International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, ACCT(associate), AfDB, AFESD, AG (observer), AL, AMF, BSEC (observer),CAEU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS(observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA,UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed Maher El SAYED chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319, 5131 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr.embassy: (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City,Cairomailing address: APO AE 09839-4900, Unit 64900, Cairotelephone: [20] (2) 3557371FAX: [20] (2) 3573200branch office: Alexandria
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blackwith the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eaglefacing the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the countryin Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen,which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria thathas two green stars and to the flag of Iraq, which has three greenstars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered inthe white band
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Half of Egypt's GDP originates in the public sector, most industrial plants being owned by the government. Overregulation holds back technical modernization and foreign investment. Even so, the economy grew rapidly during the late 1970s and early 1980s, but in 1986 the collapse of world oil prices and an increasingly heavy burden of debt servicing led Egypt to begin negotiations with the IMF for balance-of-payments support. Egypt's first IMF standby arrangement, concluded in mid-1987, was suspended in early 1988 because of the government's failure to adopt promised reforms. Egypt signed a follow-on program with the IMF and also negotiated a structural adjustment loan with the World Bank in 1991. In 1991-93 the government made solid progress on administrative reforms such as liberalizing exchange and interest rates, but resisted implementing major structural reforms like streamlining the public sector. As a result, the economy has not gained enough momentum to tackle the growing problem of unemployment. Egypt made uneven progress in implementing the successor programs it signed onto in late 1993 with the IMF and World Bank; currently it is negotiating another successor program with the IMF. President MUBARAK has cited population growth as the main cause of the country's economic troubles. The addition of about 1.2 million people a year to the already huge population of 63 million exerts enormous pressure on the 5% of the land area available for agriculture along the Nile.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $171 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,760 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.4% (yearend 1995)
Labor force: 16 million (1994 est.) by occupation: government, public sector enterprises, and armed forces 36%, agriculture 34%, privately owned service and manufacturing enterprises 20% (1984) note: shortage of skilled labor; 2.5 million Egyptians work abroad, mostly in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab states (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1995 est.)
Budget:revenues: $18 billionexpenditures: $19.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.8billion (FY94/95 est.)
Industries: textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals,petroleum, construction, cement, metals
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 11,830,000 kW production: 44.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 695 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats; annual fish catch about 140,000 metric tons
Illicit drugs: a transit point for Southwest Asian and SoutheastAsian heroin and opium moving to Europe and the US; popular transitstop for Nigerian couriers; large domestic consumption of hashishfrom Lebanon and Syria
Exports: $5.4 billion (f.o.b., FY94/95 est.)commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, rawcotton, textiles, metal products, chemicalspartners: EU, US, Japan
Imports: $15.2 billion (c.i.f., FY94/95 est.)commodities: machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, woodproducts, durable consumer goods, capital goodspartners: US, EU, Japan
External debt: $33.6 billion (FY93/94 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $1.713 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 Egyptian pound (LE) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates: Egyptian pounds (LE) per US$1 - 3.4 (November 1994), 3.369 (November 1993), 3.345 (November 1992), 2.7072 (1990); market rate: 3.3920 (January 1996), 3.3900 (1995), 3.3910 (1994), 3.3718 (1993), 3.3386 (1992), 3.3322 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 4,751 kmstandard gauge: 4,751 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 951 kmdouble track)
Highways:total: 47,387 kmpaved: 34,593 kmunpaved: 12,794 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: 3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser,Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in thedelta); Suez Canal, 193.5 km long (including approaches), used byoceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1 m of water
Pipelines: crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; naturalgas 460 km
Ports: Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah,Damietta, Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez
Merchant marine:total: 164 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,187,290GRT/1,833,108 DWTships by type: bulk 22, cargo 74, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker14, passenger 33, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 15,short-sea passenger 4 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 80with paved runways over 3 047 m: 11with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 34with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 16with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2with paved runways under 914 m: 9with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 2.2 million (1993)
Telephone system: large system by Third World standards butinadequate for present requirements and undergoing extensiveupgradingdomestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah,Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable andmicrowave radio relayinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Oceanand Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarinecables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay toIsrael; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 39, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 41
Televisions: 5 million (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 16,530,460 males fit for military service: 10,723,011 males reach military age (20) annually: 660,453 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion, 8.2% of GDP (FY94/95 est.)
======================================================================
@El Salvador —————-
Map —-
Location: 13 50 N, 88 55 W — Middle America, bordering the NorthPacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
Flag ——
Description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
Geography ————-
Location: Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean,between Guatemala and Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 13 50 N, 88 55 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 21,040 sq kmland area: 20,720 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline: 307 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm
International disputes: land boundary dispute with Honduras mostly resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be required
Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season(November to April)
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and centralplateaulowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources: hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum
Land use:arable land: 27%permanent crops: 8%meadows and pastures: 29%forest and woodland: 6%other: 30%
Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution;contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastesnatural hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent andsometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activityinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Geographic note: smallest Central American country and only onewithout a coastline on Caribbean Sea
People ———
Population: 5,828,987 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38% (male 1,137,804; female 1,097,774)15-64 years: 57% (male 1,627,519; female 1,716,261)65 years and over: 5% (male 115,973; female 133,656) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.81% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 28.3 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.81 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 31.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.88 years male: 65.44 years female: 72.5 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.2 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic divisions: mestizo 94%, Indian 5%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 75% note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Languages: Spanish, Nahua (among some Indians)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 71.5%male: 73.5%female: 69.8%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Republic of El Salvadorconventional short form: El Salvadorlocal long form: Republica de El Salvadorlocal short form: El Salvador
Data code: ES
Type of government: republic
Capital: San Salvador
Administrative divisions: 14 departments (departamentos, singular- departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, LaLibertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, SantaAna, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 20 December 1983
Legal system: based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Armando CALDERONSol (since 1 June 1994) and Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante(since 1 June 1994) were elected for five-year terms by universalsuffrage; election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA March1999); results - Armando CALDERON SOL (ARENA) 49.03%, Ruben ZAMORARivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 24.09%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 16.39%, other10.49%; because no candidate received a majority, a run-off electionwas held 24 April 1994; results - Armando CALDERON SOL (ARENA)68.35%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 31.65%cabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: unicameralLegislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa): elections last held 20March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - ARENA 46.4%,FMLN 25.0%, PDC 21.4%, PCN 4.8%, other 2.4%; seats - (84 total)ARENA 39, FMLN 21, PDC 18, PCN 4, other 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges areselected by the Legislative Assembly
Political parties and leaders: National Republican Alliance(ARENA), Juan Jose DOMENECH, president; Farabundo Marti NationalLiberation Front (FMLN), Salvador SANCHEZ Ceren (aka LeonelGONZALEZ), general coordinator; Christian Democratic Party (PDC),Ronal UMANA, secretary general; National Conciliation Party (PCN),Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, secretary general; Democratic Convergence (CD),Juan Jose MARTEL, secretary general; Unity Movement, Jorge MARTINEZMenendez, presidentnote: newly formed parties not yet officially recognized by theSupreme Electoral Tribunal: Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), KirioWaldo SALGADO, founder; Social Democratic Party (breakaway fromFMLN), Joaquin VILLALOBOS, founder; Social Christian RenovationMovement (MRSC) (breakaway from PDC), Abraham RODRIGUEZ, founder
Other political or pressure groups: labor organizations: Salvadoran Communal Union (UCS), peasant association; General Confederation of Workers (CGT), moderate; United Workers Front (FUT) business organizations: Productive Alliance (AP), conservative; National Federation of Salvadoran Small Businessmen (FENAPES), conservative
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA(observer), MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ana Cristina SOL chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671, 9672 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Alan H. FLANIGANembassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Station Antiguo Cuscatlan, SanSalvadormailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023telephone: [503] 278-4444FAX: [503] 278-6011
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
Economy ———-
Economic overview: El Salvador possesses a fast-growing entrepreneurial economy in which 90% of economic activity is in private hands, with growth averaging 5% since 1990. Yet, because the 1980s were a decade of civil war and stagnation, per capita GDP has not regained the level of the late 1970s. The rebound in the 1990s stems from the government program, in conjunction with the IMF, of privatization, deregulation, and fiscal stabilization. The economy now is oriented more toward manufacturing and services compared with agriculture. The sizable trade deficits are in the main covered by remittances from the large number of Salvadorans abroad.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.4 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 6.3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,950 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11.4% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 1.7 million (1982 est.) by occupation: agriculture 40%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 15%, government 13%, financial services 9%, transportation 6%, other 1%
Unemployment rate: 6.7% (1993)
Budget:revenues: $846 millionexpenditures: $890 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1992 est.)
Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, tobacco,chemicals, textiles, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: 7.6% (1993)
Electricity: capacity: 750,000 kW production: 2.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 408 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: coffee, sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseed; beef,dairy products; shrimp
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; marijuana producedfor local consumption
Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)commodities: coffee, sugarcane, shrimppartners: US, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Germany
Imports: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital goodspartners: US, Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, Germany
External debt: $2.6 billion (December 1992)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $777 million (1993) note: US has committed $250 million in aid to El Salvador for 1992-96
Currency: 1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 - 8.755 (December 1995), 8.755 (1995), 8.750 (1994), 8.670 (1993), 9.170 (1992), 8.080 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 602 km (single track; note - some sections abandoned,unusable, or operating at reduced capacity)narrow gauge: 602 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways:total: 12,251 kmpaved: 1,740 km (including 107 km of expressways)unpaved: 10,511 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: Rio Lempa partially navigable
Ports: Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union, Puerto ElTriunfo
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 73with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2with paved runways under 914 m: 48with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 21 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 116,000 (1984 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay systeminternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean); connected to Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 77, FM 0, shortwave 2
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1986 est.)
Televisions: 500,700 (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,415,691 males fit for military service: 905,938 males reach military age (18) annually: 78,660 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $100 million, 1% of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@Equatorial Guinea ————————-
Map —-
Location: 2 00 N, 10 00 E — Western Africa, bordering the NorthAtlantic Ocean, between Cameroon and Gabon
Flag ——
Description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)
Geography ————-
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,between Cameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 28,050 sq kmland area: 28,050 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 539 km border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline: 296 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands arevolcaniclowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mount Malabo 3,008 m
Natural resources: timber, petroleum, small unexploited depositsof gold, manganese, uranium
Land use:arable land: 8%permanent crops: 4%meadows and pastures: 4%forest and woodland: 51%other: 33%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: tap water is not potable; desertificationnatural hazards: violent windstormsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, EndangeredSpecies, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified -Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: insular and continental regions rather widelyseparated
People ———
Population: 431,282 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43% (male 93,319; female 92,753)15-64 years: 53% (male 108,706; female 120,129)65 years and over: 4% (male 7,235; female 9,140) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.58% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 39.77 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 14.01 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 98 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.01 years male: 50.79 years female: 55.29 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.17 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic divisions: Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), RioMuni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic,pagan practices
Languages: Spanish (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 78.5%male: 89.6%female: 68.1%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guineaconventional short form: Equatorial Guinealocal long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatoriallocal short form: Guinea Ecuatorialformer: Spanish Guinea
Data code: EK
Type of government: republic in transition to multiparty democracy
Capital: Malabo
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution: new constitution 17 November 1991
Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMAMBASOGO (since 3 August 1979) election last held 25 February 1996(next to be held NA February 2003); results - President OBIANGNGUEMA MBASOGO reelected to a seven-year term without oppositionhead of government: Prime Minister Silvestre SIALE BILEKA (since 17January 1992); Vice Prime Minister Anatolio NDONG MBA (sinceNovember 1993)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral House of People's Representatives: (Camara de Representantes del Pueblo) elections last held 21 November 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (82 total) PDGE 72, various opposition parties 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:ruling party: Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), Brig.Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, party leaderopposition parties: Progressive Democratic Alliance (ADP),Antonio-Ebang Mbele Abang, president; Popular Action of EquatorialGuinea (APGE),Casiano Masi Edu, leader; Liberal DemocraticConvention (CLD), Alfonso Nsue MIFUMU, president; Convergence forSocial Democracy (CPDS), Santiago Obama Ndong, president; SocialDemocratic and Popular Convergence (CSDP), Secundino Oyono AguengAda, general secretary; Party of the Social Democratic Coalition(PCSD), Buenaventura Moswi M'Asumu, general coordinater; LiberalParty (PL), Santos PASCUAL; Party of Progress (PP), Severo MOTO Nsa,president; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Benjamin-Gabriel BalinghaBalinga Alene, general secretary; Socialist Party of EquatorialGuinea (PSGE), Tomas MICHEBE Fernandez, general secretary; NationalDemocratic Union (UDENA), Jose MECHEBA Ikaka, president; DemocraticSocial Union (UDS), Camelo Modu, general secretary; Popular Union(UP), Juan Bitui, president
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS(observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WTrO(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILEchancery: (temporary) 57 Magnolia Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553telephone: [1] (914) 738-9584, 667-6913FAX: [1] (914) 667-6838
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy inEquatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995); US relations withEquatorial Guinea are handled through the US Embassy in Yaounde,Cameroon
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing account for about half of GDP and nearly all exports. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the deterioration of the rural economy under successive brutal regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth. A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of the government's gross corruption and mismanagement. Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government officials and their family members. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Oil exploration, taking place under concessions offered to US, French, and Spanish firms, has been moderately successful. In 1995, exports responded to the devaluation of 12 January 1994, apparently resulting in a sizable surplus and strong GDP growth. Increased production from recently discovered oil and natural gas fields will provide a greater share of exports in 1996-97.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $325 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 10% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $800 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 47% industry: 26% services: 27% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 41% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 172,000 (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 23%, industry 11% (1980) note: labor shortages on plantations
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $32.5 millionexpenditures: $35.9 million, including capital expenditures of $3million (1992 est.)
Industries: fishing, sawmilling
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 23,000 kW production: 20 million kWh consumption per capita: 50 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts, manioc; livestock; timber
Exports: $62 million (f.o.b., 1993)commodities: coffee, cocoa beans, timber, petroleumpartners: Spain, Nigeria, Cameroon, Japan, Portugal
Imports: $60 million (f.o.b., 1993)commodities: petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinerypartners: Cameroon, Spain, France, US, Italy, Netherlands
External debt: $268 million (1993 est.)
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),282.11 (1991)note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since1948
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,744 km paved: 330 km unpaved: 2,414 km (1988 est.)
Ports: Bata, Luba, Malabo
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,412 GRT/6,699 DWTships by type: cargo 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 3with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 2,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: poor system with adequate government servicesdomestic: NAinternational: international communications from Bata and Malabo toAfrican and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat(Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 4,000 (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force,National Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 92,704 males fit for military service: 47,124 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.5 million, NA% of GDP (FY93/94)
======================================================================
@Eritrea ———-
Map —-
Location: 15 00 N, 39 00 E — Eastern Africa, bordering the RedSea, between Djibouti and Sudan
Flag ——
Description: red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle
Geography ————-
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djiboutiand Sudan
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 39 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 121,320 sq kmland area: 121,320 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total: 1,630 km border countries: Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km
Coastline: 1,151 km (land and island coastline is 2,234 km)
Maritime claims: NA
International disputes: a dispute with Yemen over sovereignty of the Hanish Islands in the southern Red Sea has been submitted to arbitration under the auspices of the ICJ
Climate: hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually); semiarid in western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-September except on coastal desert
Terrain: dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trendinghighlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on thenorthwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rollingplainslowest point: Kobar Sink -75 mhighest point: Soira 3,013 m
Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil(petroleum geologists are prospecting for it), fish
Land use:arable land: 3%permanent crops: 2% (coffee)meadows and pastures: 40%forest and woodland: 5%other: 50%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: famine; deforestation; desertification; soilerosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfarenatural hazards: frequent droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Endangered Species; signed, butnot ratified - Climate Change, Desertification
Geographic note: strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993
People ———
Population: 3,427,883 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44% (male 755,417; female 743,135)15-64 years: 53% (male 910,976; female 913,531)65 years and over: 3% (male 54,310; female 50,514) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.79% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 43.32 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 15.44 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: it is estimated that between 300,000 and 500,000 Eritrean refugees were still living in Sudan at the end of 1995; their repatriation is being facilitated by the UNHCR
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 118.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.31 years male: 48.57 years female: 52.1 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic divisions: ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%
Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages: Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Italian, Tigre and Kunama,Tigrinya, minor tribal languages
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: State of Eritrea conventional short form: Eritrea local long form: none local short form: none former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Data code: ER
Type of government: transitional government note: on 29 May 1991 ISAIAS Afworke, secretary general of the Peoples' Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), which then served and still serves as the country's legislative body, announced the formation of the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE) in preparation for the 23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence for the autonomous region of Eritrea; the result was a landslide vote for independence, which was proclaimed on 27 April 1993
Capital: Asmara (formerly Asmera)
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces (singular - awraja); Akele Guzay, Barka, Denkel, Hamasen, Sahil, Semhar, Senhit, Seraye; note - information issued by the Eritrean government indicates that the administrative structure of Eritrea, which had been established by former colonial powers, will consist of only six regions when the new constitution, presently being drafted, goes into effect sometime in 1996
Independence: 27 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the EritreaAutonomous Region)
National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24May (1993)
Constitution: transitional "constitution" decreed 19 May 1993; thepromulgation of a draft constitution is expected in 1996
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: NA; note - the transitional constitution of 19 May 1993 did not provide rules for suffrage, but it seems likely that the final version of the constitution, to be promulgated some time in 1996, will follow the example set in the referendum of 1993 in which suffrage was universal for persons 18 years of age or older
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki(since 22 May 1993) is head of the State Council and NationalAssemblycabinet: State Council is the collective executive authoritynote: election to be held in 1997
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old Central Committee of the EPLF) and 75 directly elected members serve as the country's legislative body until country-wide elections are held in 1997
Judicial branch: Judiciary
Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy andJustice (PFDJ), ISAIAS Afworki, PETROS Solomon (the only partyrecognized by the government)
Other political or pressure groups: Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ);Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), ABDULLAH Muhammed; EritreanLiberation Front - United Organization (ELF-UO), Mohammed SaidNAWUD; Eritrean Liberation Front - Revolutionary Council (ELF-RC),Ahmed NASSER
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO,IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatoryuser), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador AMDEMICHAEL Berhane Khasai chancery: Suite 400, 910 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 429-1991 FAX: [1] (202) 429-9004
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert G. HOUDEK embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt St., Asmara mailing address: P.O. Box 211, Asmara telephone: [291] (1) 120004 FAX: [291] (1) 127584
Flag: red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle
Economy ———-
Economic overview: With independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993, Eritrea faces the bitter economic problems of a small, desperately poor African country. Most of the population will continue to depend on subsistence farming. Domestic output is substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad. Government revenues come from custom duties and income and sales taxes. Eritrea has inherited the entire coastline of Ethiopia and has long-term prospects for revenues from the development of offshore oil, offshore fishing, and tourism. For the time being, Ethiopia will be largely dependent on Eritrean ports for its foreign trade.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 10% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $570 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1995 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: NA kW production: NA kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture: sorghum, lentils, vegetables, maize, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal (for making rope); livestock (including goats); fish
Exports: $33 million (1995 est.)commodities: livestock, sorghum, textilespartners: Ethiopia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UK, US, Yemen
Imports: $420 million (1995 est.)commodities: processed goods, machinery, petroleum productspartners: NA
External debt: $NA
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents; at present, Ethiopian currencyused
Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 - 6.2 (1995 est.), 5.600 (September 1994), 5.000 (fixed rate 1992-93); note - following independence from Ethiopia, Eritrea continued to use Ethiopian currency, the official rate of which was pegged to US$1 = 5.000 birr
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 307 km; note - nonoperational since 1978 except for about 5km that was reopened in Massawa in 1994; rehabilitation of theremainder and of the rolling stock is under way; links Ak'ordat andAsmara (formerly Asmera) with the port of Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa)narrow gauge: 307 km 0.950-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways: total: 3,845 km paved: 807 km unpaved: 3,038 km (1993 est.)
Ports: Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)
Merchant marine:total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,573 GRT/13,593DWT (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 14with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 2with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:domestic: very inadequate; about 4 telephones per 100 families, mostof which are in Asmara; government is seeking international tendersto improve the systeminternational: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (government controlled)
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Estonia ———-
Map —-
Location: 59 00 N, 26 00 E — Eastern Europe, bordering the BalticSea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia
Flag ——
Description: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990- three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
Geography ————-
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf ofFinland, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 59 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 45,100 sq kmland area: 43,200 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than New Hampshire and Vermontcombinednote: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
Land boundaries: total: 557 km border countries: Latvia 267 km, Russia 290 km
Coastline: 1,393 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: limits to be fixed in coordination withneighboring statesterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims over 2,000 sq km of Russian territory in the Narva and Pechora regions - based on boundary established under the 1921 Peace Treaty of Tartu; disputes maritime border with Latvia - primary concern is fishing rights around Ruhne Island in the Gulf of Riga
Climate: maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Terrain: marshy, lowlands lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Natural resources: shale oil, peat, phosphorite, amber
Land use:arable land: 22%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 11%forest and woodland: 31%other: 36%
Irrigated land: 110 sq km (1990)
Environment:current issues: air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide fromoil-shale burning power plants in northeast; contamination of soiland groundwater with petroleum products, chemicals at former Sovietmilitary basesnatural hazards: flooding occurs frequently in the springinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
People ———
Population: 1,459,428 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20% (male 148,683; female 143,563)15-64 years: 66% (male 467,759; female 501,519)65 years and over: 14% (male 63,976; female 133,928) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.13% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 10.74 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 14.12 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.87 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.13 years male: 62.5 years female: 74.05 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.55 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian
Ethnic divisions: Estonian 61.5%, Russian 30.3%, Ukrainian 3.2%,Byelorussian 1.8%, Finn 1.1%, other 2.1% (1989)
Religions: Lutheran, Orthodox Christian
Languages: Estonian (official), Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)total population: 100%male: 100%female: 100%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Estonia conventional short form: Estonia local long form: Eesti Vabariik local short form: Eesti former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: EN
Type of government: republic
Capital: Tallinn
Administrative divisions: 15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond): Harju maakond (Tallinn), Hiiu maakond (Kardla), Ida-Viru maakond (Johvi), Jarva maakond (Paide), Jogeva maakond (Jogeva), Laane maakond (Haapsalu), Laane-Viru maakond (Rakvere), Parnu maakond (Parnu), Polva maakond (Polva), Rapla maakond (Rapla), Saare maakond (Kuessaare), Tartu maakond (Tartu), Valga maakond (Valga), Viljandi maakond (Viljandi), Voru maakond (Voru) note: county centers are in parentheses
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 21 October 1992) waselected for a five-year term by Parliament; election last held 20September 1992 (next to be held fall 1996); results - no candidatereceived majority; Parliament elected Lennart MERIhead of government: Acting Prime Minister Tiit VAHI (since NA March1995); the president nominated and Parliament authorized thecandidate for prime ministercabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister,approved by Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameralParliament (Riigikogu): elections last held 5 March 1995 (next to beheld NA 1999); results - KMU 32.22%, RE 16.18%, K 14.17%, Pro Patriaand ERSP 7.85%, M 5.98%, Our Home is Estonia and Right-Wingers 5.0%;seats - (101 total) KMU 41, RE 19, K 16, Pro Patria 8, Our Home isEstonia 6, M 6, Right-Wingers 5
Judicial branch: National Court
Political parties and leaders: Coalition Party and Rural Union (KMU), Tiit VAHI, chairman, made up of 4 parties: Coalition Party, Country People's Party, Farmer's Assembly, and Pensioners' and Families' League; Reform Party-Liberals (RE), Siim KALLAS, chairman; Center Party (K), Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland Alliance (Isamaa of Fatherland), Toivo JURGENSON, chairman; National Independence Party (ERSP), Kelam TUNNE, chairman, note - may have disappeared since the last election; Our Home is Estonia made up of 2 parties: United Peoples Party and the Russian People's Party of Estonia; United Peoples Party, Viktor ANDREJEV, chairman; Russian People's Party of Estonia, Sergei KUZNETSOV, chairman; Moderates (M) made up of 2 parties: Social Democratic Party and Rural Center Party; Social Democratic Party, Eiki NESTOR, chairman; Rural Center Party, Vambo KAAL, chairman; Right-Wingers, Ulo NUGIS, chairman
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC,OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner),WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Toomas Hendrik ILVESchancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101FAX: [1] (202) 789-0471consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence P. TAYLORembassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001mailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [372] (6) 312-021FAX: [372] (6) 312-025
Flag: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - threeequal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Estonia continues to experience strong economic growth after its economy bottomed out in 1993. Bolstered by a widespread national desire to reintegrate into Western Europe, Estonia has adhered to disciplined fiscal and financial policies and has led the FSU countries in pursuing economic reform. Monthly inflation has been held to under 5% since the beginning of 1992, with monthly inflation in 1995 at 2%. Following four years of decline, Estonia's GDP grew 5% in 1994 and 6% in 1995 - among the highest rates in Europe, according to estimates of the IMF and Estonia's own Economic Ministry. Despite these positive economic indicators, unemployment - 8% in 1994 - is on the rise, and wages - especially for teachers and law enforcement personnel - have not kept pace with inflation. Small- and medium-scale privatization is essentially complete, and large-scale privatization is progressing, but slowly. Estonia has successfully reoriented it trade toward the West, two-thirds of exports now going to Western markets. Estonia's free trade policies were the cornerstone of its negotiations with the European Union, and led to the signing of an association agreement in June 1995. Estonia was the only Baltic state not to have a transition period imposed by the EU prior to its implementation of a free trade agreement.