@Pitcairn Islands:People
Population: 73 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.8% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality: noun: Pitcairn Islander(s) adjective: Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic divisions: descendants of the Bounty mutineers
Religions: Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Languages: English (official), Tahitian/English dialect
Labor force: NAby occupation: no business community in the usual sense; some publicworks; subsistence farming and fishing
@Pitcairn Islands:Government
Names:conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islandsconventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
Digraph: PC
Type: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: Adamstown
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (secondSaturday in June)
Constitution: Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Legal system: local island by-laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor(non-resident) of the Pitcairn Islands Robert John ALSTON (since NA);Commissioner (non-resident) G.D. HARRAWAY (since NA; is the liaisonperson between the governor and the Island Council)head of government: Island Magistrate and Chairman of the IslandCouncil Jay WARREN (since NA)
Legislative branch: unicameralIsland Council: elections take place each December; last held NADecember 1994 (next to be held NA December 1995); results - percent ofvote NA; seats - (11 total, 5 elected) all independents
Judicial branch: Island Court
Political parties and leaders: none
Other political or pressure groups: NA
Member of: SPC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor
@Pitcairn Islands:Economy
Overview: The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships.
National product: GDP $NA
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $430,000expenditures: $429,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987est.)
Exports: $NAcommodities: fruits, vegetables, curiospartners: NA
Imports: $NAcommodities: fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar,other foodstuffspartners: NA
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 110 kW production: 300,000 kWh consumption per capita: 5,360 kWh (1990)
Industries: postage stamps, handicrafts
Agriculture: based on subsistence fishing and farming; wide variety offruits and vegetables; must import grain products
Economic aid:recipient: ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $84,000
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5601 (January 1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Pitcairn Islands:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 6.4 km unpaved: earth 6.4 km
Ports: Bounty Bay
Merchant marine: none
Airports: none
@Pitcairn Islands:Communications
Telephone system: 24 telephones; party line telephone service on theislandlocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: NA
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 0televisions: NA
@Pitcairn Islands:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
________________________________________________________________________
@Poland:Geography
Location: Central Europe, east of Germany
Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
Area:total area: 312,680 sq kmland area: 304,510 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total 3,114 km, Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 428 km
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: defined by international treatiesterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt
Land use: arable land: 46% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 28% other: 12%
Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: forest damage due to air pollution and resulting acidrain; improper means for disposal of large amounts of hazardous andindustrial waste; severe water pollution from industrial and municipalsources; severe air pollution results from emissions of sulfur dioxidefrom coal-fired power plants, which also drifts into Germany and theNetherlandsnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty,Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Note: historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain andthe lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
@Poland:People
Population: 38,792,442 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23% (female 4,349,467; male 4,559,536)15-64 years: 66% (female 12,849,300; male 12,698,179)65 years and over: 11% (female 2,693,407; male 1,642,553) (July 1995est.)
Population growth rate: 0.36% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 13.34 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 9.23 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.13 years male: 69.15 years female: 77.33 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Pole(s) adjective: Polish
Ethnic divisions: Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%,Byelorussian 0.5% (1990 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), EasternOrthodox, Protestant, and other 5%
Languages: Polish
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1978)total population: 99%male: 99%female: 98%
Labor force: 17.321 million (1993 annual average)by occupation: industry and construction 32.0%, agriculture 27.6%,trade, transport, and communications 14.7%, government and other 25.7%(1992)
@Poland:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Polandconventional short form: Polandlocal long form: Rzeczpospolita Polskalocal short form: Polska
Digraph: PL
Type: democratic state
Capital: Warsaw
Administrative divisions: 49 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular -wojewodztwo); Biala Podlaska, Bialystok, Bielsko Biala, Bydgoszcz,Chelm, Ciechanow, Czestochowa, Elblag, Gdansk, Gorzow, Jelenia Gora,Kalisz, Katowice, Kielce, Konin, Koszalin, Krakow, Krosno, Legnica,Leszno, Lodz, Lomza, Lublin, Nowy Sacz, Olsztyn, Opole, Ostroleka,Pila, Piotrkow, Plock, Poznan, Przemysl, Radom, Rzeszow, Siedlce,Sieradz, Skierniewice, Slupsk, Suwalki, Szczecin, Tarnobrzeg, Tarnow,Torun, Walbrzych, Warszawa, Wloclawek, Wroclaw, Zamosc, Zielona Gora
Independence: 11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Constitution: interim "small constitution" came into effect in December 1992 replacing the Communist-imposed constitution of 22 July 1952; new democratic constitution being drafted
Legal system: mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover Communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Lech WALESA (since 22 December 1990);election first round held 25 November 1990, second round held 9December 1990 (next to be held NA November 1995); results - secondround Lech WALESA 74.7%, Stanislaw TYMINSKI 25.3%head of government: Prime Minister Jozef OLEKSY (since 6 March 1995);Deputy Prime Ministers Roman JAGIELINSKI, Grzegorz KOLODKO, andAleksander LUCZAK (since NA)cabinet: Council of Ministers; responsible to the president and theSejm
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (ZgromadzenieNarodowe)Senate (Senat): elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be heldno later than NA October 1997); seats - (100 total) Communist originor linked (PSL 34, SLD 37), post-Solidarity parties (UW 6, NSZZ 12,BBWR 2), non-Communist, non-Solidarity (independents 7, unaffiliated1, vacant 1)Diet (Sejm): elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held nolater than NA October 1997); seats - (460 total) Communist origin orlinked (SLD 171, PSL 132), post-Solidarity parties (UW 74, UP 41, BBWR16), non-Communist, non-Solidarity (KPN 22)note: 4 seats are constitutionally assigned to ethnic German parties
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:post-Solidarity parties: Freedom Union (UW; Democratic Union andLiberal Democratic Congress merged to form Freedom Union), LeszekBALCEROWICZ; Christian-National Union (ZCHN), Ryszard CZARNECKI;Centrum (PC), Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI; Peasant Alliance (PL), GabrielJANOWSKI; Solidarity Trade Union (NSZZ), Marian KRZAKLEWSKI; Union ofLabor (UP), Ryszard BUGAJ; Christian-Democratic Party (PCHD), PawelLACZKOWSKI; Conservative Party, Alexander HALL; Nonparty Bloc for theSupport of the Reforms (BBWR)non-Communist, non-Solidarity: Confederation for an Independent Poland(KPN), Leszek MOCZULSKI; Polish Economic Program (PPG), JanuszREWINSKI; Christian Democrats (CHD), Andrzej OWSINSKI; German Minority(MN), Henryk KROL; Union of Real Politics (UPR), Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE;Democratic Party (SD), Antoni MACKIEWICZCommunist origin: Polish Peasant Party (PSL), Waldemar PAWLAK;Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI
Other political or pressure groups: powerful Roman Catholic Church;Solidarity (trade union); All Poland Trade Union Alliance (OPZZ),populist program
Member of: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI,CERN, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS(observer), OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner),WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802 FAX: [1] (202) 328-6271 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas Andrew REYembassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, Warsawmailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, Box 5010, Unit 1340, APO AE09213-1340telephone: [48] (2) 628-30-41FAX: [48] (2) 628-82-98consulate(s) general: Krakow, Poznan
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar tothe flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white
@Poland:Economy
Overview: Poland continues to make good progress in the difficult transition to a market economy that began on 1 January 1990, when the new democratic government instituted "shock therapy" by decontrolling prices, slashing subsidies, and drastically reducing import barriers. Real GDP fell sharply in 1990 and 1991, but in 1992 Poland became the first country in the region to resume economic growth with a 2.6% increase. Growth increased to 3.8% in 1993 and 5.5% in 1994 - the highest rate in Europe except for Albania. All of the growth since 1991 has come from the booming private sector, which now accounts for at least 55% of GDP, even though privatization of the state-owned enterprises is proceeding slowly and most industry remains in state hands. Industrial production increased 12% in 1994 - led by 50% jumps in the output of motor vehicles, radios and televisions, and pulp and paper - and is now well above the 1990 level. Inflation, which had approached 1,200% annually in early 1990, was down to about 30% in 1994, as the government held the budget deficit to 1.5% of GDP. After five years of steady increases, unemployment has leveled off at about 16% nationwide, although it approaches 30% in some regions. The trade deficit was sharply reduced in 1994, due mainly to increased exports to Western Europe, Poland's main customer. The leftist government elected in September 1993 gets generally good marks from foreign observers for its management of the budget but is often criticized for not moving faster on privatization.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $191.1 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 5.5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $4,920 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 16.1% (November 1994)
Budget:revenues: $27.1 billionexpenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994est.)
Exports: $16.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: intermediate goods 26.5%, machinery and transportequipment 18.1%, miscellaneous manufactures 16.7%, foodstuffs 9.4%,fuels 8.4% (1993)partners: Germany 33.4%, Russia 10.2%, Italy 5.3%, UK 4.3% (1993)
Imports: $18.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: machinery and transport equipment 29.6%, intermediategoods 18.5%, chemicals 13.3%, fuels 12.5%, miscellaneous manufactures10.1%partners: Germany 35.8%, Italy 9.2%, Russia 8.5%, UK 6.6% (1993)
External debt: $47 billion (1993); note - Poland's Western government creditors promised in 1991 to forgive 30% of Warsaw's $35 billion official debt immediately and to forgive another 20% in 1994; foreign banks agreed in early 1994 to forgive 45% of their $12 billion debt claim
Industrial production: growth rate 12% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 31,120,000 kW production: 124 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,908 kWh (1993)
Industries: machine building, iron and steel, extractive industries, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Agriculture: accounts for 7% of GDP; 75% of output from private farms, 25% from state farms; productivity remains low by European standards; leading European producer of rye, rapeseed, and potatoes; wide variety of other crops and livestock; major exporter of pork products; normally self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium for domestic consumption and amphetamines for the international market; transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe; producer of precursor chemicals
Economic aid:donor: bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed countries(1954-89), $2.2 billionrecipient: Western governments and institutions have pledged $8billion in grants and loans since 1989, but most of the money has notbeen disbursed
Currency: 1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy
Exchange rates: zlotych (Zl) per US$1 - 2.45 (January 1995; a currency reform on 1 January 1995 replaced 10,000 old zlotys with 1 new zloty), 22,723 (1994), 18,115 (1993), 13,626 (1992), 10,576 (1991), 9,500 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Poland:Transportation
Railroads:total: 25,528 kmbroad gauge: 659 km 1.520-m gaugestandard gauge: 23,014 km 1.435-m gauge (11,496 km electrified; 8,978km double track)narrow gauge: 1,855 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m,0.750-m, and 0.600-m (1994)
Highways:total: 367,000 km (excluding farm, factory and forest roads)paved: 235,247 km (257 km of which are limited access expressways)unpaved: 131,753 km (1992)
Inland waterways: 3,997 km navigable rivers and canals (1991)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,986 km; petroleum products 360 km; natural gas4,600 km (1992)
Ports: Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin, Swinoujscie,Ustka, Warsaw, Wrocaw
Merchant marine:total: 152 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,186,405 GRT/3,270,914DWTships by type: bulk 89, cargo 38, chemical tanker 4, container 7, oiltanker 1, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea passenger 4
note: in addition, Poland owns 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling76,501 DWT that operate under Bahamian, Liberian, Saint Vincent andthe Grenadines, Vanuatu, Panamanian, and Cypriot registry
Airports:total: 134with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 27with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 7with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 10with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 32with unpaved runways under 914 m: 18
@Poland:Communications
Telephone system: 4.9 million telephones; 12.7 phones/100 residents(1994); severely underdeveloped and outmoded system; exchanges are 86%automatic (1991)local: NAintercity: cable, open wire, and microwaveinternational: INTELSAT, EUTELSAT, INMARSAT, and Intersputnik earthstations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 27, FM 27, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 40 (Russian repeaters 5)televisions: 9.6 million
@Poland:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 10,181,069; males fit for military service 7,940,634; males reach military age (19) annually 323,133 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: 50.7 billion zlotych, NA% of GNP (1994 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
________________________________________________________________________
@Portugal:Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 92,080 sq kmland area: 91,640 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Indiananote: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Land boundaries: total 1,214 km, Spain 1,214 km
Coastline: 1,793 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East TimorProvince) disputed with Indonesia
Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drierin south
Terrain: mountainous north of the Tagus, rolling plains in south
Natural resources: fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble
Land use: arable land: 32% permanent crops: 6% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 40% other: 16%
Irrigated land: 6,340 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial andvehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areasnatural hazards: Azores subject to severe earthquakesinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Desertification, EnvironmentalModification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Note: Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations alongwestern sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
@Portugal:People
Population: 10,562,388 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18% (female 943,412; male 1,000,971)15-64 years: 68% (female 3,625,086; male 3,499,176)65 years and over: 14% (female 889,142; male 604,601) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.36% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 11.72 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 9.65 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.53 years male: 72.11 years female: 79.16 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Portuguese (singular and plural) adjective: Portuguese
Ethnic divisions: homogeneous Mediterranean stock in mainland, Azores,Madeira Islands; citizens of black African descent who immigrated tomainland during decolonization number less than 100,000
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant denominations 1%, other 2%
Languages: Portuguese
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)total population: 85%male: 89%female: 82%
Labor force: 4.24 million (1994 est.)by occupation: services 54.5%, manufacturing 24.4%, agriculture,forestry, fisheries 11.2%, construction 8.3%, utilites 1.0%, mining0.5% (1992)
@Portugal:Government
Names:conventional long form: Portuguese Republicconventional short form: Portugallocal long form: Republica Portuguesalocal short form: Portugal
Digraph: PO
Type: republic
Capital: Lisbon
Administrative divisions: 18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Dependent areas: Macau (scheduled to become a Special AdministrativeRegion of China on 20 December 1999)
Independence: 1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)
National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Constitution: 25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982 and 1 June 1989
Legal system: civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Dr. Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes SOARES (since9 March 1986); election last held 13 February 1991 (next to be held NAFebruary 1996); results - Dr. Mario Lopes SOARES 70%, Basilio HORTA14%, Carlos CARVALHAS 13%, Carlos MARQUES 3%; note - SOARES isfinishing his second term and by law cannot run for a thirdconsecutive termhead of government: Prime Minister Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 6November 1985); note - will be replaced in the October 1995 electionsCouncil of State: acts as a consultative body to the presidentcabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president onrecommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameralAssembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica): elections lastheld 6 October 1991 (next to be held NA October 1995); results - PSD50.4%, PS 29.3%, CDU 8.8%, CDS 4.4%, PSN 1.7%, PRD 0.6%, other 4.8%;seats - (230 total) PSD 136, PS 71, CDU 17, CDS 5, PSN 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal deJustica)
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party (PSD), FernandoNOGUEIRA; Portuguese Socialist Party (PS), Antonio GUTERRES; Party ofDemocratic Renewal (PRD), Pedro CANAVARRO; Portuguese Communist Party(PCP), Carlos CARVALHAS; Social Democratic Center (CDS), ManuelMONTEIRO; National Solidarity Party (PSN), Manuel SERGIO; CenterDemocratic Party (CDS); United Democratic Coalition (CDU; Communists)
Member of: AfDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECE,ECLAC, EIB, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO,NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Jose Laco Treichler KNOPFLIchancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and SanFranciscoconsulate(s): Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence(Rhode Island), and Washington, DC
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley BAGLEY embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon mailing address: PSC 83, Lisbon; APO AE 09726 telephone: [351] (1) 7266600, 7266659, 7268670, 7268880 FAX: [351] (1) 7269109 consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Flag: two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line
@Portugal:Economy
Overview: Portugal's economy contracted 0.4% in 1993 but registered a 1.4% growth in 1994, with 3% growth expected in 1995 and 1996. This comeback rests on high levels of public investment, continuing strong export growth, and a gradual recovery in consumer spending. The government's long-run economic goal is the modernization of Portuguese markets, industry, infrastructure, and work force in order to catch up with productivity and income levels of the more advanced EU countries. Per capita income now equals only 55% of the EU average. Economic policy in 1994 focused on reducing inflationary pressures by lowering the fiscal deficit, maintaining a stable escudo, moderating wage increases, and encouraging increased competition. The government's medium-term objective is to be in the first tier of the EU countries eligible to join the economic and monetary union (EMU) as early as 1997. To this end, the 1995 budget posits a cut in total deficit to 5.8% of GDP.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $107.3 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 1.4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $10,190 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.1% (May 1994)
Unemployment rate: 6.7% (May 1994)
Budget:revenues: $31 billionexpenditures: $41 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1994)
Exports: $15.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)commodities: clothing and footwear, machinery, cork and paperproducts, hides and skinspartners: EU 75.5%, other developed countries 12.4%, US 4.3% (1994)
Imports: $24.3 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, petroleum, textiles partners: EC 72%, other developed countries 10.9%, less developed countries 12.9%, US 3.4%
External debt: $20 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 1.5% (1994 est.); accounts for 30.6% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 8,220,000 kW production: 29.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,642 kWh (1993)
Industries: textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism
Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GDP; small, inefficient farms; imports more than half of food needs; major crops - grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; livestock sector - sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, meat, dairy products
Illicit drugs: increasingly important gateway country for LatinAmerican cocaine entering the European market; transshipment point forhashish from North Africa to Europe
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.8 billion;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $1.2 billion
Currency: 1 Portuguese escudo (Esc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1 - 158.02 (January 1995), 165.99 (1994), 160.80 (1993), 135.00 (1992), 144.48 (1991), 142.55 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Portugal:Transportation
Railroads:total: 3,068 kmbroad gauge: 2,761 km 1.668-m gauge (439 km electrified; 426 km doubletrack)narrow gauge: 307 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:total: 70,176 kmpaved and graveled: 60,351 km (519 km of expressways)unpaved: earth 9,825 km
Inland waterways: 820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton cargo capacity
Pipelines: crude oil 22 km; petroleum products 58 km
Ports: Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira Islands), Horta (Azores), Leixoes,Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Praia da Vitoria (Azores),Setubal, Viana do Castelo
Merchant marine:total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 852,785 GRT/1,545,804 DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 28, chemical tanker 5, container 4, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1 note: Portugal has created a captive register on Madeira for Portuguese-owned ships; ships on the Madeira Register (MAR) will have taxation and crewing benefits of a flag of convenience; in addition, Portugal owns 25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 155,776 DWT that operate under Panamanian and Maltese registry
Airports:total: 65with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 18with paved runways under 914 m: 29with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
@Portugal:Communications
Telephone system: 2,690,000 telephoneslocal: NAintercity: generally adequate integrated network of coaxial cables,open wire and microwave radio relay, domestic satellite earth stations
international: 6 submarine cables; 3 INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1Indian Ocean), EUTELSAT earth stations; tropospheric link to Azores
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 57, FM 66 (repeaters 22), shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 66 (repeaters 23)televisions: NA
@Portugal:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, NationalRepublican Guard, Fiscal Guard, Public Security Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,747,357; males fit formilitary service 2,223,299; males reach military age (20) annually90,402 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.4 billion, 2.9% ofGDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
(commonwealth associated with the US)
@Puerto Rico:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 9,104 sq kmland area: 8,959 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than three times the size of RhodeIsland
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 501 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Natural resources: some copper and nickel, potential for onshore and offshore crude oil
Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 9% meadows and pastures: 41% forest and woodland: 20% other: 22%
Irrigated land: 390 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: the recent drought has caused water levels inreservoirs to drop and prompted water rationing for more than one-halfof the populationnatural hazards: periodic droughtsinternational agreements: NA
Note: important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
@Puerto Rico:People
Population: 3,812,569 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25% (female 466,596; male 489,127)15-64 years: 65% (female 1,274,765; male 1,195,785)65 years and over: 10% (female 213,716; male 172,580) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.16% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 15.92 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7.47 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.1 years male: 70.78 years female: 79.66 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.98 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic divisions: Hispanic
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%
Languages: Spanish, English
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)total population: 89%male: 90%female: 88%
Labor force: 1.2 million (1993)by occupation: government 22%, manufacturing 17%, trade 20%,construction 6%, communications and transportation 5%, other 30%(1993)
@Puerto Rico:Government
Names:conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Ricoconventional short form: Puerto Rico
Digraph: RQ
Type: commonwealth associated with the US
Capital: San Juan
Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the US); note - there are 78 municipalities
Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
National holiday: US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution: ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Legal system: based on Spanish civil code
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are UScitizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)head of government: Governor Pedro ROSSELLO (since 2 January 1993);election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November 1996);results - Pedro ROSSELLO (PNP) 50%, Victoria MUNOZ (PPD) 46%, FernandoMARTIN (PIP) 4%
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative AssemblySenate: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (29total) PNP 20, PPD 8, PIP 1House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next tobe held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA;seats - (53 total) PNP 36, PPD 16, PIP 1US House of Representatives: elections last held 3 November 1992 (nextto be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA;seats - (1 total) PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO); note - Puerto Ricoelects one representative to the US House of Representatives
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Superior Courts, Municipal Courts
Political parties and leaders: National Republican Party of PuertoRico, Luis FERRE; Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Hector ACEVEDO; NewProgressive Party (PNP), Pedro ROSSELLO; Puerto Rican Socialist Party(PSP) has been disbanded (1994); Puerto Rican Independence Party(PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP),leader(s) unknown
Other political or pressure groups: Armed Forces for NationalLiberation (FALN); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution; BoricuaPopular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Armed Forces of PopularResistance
Member of: CARICOM (observer), ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate),ICFTU, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate), WTO(associate)
Diplomatic representation in US: none (commonwealth associated withthe US)
US diplomatic representation: none (commonwealth associated with theUS)
Flag: five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the US flag
@Puerto Rico:Economy
Overview: Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary sector of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Important industries include pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, petrochemicals, and processed foods. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income for the island, with estimated arrivals of nearly 3.9 million tourists in 1993.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $26.8 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 2.6% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $7,050 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 16% (1994)
Budget:revenues: $5.1 billionexpenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY94/95)
Exports: $21.8 billion (1994)commodities: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum,beverage concentrates, medical equipment, instrumentspartners: US 86.2% (1993)
Imports: $16.7 billion (1994) commodities: chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products partners: US 69.2% (1993)
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 4.230,000 kW production: 15.6 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,819 kWh (1993)
Industries: manufacturing accounts for 39.4% of GDP; manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, instruments; tourism
Agriculture: accounts for only 3% of labor force and just over 1% of GDP; crops - sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock - cattle, chickens; imports a large share of food needs (1993)
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Puerto Rico:Transportation
Railroads:total: 96 km rural narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; note -no passenger railroads
Highways:total: 13,762 kmpaved: 13,762 km (1982)
Ports: Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 31with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9with paved runways under 914 m: 14with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
@Puerto Rico:Communications
Telephone system: NA telephones; modern system, integrated with thatof the US by high capacity submarine cable and INTELSAT withhigh-speed data capability; digital telephone system with about 1million lines; cellular telephone service (1990)local: NAintercity: NAinternational: 1 INTELSAT earth station and submarine cable
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 50, FM 63, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 9; note - cable television available with USprograms (1990)televisions: NA
@Puerto Rico:Defense Forces
Branches: paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
________________________________________________________________________
@Qatar:Geography
Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and SaudiArabia
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 11,000 sq kmland area: 11,000 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: total 60 km, Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline: 563 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: territorial dispute with Bahrain over theHawar Islands; maritime boundary with Bahrain
Climate: desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 0% other: 95%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasingdependence on large-scale desalination facilitiesnatural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms commoninternational agreements: signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Lawof the Sea
Note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleumdeposits
@Qatar:People
Population: 533,916 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 30% (female 81,443; male 80,591)15-64 years: 68% (female 104,921; male 258,135)65 years and over: 2% (female 2,941; male 5,885) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.74% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 22.72 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 3.59 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.03 years male: 70.45 years female: 75.5 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.63 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari
Ethnic divisions: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions: Muslim 95%
Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a secondlanguage
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986)total population: 76%male: 77%female: 72%
Labor force: NA
@Qatar:Government
Names:conventional long form: State of Qatarconventional short form: Qatarlocal long form: Dawlat Qatarlocal short form: Qatar
Digraph: QA
Type: traditional monarchy
Capital: Doha
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Salal
Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970
Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: Amir and Prime Minister KHALIFAbin Hamad Al Thani (since 22 February 1972); Crown Prince HAMAD binKhalifa Al Thani (appointed 31 May 1977; son of Amir and Minister ofDefense)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the amir
Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura): constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held; seats - (30 total)
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: none
Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador ABD AL-RAHMAN bin Saud bin Fahd Al Thanichancery: Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC20037telephone: [1] (202) 338-0111
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Kenton W. KEITH embassy: 149 Ali Bin Ahmed St., Farig Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha telephone: [974] 864701 through 864703 FAX: [974] 861669
Flag: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side
@Qatar:Economy
Overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 75% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.3 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for about 25 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European industrial countries. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the development of off-shore oil and the diversification of the economy.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $10.7 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: -1% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $20,820 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $2.5 billionexpenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $440million (1992 est.)
Exports: $3.13 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities: petroleum products 75%, steel, fertilizerspartners: Japan 57%, South Korea 9%, Brazil 4%, UAE 4%, Singapore 3%(1992)
Imports: $1.75 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals partners: Japan 16%, UK 11%, US 11%, Germany 7%, France 5% (1992)
External debt: $1.5 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production: accounts for 50% of GDP, including oil
Electricity: capacity: 1,520,000 kW production: 4.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 8,415 kWh (1993)
Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel (rolls reinforcing bars for concrete construction), cement
Agriculture: farming and grazing on small scale, less than 2% of GDP;agricultural area is small and government-owned; commercial fishingincreasing in importance; most food imported
Economic aid:donor: pledged in ODA to less developed countries (1979-88), $2.7billion
Currency: 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1 - 3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Qatar:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,190 km paved: 1,030 km unpaved: 160 km (1988 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
Ports: Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id
Merchant marine:total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 463,227 GRT/763,507 DWTships by type: combination ore/oil 1, container 3, cargo 11, oiltanker 3, refrigerated cargo 1
Airports:total: 6with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
@Qatar:Communications
Telephone system: 110,000 telephones; modern system centered in Dohalocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relayto Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; 2INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 ARABSAT earthstation
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 3televisions: NA
@Qatar:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 219,442; males fit for military service 115,103; males reach military age (18) annually 3,915 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA%, of GDP
________________________________________________________________________
(overseas department of France)
@Reunion:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east ofMadagascar
Map references: World
Area:total area: 2,510 sq kmland area: 2,500 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 201 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Natural resources: fish, arable land
Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 35% other: 39%
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April);Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcanointernational agreements: NA