Names:conventional long form: Kingdom of Tongaconventional short form: Tongaformer: Friendly Islands
Digraph: TN
Type: hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital: Nuku'alofa
Administrative divisions: three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu,Vava'u
Independence: 4 June 1970 (emancipation from UK protectorate)
National holiday: Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Constitution: 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Legal system: based on English law
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)head of government: Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991);Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the kingPrivy Council: consists of the king and the cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral; consists of twelve cabinet ministers sitting ex-officio, nine nobles selected by the country's thirty-three nobles, and nine people's representatives elected by the populace Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea): elections last held 3-4 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (30 total, 9 elected) 6 proreform, 3 traditionalist
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Tonga People's Party, Viliami FUKOFUKA
Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL,IOC, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US: Ambassador Sione KITE, resides inLondonconsulate(s) general: San Francisco
US diplomatic representation: the US has no offices in Tonga; theambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
Flag: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upperhoist-side corner
@Tonga:Economy
Overview: The economy's base is agriculture, which employs about 70% of the labor force and contributes 40% to GDP. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The manufacturing sector accounts for only 11% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings, but the country also remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit. The economy continued to grow in 1993-94 largely because of a rise in squash exports, increased aid flows, and several large construction projects. The government is now turning its attention to further development of the private sector and the reduction of the budget deficit.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $214 million (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $2,050 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1993)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $36.4 millionexpenditures: $68.1 million, including capital expenditures of $33.2million (1991 est.)
Exports: $11.3 million (f.o.b., FY92/93) commodities: squash, vanilla, fish, root crops, coconut oil partners: Japan 34%, US 17%, Australia 13%, NZ 13% (FY90/91)
Imports: $56 million (c.i.f., FY92/93) commodities: food products, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals partners: NZ 33%, Australia 22%, US 8%, Japan 8% (FY90/91)
External debt: $47.5 million (FY90/91)
Industrial production: growth rate 1.5% (FY91/92); accounts for 11% ofGDP
Electricity: capacity: 6,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 231 kWh (1993)
Industries: tourism, fishing
Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; dominated by coconut, copra, andbanana production; vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $16 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $258 million
Currency: 1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti
Exchange rates: pa'anga (T$) per US$1 - 1.2653 (January 1995), 1.3202 (1994), 1.3841 (1993), 1.3471 (1992), 1.2961 (1991), 1.2800 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Tonga:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:total: 366 kmpaved: 272 km (198 km on Tongatapu; 74 km on Vava'u)unpaved: 94 km (usable only in dry weather)
Ports: Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,440 GRT/8,984 DWTships by type: cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
Airports:total: 6with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 2with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
@Tonga:Communications
Telephone system: 3,529 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0radios: 66,000
Television:broadcast stations: 0televisions: NA
@Tonga:Defense Forces
Branches: Tonga Defense Services, Maritime Division, Royal TonganMarines, Tongan Royal Guards, Police
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
________________________________________________________________________
@Trinidad And Tobago:Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 5,130 sq kmland area: 5,130 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 362 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continentalmarginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain: mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Land use: arable land: 14% permanent crops: 17% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 44% other: 23%
Irrigated land: 220 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: water pollution from agricultural chemicals,industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches;deforestation; soil erosionnatural hazards: outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropicalstormsinternational agreements: party to - Climate Change, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity
@Trinidad And Tobago:People
Population: 1,271,159 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 31% (female 191,627; male 198,225)15-64 years: 64% (female 399,726; male 407,495)65 years and over: 5% (female 40,577; male 33,509) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.12% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 16.62 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.14 years male: 67.75 years female: 72.6 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s) adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Ethnic divisions: black 43%, East Indian (a local term - primarilyimmigrants from northern India) 40%, mixed 14%, white 1%, Chinese 1%,other 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 32.2%, Hindu 24.3%, Anglican 14.4%, otherProtestant 14%, Muslim 6%, none or unknown 9.1%
Languages: English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)total population: 97%male: 98%female: 96%
Labor force: 463,900by occupation: construction and utilities 18.1%, manufacturing,mining, and quarrying 14.8%, agriculture 10.9%, other 56.2% (1985est.)
@Trinidad And Tobago:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobagoconventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
Digraph: TD
Type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Port-of-Spain
Administrative divisions: 8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**;Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint Andrew, SaintDavid, Saint George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria
Independence: 31 August 1962 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Constitution: 1 August 1976
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Noor Mohammed HASSANALI (since 18 March1987)head of government: Prime Minister Patrick Augustus Mervyn MANNING(since 17 December 1991)cabinet: Cabinet; responsible to parliament
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: consists of a 31-member body appointed by the president House of Representatives: elections last held 16 December 1991 (next to be held by December 1996); results - PNM 32%, UNC 13%, NAR 2%; seats - (36 total) PNM 21, UNC 13, NAR 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: People's National Movement (PNM),Patrick MANNING; United National Congress (UNC), Basdeo PANDAY;National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), Selby WILSON; Movement forSocial Transformation (MOTION), David ABDULLAH; National Joint ActionCommittee (NJAC), Makandal DAAGA; Republican Party, Nello MITCHELL;National Development Party (NDP), Carson CHARLES; Movement for Unityand Progress (MUP), Hulsie BHAGGAN
Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT,IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Corinne Averille McKNIGHT chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490 FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130 consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Brian DONNELLY (since September 1994) embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain telephone: [1] (809) 622-6372 through 6376, 6176 FAX: [1] (809) 628-5462
Flag: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side
@Trinidad And Tobago:Economy
Overview: Trinidad and Tobago's petroleum-based economy still enjoys a high per capita income by Latin American standards, even though output and living standards are substantially below the boom years of 1973-82. The country suffers from widespread unemployment, large foreign-debt payments, and periods of low international oil prices. The government has begun to make progress in its efforts to diversify exports and to liberalize its trade regime, making 1994 the first year of substantial growth since the early 1980s.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $15 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 3% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $11,280 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.1% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 18.1% (1994 )
Budget:revenues: $1.6 billionexpenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $158million (1993 est.)
Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steelproducts, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowerspartners: US 44%, CARICOM 15%, Latin America 9%, EC 5% (1993)
Imports: $996 million (c.i.f., 1994)commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods,food, live animalspartners: US 43%, Venezuela 10%, UK 8%, other EC 8% (1993)
External debt: $2 billion (1994)
Industrial production: growth rate 1% (1994 est.); accounts for 39% ofGDP, including petroleum
Electricity: capacity: 1,150,000 kW production: 3.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,740 kWh (1993)
Industries: petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage, cotton textiles
Agriculture: accounts for 3% of GDP; major crops - cocoa, sugarcane; sugarcane acreage is being shifted into rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry sector most important source of animal protein; must import large share of food needs
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destinedfor the US and Europe and producer of cannabis
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $373 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $518 million
Currency: 1 Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TT$) per US$1 - 5.8758 (January 1995), 5.9160 (1994), 5.3511 (1993), 4.2500 (fixed rate 1989-1992); note - effective 13 April 1993, the exchange rate of the TT dollar is market-determined as opposed to the prior fixed relationship to the US dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Trinidad And Tobago:Transportation
Railroads: note: minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando
Highways: total: 8,000 km paved: 4,000 km unpaved: improved earth 1,000 km; unimproved earth 3,000 km
Pipelines: crude oil 1,032 km; petroleum products 19 km; natural gas904 km
Ports: Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain,Scarborough, Tembladora
Merchant marine:total: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,507 GRT/21,923DWT
Airports:total: 6with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
@Trinidad And Tobago:Communications
Telephone system: 109,000 telephones; excellent international servicevia tropospheric scatter links to Barbados and Guyana; good localservicelocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station; linked toBarbados and Guyana by tropospheric scatter system
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 5televisions: NA
@Trinidad And Tobago:Defense Forces
Branches: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes Ground Forces,Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 347,841; males fit for militaryservice 249,904 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $83 million, 1.5% ofGDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
(possession of France)
@Tromelin Island:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east ofMadagascar
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 1 sq kmland area: 1 sq kmcomparative area: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3.7 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claimed by Madagascar, Mauritius, andSeychelles
Climate: tropical
Terrain: sandy
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (scattered bushes)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Note: climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary
@Tromelin Island:People
Population: uninhabited
@Tromelin Island:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Tromelin Islandlocal long form: nonelocal short form: Ile Tromelin
Digraph: TE
Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion
Independence: none (possession of France)
@Tromelin Island:Economy
Overview: no economic activity
@Tromelin Island:Transportation
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1
@Tromelin Island:Communications
Note: important meteorological station
@Tromelin Island:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of France
________________________________________________________________________
@Tunisia:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, betweenAlgeria and Libya
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 163,610 sq kmland area: 155,360 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total 1,424 km, Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline: 1,148 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Libya; land boundary dispute with Algeria settled in 1993; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, drysummers; desert in south
Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid southmerges into the Sahara
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 10% meadows and pastures: 19% forest and woodland: 4% other: 47%
Irrigated land: 2,750 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective andpresents human health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limitednatural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soilerosion; desertificationnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Marine LifeConservation
Note: strategic location in central Mediterranean
@Tunisia:People
Population: 8,879,845 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35% (female 1,507,866; male 1,563,411)15-64 years: 60% (female 2,665,586; male 2,672,712)65 years and over: 5% (female 226,201; male 244,069) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.69% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 22.52 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 4.86 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.25 years male: 71.16 years female: 75.44 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.73 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic divisions: Arab-Berber 98%, European 1%, Jewish less than 1%
Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish 1%
Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce),French (commerce)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)total population: 57%male: 69%female: 45%
Labor force: 2.25 million by occupation: agriculture 32% note: shortage of skilled labor
@Tunisia:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Tunisiaconventional short form: Tunisialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyahlocal short form: Tunis
Digraph: TS
Type: republic
Capital: Tunis
Administrative divisions: 23 governorates; Beja, Ben Arous, Bizerte,Gabes, Gafsa, Jendouba, Kairouan, Kasserine, Kebili, L'Ariana, Le Kef,Mahdia, Medenine, Monastir, Nabeul, Sfax, Sidi Bou Zid, Siliana,Sousse, Tataouine, Tozeur, Tunis, Zaghouan
Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 20 March (1956)
Constitution: 1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988
Legal system: based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November1987); election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999);results - President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI was reelected withoutoppositionhead of government: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September1989)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab): elections last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - RCD 97.7%, MDS 1.0%, others 1.3%; seats - (163 total) RCD 144, MDS 10, others 9; note - the government changed the electoral code to guarantee that the opposition won seats
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)
Political parties and leaders: Constitutional Democratic Rally Party(RCD), President BEN ALI (official ruling party); Movement ofDemocratic Socialists (MDS), Mohammed MOUAADA; five other politicalparties are legal, including the Communist Party
Other political or pressure groups: the Islamic fundamentalist party,An Nahda (Rebirth), is outlawed
Member of: ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO,G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU,MINURSO, NAM, OAPEC (withdrew from active membership in 1986), OAS(observer), OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNITAR, UNMIH, UNPROFOR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Azzouz ENNAIFER chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Ann CASEY embassy: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [216] (1) 782-566 FAX: [216] (1) 789-719
Flag: red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam
@Tunisia:Economy
Overview: Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Detailed governmental control of economic affairs has gradually lessened over the past decade, including increasing privatization of trade and commerce, simplification of the tax structure, and a cautious approach to debt. Real growth has averaged roughly 5% in 1991-94, and inflation has been moderate. Growth in tourism and IMF support have been key elements in this solid record. Further privatization and further improvements in government administrative efficiency are among the challenges for the future.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $37.1 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 4.4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $4,250 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 16.2% (1993 est.)
Budget:revenues: $4.3 billionexpenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures to $NA(1993 est.)
Exports: $4.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993)commodities: hydrocarbons, agricultural products, phosphates andchemicalspartners: EC countries 75%, Middle East 10%, Algeria 2%, India 2%, US1%
Imports: $6.5 billion (c.i.f., 1993)commodities: industrial goods and equipment 57%, hydrocarbons 13%,food 12%, consumer goodspartners: EC countries 70%, US 5%, Middle East 2%, Japan 2%,Switzerland 1%, Algeria 1%
External debt: $7.7 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1989); accounts for 22% of GDP, including petroleum
Electricity: capacity: 1,410,000 kW production: 5.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 595 kWh (1993)
Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, food, beverages
Agriculture: accounts for 16% of GDP and one-third of labor force; output subject to severe fluctuations because of frequent droughts; export crops - olives, dates, oranges, almonds; other products - grain, sugar beets, wine grapes, poultry, beef, dairy; not self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $730 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89) $52 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $684 million;Communist countries (1970-89), $410 million
Currency: 1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes
Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1 - 0.9849 (January 1995), 1.0116 (1994), 1.0037 (1993), 0.8844 (1992), 0.9246 (1991), 0.8783 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Tunisia:Transportation
Railroads:total: 2,260 kmstandard gauge: 492 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 1,758 km 1.000-m gaugedual gauge: 10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges
Highways: total: 29,183 km paved: bituminous 17,510 km unpaved: improved, unimproved earth 11,673 km
Pipelines: crude oil 797 km; petroleum products 86 km; natural gas 742 km
Ports: Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis, Zarzis
Merchant marine:total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 129,035 GRT/168,032 DWTships by type: bulk 6, cargo 5, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 1,roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:total: 31with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 8with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7
@Tunisia:Communications
Telephone system: 233,000 telephones; 28 telephones/1,000 persons; thesystem is above the African average; key centers are Sfax, Sousse,Bizerte, and Tunislocal: NAintercity: facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable, andmicrowave radio relayinternational: 5 submarine cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) and 1ARABSAT earth station with back-up control station; coaxial cable andmicrowave radio relay to Algeria and Libya
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 8, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 19televisions: NA
@Tunisia:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces, National Guard
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,294,912; males fit for military service 1,317,642; males reach military age (20) annually 93,601 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $549 million, 3% ofGDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
@Turkey:Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia (that part west of the Bosporus issometimes included with Europe), bordering the Black Sea, betweenBulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and theMediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 780,580 sq kmland area: 770,760 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries: total 2,627 km, Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km,Bulgaria 240 km, Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 331km, Syria 822 km
Coastline: 7,200 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only - to the maritime boundaryagreed upon with the former USSRterritorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea, 12 nm in the Black Sea and inthe Mediterranean Sea
International disputes: complex maritime, air and territorial disputes with Greece in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question; Hatay question with Syria; ongoing dispute with downstream riparians (Syria and Iraq) over water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsherin interior
Terrain: mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central plateau(Anatolia)
Natural resources: antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper, borate,sulphur, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 30% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 12% forest and woodland: 26% other: 28%
Irrigated land: 22,200 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: water pollution from dumping of chemicals anddetergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestationnatural hazards: very severe earthquakes, especially in northernTurkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Vaninternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Hazardous Wastes,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification,Environmental Modification
Note: strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus,Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas
@Turkey:People
Population: 63,405,526 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35% (female 10,815,288; male 11,203,723)15-64 years: 60% (female 18,723,772; male 19,391,037)65 years and over: 5% (female 1,764,363; male 1,507,343) (July 1995est.)
Population growth rate: 1.97% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 25.33 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 5.64 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 45.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.48 years male: 69.11 years female: 73.96 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.12 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Turk(s) adjective: Turkish
Ethnic divisions: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20%
Religions: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (Christian andJews)
Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)total population: 79%male: 90%female: 68%
Labor force: 20.4 million by occupation: agriculture 44%, services 41%, industry 15% note: between 1.5 million and 1.8 million Turks work abroad (1994)
@Turkey:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Turkeyconventional short form: Turkeylocal long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyetilocal short form: Turkiye
Digraph: TU
Type: republican parliamentary democracy
Capital: Ankara
Administrative divisions: 73 provinces (iller, singular - il); Adana,Adiyaman, Afyon, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Artvin,Aydin, Balikesir, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu,Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Edirne,Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gazi Antep, Giresun, Gumushane,Hakkari, Hatay, Icel, Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahraman Maras,Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir,Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mugla, Mus,Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanli Urfa, Siirt,Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van,Yozgat, Zonguldak
Independence: 29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic, 29October (1923)
Constitution: 7 November 1982
Legal system: derived from various continental legal systems; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Suleyman DEMIREL (since 16 May 1993)head of government: Prime Minister Tansu CILLER (since 5 July 1993);Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet CETIN (since 27 March 1995)National Security Council: advisory body to the President and theCabinetcabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president onnomination of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey: (Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi) elections last held 20 October 1991 (next to be held NA October 1996); results - DYP 27.03%, ANAP 24.01%, SHP 20.75%, RP 16.88%, DSP 10.75%, SBP 0.44%, independent 0.14%; seats - (450 total) DYP 178, ANAP 115, SHP 86, RP 40, MCP 19, DSP 7, other 5 note: seats held by various parties are subject to change due to defections, creation of new parties, and ouster or death of sitting deputies; present seats by party are as follows: DYP 183, ANAP 97, RP 38, CHP 65, MHP 17, BBP 7, DSP 10, YP 3, MP 2, independents 6, vacant 22
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation
Political parties and leaders: True Path Party (DYP), Tansu CILLER;Motherland Party (ANAP), Mesut YILMAZ; Welfare Party (RP), NecmettinERBAKAN; Democratic Left Party (DSP), Bulent ECEVIT; NationalistAction Party (MHP - members also regroup under the name of NationalLabor Party or MCP), Alparslan TURKES; Socialist Unity Party (SBP),Sadun AREN; New Party (YP), Yusuf Bozkurt OZAL; Republican People'sParty (CHP), Hikmet CETIN; note - Social Democrat Populist Party (SHP)has merged with CHP; Workers Party (IP), Dogu PERINCEK; Nation Party(MP), Aykut EDIBALI; Democrat Party (DP), Aydin MENDERES; Grand UnityParty (BBP), Muhsin YAZICIOGLU; Rebirth Party (YDP), Hasan CelalGUZEL; People's Democracy Party (HADEP), Murat BOZLAK; Main Path Party(ANAYOL), Gurcan BASER; Democratic Target Party (DHP), AbdulkadirYasar TURK; Liberal Party (LP), Besim TIBUK; New Democracy Movement(YDH), Cem BOYNER; Democracy and Change Party (DDP), Ibrahim AKSOY
Other political or pressure groups: Turkish Confederation of Labor(TURK-IS), Bayram MERAL; Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions(DISK), Ridvan BUDAK; Moral Rights Workers Union (HAK-IS), NegatiCECIK; Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD),Halis KOMILI; Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and CommodityExchanges (TOBB), Yalim EREZ; Turkish Confederation of Employers'Unions (TISK), Refik BAYDUR
Member of: AsDB, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN (observer), EBRD, ECE, ECO,FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NATO, NEA, OECD, OIC, OSCE, PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNRWA, UPU, WEU (associate),WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nuzhet KANDEMIR chancery: 1714 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 659-8200 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Marc GROSSMAN embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Ankara mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, Ankara; APO AE 09823 telephone: [90] (312) 468-6110 through 6128 FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019 consulate(s) general: Istanbul consulate(s): Adana
Flag: red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening
@Turkey:Economy
Overview: In early 1995, after an impressive economic performance through most of the 1980s, Turkey continues to suffer through its most damaging economic crisis in the last 15 years. Sparked by the downgrading in January 1994 of Turkey's international credit rating by two US credit rating agencies, the crisis stems from years of loose fiscal and monetary policies that had exacerbated inflation and allowed the public debt, money supply, and current account deficit to explode. In April 1994, Prime Minister CILLER introduced an austerity package aimed at restoring domestic and international confidence in her fragile coalition government. Three months later the IMF endorsed the program, paving the way for a $740 million IMF standby loan. Although the economy showed signs of improvement following the stabilization measures, CILLER has been unable to overcome the political obstacles to tough structural reforms necessary for sustained, longer-term growth. As a consequence, the economy is suffering the worst of both worlds: at the end of 1994, inflation hit a record 126% (annual rate), and real GDP dropped an estimated 5% for the year as a whole, the worst decline in Turkey's post-war history. At the same time, the government missed key 1994 targets stipulated in the IMF agreement: the budget deficit is estimated to have overshot the government's goal by 47%; the total public sector borrowing requirement likely reached 10%-12% of GDP, rather than 8.5% called for in the program; and the Turkish lira's value fell 5% to 7% more than expected. The unprecedented effort by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to raise the economic costs of its insurgency against the Turkish state is adding to Turkey's economic problems. Attacks against tourists have jeopardized tourist revenues, which account for about 3% of GDP, while economic activity in southeastern Turkey, where most of the violence occurs, has dropped considerably. Turkish officials are now negotiating a new letter of intent with the IMF that will stipulate more realistic macroeconomic goals for 1995 and allow the release of remaining funds of the standby agreement.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $305.2 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: -5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $4,910 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 106% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 12.6% (1994)
Budget:revenues: $28.3 billionexpenditures: $33.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.2billion (1995)
Exports: $15.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993)commodities: manufactured products 72%, foodstuffs 23%, miningproducts 4% (1993)partners: Germany 24%, Russia 7%, US 7%, UK 6% (1993)
Imports: $27.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993)commodities: manufactured products 71%, fuels 14%, foodstuffs 6%(1993)partners: Germany 15%, US 11%, Italy 9%, Russia 8% (1993)
External debt: $66.6 billion (1994)
Industrial production: growth rate 6.7% (1993); accounts for 26% ofGDP
Electricity: capacity: 18,710,000 kW production: 71 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,079 kWh (1993)
Industries: textiles, food processing, mining (coal, chromite, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper
Agriculture: accounts for 16% of GDP; products - tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulses, citrus fruit, variety of animal products; self-sufficient in food most years
Illicit drugs: major transit route for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish to Western Europe and the US via air, land, and sea routes; major Turkish, Iranian, and other international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin are in remote regions of Turkey as well as near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2.3 billion;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $10.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $665 million;Communist countries (1970-89), $4.5 billionnote: aid for Persian Gulf war efforts from coalition allies (1991),$4.1 billion; aid pledged for Turkish Defense Fund, $2.5 billion
Currency: 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus
Exchange rates: Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 37,444.1 (December 1994), 29,608.7 (1994), 10,984.6 (1993), 6,872.4 (1992), 4,171.8 (1991), 2,608.6 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Turkey:Transportation
Railroads: total: 10,413 km standard gauge: 10,413 km 1.435-m gauge (1,033 km electrified)
Highways:total: 320,611 kmpaved: 29,915 km (including 862 km of expressways)unpaved: 290,696 km (1992)
Inland waterways: about 1,200 km
Pipelines: crude oil 1,738 km; petroleum products 2,321 km; naturalgas 708 km
Ports: Gemlik, Hopa, Iskenderun, Istanbul, Izmir, Izmit, Mersin,Samsun, Trabzon
Merchant marine:total: 423 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,014,004 GRT/8,695,636DWTships by type: bulk 113, cargo 203, chemical tanker 14, combinationbulk 7, combination ore/oil 12, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 4,livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 46, passenger-cargo 1, refrigeratedcargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 9, short-sea passenger 7, specializedtanker 2
Airports:total: 116with paved runways over 3,047 m: 16with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 21with paved runways under 914 m: 34with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 11
@Turkey:Communications
Telephone system: 3,400,000 telephones; fair domestic andinternational systemslocal: NAintercity: trunk radio relay microwave network; limited open wirenetworkinternational: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 EUTELSAT earthstation; 1 submarine cable
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 15, FM 94, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 357televisions: NA
@Turkey:Defense Forces
Branches: Land Forces, Navy (includes Naval Air and Naval Infantry),Air Force, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 16,519,152; males fit formilitary service 10,067,089; males reach military age (20) annually625,476 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6.9 billion, 4.1% ofGDP (1993); note - figures do not include about $7 billion for thegovernment's counterinsurgency efforts against the separatistKurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
________________________________________________________________________
@Turkmenistan:Geography
Location: Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran andKazakhstan
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - Central AsianStates
Area:total area: 488,100 sq kmland area: 488,100 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total 3,736 km, Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km,Kazakhstan 379 km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km
Coastline: 0 kmnote: Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined
Climate: subtropical desert
Terrain: flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulphur, salt
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 69% forest and woodland: 0% other: 29%
Irrigated land: 12,450 sq km (1990)
Environment:current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater withagricultural chemicals, pesticides; salinization, water-logging ofsoil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversionof a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigationcontributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea;desertificationnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Ozone Layer Protection
Note: landlocked
@Turkmenistan:People
Population: 4,075,316 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 40% (female 798,620; male 821,550)15-64 years: 56% (female 1,155,392; male 1,128,844)65 years and over: 4% (female 105,424; male 65,486) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.97% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 29.93 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7.34 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 68.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.35 years male: 61.85 years female: 69.02 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.72 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Turkmen(s) adjective: Turkmen
Ethnic divisions: Turkmen 73.3%, Russian 9.8%, Uzbek 9%, Kazakh 2%, other 5.9%
Religions: Muslim 87%, Eastern Orthodox 11%, unknown 2%
Languages: Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)total population: 98%male: 99%female: 97%
Labor force: 1.642 million (January 1994) by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry and construction 20%, other 36% (1992)
@Turkmenistan:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Turkmenistanlocal long form: nonelocal short form: Turkmenistanformer: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph: TX
Type: republic
Capital: Ashgabat
Administrative divisions: 5 welayatlar (singular - welayat): Ahal Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Nebitdag), Dashhowuz Welayaty (formerly Tashauz), Lebap Welayaty (Charjew), Mary Welayaty note: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name differs from welayat name
Independence: 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Constitution: adopted 18 May 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Saparmurad NIYAZOV (since NA October 1990);election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA 2002); results -Saparmurad NIYAZOV 99.5% (ran unopposed); note - a 15 January 1994referendum extended NIYAZOV's term an additional five years until 2002(99.99% approval)head of government: Prime Minister (vacant); Deputy Prime MinistersOrazgeldi AYDOGDIYEV (since NA), Babamurad BAZAROV (since NA), KhekimISHANOV (since NA), Valeriy OTCHERTSOV (since NA), Yagmur OVEZOV(since NA), Matkarim RAJAPOV (since NA), Abad RIZAYEVA (since NA),Rejep SAPAROV (since NA), Boris SHIKHMURADOV (since NA), BatyrSARJAYEV (since NA)cabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: under 1992 constitution there are twoparliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council (Halk Maslahaty -having more than 100 members and meeting infrequently) and a 50-memberunicameral Assembly (Majlis)Assembly (Majlis): elections last held 11 December 1994 (next to beheld NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (50 total)Democratic Party 45, other 5; note - all 50 preapproved by PresidentNIYAZOV
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, Saparmurad NIYAZOV; Party for Democratic Development, Durdymurat HOJA-MUKHAMMED, chairman; Agzybirlik, Nurberdy NURMAMEDOV, cochairman, Hubayberdi HALLIYEV, cochairman note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries
Member of: CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, ILO, IMF,IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Khalil UGUR chancery: 1511 K Street NW, Suite 412, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 737-4800 FAX: [1] (202) 737-1152
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph S. HULINGS III embassy: 6 Teheran Street, Yubilenaya Hotel, Ashgabat mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (3632) 24-49-25, 24-49-22 FAX: [7] (3632) 25-53-79
Flag: green field, including a vertical stripe on the hoist side, with a claret vertical stripe in between containing five white, black, and orange carpet guls (an assymetrical design used in producing rugs) associated with five different tribes; a white crescent and five white stars in the upper left corner to the right of the carpet guls
@Turkmenistan:Economy
Overview: Turkmenistan is largely desert country with nomadic cattle raising, intensive agriculture in irrigated oases, and huge gas and oil resources. Half its irrigated land is planted in cotton making it the world's tenth largest producer. It also has the world's fifth largest reserves of natural gas and significant oil resources. Until the end of 1993, Turkmenistan had experienced less economic disruption than other former Soviet states because its economy received a boost from higher prices for oil and gas and a sharp increase in hard currency earnings. In 1994, Russia's refusal to export Turkmen gas to hard currency markets and mounting debts of its major customers in the former USSR for gas deliveries contributed to a sharp fall in industrial production and caused the budget to shift from a surplus to a slight deficit. Furthermore, with an authoritarian ex-Communist regime in power and a tribally-based social structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain its inefficient economy. With the onset of economic hard times, even cautious moves toward economic restructuring and privatization have slowed down. For 1995, Turkmenistan will face continuing constraints on its earnings because of its customers' inability to pay for their gas and a low average cotton crop in 1994. Turkmenistan is working hard to open new gas export channels through Iran and Turkey, but these may take many years to realize.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $13.1 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
National product real growth rate: -24% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $3,280 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% per month (1994)
Unemployment rate: NA
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $382 million to states outside the FSU (1994)commodities: natural gas, cotton, petroleum products, electricity,textiles, carpetspartners: Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia,Azerbaijan, Armenia, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Argentina
Imports: $304 million from states outside the FSU (1994) commodities: machinery and parts, grain and food, plastics and rubber, consumer durables, textiles partners: Russia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey
External debt: NEGL
Industrial production: growth rate -25% (1994)
Electricity: capacity: 2,480,000 kW production: 10.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,600 kWh (1994)
Industries: natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing
Agriculture: cotton, grain, animal husbandry
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to Western Europe
Economic aid:recipient: Turkmenistan has received about $200 million in bilateralaid credits