Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 14,468,079 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 12,069,296 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $35.1 billion (FY95/96)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 3.1% (FY95/96)
@United Kingdom:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: Northern Ireland question with Ireland (historic peace agreement approved 10 April 1998); Gibraltar question with Spain; Argentina claims Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); Argentina claims South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Mauritius claims island of Diego Garcia in British Indian Ocean Territory; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and Ireland (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area); territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory); Seychelles claims Chagos Archipelago in British Indian Ocean Territory
Illicit drugs: gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market; producer of synthetic drugs, precursor chemicals; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering center
______________________________________________________________________
@United States:Geography
Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 38 00 N, 97 00 W
Map references: North America
Area: total: 9,629,091 sq km land: 9,158,960 sq km water: 470,131 sq km note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
Area-comparative: about one-half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about one-half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; about two and one-half times the size of Western Europe
Land boundaries: total: 12,248 km border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Cuba 29 km (US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay), Mexico 3,326 km note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba
Coastline: 19,924 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida and arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
Terrain: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Death Valley -86 m highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m
Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 30% other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 207,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic coast; tornadoes in the midwest; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska is a major impediment to development
Environment-current issues: air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; very limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification
Environment-international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, MarineLife Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes
Geography-note: world's third-largest country (after Russia andCanada)
@United States:People
Population: 270,311,756 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (male 29,952,220; female 28,560,357) 15-64 years: 66% (male 88,113,895; female 89,399,501) 65 years and over: 12% (male 14,088,571; female 20,197,212) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.87% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 14.4 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8.8 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 3 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: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.44 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.13 years male: 72.85 years female: 79.58 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.07 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: American(s) adjective: American
Ethnic groups: white 83.4%, black 12.4%, Asian 3.3%, Amerindian 0.8% (1992)
Religions: Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10% (1989)
Languages: English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97% (1979 est.)
@United States:Government
Country name: conventional long form: United States of America conventional short form: United States abbreviation: US or USA
Data code: US
Government type: federal republic; strong democratic tradition
National capital: Washington, DC
Administrative divisions: 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska,Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware,District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois,Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana,Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Dependent areas: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship with all four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is a Commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986)
Independence: 4 July 1776 (from England)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution: 17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each state; president and vice president serve four-year terms; election last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000) election results: William Jefferson CLINTON elected president; percent of popular vote - William Jefferson CLINTON (Democratic Party) 49.2%, Bob DOLE (Republican Party) 40.7%, Ross PEROT (Reform Party) 8.4%, other 1.7%
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress consists of Senate (100 seats, one-third are renewed every two years; two members are elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and House of Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: Senate-last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 2 November 1998); House of Representatives-last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 2 November 1998) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Republican Party 55, Democratic Party 45; House of Representatives-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Republican Party 227, Democratic Party 205, independent 1, vacant 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed for life by the president with confirmation by the Senate
Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Jim NICHOLSON, national committee chairman; Democratic Party, Steve GROSSMAN, national committee chairman; several other groups or parties of minor political significance
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS,APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE (observer), CP, EAPC, EBRD,ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G- 2, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINUGUA,MINURSO, MIPONUH, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN,UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG,UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Flag description: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
@United States:Economy
Economy-overview: The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $30,200, the largest among major industrial nations. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and government buys needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, lay off surplus workers, and develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home markets than the barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. In all economic sectors, US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment, although their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. The years 1994-97 witnessed moderate gains in real output, low inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment below 6%. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs of an aging population, sizable trade deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. The outlook for 1998 is for continued moderate growth, low inflation, and about the same level of unemployment. Two shadows for 1998 are the severe financial crises in East Asia and the exuberant level of stock prices in relation to corporate earnings.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$8.083 trillion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3.8% (1997)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$30,200 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 23% services: 75% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2% (1997)
Labor force: total: 136.3 million (includes unemployed) (1997) by occupation: managerial and professional 29.1%, technical, sales and administrative support 29.6%, services 13.5%, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 25.1%, farming, forestry, and fishing 2.7%
Unemployment rate: 4.9% (1997)
Budget: revenues: $1.579 trillion expenditures: $1.601 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Industries: leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
Industrial production growth rate: 3.9% (1997)
Electricity-capacity: 741.589 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 3.585 trillion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 13,732 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: wheat, other grains, corn, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest products; fish
Exports: total value: $625.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products partners: Canada 22%, Western Europe 21%, Japan 11%, Mexico 8% (1995)
Imports: total value: $822 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery, automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and beverages partners: Canada, 20%, Western Europe 18%, Japan 16.5%, Mexico 8% (1995)
Debt-external: $862 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $9.721 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: British pounds (£) per US$-0.6115 (January 1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993); Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$-1.4408 (January 1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656 (1994), 1.2901 (1993); French francs (F) per US$-6.0836 (January 1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993); Italian lire (Lit) per US$-1,787.7 (January 1997), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993); Japanese yen (¥) per US$-129.45 (January 1998), 120.99 (1997), 108.78 (1996), 94.06 (1995), 102.21 (1994), 111.20 (1993); German deutsche marks (DM) per US$ - 1.8167 (January 1998), 1.7341 (1997), 1.5048 (1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228 (1994), 1.6533 (1993)
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
Communications
Telephones: 182.558 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries conventional telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile telephone traffic throughout country international: 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earth stations-61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean) (1990 est.), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4,987, FM 4,932, shortwave 0
Radios: 540.5 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1,092 (in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems)
Televisions: 215 million (1993 est.)
@United States:Transportation
Railways: total: 240,000 km mainline routes (nongovernment owned) standard gauge: 240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)
Highways: total: 6.42 million km paved: 3,903,360 km (including 88,400 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,516,640 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of theGreat Lakes
Pipelines: petroleum products 276,000 km; natural gas 331,000 km (1991)
Ports and harbors: Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago,Duluth, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles,New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral, Portland(Oregon), Prudhoe Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Toledo
Merchant marine: total: 286 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,627,000 GRT/13,257,000 DWT ships by type: bulk 15, container 79, chemical tanker 15, roll-on/roll-off 28, liquefied gas tanker 13, cruise/passenger 3, tanker 94, tanker tug-barge 12, other 27 note: in addition, there are 192 government-owned vessels (1997 est.)
Airports: 14,574 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 5,167 over 3,047 m: 181 2,438 to 3,047 m: 218 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,280 914 to 1,523 m: 2,450 under 914 m: 1,038 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 9,407 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 164 914 to 1,523 m: 1,686 under 914 m: 7,550 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 109 (1997 est.)
@United States:Military
Military branches: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (includes Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force note: the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Transportation, but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 69,672,519 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: NA
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 1,990,912 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $267.2 billion (1997 est.)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 3.4% (1997 est.)
@United States:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island); US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island
Illicit drugs: consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean; consumer of heroin, marijuana, and increasingly methamphetamines from Mexico; consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamines; drug money-laundering center
______________________________________________________________________
@Uruguay:Geography
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 S, 56 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 176,220 sq km land: 173,620 sq km water: 2,600 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Washington State
Land boundaries: total: 1,564 km border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
Coastline: 660 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 200 nm; overflight and navigation guaranteed beyond 12 nm
Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
Natural resources: fertile soil, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 77% forests and woodland: 6% other: 10% (1997 est.)
Irrigated land: 7,700 sq km (1997 est.)
Natural hazards: seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in weather fronts
Environment-current issues: substantial pollution from Brazilian industry along border; one-fifth of country affected by acid rain generated by Brazil; water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
Environment-international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
@Uruguay:People
Population: 3,284,841 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 405,894; female 386,479) 15-64 years: 63% (male 1,019,682; female 1,048,844) 65 years and over: 13% (male 176,467; female 247,475) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.71% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 16.92 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8.89 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.53 years male: 72.39 years female: 78.84 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.29 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan
Ethnic groups: white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian, practically nonexistent
Religions: Roman Catholic 66% (less than one-half of the adult population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other 30%
Languages: Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.3% male: 96.9% female: 97.7% (1995 est.)
@Uruguay:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay conventional short form: Uruguay local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay local short form: Uruguay
Data code: UY
Government type: republic
National capital: Montevideo
Administrative divisions: 19 departments (departamentos,singular-departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia,Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu,Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo,Treinta y Tres
Independence: 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
Constitution: 27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980; two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November 1989 and 7 January 1997
Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995) and Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government; the vice-president is also the Senate president head of government: President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995) and Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government; the vice-president is also the Senate president cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999 with run-off election if necessary on 28 November 1999) election results: Julio Maria SANGUINETTI elected president; percent of vote-23%
Legislative branch: bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Senators-last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999); Chamber of Representatives-last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999) election results: Chamber of Senators-percent of vote by party-Colorado 36%, Blanco 34%, Encuentro Progresista 27%, New Sector 3%; seats by party-Colorado 11, Blanco 10, Encuentro Progresista 8, New Sector 1; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party-Colorado 32%, Blanco 31%, Encuentro Progresista 31%, New Sector 5%; seats by party-Colorado 32, Blanco 31, Encuentro Progresista 31, New Sector 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly
Political parties and leaders: National (Blanco) Party, AlbertoVOLONTE Berro; Herrerista faction of the Blanco Party, Luis LACALLE;Colorado Party, Julio M. SANGUINETTI, Jorge BATLLE; Broad FrontCoalition, Tabare VAZQUEZ (until 28 September 1997); New SectorCoalition, Rafael MICHELINI; Progressive Encounter (EncuentroProgresista), Tabare VAZQUEZnote: Hugo BATALLA and host of People's Government Party (PGP) haverejoined the Colorado Party
International organization participation: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC,FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,LAIA, Mercosur, MINUGUA, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL,PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alvaro DIEZ DE MEDINA SUAREZ chancery: 2715 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316 FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher A. ASHBY embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo mailing address: APO AA 34035 telephone: [598] (2) 203 60 61, 408 77 77 FAX: [598] (2) 408 86 11
Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy
@Uruguay:Economy
Economy-overview: Uruguay's small economy benefits from a favorable climate for agriculture and substantial hydropower potential. Economic development has been restrained in recent years by high-though declining-inflation and extensive government regulation. The SANGUINETTI government's conservative monetary and fiscal policies are aimed at continuing to reduce inflation; other priorities include extensive reform of the social security system and increased investment in education. Economic performance remains sensitive to conditions in Argentina and Brazil, largely because more than half of Uruguay's trade is conducted with its partners in Mercosur (the Southern Cone Common Market).
GDP: purchasing power parity-$29.1 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 5.1% (1997)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$8,900 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 10.8% industry: 27.4% services: 61.8% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 15.2% (1997)
Labor force: total: 1.38 million (1997 est.) by occupation: government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.3% (December 1997)
Budget: revenues: $4 billion expenditures: $4.3 billion, with capital expenditures of $385 million (1997 est.)
Industries: meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles, footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, petroleum refining, wine
Industrial production growth rate: 5.6% (1997)
Electricity-capacity: 2.055 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 7.6 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 1,852 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; livestock; fishing
Exports: total value: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997) commodities: wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal products, rice, fish and shellfish, chemicals partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Germany, Italy
Imports: total value: $3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997) commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, minerals, plastics, oil partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Italy, Germany
Debt-external: $4.6 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $63 million (1994)
Currency: 1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos
Exchange rates: Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1-9.98 (January 1998), 9.4448 (1997), 7.9718 (1996), 6.3491 (1995), 5.0529 (1994), 3.9484 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 767,333 (1997)
Telephone system: some modern facilities domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 72, FM 0, shortwave 28
Radios: 1.89 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 42
Televisions: 1,131,065 (1996)
@Uruguay:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,998 km (918 km closed) (1997) standard gauge: 2,075 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways: total: 8,420 km paved: 7,578 km unpaved: 842 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft
Ports and harbors: Fray Bentos, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu,Punta del Este, Colonia, Piriapolis
Merchant marine: total: 2 oil tanker ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,042 GRT/83,684 DWT (1997 est.)
Airports: 64 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 33 (1997 est.)
@Uruguay:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard,Marines), Air Force, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 799,977 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 648,999 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $172 million (1996)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 0.9% (1996)
@Uruguay:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: two short sections of the boundary with Brazilare in dispute-Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area of theRio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the islands at the confluence of the RioCuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay River
______________________________________________________________________
@Uzbekistan:Geography
Location: Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 64 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 447,400 sq km land: 425,400 sq km water: 22,000 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 6,221 km border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Coastline: 0 km note: Uzbekistan borders the Aral Sea (420 km)
Maritime claims: none (doubly landlocked)
Climate: mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east
Terrain: mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Sirdaryo, and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 3% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salinization; soil contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world
@Uzbekistan:People
Population: 23,784,321 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 38% (male 4,591,140; female 4,451,246) 15-64 years: 57% (male 6,755,371; female 6,874,483) 65 years and over: 5% (male 435,036; female 677,045) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.33% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 23.69 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 7.68 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 71.04 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.11 years male: 60.49 years female: 67.91 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.87 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Uzbekistani(s) adjective: Uzbekistani
Ethnic groups: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%,Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Languages: Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 98% female: 96% (1989 est.)
@Uzbekistan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan conventional short form: Uzbekistan local long form: Uzbekiston Respublikasi local short form: none former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: UZ
Government type: republic; effectively authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch and executive power concentrated in the presidency
National capital: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions: 12 wiloyatlar (singular-wiloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati, Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Samarqand Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Constitution: new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system: evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet) head of government: Prime Minister Otkir SULTONOV (since 21 December 1995); First Deputy Prime Minister Ismoil JURABEKOV (since NA 1991); Deputy Prime Ministers Viktor CHZHEN (since NA 1994), Bakhtiyor HAMIDOV (since NA 1992), Kayim HAKKULOV (since NA 1991), Dilbar GHOLOMOVA (since NA 1995), Alisher AZIZKHOJAYEV (since NA 1996), Mirabror USMONOV (since NA 1995), Rustam YUNUSOV (since NA 1994) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA January 2000; note-extension of President KARIMOV's term for an additional four years overwhelmingly approved - 99.6% of total vote in favor-by national referendum held 26 March 1995); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Islom KARIMOV elected president; percent of vote-Islom KARIMOV 86%, Muhammed SOLIH 12%, other 2%
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 25 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-People's Democratic Party 207, Fatherland Progress Party 12, other 31; note-final runoffs were held 22 January 1995; seating was as follows: People's Democratic Party 69, Fatherland Progress Party 14, Social Democratic Party 47, local government 120 note: all parties in parliament support President KARIMOV
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly
Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Party or HDP (formerly Communist Party) [Abdulkhafiz JALOLOV, first secretary]; Fatherland Progress Party (Vatan Tarakiyoti) or VTP [Anwar YULDASHEV, chairman]; Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Turgunpulat DAMINOV, first secretary]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP [Ibrahim GAFUROV, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim PULATOV, chairman]; Islamic Rebirth Party or IRP [Abdullah UTAYEV, chairman], note-is banned; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party [Muhamd SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December 1992 note: all of the above groups are illegal; UTAYEV disappeared in 1992 and probably was detained by the government, but his whereabouts is unknown
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sadyk SAFAYEV chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300, 293-6801 through 6803 FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. PRESEL (since November 1997) embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115 mailing address: use embassy street address; Embassy Tashkent, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7110 telephone: [7] (3712) 77-14-07, 77-10-81, 77-69-86, 77-11-32, 77-12-62 FAX: [7] (3712) 40-63-35
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon and 12 white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
@Uzbekistan:Economy
Economy-overview: Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 10% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. It was one of the poorest areas of the former Soviet Union with more than 60% of its population living in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's third largest cotton exporter, a major producer of gold and natural gas, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals and machinery. Following independence in December 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. Faced with high rates of inflation, however, the government began to reform in mid-1994, by introducing tighter monetary policies, expanding privatization, slightly reducing the role of the state in the economy, and improving the environment for foreign investors. Nevertheless, the state continues to be a dominating influence in the economy, and reforms have so far failed to bring about much-needed structural changes. The IMF suspended Uzbekistan's $185 million standby arrangement in late 1996 because of governmental steps that made impossible fulfillment of Fund conditions.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$60.7 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.4% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,500 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 27% services: 47% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 55% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 8.6 million (1996 est.) by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry and construction 20%, other 36% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 5% plus another 10% underemployed (December 1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1996)
Electricity-capacity: 11.822 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 45.42 billion kWh (1996 est.)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 1,916 kWh (1996 est.)
Agriculture-products: cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
Exports: total value: $3.8 billion (1996) commodities: cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, autos partners: Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, Western Europe
Imports: total value: $4.7 billion (1996) commodities: grain, machinery and parts, consumer durables, other foods partners: principally other FSU, Czech Republic, Western Europe
Debt-external: $2.3 billion (of which $510 million to Russia) (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $71 million (1993) note: commitments, $2,915 million ($135 million in disbursements) (1992-95)
Currency: introduced provisional som-coupons 10 November 1993 which circulated parallel to the Russian rubles; became the sole legal currency 31 January 1994; was replaced in July 1994 by the som currency
Exchange rates: Uzbekistani soms (UKS) per US$1-75.8 (September 1997), 41.1 (1996), 30.2 (1995), 11.4 (1994), 1.0 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.458 million (1995 est.)
Telephone system: poorly developed domestic: NMT-450 analog cellular network established in Tashkent international: linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; new Intelsat links to Tokyo and Ankara give Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian facilities; satellite earth stations-NA Orbita and NA Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note-there is at least one state-owned broadcast station of NA type
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 national, over 30 local
Televisions: NA
@Uzbekistan:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,380 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 3,380 km 1.520-m gauge (300 km electrified) (1993)
Highways: total: 81,600 km paved: 71,237 km (note-these roads are said to be hard surfaced, meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced) unpaved: 10,363 km dirt (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,100 (1990)
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 810 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Termiz (Amu Darya river)
Airports: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Uzbekistan:Military
Military branches: Ministry of Defense (Army, Air, and Air Defense), Security Forces (internal and border troops) note: National Guard is a component of the Army
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 5,996,041 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 4,874,324 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 246,706 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: 39.2 billion soms (1996); note-conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 7% (1996)
@Uzbekistan:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; limited government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Afghanistan to Russia and Western Europe and for acetic anhydride destined for Afghanistan
______________________________________________________________________
@Vanuatu:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 S, 167 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 14,760 sq km land: 14,760 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes more than 80 islands
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,528 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 10% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 75% other: 11% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes
Environment-current issues: a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
@Vanuatu:People
Population: 185,204 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 39% (male 36,865; female 35,576) 15-64 years: 58% (male 55,066; female 52,142) 65 years and over: 3% (male 3,013; female 2,542) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.07% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 29.18 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8.44 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 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: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.19 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 61.27 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61 years male: 59.02 years female: 63.07 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.74 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural) adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic groups: indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese,Chinese, Pacific Islanders
Religions: Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%
Languages: English (official), French (official), pidgin (known asBislama or Bichelama)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 53% male: 57% female: 48% (1979 est.)
@Vanuatu:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu conventional short form: Vanuatu former: New Hebrides
Data code: NH
Government type: republic
National capital: Port-Vila
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa,Tafea, Torba
Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Constitution: 30 July 1980
Legal system: unified system being created from former dual French andBritish systems
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Donald KALPOKAS (since 30 March 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Father Walter LINI (since 30 March 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils for a five-year term; election for president last held 2 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: Jean Marie LEYE elected president; percent of electoral college vote - NA; Donald KALPOKAS elected prime minister by Parliament with a total of 35 votes, other candidate, Rialuth Serge VOHOR, received 17 votes note: the general legislative elections in November 1995 did not give a majority to any of the political parties; since the election, there have been four changes of government-all of which have been coalitions formed by Parliamentary vote; Rialuth Serge VOHOR was prime minister from November 1995 until he resigned 7 February 1996 when faced with a no-confidence vote in Parliament; Maxime Carlot KORMAN was then elected prime minister and served until he was ousted in a no-confidence motion on 30 September 1996; VOHOR was then elected prime minister for a second time; as a result of legislative elections in March 1998, KALPOKAS was elected prime minister and formed a coalition government with Father LINI's National United Party (NUP)
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-VP 18, UMP 12, NUP 11, other and independent 11; note-political party associations are fluid; there have been four changes of government since the November 1995 elections note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission
Political parties and leaders: Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), SergeVOHOR; National United Party (NUP), Walter LINI; Vanuatu Party (VP),Donald KALPOKAS; Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE; TanUnion (TU), Vincent BOULEKONE; Na-Griamel Movement, Frankie STEVENS;Friend Melanesian Party, Albert RAVUTIA; John Frum Movement, leaderNA; Vanuatu Republican Party, Maxime Carlot KORMAN
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO,Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow
@Vanuatu:Economy
Economy-overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale agriculture which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with 46,000 visitors in 1996, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$231 million (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,300 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 13% services: 64% (1996)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2.2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: NA by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 32%, industry 3% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $94.4 million expenditures: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4 million (1996 est.)
Industries: food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Industrial production growth rate: 6.4% (1996 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 11,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 30 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 173 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef
Exports: total value: $30 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee partners: Japan 28%, Spain 21%, Germany 14%, UK 7%, Cote d'Ivoire 7%, Australia, New Caledonia (1996 est.)
Imports: total value: $97 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machines and vehicles, food and beverages, basic manufactures, raw materials and fuels, chemicals partners: Japan 47%, Australia 23%, Singapore 8%, New Zealand 6%, France 3%, Fiji (1996 est.)
Debt-external: $63 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $9.6 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.); $3.1 million from NZ (FY95/96)
Currency: 1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: vatu (VT) per US$1-124.56 (January 1998), 115.87 (1997), 111.72 (1996), 112.11 (1995), 116.41 (1994), 121.58 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 4,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 49,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 2,000 (1994 est.)
@Vanuatu:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,070 km paved: 256 km unpaved: 814 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)
Merchant marine: total: 88 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,407,737 GRT/1,761,413 DWT ships by type: bulk 31, cargo 24, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 1, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 13, vehicle carrier 8 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 15 countries among which are ships of Japan 30, India 10, US 8, Netherlands 6, Greece 4, Hong Kong 4, Australia 2, Canada 1, China 1, and Poland 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 31 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 18 (1997 est.)
@Vanuatu:Military
Military branches: no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force(VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Vanuatu:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: claims Matthew and Hunter Islands east of NewCaledonia
______________________________________________________________________
@Venezuela:Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and theNorth Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 66 00 W
Map references: South America, Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 912,050 sq km land: 882,050 sq km water: 30,000 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries: total: 4,993 km border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline: 2,800 km