Pipelines: crude oil 5,900 km; petroleum products 3,900 km;natural gas 4,550 km
Ports: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war),Ahvaz, Bandar Beheshti, Bandar-e 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bandar-eBushehr, Bandar-e Khomeyni, Bandar-e Mah Shahr, Bandar-e Torkeman,Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye Lavan, Jazireh-ye Sirri, Khorramshahr(limited operation since November 1992), Now Shahr
Merchant marine:total: 130 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,791,892GRT/4,891,615 DWTships by type: bulk 47, cargo 41, chemical tanker 5, combinationbulk 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, multifunction large-load carrier 1,oil tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 9,short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 212with paved runways over 3 047 m: 30with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 11with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 31with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 17with paved runways under 914 m: 22with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 88 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 12 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 3.02 million (1992 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: microwave radio relay extends throughout country; systemcentered in Tehraninternational: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 AtlanticOcean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region); HFradio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait,Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber-optic cable to UAE
Radio broadcast stations: AM 77, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 14.3 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 28
Televisions: 3.9 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces (includes GroundForces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces), Revolutionary Guards(includes Ground, Air, Navy, Qods, and Basij-mobilization-forces),Law Enforcement Forces
Manpower availability:males age 15-49: 15,157,796males fit for military service: 9,010,648males reach military age (21) annually: 632,602 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: according to official Iranian data, Iran in 1994 budgeted 4,377 billion rials and in 1993 spent 2,182 billion rials, including $850 million in hard currency; note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using current exchange rates could produce misleading results
======================================================================
@Iraq ——
Map —-
Location: 33 00 N, 44 00 E — Middle East, bordering the PersianGulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Flag ——
Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt that has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
Geography ————-
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iranand Kuwait
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 44 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 437,072 sq kmland area: 432,162 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Land boundaries:total: 3,631 kmborder countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 242 km, SaudiArabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km
Coastline: 58 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; in November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands; dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Climate: mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows which melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq
Terrain: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Gundah Zhur 3,608 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use:arable land: 12%permanent crops: 1%meadows and pastures: 9%forest and woodland: 3%other: 75%
Irrigated land: 25,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: government water control projects have drained mostof the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up ordiverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable populationof Shi'a Muslims, who have inhabited these areas for thousands ofyears, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of thenatural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlifepopulations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development ofTigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon agreements withupstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation(salinization) and erosion; desertificationnatural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms, floodsinternational agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Nuclear TestBan; signed, but not ratified - Environmental Modification
People ———
Population: 21,422,292 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 48% (male 5,179,240; female 5,014,141)15-64 years: 49% (male 5,342,529; female 5,228,802)65 years and over: 3% (male 307,097; female 350,483) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.69% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 43.07 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.57 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 60 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.95 years male: 65.92 years female: 68.03 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.41 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Iraqi(s) adjective: Iraqi
Ethnic divisions: Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman,Assyrian or other 5%
Religions: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian orother 3%
Languages: Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions),Assyrian, Armenian
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 58%male: 70.7%female: 45%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Republic of Iraqconventional short form: Iraqlocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyahlocal short form: Al Iraq
Data code: IZ
Type of government: republic
Capital: Baghdad
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (muhafazat, singular -muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, AnNajaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, DhiQar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit
Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate underBritish administration)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)
Constitution: 22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970(provisional Constitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but notadopted
Legal system: based on Islamic law in special religious courts,civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); VicePresident Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974); VicePresident Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991) were elected by atwo-thirds majority of the Revolutionary Command Councilhead of government: Prime Minister SADDAM Husayn (since NA May1994); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979)Revolutionary Command Council: Chairman SADDAM Husayn, Vice ChairmanIzzat IBRAHIM al-Duricabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: unicameralNational Assembly (Majlis al-Watani): elections last held 24 March1996 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats -(250 total, 30 appointed by SADDAM Husayn to represent threenorthern provonces of Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah)note: in northern Iraq, a "Kurdish Assembly" was elected in May 1992and calls for Kurdish self-determination within a federated Iraq;the assembly is not recognized by the Baghdad government
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation
Political parties and leaders: Ba'th Party, SADDAM Husayn, central party leader
Other political or pressure groups: political parties and activity severely restricted; opposition to regime from disaffected members of the Ba'th Party, Army officers, tribes, and Shi'a religious and ethnic Kurdish dissidents; the Green Party (government-controlled)
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL,AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US: none; note - Iraq has an InterestSection in the Algerian Embassy; address: Iraqi Interests Section,Algerian Embassy, 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; telephone:[1] (202) 483-7500; FAX: [1] (202) 462-5066
US diplomatic representation: none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Polish Embassy in Baghdad, which is in the Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club); address: P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, Baghdad; telephone: [964] (1) 719-6138, 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791; Telex 212287
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt that has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The Ba'thist regime engages in extensive central planning and management of industrial production and foreign trade while leaving some small-scale industry and services and most agriculture to private enterprise. The economy has been dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s, financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran, led the government to implement austerity measures and to borrow heavily and later reschedule foreign debt payments; Iraq suffered economic losses of at least $100 billion from the war. After the end of hostilities in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Agricultural development remained hampered by labor shortages, salinization, and dislocations caused by previous land reform and collectivization programs. The industrial sector, although accorded high priority by the government, also was under financial constraints. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic embargoes, and military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically changed the economic picture. Industrial and transportation facilities, which suffered severe damage, have been partially restored. Oil exports remain at less than 5% of the previous level. Shortages of spare parts continue. Living standards deteriorated even further in 1994 and 1995; consumer prices have more than doubled in both 1994 and 1995. The UN-sponsored economic embargo has reduced exports and imports and has contributed to the sharp rise in prices. The Iraqi Government has been unwilling to abide by UN resolutions so that the economic embargo can be removed. The government's policies of supporting large military and internal security forces and of allocating resources to key supporters of the regime have exacerbated shortages. In brief, per capita output for 1994-95 is well below the 1989-90 level, but any estimate has a wide range of error.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $41.1 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $2,000 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 4.4 million (1989) by occupation: services 48%, agriculture 30%, industry 22% note: severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force was about 1,600,000 (July 1990); since then, it has declined substantially
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 7,170,000 kW production: 25.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,247 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, other fruit,cotton; cattle, sheep
Exports: $NAcommodities: crude oil and refined products, fertilizer, sulfurpartners: US, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, Netherlands, Spain (1990)
Imports: $NAcommodities: manufactures, foodpartners: Germany, US, Turkey, France, UK (1990)
External debt: $50 billion (1989 est.), excluding debt of about$35 billion owed to Gulf Arab states
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1 - 3.2169 (fixed official rate since 1982); black-market rate (December 1995) US$1 = 2,900 Iraqi dinars; semi-official rate US$1 = 1,000 Iraqi dinars
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 2,032 km standard gauge: 2,032 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:total: 45,554 kmpaved: 38,402 km (including 976 km of expressways)unpaved: 7,152 km (1989 est.)
Waterways: 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 meters and is in use; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft watercraft; Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of the Persian Gulf war
Pipelines: crude oil 4,350 km; petroleum products 725 km; naturalgas 1,360 km
Ports: Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, and Al Basrah have limitedfunctionality
Merchant marine:total: 36 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 795,346 GRT/1,432,292DWTships by type: cargo 14, oil tanker 16, passenger 1, passenger-cargo1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 102with paved runways over 3 047 m: 21with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 34with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 8with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6with paved runways under 914 m: 16with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 2with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 5 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 632,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: reconstitution of damaged telecommunicationfacilities began after the Gulf war; most damaged facilities havebeen rebuiltdomestic: the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave radiorelay linksinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 AtlanticOcean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan,Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; Kuwait line is probably nonoperational
Radio broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 4.02 million (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 13
Televisions: 1 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Republican Guard and Special Republican Guard,Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard Force, InternalSecurity Forces
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 4,832,001 males fit for military service: 2,711,312 males reach military age (18) annually: 237,843 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Ireland ———-
Map —-
Location: 53 00 N, 8 00 W — Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Flag ——
Description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red
Geography ————-
Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island ofIreland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 70,280 sq kmland area: 68,890 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 360 km border country: UK 360 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: not specifiedexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Northern Ireland question with the UK;Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, andthe UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in theRockall area)
Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Carrauntoohill 1,041 m
Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, petroleum, barite,copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver
Land use:arable land: 14%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 71%forest and woodland: 5%other: 10%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: water pollution, especially of lakes, fromagricultural runoffnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Climate Change, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling;signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine LifeConservation
Geographic note: strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 60 miles of Dublin
People ———
Population: 3,566,833 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23% (male 424,558; female 402,062)15-64 years: 65% (male 1,175,383; female 1,157,960)65 years and over: 12% (male 173,150; female 233,720) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: -0.22% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 13.22 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.93 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.58 years male: 72.88 years female: 78.46 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural)adjective: Irish
Ethnic divisions: Celtic, English
Religions: Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%,other 1% (1981)
Languages: Irish (Gaelic), spoken mainly in areas located alongthe western seaboard, English is the language generally used
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)total population: 98%male: NA%female: NA%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland
Data code: EI
Type of government: republic
Capital: Dublin
Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork,Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim,Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon,Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK)
National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite
Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November1990) was elected for a seven-year term by popular vote; electionlast held 9 November 1990 (next to be held NA November 1997);results - Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%head of government: Prime Minister John BRUTON (since 15 December1994) was nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed bythe presidentcabinet: Cabinet was appointed by president with previous nominationof the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) Senate (Seanad Eireann): elections last held NA February 1992 (next to be held NA February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor 9, Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6 House of Representatives (Dail Eireann): elections last held 25 November 1992 (next to be held by NA November 1997); results - Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party 19.3%, Progressive Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein 1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total) Fianna Fail 68, Fine Gael 45, Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10, Democratic Left 4, Greens 1, independents 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president on the advice of the government (prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Bertie AHERN; Labor Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Mary HARNEY; The Workers' Party, Marion DONNELLY; Green Alliance, Bronwen MAHER note: Prime Minister BRUTON heads a three-party coalition consisting of the Fine Gael, the Labor Party, and the Democratic Left
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OECD, OSCE, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR,UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Kennedy SMITH embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [353] (1) 6688777 FAX: [353] (1) 6689946
Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The economy is small and trade dependent. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 38% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's robust growth, the economy is also benefiting from a rise in consumer spending and recovery in both construction and business investment. Ireland has substantially reduced its external debt since 1987, to 40% of GDP in 1994. Over the same period, inflation has fallen sharply and chronic trade deficits have been transformed into annual surpluses. Unemployment remains a serious problem, however, and job creation is the main focus of government policy. To ease unemployment, Dublin aggressively courts foreign investors and recently created a new industrial development agency to aid small indigenous firms. Government assistance is constrained by Dublin's continuing deficit reduction measures.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $54.6 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 7% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $15,400 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 6.8% industry: 35.3% services: 57.9% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 1.37 millionby occupation: services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 28%,agriculture, forestry, and fishing 13.5%, energy and mining 1.5%(1992)
Unemployment rate: 13.5% (1995 est.)
Budget:revenues: $19.3 billionexpenditures: $20.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.6billion (1994)
Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal
Industrial production growth rate: 8.9% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 3,930,000 kW production: 14.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,938 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; meatand dairy products
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for hashish from North Africato the UK and Netherlands
Exports: $29.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: chemicals, data processing equipment, industrialmachinery, live animals, animal productspartners: EU 73% (UK 27%, Germany 14%, France 9%), US 9%
Imports: $25.3 billion (c.i.f., 1994)commodities: food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleumand petroleum products, machinery, textiles, clothingpartners: EU 58% (UK 36%, Germany 7%, France 4%), US 18%
External debt: $19.5 billion (1994 est.)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $81 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Irish pound (LIr) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Irish pounds (LIr) per US$1 - 0.6315 (January 1996), 0.6235 (1995), 0.6676 (1994), 0.6816 (1993), 0.5864 (1992), 0.6190 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 1,944 kmbroad gauge: 1,944 km 1.600-m gauge (37 km electrified; 485 kmdouble track) (1995)
Highways:total: 92,327 kmpaved: 86,787 km (including 32 km of expressways)unpaved: 5,540 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: limited for commercial traffic
Pipelines: natural gas 225 km
Ports: Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes, Galway, Limerick,New Ross, Waterford
Merchant marine:total: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 129,027 GRT/155,371 DWTships by type: bulk 4, cargo 27, chemical tanker 1, container 3, oiltanker 2, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 40with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 29with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 900,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern digital system using cable and microwaveradio relaydomestic: microwave radio relayinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0
Radios: 2.2 million (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 86 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 1.025 million (1990 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps), NationalPolice (Garda Siochana)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 939,237 males fit for military service: 761,048 males reach military age (17) annually: 35,904 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $618 million, 1.3% of GDP (1994)
======================================================================
@Israel ———
(also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)
Note: The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in the data below. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives, and Israel and Syria, to achieve a permanent settlement between them. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace treaty. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace.
Map —-
Location: 31 30 N, 34 45 E — Middle East, bordering theMediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Flag ——
Description: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag
Geography ————-
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, betweenEgypt and Lebanon
Geographic coordinates: 31 30 N, 34 45 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 20,770 sq kmland area: 20,330 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey
Land boundaries:total: 1,006 kmborder countries: Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km,Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
Coastline: 273 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: to depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982
Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
Natural resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil
Land use:arable land: 17%permanent crops: 5%meadows and pastures: 40%forest and woodland: 6%other: 32%
Irrigated land: 2,140 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: limited arable land and natural fresh waterresources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollutionfrom industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution fromindustrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticidesnatural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summerinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change,Desertification, Marine Life Conservation
Geographic note: there are 202 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and 26 in East Jerusalem (August 1995 est.)
People ———
Population: 5,421,995 (July 1996 est.)note: includes 127,600 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, 14,800 inthe Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 5,000 in the Gaza Strip, and153,700 in East Jerusalem (August 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29% (male 793,712; female 756,735)15-64 years: 62% (male 1,670,082; female 1,669,481)65 years and over: 9% (male 230,082; female 301,903) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.11% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 20.31 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.26 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 7.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.01 years male: 76.16 years female: 79.96 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.77 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:noun: Israeli(s)adjective: Israeli
Ethnic divisions: Jewish 82% (Israel-born 50%,Europe/Americas/Oceania-born 20%, Africa-born 7%, Asia-born 5%),non-Jewish 18% (mostly Arab) (1993 est.)
Religions: Judaism 82%, Islam 14% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian2%, Druze and other 2%
Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arabminority, English most commonly used foreign language
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992 est.)total population: 95%male: 97%female: 93%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: State of Israel conventional short form: Israel local long form: Medinat Yisra'el local short form: Yisra'el
Data code: IS
Type of government: republic
Capital: Jerusalemnote: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but theUS, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in TelAviv
Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz);Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
Independence: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate underBritish administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 14 May 1948 (Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May)
Constitution: no formal constitution; some of the functions of aconstitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948),the basic laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israelicitizenship law
Legal system: mixture of English common law, British Mandateregulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslimlegal systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariatthat it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993) waselected for a five-year term by the Knesset; election last held 24March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998); results - Ezer WEIZMANelected by Knessethead of government: Prime Minister Shimon PERES (since 15 November1995) was appointed by the president following the assassination ofPrime Minister Yitzhak RABINcabinet: Cabinet was selected from and approved by the Knesset
Legislative branch: unicameralparliament (Knesset): elections last held NA June 1992 (next to beheld 29 May 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -(120 total) Labor 44, Likud 32, MERETZ 12, Tzomet 8, NationalReligious Party 6, SHAS 6, United Torah Jewry 4, Democratic Frontfor Peace and Equality (Hadash) 3, Moledet 3, Arab Democratic Party2; note - the distribution of seats as of January 1996 is as follows- Labor Party 45, Likud bloc 33, MERETZ 12, National Religious Party6, SHAS 6, Tzomet 5, United Torah Jewry 4, Democratic Front forPeace and Equality (Hadash) 3, Moledet 2, Arab Democratic Party 2,Yi'ud 1 (in coalition), Right of Israel 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:members of the government: Labor Party, Prime Minister Shimon PERES;MERETZ, Minister of Environment Yossi SARID; Yi'ud, Gonen SEGEVnot in coalition but voting with the government: Democratic Frontfor Peace and Equality (Hadash), Hashim MAHAMID; Arab DemocraticParty, Abd al Wahab DARAWSHAHopposition parties: Likud Party, Binyamin NETANYAHU; Tzomet, RafaelEITAN; National Religious Party, Zevulun HAMMER; United Torah Jewry,Avraham SHAPIRA; Moledet, Rehavam ZEEVI; Peace Guard (independent),Shaul GUTMAN; SHAS, Arieh DERI; Right of Israel, leader NAnote: Israel currently has a coalition government comprising threeparties that hold 58 seats of the Knesset's 120 seats
Other political or pressure groups: Gush Emunim, Israeli nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and is critical of government's Lebanon policy
International organization participation: AG (observer), BSEC (observer), CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Itamar RABINOVICHchancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500FAX: [1] (202) 364-5610consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, LosAngeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Martin S. INDYKembassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Avivmailing address: PSC 98, Box 100, APO AE 09830telephone: [972] (3) 519-7575FAX: [972] (3) 517-3227consulate(s) general: Jerusalem
Flag: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Israel has a market economy with substantial government participation. It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Industry employs about 22% of Israeli workers, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.5%, and services the rest. Israel is largely self-sufficient in food production except for grains. Diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are leading exports. Israel usually posts current account deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the US, which is its major source of economic and military aid. To earn needed foreign exchange, Israel has been targeting high-technology niches in international markets, such as medical scanning equipment. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR, which topped 525,000 during the period 1990-95, increased unemployment, intensified housing problems, and strained the government budget. At the same time, the immigrants bring to the economy valuable scientific and professional expertise.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $80.1 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 7.1% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $15,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 3.5% industry: 22% services: 74.5%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.1% (1995)
Labor force: 1.9 million (1992) by occupation: public services 29.3%, industry 22.1%, commerce 13.9%, finance and business 10.4%, personal and other services 7.4%, construction 6.5%, transport, storage, and communications 6.3%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.5%, other 0.6% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 6.3% (1995 est.)
Budget:revenues: $41 billionexpenditures: $53 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1996)
Industries: food processing, diamond cutting and polishing,textiles and apparel, chemicals, metal products, military equipment,transport equipment, electrical equipment, potash mining,high-technology electronics, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 10.3% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 4,140,000 kW production: 23 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,290 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: citrus and other fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef,poultry, dairy products
Illicit drugs: increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroinabuse and trafficking
Exports: $28.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)commodities: machinery and equipment, cut diamonds, chemicals,textiles and apparel, agricultural products, metalspartners: US, EU, Japan
Imports: $40.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)commodities: military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds,oil, other productive inputs, consumer goodspartners: EU, US, Japan
External debt: $18.5 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid:recipient: total receipts $12.14 billion of which $11.38 billionfrom the US (1990-93)
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 3.1295 (January 1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 526 km standard gauge: 526 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:total: 13,461 kmpaved: 13,461 km (including 56 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (1992 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 708 km; petroleum products 290 km; naturalgas 89 km
Ports: Ashdod, Ashqelon, Elat, Hadera, Haifa, Tel Aviv-Yafo
Merchant marine:total: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 577,747 GRT/701,459 DWTships by type: cargo 5, container 20, refrigerated cargo 2,roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 50with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8with paved runways under 914 m: 22with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 2.425 million (1990 est.)
Telephone system: most highly developed system in the Middle Eastalthough not the largestdomestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relayinternational: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0
Radios: 2.25 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 20
Televisions: 1.5 million (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Israel Defense Forces (includes ground, naval, and air components), Pioneer Fighting Youth (Nahal), Frontier Guard, Chen (women); note - historically there have been no separate Israeli military services
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,390,603 females age 15-49: 1,363,986 males fit for military service: 1,139,137 females fit for military service: 1,112,947 males reach military age (18) annually: 50,508 females reach military age (18) annually: 48,176 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $9.2 billion, about 9.8% of GDP (1996)
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@Italy ——-
Map —-
Location: 42 50 N, 12 50 E — Southern Europe, a peninsulaextending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Flag ——
Description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green
Geography ————-
Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the centralMediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Geographic coordinates: 42 50 N, 12 50 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 301,230 sq kmland area: 294,020 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Arizonanote: includes Sardinia and Sicily
Land boundaries:total: 1,935.2 kmborder countries: Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (VaticanCity) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 235 km, Switzerland 740 km
Coastline: 7,600 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Italy is negotiating with Slovenia overproperty and minority rights issues dating from World War II
Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot,dry in south
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastallowlandslowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
Natural resources: mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindlingnatural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, coal
Land use:arable land: 32%permanent crops: 10%meadows and pastures: 17%forest and woodland: 22%other: 19%
Irrigated land: 31,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions such assulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrialand agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequateindustrial waste treatment and disposal facilitiesnatural hazards: regional risks include landslides, mudflows,avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; landsubsidence in Veniceinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but notratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification
Geographic note: strategic location dominating centralMediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to WesternEurope
People ———
Population: 57,460,274 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15% (male 4,419,636; female 4,167,860)15-64 years: 68% (male 19,656,546; female 19,629,291)65 years and over: 17% (male 3,902,426; female 5,684,515) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 0.13% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 9.87 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 9.82 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.06 years male: 74.85 years female: 81.48 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:noun: Italian(s)adjective: Italian
Ethnic divisions: Italian (includes small clusters of German-,French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians andGreek-Italians in the south), Sicilians, Sardinians
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
Languages: Italian, German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige regionare predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speakingminority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speakingminority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 97%male: 98%female: 96%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Italian Republic conventional short form: Italy local long form: Repubblica Italiana local short form: Italia former: Kingdom of Italy
Data code: IT
Type of government: republic
Capital: Rome
Administrative divisions: 20 regions (regioni, singular -regione); Abruzzi, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna,Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise,Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige,Umbria, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto
Independence: 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Republic, 2 June (1946)
Constitution: 1 January 1948
Legal system: based on civil law system, with ecclesiastical law influence; appeals treated as trials de novo; judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (except in senatorialelections, where minimum age is 25)
Executive branch:chief of state: President Oscar Luigi SCALFARO (since 28 May 1992)was elected for a seven-year term by an electoral college consistingof both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representativeshead of government: Prime Minister (referred to in Italy as thePresident of the Council of Ministers) Romano PRODI (since 18 May1996) was appointed by the presidentcabinet: Council of Ministers was nominated by the President of theCouncil (i.e., Prime Minister) and approved by the President of theRepublic
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlamento)Senate (Senato della Repubblica): elections last held 22 April 1996(next to be held by NA); results - percent of vote by party NA;seats - (326 total, 315 elected, 11 appointed senators-for-life)Olive Tree 157, Freedom Alliance 116, Northern League 27, RefoundedCommunists 10, regional lists 3, Social Movement-Tricolor Flames 1,Panella Reformers 1Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati): elections last held 22April 1996 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by partyNA; seats - (630 total) Olive Tree 284, Freedom Alliance 246,Northern League 59, Refounded Communists 35, Southern Tyrol List 3,Autonomous List 2, other 1
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court (Corte Costituzionale),composed of 15 judges (one-third appointed by the president,one-third elected by Parliament, one-third elected by the ordinaryand administrative supreme courts)
Political parties and leaders:Olive Tree: Democratic Party of the Left (PDS), Massimo D'ALEMA;Greens, Carlo RIPA DI MEANA; Italian Renewal, Lamberto DINI;Southern Tyrols List (German speakers)Freedom Alliance: Forza Italia (FI), Silvio BERLUSCONI; NationalAlliance (AN), Gianfranco FINI; Christian Democratic Center (CCD),Pier Ferdinando CASINI; Democratic Union Party, Antonio MACCANICOother: Northern League (NL), Umberto BOSSI; Italian Social Movement,Pino RAUTI; Communist Refoundation (RC), Fausto BERTINOTTI; ItalianSocialists, Enrico BOSELLI; Rete (The Network), Leoluca ORLANDO;Christian Socialists, Luciano GUERZONI; Democratic Pact for Italy,Mario SEGNI; Italian Popular Party (PPI), Gerardo BIANCO; Pannella'sReformers, Marco PANNELLA; Christian Democratic Union (UnitedChristian Democrats - CDU), Rocco BUTTIGLIONE; Democratic Alliance,Willer BORDON; Union for the New Republic, Raffaele COSTA; UnitaryCommunists, Famiano CRUCIANELLI; Autonomous List (a group of minorparties); Social Movement-Tricolor Flames