______________________________________________________________________
(dependent territory of the UK)
@British Virgin Islands:Geography
Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 150 sq km land: 150 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the island of Anegada
Area-comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 33% forests and woodland: 7% other: 33% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Environment-current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment)
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and PuertoRico
@British Virgin Islands:People
Population: 18,705 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21% (male 2,008; female 1,957) 15-64 years: 74% (male 7,079; female 6,689) 65 years and over: 5% (male 535; female 437) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.41% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 16.15 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 4.76 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.67 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: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.22 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 22.97 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.94 years male: 74.19 years female: 75.73 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: black 90%, white, Asian
Religions: Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)
Languages: English (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@British Virgin Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI
Data code: VI
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK
Government type: NA
National capital: Road Town
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July
Constitution: 1 June 1977
Legal system: English 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 David MACKILLIGIN (since NA June 1995) head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May 1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of 9 electoral districts, 4 at large members; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held NA February 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-VIP 6, CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, one judge of theSupreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the HighCourt
Political parties and leaders: United Party or UP [Conrad MADURO];Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]; Concerned CitizensMovement or CCM [E. Walwyn BREWLEY]; Independent People's Movement orIPM [Omar HODGE and Allen O'NEAL]
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of theUK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
@British Virgin Islands:Economy
Economy-overview: The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. In 1985, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. An estimated 210,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 1996. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditional close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as their currency since 1959.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$144 million (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 4.5% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$11,000 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 14% services: 83% (1989)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2.5% (1990 est.)
Labor force: total: 4,911 (1980) by occupation: tourism NA%
Unemployment rate: 3% (1995)
Budget: revenues: $77.1 million expenditures: $76.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93/94)
Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1985)
Electricity-capacity: 13,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 42 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,224 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Exports: total value: $3.4 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Imports: total value: $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988) commodities: building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Debt-external: $4.5 million (1985)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Telephones: 6,291 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: worldwide telephone service domestic: NA international: submarine cable to Bermuda
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1995)
Radios: 9,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 4,000 (1992 est.)
@British Virgin Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 113 km (1995 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Road Town
Merchant marine: none (1995 est.)
Airports: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@British Virgin Islands:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@British Virgin Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Brunei:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea andMalaysia
Geographic coordinates: 4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 5,770 sq km land: 5,270 sq km water: 500 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 85% other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very rare
Environment-current issues: seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment-international agreements: party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia
@Brunei:People
Population: 315,292 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 53,219; female 50,906) 15-64 years: 63% (male 103,949; female 93,370) 65 years and over: 4% (male 7,569; female 6,279) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.44% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 24.92 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.17 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.61 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: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.21 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 23.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.69 years male: 70.17 years female: 73.29 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.35 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups: Malay 64%, Chinese 20%, other 16%
Religions: Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981)
Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.2% male: 92.6% female: 83.4% (1995 est.)
@Brunei:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam conventional short form: Brunei
Data code: BX
Government type: constitutional sultanate
National capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular-daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984)
Constitution: 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under aState of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1January 1984)
Legal system: based on English common law; for Muslims, IslamicShari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas
Suffrage: none
Executive branch: chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); note-the sultan is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); note-the sultan is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the sultan; deals with executive matters note: there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the sultan) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the sultan) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the sultan) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises elections: none; the sultan is a traditional Islamic monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the sultan) elections: last held in March 1962 note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the sultan; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice and judges are sworn in by the sultan for three-year terms
Political parties and leaders: Brunei United National Party (inactive), Anak HASANUDDIN, chairman; Brunei National Solidarity Party (the first legal political party and now banned), Mohamad HATTA bin Maji Zainal Abidin, secretary general; Brunei Peoples Party (banned), Sheik A. M. AZAHARI, leader; Brunei National Democratic Party or BNDP (deregistered), Haji Abdul LATIF bin Abdul Hamad, president
International organization participation: APEC, ASEAN, C, CCC, ESCAP,G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato Haji PUTEH Ibni Mohammad Alam chancery: Watergate, Suite 300, 3rd floor, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-0159 FAX: [1] (202) 342-0158
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Glen Robert RASE embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan mailing address: American Embassy Box B, Bandar Seri Begawan, APO AP 96440 telephone: [673] (2) 229670 FAX: [673] (2) 225293
Flag description: yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands
@Brunei:Economy
Economy-overview: This small, wealthy economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for perhaps half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing. The government is beginning to show progress on its basic policy of diversifying the economy away from oil and gas. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$5.4 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3.5% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$18,000 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 46% services: 49% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 144,000 (1995 est.); note-includes foreign workers and military personnel by occupation: government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 4%, other 6% (1986 est.) note: temporary residents make up 41% of labor force (1991)
Unemployment rate: 4.8% (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $768 million (1995 est.)
Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 646,000 kW (1997 est.)
Electricity-production: 1.26 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 4,311 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: rice, cassava (tapioca), bananas; water buffalo
Exports: total value: $2.62 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products partners: ASEAN 31%, Japan 27%, South Korea 26%, UK, Taiwan (1996 est.)
Imports: total value: $2.65 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals partners: Singapore 29%, UK 19%, US 13%, Malaysia 9%, Japan 5% (1994 est.)
Debt-external: $0
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1-1.7533 (January 1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994), 1.6158 (1993); note-the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 90,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: service throughout country is excellent; international service good to Europe, US, and East Asia domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 284,000 (1995 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1984 est.)
Televisions: 173,000 (1995 est.)
@Brunei:Transportation
Railways: total: 13 km (private line) narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge
Highways: total: 1,150 km paved: 399 km unpaved: 751 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m
Pipelines: crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 km
Ports and harbors: Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria,Tutong
Merchant marine: total: 7 liquefied gas tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT (1997 est.)
Airports: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1997 est.)
@Brunei:Military
Military branches: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 87,048 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 50,408 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 3,126 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $312 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 6.2% (1994)
@Brunei:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides the country; possibly involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but has not publicly claimed the island
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@Bulgaria:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, betweenRomania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 43 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 110,910 sq km land: 110,550 sq km water: 360 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total: 1,808 km border countries: Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km (all with Serbia), Turkey 240 km
Coastline: 354 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 37% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 16% forests and woodland: 35% other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,370 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes, landslides
Environment-current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
Environment-international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, NuclearTest Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geography-note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
@Bulgaria:People
Population: 8,240,426 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 696,131; female 662,335) 15-64 years: 68% (male 2,756,695; female 2,812,192) 65 years and over: 16% (male 564,698; female 748,375) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.6% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 8.08 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 13.24 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.8 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: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.96 years male: 68.39 years female: 75.74 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.14 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic groups: Bulgarian 85.3%, Turk 8.5%, Gypsy 2.6%, Macedonian 2.5%, Armenian 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, other 0.6%
Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 85%, Muslim 13%, Jewish 0.8%, Roman Catholic 0.5%, Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 0.5%
Languages: Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic breakdown
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 97% (1992 est.)
@Bulgaria:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria conventional short form: Bulgaria
Data code: BU
Government type: republic
National capital: Sofia
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (oblasti, singular-oblast);Burgas, Grad Sofiya, Khaskovo, Lovech, Montana, Plovdiv, Ruse, Sofiya,Varna
Independence: 22 September 1908 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 March (1878)
Constitution: adopted 12 July 1991
Legal system: civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Petar STOYANOV (since 22 January 1997); Vice President Todor KAVALDZHIEV (since 22 January 1997) head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) Ivan Kostov (since 19 May 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Aleksandur BOZHKOV (since 12 February 1997 Evgeniy BAKURDZHIEV (since 21 May 1997), Veselin METODIEV (since 21 May 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 October and 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president election results: Petar STOYANOV elected president; percent of vote-Petar STOYANOV 59.73%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats; members are popularly elected to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 19 April 1997 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party-UDF 52%, BSP 22%, ANS 7%, Euro-left 5.5%, BBB 4.95%; seats by party-UDF 137, BSP 58, ANS 19, Euro-left 14, BBB 12
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman appointed for a seven-year term by the president; Constitutional Court, 12 justices appointed or elected for a nine-year term
Political parties and leaders: Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Georgi PURVANOV, chairman]; Union of Democratic Forces or UDF (an alliance of pro-Democratic parties) [Ivan KOSTOV]; Euro-left [Aleksandur TOMOV]; Alliance for National Salvation or ANS (coalition led mainly by Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS [Ahmed DOGAN]); Bulgarian Business Bloc or BBB [Georgi GANCHEV]; People's Union [Anastasiya MOZER and Stefan SAVOV, cochairmen]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Democratic Alliance for the Republic or DAR; New Union for Democracy or NUD; Podkrepa Labor Confederation; Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB; Bulgarian Agrarian National Union-United or BZNS; Bulgarian Democratic Center; "Nikola Petkov" Bulgarian Agrarian National Union; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or IMRO; Agrarian movement; numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas
International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE,CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBEC, IBRD,ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IIB, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MONUA, NAM (guest), NSG, OSCE, PCA,PFP, UN, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOT, UPU, WEU (associate partner),WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Philip DIMITROV chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-7969 FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Avis T. BOHLEN embassy: 1 Saborna Street, Sofia mailing address: Unit 1335, APO AE 09213-1335 telephone: [359] (2) 980-52-41 through 48 FAX: [359] (2) 981-89-77
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the national emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe has been removed-it contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheat ears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing the dates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberation from Nazi control)
@Bulgaria:Economy
Economy-overview: One of the poorest countries of central Europe, Bulgaria has slowly been moving from its old command economy towards a market-oriented economy. The economy faced a major crisis in 1996, marked by a banking system in turmoil, a depreciating currency, and contracting production and foreign trade. Foreign exchange reserves dwindled to $518 million, while dramatically hiked interest rates added to the domestic debt burden and stifled growth. GDP fell by 11% in 1996, after experiencing 2.0% growth in 1995. Privatization of state-owned industries stagnated, although the first auction of a mass privatization program was undertaken in late 1996. Lagging progress on structural reforms led to postponement of IMF disbursements under a $580 million standby loan agreed to in July 1996. In November 1996, the IMF proposed a currency board as Bulgaria's best chance to restore confidence in the lev, eliminate unnecessary spending, and avoid hyperinflation. The board was set up on 1 July 1997. Its establishment was followed by a reduction in inflation and interest rates and by a rise in foreign investment. Simultaneously the government pledged to sell off some of the most attractive state assets. GDP in 1997 dropped 7.4%, but is expected to rebound to an estimated 2% in 1998. Other government objectives include: the completion of land reform, the privatization and strengthening of the banking system, and the modernization of the legal environment of business.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$35.6 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: -7.4% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$4,100 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 31% services: 57% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 1% (1998 est.)
Labor force: total: 3.57 million (1996 est.) by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture 18%, other 41% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 14% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.7 billion expenditures: $3.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: machine building and metal working, food processing, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, ferrous and nonferrous metals
Industrial production growth rate: -7.4% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 12.087 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 41.449 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 4,821 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: grain, oilseed, vegetables, fruits, tobacco; livestock
Exports: total value: $4.9 billion (f.o.b., 1997) commodities: machinery and equipment 15.2%; agriculture and food 18.9%; textiles and apparel 14.8%; metals, minerals, and fuels 26.5%; chemicals and plastics 20%; other 4.6% (1996) partners: OECD 50.0% (EU 37.2%); CIS and Central and Eastern Europe 32.4%; Arab countries 5.8%; other 11.8% (1995)
Imports: total value: $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: fuels, minerals, and raw materials 40.7%; machinery and equipment 18.4%; textiles and apparel 11.6%; agricultural products 7.5%; metals and ores 5.2%; chemicals and plastics 12.2%; other 4.4% (1996) partners: OECD 45.5% (EU 38.1%); CIS and Central and Eastern European countries 41.1%; Arab countries 1.8%; other 11.6% (1995)
Debt-external: $10 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid: NA
Currency: 1 lev (Lv) = 100 stotinki
Exchange rates: leva (Lv) per US$1-1,740 (1997), 483.4 (1996), 70.7 (1995), 54.2 (1994), 27.1 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2,773,293 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: almost two-thirds of the lines are residential; 67% of Sofia households have telephones (November 1988 est.) domestic: extensive but antiquated transmission system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; telephone service is available in most villages international: direct dialing to 36 countries; satellite earth stations-1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region); Intelsat available through a Greek earth station
Radio broadcast stations: AM 20, FM 15, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 29 (Russian repeater in Sofia 1)
Televisions: 2.1 million (May 1990 est.)
@Bulgaria:Transportation
Railways: total: 4,292 km standard gauge: 4,047 km 1.435-m gauge (2,650 km electrified; 917 double track) other gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 36,720 km paved: 33,746 km (including 314 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,974 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 470 km (1987)
Pipelines: crude oil 193 km; petroleum products 525 km; natural gas 1,400 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Burgas, Lom, Nesebur, Ruse, Varna, Vidin
Merchant marine: total: 94 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,027,117 GRT/1,541,266 DWT ships by type: bulk 45, cargo 23, chemical tanker 4, container 2, oil tanker 9, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 34 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 34 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 under 914 m: 10 (1997 est.)
@Bulgaria:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, BorderTroops, Internal Troops
Military manpower-military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 2,042,441 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,703,879 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 61,643 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $418.6 million (1996)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 2.0% to 2.5% (1996)
@Bulgaria:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: twenty bilateral agreements remain unsigned in a dispute over Bulgarian nonrecognition of Macedonian as a language distinct from Bulgarian
Illicit drugs: major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals; significant producer of amphetamines, much of which are consumed in the Middle East
______________________________________________________________________
@Burkina Faso:Geography
Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 274,200 sq km land: 273,800 sq km water: 400 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries:total: 3,192 kmborder countries: Benin 306 km, Ghana 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km,Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural resources: manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver
Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 50% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 200 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts
Environment-current issues: recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography-note: landlocked
@Burkina Faso:People
Population: 11,266,393 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 2,721,564; female 2,687,770) 15-64 years: 49% (male 2,616,375; female 2,899,923) 65 years and over: 3% (male 146,195; female 194,566) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.72% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 46.24 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 17.65 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 109.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.1 years male: 45.38 years female: 46.85 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.64 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural) adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups: Mossi about 24%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande,Fulani
Religions: indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly RomanCatholic) 10%
Languages: French (official), tribal languages belonging to Sudanic family, spoken by 90% of the population
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 19.2% male: 29.5% female: 9.2% (1995 est.)
@Burkina Faso:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Burkina Faso former: Upper Volta
Data code: UV
Government type: parliamentary
National capital: Ouagadougou
Administrative divisions: 30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba,Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houe, Kadiogo,Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri,Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno,Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogonote: there may be a new administrative structure of 45 provinces(Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe,Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou,Komandjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koupelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo,Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala, Naumbiel,Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Samentenga, Sanguie, Seno,Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondomo,Zoundweogo)
Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)
Constitution: 2 June 1991
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage: universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987) head of government: Prime Minister Kadre Desire OUEDRAOGO (since 6 February 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; the number of terms which a president may serve is not limited; election last held 1 December 1991 (next to be held NA 1998); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature election results: Blaise COMPAORE elected president with 90.4% percent of the votes of those who voted (the abstention rate was 74.7%)
Legislative branch: bicameral; consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee des Deputes Populaires (ADP) (111 seats; members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms) and the purely consultative Chamber of Representations or Chambre des Representants (120 seats; members are appointed to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-CDP 101, PDP 6, RDA 2, ADF 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders: African Democratic Assembly or RDA [Gerard Kango OUEDRAOGO]; Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Burkinabe Bolshevic Party or PBB; Burkinabe Socialist Party or PSB; Burkinabe Socialist Bloc or BSB [Earnest Nongma OUEDRAOGO, president]; Burkinabe Environmentalist Party or UVDB; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Din Salif SAWADAGO] (the strongest party in the 1997 legislative elections); Front for Social Forces or FFS [Fide'le KIENTEGA]; Group of Democratic Patriots or GDP; Movement for Social Tolerance and Progress or MTP; New Social Democrats or NSD; Open Revolutionary Party or POR; Organization for People's Democracy-Labor Movement or ODP-MT (ruling party at time of 1992 elections but was incorporated, with about a dozen smaller parties, into the powerful CDP in February 1996); Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Party for Progress and Social Development or PPDS; Party for African Independence or PAI
Political pressure groups and leaders: watchdog/political actiongroups throughout the country in both organizations and communities;Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; NationalConfederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization ofFree Unions or ONSL
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM,OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bruno Nongoma ZIDOUEMBA chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577, 6895
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon P. WILKINSON (16 July 1996) embassy: Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou telephone: [226] 306723 through 306726 FAX: [226] 303890
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
@Burkina Faso:Economy
Economy-overview: One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. Over 80% of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture which is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies, and exports and economic growth have increased.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$10.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$950 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 26% services: 42% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3% (1996 est.)
Labor force: NA (most adults are employed in subsistence agriculture) by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry 15%, commerce, services, and government 5% note: 20% of male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (1984)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $277 million expenditures: $492 million, including capital expenditures of $233 million (1995 est.)
Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1995)
Electricity-capacity: 78,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 220 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 21 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock
Exports: total value: $298 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: cotton, animal products, gold partners: Cote d'Ivoire, France, Italy, Mali
Imports: total value: $500 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: machinery, food products, petroleum partners: Cote d'Ivoire, France, Togo, Nigeria
Debt-external: $715 million (December 1996)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993) note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 21,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: all services only fair domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 32, shortwave 1
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)
Televisions: 49,000 (1991 est.)
@Burkina Faso:Transportation
Railways: total: 622 km (517 km from Ouagadougou to the Cote d'Ivoire border and 105 km from Ouagadougou to Kaya) narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways: total: 12,506 km paved: 2,001 km unpaved: 10,505 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 33 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 14 (1997 est.)
@Burkina Faso:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, NationalPolice, People's Militia
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 2,317,227 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,187,840 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $104 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 6.4% (1994)
@Burkina Faso:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Burma:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay ofBengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 N, 98 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 678,500 sq km land: 657,740 sq km water: 20,760 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,876 kmborder countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km,Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
Coastline: 1,930 km
Maritime claims: 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 monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)
Terrain: central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 49% other: 34% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,680 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts
Environment-current issues: deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
@Burma:People
Population: 47,305,319 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 8,798,474; female 8,461,791) 15-64 years: 59% (male 14,052,386; female 14,019,244) 65 years and over: 5% (male 888,773; female 1,084,651) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.65% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 28.96 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 12.51 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 78.35 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.51 years male: 53.03 years female: 56.08 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Burmese (singular and plural) adjective: Burmese
Ethnic groups: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%,Mon 2%, Indian 2%, other 5%
Religions: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%),Muslim 4%, animist beliefs 1%, other 2%
Languages: Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.1% male: 88.7% female: 77.7% (1995 est.)
@Burma:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Union of Burma conventional short form: Burma local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar) local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
Data code: BM
Government type: military regime
National capital: Rangoon (regime refers to the capital as Yangon)
Administrative divisions: 7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular-yin) and 7states (pyine-mya, singular - pyine); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*, Bago*,Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*, Mon State,Rakhine State, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon*
Independence: 4 January 1948 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 January (1948)
Constitution: 3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988); national convention started on 9 January 1993 to draft a new constitution; chapter headings and three of 15 sections have been approved
Legal system: does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note-the prime minister is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note-the prime minister is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta, so named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18 September 1988 under the name State Law and Order Restoration Council; the SPDC oversees the cabinet elections: none; the prime minister assumed power upon resignation of the former prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened election results: percent of vote by party-NA%; seats by party-NLD 396, NUP 10, other 79
Judicial branch: limited; remnants of the British-era legal system in place, but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is not independent of the executive
Political parties and leaders: Union Solidarity and DevelopmentAssociation (USDA, proregime), THAN AUNG, general secretary; NationalUnity Party (NUP, proregime), THA KYAW; National League for Democracy(NLD), AUNG SHWE, chairman, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary; andeight minor legal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), headed by Dr. SEIN WIN-consists of individuals legitimately elected to the People's Assembly but not recognized by the military regime; the group fled to a border area and joined with insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel government; Kachin Independence Army (KIA); United Wa State Army (UWSA); Karen National Union (KNU); several Shan factions; All Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF)
International organization participation: AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP,FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador TIN WINN chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9044, 9045 FAX: [1] (202) 332-9046 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Kent M. WIEDEMANN embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521) mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546 telephone: [95] (1) 282055, 282181 (operator assistance required) FAX: [95] (1) 280409
Flag description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 14 administrative divisions
@Burma:Economy
Economy-overview: Burma has a mixed economy with private activity dominant in agriculture, light industry, and transport, and with substantial state-controlled activity, mainly in energy, heavy industry, and the rice trade. Government policy in the last nine years, 1989-97, has aimed at revitalizing the economy after three decades of tight central planning. Thus, private activity has markedly increased; foreign investment has been encouraged, so far with moderate success; and efforts continue to increase the efficiency of state enterprises. Published estimates of Burma's foreign trade are greatly understated because of the volume of black-market trade. A major ongoing problem is the failure to achieve monetary and fiscal stability. Although Burma remains a poor Asian country, its rich resources furnish the potential for substantial long-term increases in income, exports, and living standards.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$55.7 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,190 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 61% industry: 10% services: 29% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 30%-40% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 18.8 million (FY95/96 est.) by occupation: agriculture 65.2%, industry 14.3%, trade 10.1%, government 6.3%, other 4.1% (FY88/89 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $7.9 billion expenditures: $12.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7 billion (FY96/97)
Industries: agricultural processing; textiles and footwear; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate: 9.2% (FY95/96 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 1.212 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 4.1 billion kWh (FY95/96 est.)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 79 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: paddy rice, corn, oilseed, sugarcane, pulses; hardwood