Unemployment rate: 8.4% (1997)
Budget: revenues: $89.35 billion expenditures: $91.92 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel
Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (1995)
Electricity-capacity: 38.83 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 163.082 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 8,901 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry
Exports: total value: $68 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and transport equipment partners: Japan 20%, ASEAN 16%, South Korea 9%, US 9%, NZ 8%, UK, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China (1997)
Imports: total value: $67 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products partners: US 22%, Japan 17%, UK 6%, China 5%, NZ 5% (1994/95)
Debt-external: $150 billion (December 1996)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $1.43 billion (FY97/98)
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1-1.4865 (February 1998), (1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3668 (1994), 1.4704 (1993)
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Communications
Telephones: 8.7 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international service domestic: domestic satellite system international: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations-10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 258, FM 67, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 134 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 9.2 million (1992 est.)
@Australia:Transportation
Railways: total: 38,563 km (2,914 km electrified; 172 km dual gauge) broad gauge: 6,083 km 1.600-m gauge standard gauge: 16,752 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 15,728 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways: total: 913,000 km paved: 353,331 km (including 1,3630 km of expressways) unpaved: 559,669 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft
Pipelines: crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural gas 5,600 km
Ports and harbors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport(Tasmania), Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceston(Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville
Merchant marine: total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,122,604 GRT/3,045,417 DWT ships by type: bulk 31, cargo 3, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 1, container 5, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 10, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5 (1997 est.)
Airports: 419 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 259 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 111 914 to 1,523 m: 119 under 914 m: 8 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 160 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 123 under 914 m: 15 (1997 est.)
@Australia:Military
Military branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, RoyalAustralian Air Force
Military manpower-military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 4,873,392 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 4,206,104 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 128,524 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $8.2 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY97/98)
@Australia:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: territorial claim in Antarctica (AustralianAntarctic Territory)
Illicit drugs: Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
______________________________________________________________________
@Austria:Geography
Location: Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates: 47 20 N, 13 20 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 83,858 sq km land: 82,738 sq km water: 1,120 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries: total: 2,562 km border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers
Terrain: in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m highest point: Grossglockner 3,797 m
Natural resources: iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 23% forests and woodland: 39% other: 20% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe
Environment-international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geography-note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
@Austria:People
Population: 8,133,611 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 709,890; female 673,696) 15-64 years: 68% (male 2,783,569; female 2,707,113) 65 years and over: 15% (male 471,924; female 787,419) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.05% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 9.89 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 10.05 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.31 years male: 74.13 years female: 80.67 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.37 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian
Ethnic groups: German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other 0.1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant 5%, other 17%
Languages: German
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1974 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@Austria:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Austria conventional short form: Austria local long form: Republik Oesterreich local short form: Oesterreich
Data code: AU
Government type: federal republic
National capital: Vienna
Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslaender, singular-bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
Independence: 1156 (from Bavaria)
National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955)
Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections
Executive branch: chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992) head of government: Chancellor Viktor KLIMA (since 28 January 1997); Vice Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (since 22 April 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; presidential election last held 24 May 1992 (next to be held 19 April 1998); chancellor chosen by the president from the majority party in the National Council; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor election results: Thomas KLESTIL elected president; percent of vote, second ballot-Thomas KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (64 members; members represent each of the provinces on the basis of population, but with each province having at least three representatives; members serve a four- or six-year term) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: National Council-last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held Fall 1999) election results: National Council-percent of vote by party-SPOe 38.3%, OeVP 28.3%, FPOe 22.1%, LF 5.3%, Greens 4.6%, other 1.4%; seats by party-SPOe 71, OeVP 53, FPOe 40, LF 10, Greens 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Viktor KLIMA, chairman]; Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL, chairman]; Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Joerg HAIDER, chairman]; Communist Party or KPOe [Walter BEIER, chairman]; The Greens or GA [Madeleine PETROVIC, parliamentary caucus floor leader and Alexander VAN DER BELLEN, party spokesman]; Liberal Forum or LF [Heide SCHMIDT]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Federal Chamber of Trade and Commerce; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist) or OeGB; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers; OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB,Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD,ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINUGUA, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO,UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Helmut TUERK chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Walt HALL embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [43] (1) 313-39 FAX: [43] (1) 310-0682
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
@Austria:Economy
Economy-overview: Austria, a member of the European Union since 1 January 1995, has a well-developed market economy with a high standard of living. With exports of goods and services reaching over 40% of GDP, Austria's economy is closely integrated with other EU member countries, especially with Germany. Austria's entry into the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European market. Austria is well on its way to meeting all Maastricht convergence criteria for monetary union, through privatization efforts, the 1996-98 budget consolidation programs, and austerity measures, which were expected to bring total public sector deficit down to 3% of GDP in 1997 and public debt in line with the 60% of GDP required by the EU. Cuts mainly affect the civil service and Austria's generous social system, the two major causes of the government deficit. To meet increased competition from both the EU and Central European countries, Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy and deregulate the service sector, particularly telecommunications and the energy sector. Economic prospects are expected to brighten in 1998 with GDP growth projected to be 2.5%.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$174.1 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.1% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$21,400 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 1.5% industry: 31.6% services: 66.9% (1996)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 1.3% (1997)
Labor force: total: 3.646 million (1996) by occupation: services 66.1%, industry and crafts 29.6%, agriculture and forestry 1.3% (salaried employees, 1996) note: an estimated 150,000 Austrians are employed abroad; foreign laborers in Austria number 298,000 (1996)
Unemployment rate: 7.1% (January 1998)
Budget: revenues: $53.6 billion expenditures: $61.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: food, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals, electrical, paper and pulp, tourism, mining, motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1996)
Electricity-capacity: 15.65 million kW (1996)
Electricity-production: 54.8 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 6,900 kWh (1996)
Agriculture-products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit, dairy products; cattle, pigs, poultry; sawn wood
Exports: total value: $57.8 billion (1996) commodities: machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber, textiles, paper products, chemicals partners: EU 64.7% (Germany 37.7%, Italy 8.5%), Eastern Europe 14.9%, Japan 1.5%, US 3.1% (1996)
Imports: total value: $67.3 billion (1996) commodities: petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals partners: EU 70.7% (Germany 42.8%, Italy 8.7%), Eastern Europe 10%, Japan 2.4%, US 4.5% (1996)
Debt-external: $29.4 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $480 million; assistance to central and eastern Europe $400 million (1996)
Currency: 1 Austrian schilling (AS) = 100 groschen
Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (AS) per US$1-12.776 (January 1998), 12.204 (1997), 10.587 (1996), 10.081 (1995), 11.422 (1994), 11.632 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 3.47 million (1986 est.) note: 88% of all households had telephones in the 1993 census
Telephone system: domestic: highly developed and efficient international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 2 Eutelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 105 (repeaters 684), shortwave 0
Radios: 70% of all households indicated that they had radios in the 1993 census
Television broadcast stations: 57 (repeaters 914)
Televisions: 2,418,584 (1984 est.) note: 91% of households indicated that they had televisions in the 1993 census
@Austria:Transportation
Railways: total: 5,636 km standard gauge: 5,294 km 1.435-m gauge (3,263 km electrified) narrow gauge: 342 km 1.000-m and 0.760-m gauge (84 km electrified) (1996)
Highways: 129,055 km paved: 129,055 km (including 1,607 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 356 km (1996)
Pipelines: crude oil 777 km; natural gas 909.1 km
Ports and harbors: Linz, Vienna, Enns, Krems
Merchant marine: total: 25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 84,103 GRT/114,616 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 19, combination bulk 2, container 1, refrigerated cargo 2 (1997 est.)
Airports: 55 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 20 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 10 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 35 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 31 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1997 est.)
@Austria:Military
Military branches: Army (includes Flying Division)
Military manpower-military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 2,098,409 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,744,035 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 46,854 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $1.8 billion (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 0.83% (1998 est.)
@Austria:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin andSouth American cocaine destined for Western Europe
______________________________________________________________________
Introduction
Current issues: Azerbaijan continues to be plagued by an unresolved 10-year-old conflict with Armenian separatists over its Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Karabakh Armenians have declared independence and seized almost 20% of the country's territory, creating almost 1 million Azerbaijani refugees in the process. Both sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated cease-fire in place since May 1994.
@Azerbaijan:Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 40 30 N, 47 30 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 86,600 sq km land: 86,100 sq km water: 500 sq km note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries: total: 2,013 km border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Lowland (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag (Karabakh) Upland in west; Baku lies on Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula that juts into Caspian Sea
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina
Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 11% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising levels of the Caspian Sea
Environment-current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, water, and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of DDT as a pesticide and also from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton
Environment-international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity
Geography-note: landlocked
@Azerbaijan:People
Population: 7,855,576 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (male 1,300,236; female 1,247,027) 15-64 years: 61% (male 2,336,568; female 2,468,679) 65 years and over: 7% (male 195,322; female 307,744) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.7% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 22.2 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 9.41 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 81.64 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.3 years male: 59.01 years female: 67.81 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.72 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic groups: Azeri 90%, Dagestani Peoples 3.2%, Russian 2.5%, Armenian 2.3%, other 2% (1995 est.) note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region
Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.) note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; actual practicing adherents are much lower
Languages: Azeri 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 99% female: 96% (1989 est.)
@Azerbaijan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Azerbaijani Republic conventional short form: Azerbaijan local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi local short form: none former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: AJ
Government type: republic
National capital: Baku (Baki)
Administrative divisions: 59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon-singular), 11cities* (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtarrespublika); Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, AgdasRayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Ali Bayramli Sahari*, AstaraRayonu, Baki Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu,Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu,Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca Sahari*, GoranboyRayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, IsmayilliRayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, LankaranRayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, MingacevirSahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi**, NeftcalaRayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, QobustanRayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu,Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Saki Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, SamaxiRayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*,Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu,Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, XocaliRayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, YevlaxSahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu
Independence: 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 May
Constitution: adopted 12 November 1995
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 26 November 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; election last held 3 October 1993 (next to be held October 1998); prime minister and first deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly election results: Heydar ALIYEV elected president; percent of vote-Heydar ALIYEV 97%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 and 26 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-YAP and allies 115, AXC 4, AMIP 3, YMP 1, vacant 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: New Azerbaijan Party or YAP [HeydarALIYEV, chairman]; Azerbaijan Popular Front or AXC [Abulfaz ELCHIBEY,chairman]; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan or AMIP[Etibar MAMMADOV, chairman]; Musavat Party or YMP [Isa GAMBAR,chairman]; People's Democratic Party of Azerbaijan [Rafig TURABXANLY];People's Freedom Party [Yunus OGUZ, chairman]; Democratic Party ofIndependence of Azerbaijan [Vagit KERIMOV]; Communist Party ofAzerbaijan (CPA-2) [Firudin HASANOV]; Social Democratic Party ofAzerbaijan or SDP [Zardusht ALIZADE, chairman]; Liberal Party ofAzerbaijan [Lala HAJIYEVA]; Vahdat Party [Leyla YUNUSOV, GadzhiALIZADE]; Azerbaijan Muslim Democratic Party (former Islamic Party)[Haji Mekhti SHAMILLI]; Azerbaijan Democratic Party or ADP [IlyasISMAYLOV]; Civic Solidarity [Sabir RUSTAMXANLI]; Ana Vatan Party[Fazail AGAMALI]
Political pressure groups and leaders: self-proclaimed ArmenianNagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement; Sadval,Lezgin movement
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CIS,EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM (observer),OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEV chancery: (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 or P. O. Box 28790, Washington, DC 20038-8790 telephone: [1] (202) 842-0001 FAX: [1] (202) 842-0004
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley ESCUDERO embassy: Azadliq Prospekti 83, Baku mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [9] (9412) 98-03-35 FAX: [9] (9412) 96-04-69
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
@Azerbaijan:Economy
Economy-overview: Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or Georgia, the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the Central Asian states in its majority nominally Muslim population, high structural unemployment, and low standard of living. The economy's most prominent products are oil, cotton, and gas. Production from the Caspian oil and gas field has been in decline for several years, but the negotiation of more than a dozen production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with foreign firms, which have thus far committed $30 billion to oil field development, should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Oil production under the first of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company, began in November 1997. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the ex-Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. A major short-term obstacle to economic progress, including stepped up foreign investment, is the continuing conflict with Armenia over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance while trade is building up with the nations of Europe, Turkey, Iran, and the UAE. A serious long-term challenge is the maintenance of the competitiveness of non-oil exports in world markets.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$11.9 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 5.8% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,460 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 23% services: 47% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3.7% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 2.789 million by occupation: agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction 26%, other 42% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $565 million expenditures: $682 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 0.3% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 5.239 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 16.051 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 2,200 kWh (1996 est.)
Agriculture-products: cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats
Exports: total value: $789 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles, cotton partners: CIS, European countries, Turkey
Imports: total value: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs, textiles partners: CIS, European countries, Turkey
Debt-external: $100 million (of which $75 million to Russia)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $14 million (1993) note: commitments, 1992-95, $1,000 million ($185 million in disbursements); wheat from Turkey
Currency: 1 manat = 100 gopik
Exchange rates: manats per US$1-3,936.00 (September 1997), 4,301.26 (1996), 4,413.54 (1995), 1,570.23 (1994), 99.98 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 710,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: 202,000 persons waiting for telephone installations (January 1991 est.) domestic: telephone service is of poor quality and inadequate; a joint venture to establish a cellular telephone system in the Baku area is operational international: cable and microwave radio relay connections to former Soviet republics; connection through Moscow international gateway switch to other countries; satellite earth stations-1 Intelsat and 1 Intersputnik (Intelsat provides service to Turkey and through Turkey to 200 more countries; Intersputnik provides direct service to New York)
Radio broadcast stations: 1 state-owned radio broadcast station
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 note: domestic and Russian TV programs are received locally and Turkish and Iranian TV is received from an Intelsat satellite through a receive-only earth station
Televisions: NA
@Azerbaijan:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,125 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 2,125 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (1993)
Highways: total: 57,770 km paved: 54,188 km unpaved: 3,582 km (1995 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural gas 1,240 km
Ports and harbors: Baku (Baki)
Airports: 69 (1996 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 40 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 33 (1996 est.)
@Azerbaijan:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, BorderGuards
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 2,011,076 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,616,412 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 71,922 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: 105.7 billion manats (1998 est.); note-conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Azerbaijan:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding, separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan
Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; transshipment point for opiates to Western Europe
______________________________________________________________________
The Bahamas
The Bahamas@Bahamas, The:Geography
Location: Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida
Geographic coordinates: 24 15 N, 76 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 13,940 sq km land: 10,070 sq km water: 3,870 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,542 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation (measured from the archipelagic straight baselines) exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 32% other: 67% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood and wind damage
Environment-current issues: coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain
@Bahamas, The:People
Population: 279,833 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 28% (male 39,239; female 38,708) 15-64 years: 67% (male 91,208; female 95,198) 65 years and over: 5% (male 6,444; female 9,036) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.39% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 21.03 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.44 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.97 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74 years male: 70.65 years female: 77.42 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.33 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bahamian(s) adjective: Bahamian
Ethnic groups: black 85%, white 15%
Religions: Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%
Languages: English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write but definition of literacy not available total population: 98.2% male: 98.5% female: 98% (1995 est.)
@Bahamas, The:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas conventional short form: The Bahamas
Data code: BF
Government type: commonwealth
National capital: Nassau
Administrative divisions: 21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands,Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour,Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, LongIsland, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nicholls Town andBerry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvadorand Rum Cay
Independence: 10 July 1973 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 10 July (1973)
Constitution: 10 July 1973
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Orville TURNQUEST (since 2 January 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM (since 19 August 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Frank WATSON (since December 1994) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the queen; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-member body appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader for a five-year term) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 14 March 1997 (next to be held by March 2002) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-FNM 35, PLP 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [PerryCHRISTIE]; Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM]
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB,ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arlington Griffith BUTLER chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 mailing address: American Embassy, NAS/STATE 10-1006, P.O. Box 599009, Miami, FL 33159-9009 telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sidney WILLIAMS embassy: Queen Street, Nassau mailing address: Local or Express Mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; American Embassy, Nassau; Stateside address: American Embassy, P.O. Box 9009, Miami, FL 33159; Pouch address: Nassau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-3370 (pouch) telephone: [1] (809) 322-1181, 328-2206 FAX: [1] (809) 356-0222
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
@Bahamas, The:Economy
Economy-overview: The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs 40% of the archipelago's labor force. Moderate growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences led to an increase of the country's GDP by an estimated 3.5% in 1997. Manufacturing and agriculture together contribute less than 10% of GDP and show little growth despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run will depend heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector and continued income growth in the US, which accounts for the majority of tourist visitors.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$5.36 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3.5% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$19,400 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 5% services: 92% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 0.4% (1997)
Labor force: total: 146,600 (1996) by occupation: government 30%, tourism 40%, business services 10%, agriculture 5% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $687.5 million expenditures: $827 million, including capital expenditures of $112 million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt production, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 401,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 1.29 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 4,100 kWh (1996)
Agriculture-products: citrus, vegetables; poultry
Exports: total value: $201.7 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish, refined petroleum products partners: US 24%, Spain 14%, UK 7%, Norway 7%, France 6%, Italy 5% (1995 est.)
Imports: total value: $1.26 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, crude oil, vehicles, electronics partners: US 29%, Finland 10%, Iran 10%, Denmark 8%
Debt-external: $381.7 million (1997)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Bahamian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1-1.000 (fixed rate pegged to the dollar)
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Communications
Telephones: 200,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: 91,183 telephone lines; totally automatic system; highly developed international: tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 200,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1986 est.)
Televisions: 60,000 (1993 est.)
@Bahamas, The:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,693 km paved: 1,546 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1997 est.)
Ports and harbors: Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau
Merchant marine: total: 1,024 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,674,594 GRT/38,334,892 DWT ships by type: bulk 205, cargo 223, chemical tanker 34, combination bulk 8, combination ore/oil 21, container 55, liquefied gas tanker 25, oil tanker 176, passenger 53, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 145, roll-on/roll-off cargo 49, short-sea passenger 11, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 17 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 48 countries among which are Norway 172, Greece 145, UK 122, US 70, Denmark 42, Sweden 29, Finland 27, Monaco 27, Japan 26, and Italy 25 (1997 est.)
Airports: 62 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 32 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 21 (1997 est.)
@Bahamas, The:Military
Military branches: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only),Royal Bahamas Police Force
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $22.9 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 3.8% (FY95/96)
@Bahamas, The:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound forUS and Europe; banking industry vulnerable to money-laundering
______________________________________________________________________
@Bahrain:Geography
Location: Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of SaudiArabia
Geographic coordinates: 26 00 N, 50 33 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 620 sq km land: 620 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 0% other: 92% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; dust storms
Environment-current issues: desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; no natural fresh water resources so that groundwater and sea water are the only sources for all water needs
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
@Bahrain:People
Population: 616,342 (July 1998 est.) note: includes 224,640 non-nationals (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (male 95,871; female 93,232) 15-64 years: 67% (male 245,099; female 164,946) 65 years and over: 2% (male 8,799; female 8,395) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.09% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 22.43 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 3.25 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.49 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.96 years male: 72.42 years female: 77.57 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.01 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic groups: Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%, other 6%
Religions: Shi'a Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim 25%
Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.2% male: 89.1% female: 79.4% (1995 est.)
@Bahrain:Government
Country name: conventional long form: State of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn
Data code: BA
Government type: traditional monarchy
National capital: Manama
Administrative divisions: 12 municipalities (manatiq, singular-mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah note: all municipalities administered from Manama
Independence: 15 August 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 December (1971)
Constitution: 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law
Suffrage: none
Executive branch: chief of state: Amir ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent HAMAD bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (son of the Amir, born 28 January 1949) head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the amir elections: none; the amir is a traditional Arab monarch; prime minister appointed by the amir
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992
Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited
Political pressure groups and leaders: several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active; following the arrest of a popular Shi'a cleric, Shi'a activists have fomented unrest sporadically since late 1994, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR Abdallah chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741, 342-0742 FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG embassy: Building No. 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Zinj District, Manama mailing address: FPO AE 09834-5100; International Mail Box 26431, Manama (International Mail) telephone: [973] 273-300 FAX: [973] 275-418
Flag description: red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side
@Bahrain:Economy
Economy-overview: In Bahrain, petroleum production and processing account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example, during and following the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$8.2 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.7% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$13,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 38% services: 61% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: -0.2% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 140,000 by occupation: industry, commerce, and service 78%, government 21%, agriculture 1% (1994) note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.7 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $400 million (1998 est.)
Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1995)
Electricity-capacity: 1.05 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 4.4 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 7,640 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Exports: total value: $4.6 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 61%, aluminum 7% partners: India 22%, Japan 12%, Saudi Arabia 6%, US 6%, UAE 5% (1995)
Imports: total value: $3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: nonoil 63%, crude oil 37% partners: Saudi Arabia 40%, US 13%, UK 7%, Japan 5%, Switzerland 5% (1995)
Debt-external: $3.2 billion (1995)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1-0.3760 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 73,552 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern system; good domestic services and excellent international connections domestic: NA international: tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 320,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 270,000 (1993 est.)
@Bahrain:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 3,013 km paved: 2,284 km unpaved: 729 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km
Ports and harbors: Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Merchant marine: total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 131,919 GRT/212,510 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, oil tanker 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1997 est.)
@Bahrain:Military
Military branches: Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard,Internal Security Forces
Military manpower-military age: 15 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 218,831 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 120,753 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: NA
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $256 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 5.4% (1995)
@Bahrain:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: territorial dispute with Qatar over the HawarIslands and maritime boundary dispute with Qatar currently before theInternational Court of Justice (ICJ)
______________________________________________________________________
(territory of the US)
@Baker Island:Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 0 13 N, 176 31 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 1.4 sq km land: 1.4 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4.8 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 8 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891)
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Environment-current issues: no natural fresh water resources
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA