Legislative branch: bicameral Supreme Council (Zhogorku Kenesh) Assembly of People's Representatives: elections last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (70 total) seats by party NA; note - not all the 70 seats were filled at the 5 February elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates; the assembly meets twice yearly Legislative Assembly: elections last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (35 total) seats by party NA; note - not all the 35 seats were filled at the 5 February elections; as a result, run-off elections were held note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995 elections
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed for a 10-yearterm by the Zhogorku Kenesh on recommendation of the president;Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party (SDP);Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan (DDK), Jypar JEKSHEYEV, chairman;National Unity; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan (PCK), AbsamatMASALIYEV, chairman; Democratic Movement of Free Kyrgyzstan (ErK),Tursunbay Bakir UULU, chairman; Republican Popular Party ofKyrgyzstan; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan; Atu Meken Party, OmurbekTEKEBAYEV; ASABA
Other political or pressure groups: National Unity DemocraticMovement; Peasant Party; Council of Free Trade Unions; Union ofEntrepreneurs; Agrarian Party
International organization participation: AsDB, CIS, EBRD, ECE,ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Acting Ambassador Almas CHUKINchancery: (temporary) Suite 706, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC20005telephone: [1] (202) 347-3732FAX: [1] (202) 347-3718
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Eileen A. MALLOYembassy: Erkindik Prospekt #66, Bishkek 720002mailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [7] (3312) 22-29-20, 22-27-77, 22-26-31, 22-24-73FAX: [7] (3312) 22-35-51
Flag: red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kirghiz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kirghiz yurt
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor, mountainous country with a predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products and exports. Industrial exports included gold, mercury, uranium, and hydropower. Kyrgyzstan has been one of the most progressive countries of the former Soviet Union in carrying out market reforms. Following a successful stabilization program, which has lowered inflation from 88% in 1994 to 32% for 1995, attention is turning toward stimulating growth. About half of government stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production have been severe since the break up of the Soviet Union, but by mid-1995 production began to level off as exports began to increase. The level of hardship for pensioners, unemployed workers, and government workers with salaries arrears continues to be very high. Foreign assistance plays a substantial role in the country's budget. In early 1996, the economy apparently is slowly beginning to restore previous levels of output.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.4 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
GDP real growth rate: -6% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,140 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 32% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 1.836 millionby occupation: agriculture and forestry 38%, industry andconstruction 21%, other 41% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 4.8% includes officially registered unemployed;also large numbers of unregistered unemployed and underemployedworkers (December 1995)
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement,shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold,rare earth metals
Industrial production growth rate: -12.5% (1995)
Electricity: capacity: 3,660,000 kW production: 12.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,500 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture: wool, tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and North America from Southwest Asia
Exports: $380 million (1995) commodities: cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, hydropower; machinery; shoes partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, Turkey, Cuba, and Germany
Imports: $439 million (1995) commodities: grain, lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel, machinery, textiles, footwear partners: Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, China, and UK
External debt: $480 million (of which $115 million to Russia)(1995 est.)
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $56 million (1993)note: commitments, 1992-95, $1,695 million ($390 milliondisbursements)
Currency: introduced national currency, the som (10 May 1993)
Exchange rates: soms per US$1 - 11.2 (yearend 1995), 10.6 (yearend 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 370 km in common carrier service; does not include industriallinesbroad gauge: 370 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
Highways:total: 28,400 kmpaved: 22,400 kmunpaved: 6,000 km (1990)
Pipelines: natural gas 200 km
Ports: Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Airports:total: 54with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 9with paved runways under 914 m: 1with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4with unpaved runways under 914 m: 32 (1994 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 342,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied applications for household telephones domestic: principally microwave radio relay international: connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik and 1 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note -1state-run radio broadcast station
Radios: 825,000 (radio receiver systems with multiple speakers forprogram diffusion 748,000)
Television broadcast stations: 1note: receives Turkish broadcasts
Televisions: 875,000
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, National Guard, Security Forces (internal andborder troops), Civil Defense
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,096,985 males fit for military service: 890,901 males reach military age (18) annually: 44,159 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: 151 million soms, NA% of GDP (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
======================================================================
@Laos ——
Map —-
Location: 18 00 N, 105 00 E — Southeastern Asia, northeast ofThailand
Flag ——
Description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (doublewidth), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
Geography ————-
Location: Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand
Geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total area: 236,800 sq kmland area: 230,800 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:total: 5,083 kmborder countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km,Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: boundary dispute with Thailand
Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use:arable land: 4%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 3%forest and woodland: 58%other: 35%
Irrigated land: 1,554 sq km (1992 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of thepopulation does not have access to potable waternatural hazards: floods, droughts, and blightinternational agreements: party to - Environmental Modification,Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change,Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: landlocked
People ———
Population: 4,975,772 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45% (male 1,142,825; female 1,114,628)15-64 years: 51% (male 1,237,660; female 1,316,591)65 years and over: 4% (male 75,748; female 88,320) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.81% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 41.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 13.83 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 96.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.69 years male: 51.14 years female: 54.31 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.87 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic divisions: Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%,Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien)9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Religions: Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%
Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethniclanguages
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 56.6%male: 69.4%female: 44.4%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republicconventional short form: Laoslocal long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Laolocal short form: none
Data code: LA
Type of government: Communist state
Capital: Vientiane
Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular andplural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural);Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan,Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan,Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)
Constitution: promulgated 14 August 1991
Legal system: based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (since 25 November 1992)was elected for a five-year term by the National Assemblyhead of government: Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15August 1991) was appointed for a five-year term by the presidentwith the approval of the National Assembly; Deputy Prime MinisterKHAMPHOUI KEOBOUALAPHA (since NA)cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president,approved by the National Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: members elected for five-year terms; elections last held 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (85 total) LPRP 85
Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court, the president of the People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the vice president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee
Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party(LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president; other parties proscribed
Other political or pressure groups: noncommunist political groupsproscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN(observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU,Mekong Group, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador HIEM PHOMMACHANHchancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416, 6417FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Victor L. TOMSETH embassy: Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585 FAX: [856] (21) 212584
Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width),and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official communist states - has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, have been striking - growth has averaged 7.5% annually since 1988. Even so, Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The predominant crop is rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food, but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause shortages in various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper efforts to maintain the high rate of GDP growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 8% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,100 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 50% industry: 17% services: 33% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 1 million-1.5 million by occupation: agriculture 80% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: 21% (1992 est.)
Budget:revenues: $198 millionexpenditures: $351 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1994)
Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power,agricultural processing, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (1992 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 260,000 kW production: 870 million kWh consumption per capita: 44 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Illicit drugs: world's third largest opium producer (180 metric tons from nearly 20,000 hectares in 1995); heroin producer; increasingly used as transshipment point for heroin produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis
Exports: $278 million (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: electricity, wood products, coffee, tin, garmentspartners: Thailand, Japan, France, Germany, Netherlands
Imports: $486 million (c.i.f., 1994)commodities: food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufacturespartners: Thailand, China, Japan, France, US
External debt: $2 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1 - 920 (1995), 717 (1994 est.), 720 (July 1993), 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700 (September 1990), 576 (1989)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 14,130 km paved: 2,261 km unpaved: 11,869 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km
Ports: none
Merchant marine:total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT(1995 est.)
Airports:total: 39with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 16with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 6,600 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: service to general public very poor; radiotelephone communications network provides generally erratic service to government users domestic: radiotelephone communications international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 560,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2
Televisions: 32,000 (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine naval andmilitia elements), Air Force, National Police Department
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,087,264 males fit for military service: 586,664 males reach military age (18) annually: 53,250 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $105 million, 8.1% of GDP (FY92/93)
======================================================================
@Latvia ———
Map —-
Location: 57 00 N, 25 00 E — Eastern Europe, bordering the BalticSea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Flag ——
Description: two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom),white (middle, narrower than other two bands)
Geography ————-
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, betweenEstonia and Lithuania
Geographic coordinates: 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 64,100 sq kmland area: 64,100 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:total: 1,078 kmborder countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km,Russia 217 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
International disputes: the Abrene/Pytalovo section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944; the maritime borders with Lithuania and Estonia
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain: low plain lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
Land use:arable land: 27%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 13%forest and woodland: 39%other: 21%
Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1990)
Environment:current issues: air and water pollution because of a lack of wasteconversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavilypolluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals andpetroleum products at military basesnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed,but not ratified - Ozone Layer Protection
People ———
Population: 2,468,982 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20% (male 254,664; female 244,502)15-64 years: 66% (male 775,690; female 848,128)65 years and over: 14% (male 108,814; female 237,184) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: -1.39% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 10.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 15.19 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -9.69 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: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.46 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.86 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.91 years male: 60.84 years female: 73.27 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.62 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian
Ethnic divisions: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%,Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2%
Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)total population: 100%male: 100%female: 99%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: LG
Type of government: republic
Capital: Riga
Administrative divisions: 26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons,Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, DobelesRajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, JelgavasRajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*,Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons,Ogres Rajons, Preiju Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, RigasRajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons,Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
Constitution: newly elected Parliament in 1993 restored the 1933 constitution
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993) waselected by Parliament (Saeima) in the third round of balloting;election last held 7 July 1993 (next to be held NA June 1996)head of government: Prime Minister Andris SKELE (since 21 December1995) was appointed by the presidentcabinet: Council of Ministers was nominated by the prime ministerand appointed by the Supreme Council
Legislative branch: unicameralParliament (Saeima): elections last held 30 September-1 October 1995(next to be held NA October 1998); results - Saimnieks 18%, LC 17%,For Latvia 16%, TB 14%, LNNK 8%, Unity 8%, LSZ/LKDS 7%, Harmony 6%,Socialist 6%; seats - (100 total) Saimnieks 18, LC 17, For Latvia16, TB 14, LNNK 8, Unity 8, LSZ/LKDS 7, Harmony 6, Socialist 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmedby the Saeima
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party "Saimnieks" (DPS),Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman; Latvia's Way (LC), Valdis BIRKAVS;People's Movement For Latvia, Joachim SIEGERIST; Fatherland andFreedom (TB), Maris GRINBLATS; Latvian Unity Party (LVP), A. KAULS;Latvian National Conservative Party (LNNK), A. SEILE; Green Party(LSZ), O. BATAREVSK; Latvian Farmers Union (LZS), A. ROZENTALS;Christian Democrat Union (LKDS), P. KLAVINS; National Harmony Party(TSP), Janis JURKANS; Latvian Socialist Party (LSP), F. STROGANOVS;Latvian Liberal Party (LLP), J. DANOSS; Political Association of theUnderprivileged (MPA), B. PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS; LatvianDemocratic Labor Party (LDDP), J. BOJARS; Party of Russian Citizens(LKPP), V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV; Popular Front of Latvia (LTF), UldisAUGSTKALNS; Political Union of Economists (TPA), E. KIDE; LatvianNational Democratic Party (LNDP), A. MALINS; "Our Land" (MZ), M.DAMBEKALNE; Anticommunist Union (PA), P. MUCENIEKS; LatvianSocial-Democratic Workers Party (LSDSP); Party for the Defense ofLatvia's Defrauded People; Latvian Independence Party (LNP), V.KONOVALOUS
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINSchancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Larry C. NAPPER embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga mailing address: PSC 78, Box R, APO AE 09723 telephone: [371] (2) 210-005 FAX: [371] (2) 226-530
Flag: two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white(middle, narrower than other two bands)
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Latvia's economic transformation to a modern market economy - rivaled only by Estonia among the former Soviet states - faltered in 1995 as a result of banking and budget crises. Latvia's largely unregulated financial sector suffered a series of bank failures, including the collapse of the country's largest commercial bank - Bank Baltija - due largely to criminal activity by the owners. The government's attempts to compensate depositors of failed banks exacerbated an existing budget shortfall; poor revenue collection and a soft treasury bill market had already caused the government to incur a larger than expected deficit early in the year. As a result of the crises, Latvia's budget deficit for 1995 was $168 million, double that originally planned. In addition, GDP growth came to a halt. The Central Bank maintained its tough monetary policies - severely limiting credits to the state, despite the budget problems - helping to keep annual inflation the lowest among the Baltic states, at about 20%. New Prime Minister SKELE wants to invigorate the privatization of industry; agriculture already is mainly in private hands.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $14.7 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -1.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $5,300 (1995 estimate as extrapolated from WorldBank estimate for 1994)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 9% industry: 31% services: 60% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 1.407 million by occupation: industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, other 43% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 6.5% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products
Industrial production growth rate: -9.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 2,080,000 kW production: 5.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,864 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; meat, milk, eggs; fish
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption; also produces illicit amphetamines for export
Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)commodities: timber, textiles, dairy productspartners: Russia, Germany, Sweden, UK, Lithuania
Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)commodities: fuels, cars, chemicalspartners: Russia, Germany, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, Lithuania, Finland
External debt: $NA
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $122 million (1993)note: commitments from the West and international institutions, $525million (1992-95)
Currency: 1 lat = 100 cents; introduced NA March 1993
Exchange rates: lats per US$1 - 0.544 (January 1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994), 0.675 (1993), 0.736 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 2,412 kmbroad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)
Highways:total: 66,718 kmpaved: 12,076 kmunpaved: 54,642 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992)
Ports: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine:total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 519,859 GRT/678,987 DWTships by type: cargo 7, oil tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 18,roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 50with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 27with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2with unpaved runways under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 660,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: service is better than in most of the otherformer Soviet republicsdomestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network covers 75% ofLatvia's populationinternational: international traffic carried by leased connection tothe Moscow international gateway switch, through the new Ericssondigital telephone exchange in Riga, and through the Finnish cellularnet; Sprint data network carries electronic mail
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - thereare 25 radio broadcast stations of unknown type
Radios: 1.4 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 30
Televisions: 1.1 million (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 583,134 males fit for military service: 457,067 males reach military age (18) annually: 16,180 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: 176 million rubles, 3% to 5% of GDP (1994); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results
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@Lebanon ———-
Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war which began in 1975. Under the Ta'if accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process. Since December 1990, the Lebanese have formed four cabinets and conducted the first legislative election in 20 years. Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy militia, The Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzin. Syria maintains about 30,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League early in Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from Beirut.
Map —-
Location: 33 50 N, 35 50 E — Middle East, bordering theMediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Flag ——
Description: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band
Geography ————-
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, betweenIsrael and Syria
Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 10,400 sq kmland area: 10,230 sq kmcomparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 454 km border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal al Makmal 3,087 m
Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus statein a water-deficit region
Land use:arable land: 21%permanent crops: 9%meadows and pastures: 1%forest and woodland: 8%other: 61%
Irrigated land: 860 sq km (1990 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; airpollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning ofindustrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage andoil spillsnatural hazards: dust storms, sandstormsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified -Desertification, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, MarineLife Conservation
Geographic note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity
People ———
Population: 3,776,317 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36% (male 687,631; female 662,100)15-64 years: 59% (male 1,049,689; female 1,163,255)65 years and over: 5% (male 98,406; female 115,236) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.16% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 27.93 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.35 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 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: 0.9 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 36.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.99 years male: 67.49 years female: 72.62 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic divisions: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions: Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups -Alawite or Nusayri, Druze, Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30%(11 legally recognized Christian groups - 4 Orthodox Christian, 6Catholic, 1 Protestant), Judaism NEGL%
Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Armenian, English
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 92.4%male: 94.7%female: 90.3%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Republic of Lebanonconventional short form: Lebanonlocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyahlocal short form: none
Data code: LE
Type of government: republic
Capital: Beirut
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular -muhafazah); Al Biqa', Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan
Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandateunder French administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Constitution: 23 May 1926, amended a number of times
Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorizedfor women at age 21 with elementary education
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989) waselected for a six-year term by the National Assembly and in 1995 theNational Assembly amended the constitution to extend his term bythree years; note - by custom, the president is a MaroniteChristian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker ofthe legislature is a Shi'a Muslimhead of government: Prime Minister Rafiq al-HARIRI (since 22 October1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Michel al-MURR (since NA) wereappointed by the president in consultation with the National Assemblycabinet: Cabinet was chosen by the prime minister in consultationwith the members of the National Assembly; the current Cabinet wasformed in 1995
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Arabic - Majlis Alnuwab French - Assembl: elections last held in the summer of 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (128 total, one-half Christian and one-half Muslim) independents 128
Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases)
Political parties and leaders: political party activity is organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL,AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA,UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Riyad TABBARAH chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324 consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. JONESembassy: Antelias, Beirutmailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE09836-0002telephone: [961] (1) 402200, 403300, 406650, 406651, 426183, 417774,889926FAX: [961] (1) 407112
Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width),and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. Peace has enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and government facilities. Economic recovery has been helped by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers. Family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid are the main sources of foreign exchange. In the relatively settled year of 1991, industrial production, agricultural output, and exports showed substantial gains. The rebuilding of the war-ravaged country was delayed in 1992 because of an upturn in political wrangling. In October 1992, Rafiq al-HARIRI was appointed prime minister. A billionaire entrepreneur, al-HARIRI, announced ambitious plans for Lebanon's reconstruction, which involve a substantial influx of foreign aid and investment. The economy has posted considerable gains since 1992, with GDP rebounding, inflation falling, and foreign capital inflows jumping. Signs of strain have emerged in recent years, however, as the government budget deficit has risen and grassroots economic dissatisfaction has grown. Meantime, the future fate of Lebanon and its economy is being determined largely by outside forces - in Syria, other Arab nations, Israel, and the West.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $18.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 6.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $4,900 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 28% services: 59% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 650,000by occupation: services 60%, industry 28%, agriculture 12% (1990est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1995 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.4 billionexpenditures: $3.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1994 est.)
Industries: banking, food processing, textiles, cement, oilrefining, chemicals, jewelry, some metal fabricating
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 1,220,000 kW production: 2.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 676 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: citrus, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish); sheep, goats
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish and heroin for the international drug trade; hashish production is shipped to Western Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America; a key locus of cocaine processing and trafficking; a Lebanese/Syrian 1994 eradication campaign practically eliminated the opium crop and caused a 50% decrease in the cannabis crop
Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)commodities: agricultural products, chemicals, textiles, preciousand semiprecious metals and jewelry, metals and metal productspartners: Saudi Arabia 13%, Switzerland 12%, UAE 11%, Syria 9%, US 5%
Imports: $7.3 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)commodities: consumer goods, machinery and transport equipment,petroleum productspartners: Italy 14%, France 9%, US 8%, Turkey 5%, Saudi Arabia 3%
External debt: $1.2 billion (July 1995)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Lebanese pound (LL) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (LL) per US$1 - 1,584.0 (March 1996), 1,621.4 (1995), 1,680.1 (1994), 1,741.4 (1993), 1,712.8 (1992), 928.2 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 222 km standard gauge: 222 km 1.435-m (from Beirut to the Syrian border)
Highways: total: 7,370 km paved: 6,265 km unpaved: 1,105 km (1990 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 72 km (none in operation)
Ports: Al Batrun, Al Mina, An Naqurah, Antilyas, Az Zahrani,Beirut, Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
Merchant marine:total: 58 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 192,075 GRT/296,256 DWTships by type: bulk 4, cargo 39, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk1, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, livestock carrier 4,refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, specialized tanker1, vehicle carrier 2 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 7with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 150,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: telecommunications system severely damaged by civil war; rebuilding still underway domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 1 note: more than 100 AM and FM stations are operated sporadically by various factions
Radios: 2.37 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 13
Televisions: 1.1 million (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and AirForce)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 889,517 males fit for military service: 553,538 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $278 million, 5.5% of GDP (1994)
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@Lesotho ———-
Map —-
Location: 29 30 S, 28 30 E — Southern Africa, an enclave of SouthAfrica
Flag ——
Description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half is white bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner
Geography ————-
Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 30,350 sq kmland area: 30,350 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 909 km border country: South Africa 909 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m highest point: Mount Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, somediamonds and other minerals
Land use:arable land: 10%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 66%forest and woodland: 0%other: 24%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginalareas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion;desertification; Highlands Water Project will control, store, andredirect water to South Africanatural hazards: periodic droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Endangered Species, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping
Geographic note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
People ———
Population: 1,970,781 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41% (male 404,733; female 402,813)15-64 years: 54% (male 519,493; female 553,618)65 years and over: 5% (male 37,237; female 52,887) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.9% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 32.7 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 13.74 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 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 81.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.08 years male: 50.08 years female: 54.14 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.32 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)adjective: Basotho
Ethnic divisions: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800
Religions: Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs
Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu,Xhosa
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 71.3%male: 81.1%female: 62.3%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho conventional short form: Lesotho former: Basutoland
Data code: LT
Type of government: modified constitutional monarchy
Capital: Maseru
Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe,Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek,Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution: 2 April 1993
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); the king isthe former Crown Prince David Monato BERENG Seeiso and succeeded hisfather King MOSHOESHOE II, who died in an automobile accident on 16January 1996; King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne (November1990 to February 1995) while his father was in exilenote: the king is a hereditary monarch, but, under the terms of theconstitution which came into effect after the March 1993 election,he has no executive or legislative powers; moreover, undertraditional law the king can be elected or deposed by a majorityvote of the College of Chiefshead of government: Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE (since 2 April 1993)cabinet: Cabinet
Legislative branch: bicameral ParliamentSenate: consists of 33 members (the 22 principal chiefs and 11 othermembers appointed by the ruling party)Assembly: members elected by popular vote; election last held NAMarch 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by partyNA; seats (65 total) BCP 65
Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court;customary or traditional court