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
Digraph: AC
Type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Saint John's
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*,Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, SaintPeter, Saint Philip
Independence: 1 November 1981 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981)
Constitution: 1 November 1981
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993)head of government: Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March1994)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the governor general onthe advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: 17 member body appointed by the governor general House of Representatives: elections last held 8 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) ALP 11, UPP 5, independent 1
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Antigua Labor Party (ALP), LesterBryant BIRD; United Progressive Party (UPP), Baldwin SPENCER
Other political or pressure groups: United Progressive Party (UPP), headed by Baldwin SPENCER, a coalition of three opposition political parties - the United National Democratic Party (UNDP); the Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement (ACLM); and the Progressive Labor Movement (PLM); Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU), headed by William ROBINSON
Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick Albert LEWIS chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 362-5211, 5166, 5122 FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225 consulate(s) general: Miami
US diplomatic representation: the post was closed 30 June 1994; the USAmbassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda
Flag: red with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white with a yellow rising sun in the black band
@Antigua And Barbuda:Economy
Overview: The economy is primarily service oriented, with tourism the most important determinant of economic performance. In 1993, tourism made a direct contribution to GDP of about 17%, and also spurred growth in other sectors such as construction and transport. While only accounting for roughly 5% of GDP in 1993, agricultural production increased by 4%. Tourist arrivals remained strong in 1994.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $400 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: 3.4% (1993)
National product per capita: $6,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1993)
Unemployment rate: 6% (1992 est.)
Budget:revenues: $105 millionexpenditures: $161 million, including capital expenditures of $56million (1992)
Exports: $54.7 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, food and live animals 4%, machinery and transport equipment 17% partners: OECS 26%, Barbados 15%, Guyana 4%, Trinidad and Tobago 2%, US 0.3%
Imports: $260.9 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil partners: US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%, other 50%
External debt: $250 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate -4.9% (1993 est.); accounts for 6.5% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 52,100 kW production: 95 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,242 kWh (1993)
Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)
Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GDP; expanding output of cotton, fruits, vegetables, and livestock; other crops - bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs: a long-time but relatively minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe and recent transshipment point for heroin from Europe to the US; more significant as a drug money laundering center
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments (1985-88), $10 million; Western (non-US)countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $50 million
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Antigua And Barbuda:Transportation
Railroads:total: 77 kmnarrow gauge: 64 km 0.760-m gauge; 13 km 0.610-m gauge (used almostexclusively for handling sugar cane)
Highways:total: 240 kmpaved: NAunpaved: NA
Ports: Saint John's
Merchant marine:total: 304 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,188,113 GRT/1,651,190DWTships by type: bulk 7, cargo 216, chemical tanker 8, container 48,liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 10,roll-on/roll-off cargo 11note: a flag of convenience registry
Airports:total: 3with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 2
@Antigua And Barbuda:Communications
Telephone system: 6,700 telephones; good automatic telephone systemlocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean)earth station; tropospheric scatter links with Saba and Guadeloupe
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 2radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 2televisions: NA
@Antigua And Barbuda:Defense Forces
Branches: Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua andBarbuda Police Force (includes the Coast Guard)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.4 million, 1% ofGDP (FY90/91)
________________________________________________________________________
@Arctic Ocean:Geography
Location: body of water mostly north of the Arctic Circle
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:total area: 14.056 million sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of the US;smallest of the world's four oceans (after Pacific Ocean, AtlanticOcean, and Indian Ocean)note: includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea,East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Kara Sea,Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary water bodies
Coastline: 45,389 km
International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral states); Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute between Norway and Russia
Climate: polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature ranges; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow
Terrain: central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that averages about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure ridges may be three times that size; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight line movement from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland and Iceland); the ice pack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling land masses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonsov Ridge); maximum depth is 4,665 meters in the Fram Basin
Natural resources: sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)
Environment:current issues: endangered marine species include walruses and whales;fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptionsor damagenatural hazards: ice islands occasionally break away from northernEllesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenlandand extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtuallyicelocked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icingfrom October to Mayinternational agreements: NA
Note: major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and western Russia, floating research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean and lasts about 10 months
@Arctic Ocean:Government
Digraph: XQ
@Arctic Ocean:Economy
Overview: Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.
@Arctic Ocean:Transportation
Ports: Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)
Note: sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways
@Arctic Ocean:Communications
Telephone system: international: no submarine cables
________________________________________________________________________
@Argentina:Geography
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Map references: South America
Area:total area: 2,766,890 sq kmland area: 2,736,690 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Land boundaries: total 9,665 km, Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km,Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km
Coastline: 4,989 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: short section of the boundary with Uruguay isin dispute; short section of the boundary with Chile is indefinite;claims British-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); claimsBritish-administered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands;territorial claim in Antarctica
Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic insouthwest
Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rollingplateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border
Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin,copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 52% forest and woodland: 22% other: 13%
Irrigated land: 17,600 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: erosion results from inadequate flood controls andimproper land use practices; irrigated soil degradation;desertification; air pollution in Buenos Aires and other major cites;water pollution in urban areas; rivers becoming polluted due toincreased pesticide and fertilizer usenatural hazards: Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject toearthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike thePampas and northeast; heavy floodinginternational agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, NuclearTest Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling;signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea, MarineLife Conservation
Note: second-largest country in South America (after Brazil);strategic location relative to sea lanes between South Atlantic andSouth Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, DrakePassage)
@Argentina:People
Population: 34,292,742 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28% (female 4,706,793; male 4,903,589)15-64 years: 62% (female 10,680,074; male 10,689,728)65 years and over: 10% (female 1,922,552; male 1,390,006) (July 1995est.)
Population growth rate: 1.11% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 19.51 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 8.62 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 28.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.51 years male: 68.22 years female: 74.97 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.65 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Argentine(s) adjective: Argentine
Ethnic divisions: white 85%, mestizo, Indian, or other nonwhite groups15%
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20% practicing),Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6%
Languages: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 95%male: 96%female: 95%
Labor force: 10.9 millionby occupation: agriculture 12%, industry 31%, services 57% (1985 est.)
@Argentina:Government
Names:conventional long form: Argentine Republicconventional short form: Argentinalocal long form: Republica Argentinalocal short form: Argentina
Digraph: AR
Type: republic
Capital: Buenos Aires
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (provincias, singular -provincia), and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires;Catamarca; Chaco; Chubut; Cordoba; Corrientes; Distrito Federal*;Entre Rios; Formosa; Jujuy; La Pampa; La Rioja; Mendoza; Misiones;Neuquen; Rio Negro; Salta; San Juan; San Luis; Santa Cruz; Santa Fe;Santiago del Estero; Tierra del Fuego, Antartida e Islas del AtlanticoSur; Tucumannote: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica orArgentina's claims to the Falkland Islands
Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain)
National holiday: Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)
Constitution: 1 May 1853; revised August 1994
Legal system: mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Carlos Saul MENEM(since 8 July 1989); Vice President (position vacant); election lastheld 14 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); results - Carlos SaulMENEM was reelectedcabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) Senate: elections last held May 1989, but provincial elections in late 1991 set the stage for indirect elections by provincial senators for one-third of 48 seats in the national senate in May 1992; seats (48 total) - PJ 29, UCR 11, others 7, vacant 1 Chamber of Deputies: elections last held 3 October 1993 ( next to be held October 1995); elections are held every two years and half of the total membership is elected each time for four year terms; seats - (257 total) PJ 122, UCR 83, MODIN 7, UCD 5, other 40
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Political parties and leaders: Justicialist Party (PJ), Carlos SaulMENEM, Peronist umbrella political organization; Radical Civic Union(UCR),Raul ALFONSIN, moderately left-of-center party; Union of theDemocratic Center (UCD), Jorge AGUADO, conservative party; Dignity andIndependence Political Party (MODIN), Aldo RICO, right-wing party;Grand Front (Frente Grande), Carlos ALVAREZ, center-left coalition;several provincial parties
Other political or pressure groups: Peronist-dominated labor movement;General Confederation of Labor (CGT; Peronist-leaning umbrella labororganization); Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers'association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association);business organizations; students; the Roman Catholic Church; the ArmedForces
Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, CCC, ECLAC,FAO, G- 6, G-11, G-15, G-19, 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, MERCOSUR, MINURSO,MTCR, NSG (observer), OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM II,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMOZ,UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Enrique GRANILLO OCAMPO chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6400 through 6403 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador James R. CHEEK embassy: 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires mailing address: Unit 4334; APO AA 34034 telephone: [54] (1) 777-4533, 4534 FAX: [54] (1) 777-0197
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face known as the Sun of May
@Argentina:Economy
Overview: Argentina, rich in natural resources, benefits also from a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Nevertheless, following decades of mismanagement and statist policies, the economy in the late 1980s was plagued with huge external debts and recurring bouts of hyperinflation. Elected in 1989, in the depths of recession, President MENEM has implemented a comprehensive economic restructuring program that shows signs of putting Argentina on a path of stable, sustainable growth. Argentina's currency has traded at par with the US dollar since April 1991, and inflation has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years. Argentines have responded to the relative price stability by repatriating flight capital and investing in domestic industry. The economy registered an impressive 6% advance in 1994, fueled largely by inflows of foreign capital and strong domestic consumption spending. The government's major short term objective is encouraging exports, e.g., by reducing domestic costs of production. At the start of 1995, the government had to deal with the spillover from international financial movements associated with the devaluation of the Mexican peso. In addition, unemployment had become a serious issue for the government. Despite average annual 7% growth in 1991-94, unemployment surprisingly has doubled - due mostly to layoffs in government bureaus and in privatized industrial firms and utilities and, to a lesser degree, to illegal immigration. Much remains to be done in the 1990s in dismantling the old statist barriers to growth, extending the recent economic gains, and bringing down the rate of unemployment.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $270.8 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 6% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $7,990 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $48.46 billionexpenditures: $46.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.5billion (1994 est.)
Exports: $15.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, manufactures partners: US 12%, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Netherlands
Imports: $21.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and lubricants, agricultural products partners: US 22%, Brazil, Germany, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands
External debt: $73 billion (April 1994)
Industrial production: growth rate 12.5% accounts for 31% of GDP (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 17,330,000 kW production: 54.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,610 kWh (1993)
Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Agriculture: accounts for 8% of GDP (including fishing); produces abundant food for both domestic consumption and exports; among world's top five exporters of grain and beef; principal crops - wheat, corn, sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets
Illicit drugs: increasing use as a transshipment country for cocaineheaded for the US and Europe
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1 billion;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $4.4 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $718 million
Currency: 1 nuevo peso argentino = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: pesos per US$1 - 0.99870 (December 1994), 0.99901 (1994), 0.99895 (1993), 0.99064 (1992), 0.95355 (1991), 0.48759 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Argentina:Transportation
Railroads:total: 34,572 kmbroad gauge: NA km 1.676-m gaugestandard gauge: NA km 1.435-mnarrow gauge: 400 km 0.750-m gauge; NA km 1.000-m gauge (209 kmelectrified)
Highways: total: 208,350 km paved: 57,000 km unpaved: gravel 39,500 km; improved/unimproved earth 111,850 km
Inland waterways: 11,000 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; naturalgas 9,918 km
Ports: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepcion delUruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario,Santa Fe, Ushuaia
Merchant marine:total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 434,525 GRT/667,501 DWTships by type: bulk 3, cargo 21, chemical tanker 1, container 4, oiltanker 8, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-offcargo 1
Airports:total: 1,602with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 55with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 48with paved runways under 914 m: 703with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 2with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 70with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 693
@Argentina:Communications
Telephone system: 2,650,000 telephones; 12,000 public telephones; 78telephones/1,000 persons; extensive modern system but many families donot have telephones; microwave widely used; however, duringrainstorms, the telephone system frequently grounds out, even inBuenos Aireslocal: NAintercity: microwave radio relay and domestic satellite network with40 earth stationsinternational: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 171, FM 0, shortwave 13radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 231televisions: NA
@Argentina:Defense Forces
Branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic, ArgentineAir Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval Prefecture (CoastGuard only), National Aeronautical Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 8,573,780; males fit formilitary service 6,954,584; males reach military age (20) annually301,166 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
________________________________________________________________________
@Armenia:Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - European States
Area:total area: 29,800 sq kmland area: 28,400 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total 1,254 km, Azerbaijan (east) 566 km, Azerbaijan(south) 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: supports ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh in their separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani government; traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided
Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain: high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land;fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc,alumina
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 0% other: 60%
Irrigated land: 3,050 sq km (1990)
Environment:current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT;energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led todeforestation as citizens scavenge for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan(Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich, a result of itsuse as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water suppliesnatural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Note: landlocked
@Armenia:People
Population: 3,557,284 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 31% (female 542,664; male 570,998)15-64 years: 61% (female 1,103,171; male 1,076,226)65 years and over: 8% (female 154,784; male 109,441) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.94% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 22.79 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.66 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 26 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.36 years male: 68.94 years female: 75.95 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.06 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian
Ethnic divisions: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostlyYezidi Kurds) 2% (1989)note: as of the end of 1994, most Azeris had emigrated from Armenia
Religions: Armenian Orthodox 94%
Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)total population: 99%male: 99%female: 98%
Labor force: 1.578 million by occupation: industry and construction 34%, agriculture and forestry 31%, other 35% (1992)
@Armenia:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Armeniaconventional short form: Armenialocal long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yunlocal short form: Hayastanformer: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic
Digraph: AM
Type: republic
Capital: Yerevan
Administrative divisions: 37 regions (shrjanner, singular - shrjan)and 23 cities* (kaghakner, singular - kaghak); Abovyan*, AkhuryaniShrjan, Alaverdi*, Amasiayi Shrjan, Anii Shrjan, Aparani Shrjan,Aragatsi Shrjan, Ararat*, Ararati Shrjan, Armaviri Shrjan, Artashat*,Artashati Shrjan, Art'ik*, Art'iki Shrjan, Ashots'k'i Shrjan,Ashtarak*, Ashtaraki Shrjan, Baghramyani Shrjan, Ch'arents'avan*,Dilijan*, Ejmiatsin*, Ejmiatsni Shrjan, Goris*, Gorisi Shrjan,Gugark'i Shrjan, Gyumri*, Hoktemberyan*, Hrazdan*, Hrazdani Shrjan,Ijevan*, Ijevani Shrjan, Jermuk*, Kamo*, Kamoyi Shrjan, Kapan*, KapaniShrjan, Kotayk'i Shrjan, Krasnoselski Shrjan, Martunu Shrjan, MasisiShrjan, Meghru Shrjan, Metsamor*, Nairii Shrjan, Noyemberyani Shrjan,Sevan*, Sevani Shrjan, Sisiani Shrjan, Spitak*, Spitaki Shrjan,Step'anavan*, Step'anavani Shrjan, T'alini Shrjan, Tashiri Shrjan,Taushi Shrjan, T'umanyani Shrjan, Vanadzor*, Vardenisi Shrjan, Vayk'iShrjan, Yeghegnadzori Shrjan, Yerevan*
Independence: 28 May 1918 (First Armenian Republic); 23 September 1991(from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Referendum Day, 21 September
Constitution: adopted NA April 1978; referendum on new constitution to be held 5 July 1995
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN (since October1991) election last held 16 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996);results - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN 86%; radical nationalistsabout 7%; note - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN was elected Chairman ofthe Armenian Supreme Soviet 4 August 1990 before becoming presidenthead of government: Prime Minister Hrant BAGRATYAN (since 16 February1993); First Deputy Prime Minister Vigen CHITECHYAN (since 16 February1993)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameralSupreme Soviet: elections last held 20 May 1990 (next to be held 5July 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (260 total)non-aligned 136, ANM 52, DPA 17, Democratic Liberal Party 17, ARF 12,NDU 9, Christian Democratic Party 1, Constitutional Rights Union 1,ONS 1, Republican Party 1, Nagorno-Karabakh representatives 13
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Armenian National Movement (ANM),Ter-Husik LAZARYAN, chairman; National Democratic Union (NDU), DavidVARTANYAN, chairman; Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF,Dashnaktsutyun); note - banned until reorganized; Democratic Party ofArmenia (DPA; Communist Party), Aram SARKISYAN, chairman; ChristianDemocratic Party, Azat ARSHAKYAN, chairman; Greens Party, HakobSANASARIAN, chairman; Democratic Liberal Party, Rouben MIRZAKHANYAN,chairman; Republican Party, Ashot NAVARSARDYAN, chairman; Union forSelf-Determination (ONS), Paruir AIRIKYAN, chairman
Member of: BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, NACC, NAM(observer), OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ruben SHUGARIAN chancery: Suite 210, 1660 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 628-5766 FAX: [1] (202) 628-5769
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Harry J. GILMORE embassy: 18 Gen Bagramian, Yerevan mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (8852) 151-144, 524-661 FAX: [7] (8852) 151-138
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and gold
@Armenia:Economy
Overview: Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a more modern industrial sector, supplying machine building equipment, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy resources. Armenia is a large food importer and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The economic decline in recent years (1991-94) has been particularly severe due to the ongoing conflict over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Turkey have blockaded pipeline and railroad traffic to Armenia for its support of the Karabakh Armenians. This has left Armenia with chronic energy shortages because of a lack of capacity and frequent disruptions of natural gas deliveries through unstable Georgia, as well as difficulties in obtaining other types of fuel. In addition, bread is strictly rationed and there are shortages of other goods. In 1994, the economy seemed to bottom out. The government has managed to increase its financial and budgetary discipline, bringing inflation down from around 40% per month in first half 1994 to single digits in second half 1994 and the first quarter of 1995. A full economic recovery cannot be expected until the conflict is settled and the blockade lifted.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $8.1 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
National product real growth rate: -2% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $2,290 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 27% per month average (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.5% of officially registered unemployed but large numbers of underemployed (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $43 million to countries outside the FSU (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport equipment,electrical equipmentpartners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia
Imports: $120 million from countries outside the FSU (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: grain, other foods, fuel, other energy partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, US, EU
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate 7% (1994 est.); accounts for 41% ofGDP
Electricity: capacity: 4,620,000 kW production: 5.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,620 kWh (1994)
Industries: traditionally diverse, including (as a percent of output of former USSR) metalcutting machine tools (5.5%), forging-pressing machines (1.9%), electric motors (9%), tires (1.5%), knitted wear (4.4%), hosiery (3.0%), shoes (2.2%), silk fabric (0.8%), washing machines (2.0%), chemicals, trucks, watches, instruments, and microelectronics (1990); currently, much of industry is shut down
Agriculture: only 17% of land area is arable; employs 31% of labor force as residents increasingly turn to subsistence agriculture; fruits (especially grapes) and vegetable farming, minor livestock sector; vineyards near Yerevan are famous for brandy and other liqueurs
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domesticconsumption; used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs toWestern Europe
Economic aid:recipient: considerable humanitarian aid, mostly food and energyproducts, from US and EU; Russia granted 60 billion rubles intechnical credits in late 1994 and approved a 110 billion ruble creditalmost half of which was to go toward the restart of the Metsamornuclear power plant
Currency: 1 dram = 100 luma (introduced new currency in November 1993)
Exchange rates: dram per US$1 - 406 (end December 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Armenia:Transportation
Railroads:total: 840 km in common carrier service; does not include industriallinesbroad gauge: 840 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
Highways:total: 11,300 kmpaved: 10,500 kmunpaved: earth 800 km (1990)
Inland waterways: NA km
Pipelines: natural gas 900 km (1991)
Ports: none
Airports:total: 11with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3with unpaved runways under 914 m: 1
@Armenia:Communications
Telephone system: about 650,000 telephones; 177 telephones/1,000persons; progress on installation of fiber optic cable andconstruction of facilities for mobile cellular phone service remainsin the negotiation phase for joint venture agreementlocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: international connections to other former republics ofthe USSR are by landline or microwave and to other countries bysatellite and by leased connection through the Moscow internationalgateway switch; 1 INTELSAT satellite link
Radio:broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NAradios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: NA; note - 100% of population receives Armenianand Russian TV programstelevisions: NA
@Armenia:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, SecurityForces (internal and border troops)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 877,414; males fit for militaryservice 699,167; males reach military age (18) annually 28,634 (1995est.)
Defense expenditures: 250 million rubles, NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
________________________________________________________________________
(part of the Dutch realm)
@Aruba:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 193 sq kmland area: 193 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 68.5 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Natural resources: negligible; white sandy beaches
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: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane beltinternational agreements: NA
@Aruba:People
Population: 65,974 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23% (female 7,377; male 7,726)15-64 years: 69% (female 24,269; male 21,141)65 years and over: 8% (female 3,223; male 2,238) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.65% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 14.6 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.17 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.56 years male: 72.89 years female: 80.42 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban
Ethnic divisions: mixed European/Caribbean Indian 80%
Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim,Confucian, Jewish
Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch,English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: NA by occupation: most employment is in the tourist industry (1995)
@Aruba:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Aruba
Digraph: AA
Type: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles
Capital: Oranjestad
Administrative divisions: none (self-governing part of theNetherlands)
Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm; in 1990, Aruba requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically give independence to the island in 1996)
National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March
Constitution: 1 January 1986
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January1992)head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29 July1994)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed with the advice and approvalof the legislature
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature (Staten): elections last held 29 July 1994 (next to be held by NA July 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party (MEP), NelsonODUBER; Aruban People's Party (AVP), Jan (Henny) H. EMAN; NationalDemocratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro KELLY; New Patriotic Party(PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Benny NISBET;Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo BERLINSKI; Democratic Action '86(AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Organization for Aruban Liberty (OLA),Glenbert CROESnote: governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN
Member of: ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL,WTO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing part of theNetherlands)
US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing part of theNetherlands)
Flag: blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner
@Aruba:Economy
Overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. Additionally, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and less than 1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: 5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita: $17,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 0.6% (1992)
Budget:revenues: $145 millionexpenditures: $185 million, including capital expenditures of $42million (1988)
Exports: $1.3 billion (including oil re-exports) (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: mostly refined petroleum products partners: US 64%, EC
Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum products, crude oil for refining and re-export partners: US 8%, EC
External debt: $81 million (1987)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 90,000 kW production: 330 million kWh consumption per capita: 4,761 kWh (1993)
Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Agriculture: poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agriculturalactivity to the cultivation of aloes, some livestock, and fishing
Illicit drugs: drug money laundering center and transit point fornarcotics bound for the US and Europe
Economic aid:recipient: Western (non-US) countries ODA and OOF bilateralcommitments (1980-89), $220 million
Currency: 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1 - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Aruba:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA
Ports: Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 2with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1note: government-owned airport east of Oranjestad acceptstransatlantic flights
@Aruba:Communications
Telephone system: 72,168 telephones; 1,100 telephones/1,000 persons;more than adequatelocal: NAintercity: extensive interisland microwave radio relay linksinternational: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 4, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 1televisions: NA
@Aruba:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands
________________________________________________________________________
(territory of Australia)
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest ofAustralia
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total area: 5 sq kmland area: 5 sq kmcomparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DCnote: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) andCartier Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 74.1 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical
Terrain: low with sand and coral
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs which can posemaritime hazardsinternational agreements: NA
Note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only seasonal caretakers
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Government
Names:conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islandsconventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Digraph: AT
Type: territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry for the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Economy
Overview: no economic activity
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Transportation
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force