Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique
Political parties and leaders: Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG; Communist Party of Guadeloupe or PCG [Christian CELESTE]; diverse left parties ; diverse right parties ; FGPS Dissidents or FRUI.G ; Movement for an Independent Guadeloupe or MPGI ; Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or UPLG ; Progressive Democratic Party or PPDG ; Rally for the Republic or RPR ; Socialist Party or PS ; Union for French Democracy or UDF
Political pressure groups and leaders: Christian Movement for theLiberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG; General Federation of GuadeloupeWorkers or CGT-G; General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG;Movement for Independent Guadeloupe or MPGI
International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department ofFrance)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department ofFrance)
Flag description: three horizontal bands, a narrow green band (top), a wide red band, and a narrow green band; the green bands are separated from the red band by two narrow white stripes; a gold five-pointed star is centered in the red band toward the hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions
@Guadeloupe:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It also depends on France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US; an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditional sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, mainly from France. Light industry features sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young. Hurricanes periodically devastate the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 9% services: 85% (1993 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA
Labor force: 125,900 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 15%, industry 17%, services 68% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 27.8% (1998)
Budget: revenues: $225 million expenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996)
Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.22 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.135 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats
Exports: $140 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities: bananas, sugar, rum
Exports - partners: France 60%, Martinique 18%, US 4% (1997)
Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials
Imports - partners: France 63%, Germany 4%, US 3%, Japan 2%,Netherlands Antilles 2% (1997)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA; note - substantial annual French subsidies
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155(1996), 4.9915 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guadeloupe:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 159,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 814 (1990)
Telephone system: domestic facilities inadequate domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 113,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 118,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Guadeloupe:Transportation
Railways: total: NA km; privately-owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
Highways: total: 2,082 km paved: 1,742 km unpaved: 340 km (1985 est.) note: in 1996 there were a total of 3,200 km of roads
Ports and harbors: Basse-Terre, Gustavia (on Saint Barthelemy),Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,240 GRT/109 DWT ships by type: passenger 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 9 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Guadeloupe:Military
Military branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
@Guadeloupe:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Guam:Introduction
Background: Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The military installation on the island is one of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific.
@Guam:Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 47 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 541.3 sq km land: 541.3 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 125.5 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in center, mountains in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 11% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 18% other: 45% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
Environment - current issues: extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic species
Geography - note: largest and southernmost island in the MarianaIslands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
@Guam:People
Population: 154,623 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34.9% (male 28,233; female 25,727) 15-64 years: 59.09% (male 48,126; female 43,238) 65 years and over: 6.01% (male 4,680; female 4,619) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.67% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 26.19 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.16 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.78 years male: 75.51 years female: 80.37 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.96 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guamanian(s) adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic groups: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, white 10%, Chinese,Japanese, Korean, and other 18%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
Languages: English, Chamorro, Japanese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1990 est.)
@Guam:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Guam conventional short form: Guam
Data code: GQ
Dependency status: organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type: NA
Capital: Hagatna (Agana)
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521);Liberation Day, 21 July (1944)
Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Legal system: modeled on US; US federal laws apply
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote inUS presidential elections
Executive branch: chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994) and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994) cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for a four-year term; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2002) election results: Carl GUTIERREZ reelected governor; percent of vote - Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) 53.2%, Joseph ADA (Republican) 46.8%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican 12, Democratic 3 note: Guam elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2000); results - Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic 1
Judicial branch: Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president); Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (party of theGovernor) ; Republican Party (controls the legislature)International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), Interpol(subbureau), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US)
Flag description: territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag
@Guam:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy depends mainly on US military spending and on tourist revenue. Over the past 20 years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. More than 1 million tourists visit Guam each year. The industry suffered a setback in 1998 because of the continuing Japanese recession; the Japanese normally make up almost 90% of the tourists. Most food and industrial goods are imported. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $19,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1992 est.)
Labor force: 65,660 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation: federal and territorial government 31%, private 69% (trade 21%, services 33%, construction 12%, other 3%) (1995)
Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $524.3 million expenditures: $361.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Industries: US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 800 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 744 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef
Exports: $86.1 million (f.o.b., 1992)
Exports - commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products
Exports - partners: US 25%
Imports: $202.4 million (c.i.f., 1992)
Imports - commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
Imports - partners: US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA; note - although Guam receives no foreign aid, it does receive large transfer payments from the general revenues of the US Federal Treasury into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guam Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Guam:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 82,669 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 55,000 (1998)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to US and Japan
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 221,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)
Televisions: 106,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999)
@Guam:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 885 km paved: 675 km unpaved: 210 km note: there is another 685 km of roads classified non-public, including roads located on federal government installations
Ports and harbors: Apra Harbor
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 5 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Guam:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Guam:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Guatemala:Introduction
Background: Guatemala was freed of Spanish colonial rule in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had led to the death of more than 100,000 people and had created some 1 million refugees.
@Guatemala:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, betweenHonduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between ElSalvador and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 15 30 N, 90 15 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 108,890 sq km land: 108,430 sq km water: 460 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries:total: 1,687 kmborder countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km,Mexico 962 km
Coastline: 400 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
Natural resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 54% other: 5% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geography - note: no natural harbors on west coast
@Guatemala:People
Population: 12,639,939 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% (male 2,735,107; female 2,622,412) 15-64 years: 54% (male 3,411,575; female 3,413,932) 65 years and over: 4% (male 213,791; female 243,122) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.63% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 35.05 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 6.92 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 47.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.18 years male: 63.53 years female: 68.96 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.66 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilatedAmerindian - in local Spanish called Ladino), approximately 56%,Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian, approximately 44%
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Languages: Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (more than 20Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam,Garifuna, and Xinca)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 55.6% male: 62.5% female: 48.6% (1995 est.)
@Guatemala:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala conventional short form: Guatemala local long form: Republica de Guatemala local short form: Guatemala
Data code: GT
Government type: constitutional democratic republic
Capital: Guatemala
Administrative divisions: 22 departments (departamentos, singular -departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula,El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa,Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, SanMarcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986 note: suspended 25 May 1993 by former President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of president; amended November 1993
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not vote)
Executive branch: chief of state: President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabreras (since 14 January 2000); Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez (since 14 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabreras (since 14 January 2000); Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez (since 14 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 7 November 1999; runoff held 26 December 1999 (next to be held NA November 2003) election results: Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabreras elected president; percent of vote - Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabreras (FRG) 68%, Oscar BERGER Perdomo(PAN) 32%
Legislative branch: unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (113 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 7 November 1999 (next to be held in November 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FRG 63, PAN 37, ANN 9, DCG 2, UD/LOV 1, PLP 1 note: for the 7 November 1999 election, the number of congressional seats was increased from 80 to 113
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia; additionally the Court of Constitutionality is presided over by the president of the Supreme Court, judges are elected for a five-year term by Congress
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or DCG; Democratic Union or UD ;Green Party or LOV ; Guatemalan National RevolutionaryUnion or URNG ; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [EfrainRIOS Montt]; National Advancement Party or PAN ; NewGuatemalan Democratic Front or FDNG ; NewNation Alliance or ANN ; Progressive Liberator Party or PLPPolitical pressure groups and leaders: Agrarian Owners Group orUNAGRO; Alliance Against Impunity or AAI; Committee for CampesinoUnity or CUC; Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial,Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF; Mutual Support Groupor GAM
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO,G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 745-4952 FAX: (202) 745-1908 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Prudence BUSHNELL embassy: 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024 telephone: (2) 31-15-41 FAX: (2) 33-48-77
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath
@Guatemala:Economy
Economy - overview: The agricultural sector accounts for one-fourth of GDP, two-thirds of exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. Manufacturing and construction account for one-fifth of GDP. Since assuming office in January 1996, former President ARZU worked to implement a program of economic liberalization and political modernization. The signing of the peace accords in December 1996, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused relatively little damage to Guatemala compared to its neighbors. Remaining challenges include beefing up government revenues, negotiating further assistance from international donors, and increasing the efficiency and openness of both government and private financial operations. Growth should remain at the same level in 2000 provided world agricultural prices do not plunge.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $47.9 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,900 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 20% services: 57% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 75%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.6% highest 10%: 46.6% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 3.32 million (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 50%, industry 15%, services 35% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 3.085 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 26.42% hydro: 66.61% nuclear: 0% other: 6.97% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 2.914 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 6 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 51 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens
Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: coffee, sugar, bananas, fruits and vegetables, meat, apparel, petroleum, electricity
Exports - partners: US 48%, El Salvador 10%, Honduras 6%, Germany 5%,Costa Rica 4% (1997)
Imports: $4.5 billion (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities: fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity
Imports - partners: US 46%, Mexico 13%, El Salvador 5%, Venezuela 5%,Japan 4% (1997)
Debt - external: $4.4 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $212 million (1995)
Currency: 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: quetzales (Q) per US$1 - 7.8829 (January 2000), 7.3856 (1999), 6.3947 (1998), 6.0653 (1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guatemala:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 342,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 29,999 (1995)
Telephone system: fairly modern network centered in the city of domestic: NA international: connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 101, FM 32, shortwave 15 (1998)
Radios: 835,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 640,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7 (1999)
@Guatemala:Transportation
Railways: total: 884 km (102 km privately owned) narrow gauge: 884 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)
Highways: total: 13,100 km paved: 3,616 km (including 140 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,484 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season
Pipelines: crude oil 275 km
Ports and harbors: Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, SanJose, Santo Tomas de Castilla
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 477 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 466 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 124 under 914 m: 332 (1999 est.)
@Guatemala:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,000,599 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,959,050 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 137,607 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $124 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.7% (FY98)
@Guatemala:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territory in Belize claimed by Guatemala; precise alignment of boundary in dispute
Illicit drugs: transit country for cocaine shipments; minor producer of illicit opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; active eradication program in 1996 effectively eliminated the cannabis crop; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (cocaine shipments)
______________________________________________________________________
@Guernsey:Introduction
Background: The island of Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II.
@Guernsey:Geography
Location: Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest ofFrance
Geographic coordinates: 49 28 N, 2 35 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 194 sq km land: 194 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 50 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Terrain: mostly level with low hills in southwest
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m
Natural resources: cropland
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
@Guernsey:People
Population: 64,080 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 5,302; female 5,167) 15-64 years: 67% (male 21,171; female 21,523) 65 years and over: 17% (male 4,480; female 6,437) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.42% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 10.17 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 9.85 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.65 years male: 76.65 years female: 82.75 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.35 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups: UK and Norman-French descent
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,Congregational, Methodist
Languages: English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
@Guernsey:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey
Data code: GK
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Government type: NA
Capital: Saint Peter Port
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system: English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Lieutenant Governor Sir John COWARD (since NA 1994) and Bailiff De Vic G. CAREY (since NA) cabinet: Advisory and Finance Committee appointed by the Assembly of the States elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; bailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States (59 voting members - 12 councilors serving six-year terms, half elected every three years; 33 deputies elected from multi- or single-member districts every four years; 10 representatives from parish authorities; 2 representatives from Aldenay; the bailiff and deputy bailiff; and 2 non-voting members - the Attorney General and the Solicitor General both appointed by the monarch elections: last held 20 April 1994 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Judicial branch: Royal Court
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown dependency)
Flag description: white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross
@Guernsey:Economy
Economy - overview: Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance, etc. - account for about 55% of total income in this tiny Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the rules of the game under which Guernsey operates.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.15 billion (1997 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.3% (1997 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $18,100 (1997 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 10% services: 86% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 0.5% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $300.8 million expenditures: $298.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: tourism, banking
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Exports: $NA
Exports - commodities: tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables
Exports - partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)
Imports: $NA
Imports - commodities: coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment
Imports - partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Guernsey pound = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Guernsey pounds per US$1 - 0.6092 (January 2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995); note - the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guernsey:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 41,850 (1983)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: 1 submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Guernsey:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Guernsey:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Guernsey:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Guinea:Introduction
Background: Independent from France since 1958, Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. Lansana CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president in disputed balloting. Security clampdowns continue, although not as severe as in earlier decades. Reelected in 1998, the president faced growing criticism in 1999 for his jailing of a major opposition leader and widespread economic malaise. Unrest in Sierra Leone also continued to threaten Guinea's stability.
@Guinea:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenGuinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 10 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 245,857 sq km land: 245,857 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: total: 3,399 km border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km
Coastline: 320 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 59% other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 930 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season
Environment - current issues: deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Guinea:People
Population: 7,466,200 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43.38% (male 1,614,789; female 1,623,691) 15-64 years: 53.95% (male 1,966,929; female 2,060,877) 65 years and over: 2.68% (male 82,376; female 117,538) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.95% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 40.08 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 17.86 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: over the years Guinea has received several hundred thousand refugees from the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone; by the end of 1999 all Liberian refugees were assumed to have returned; refugees from Sierra Leone are assumed to be returning
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 130.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.56 years male: 43.16 years female: 48.02 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.46 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%
Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Languages: French (official), each ethnic group has its own language
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.9% male: 49.9% female: 21.9% (1995 est.)
@Guinea:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Guinea conventional short form: Guinea local long form: Republique de Guinee local short form: Guinee former: French Guinea
Data code: GV
Government type: republic
Capital: Conakry
Administrative divisions: 4 administrative regions (regions administrative, singular - region administrative) and 1 special zone (zone speciale)*; Conakry*, Guinee, Guinee-Forestiere, Haute-Guinee, Moyen-Guinee
Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April (1984)
Constitution: 23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)
Legal system: based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Lamine SIDIME (since 8 March 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president; election last held 14 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003); the prime minister appointed by the president election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE (PUP) 56.1%, Mamadou Boye BA (UNR-PRP) 24.6%, Alpha CONDE (RPG) 16.6%,
Legislative branch: unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 June 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 71, RPG 19, PRP 9, UNR 9, UPG 2, PDG 1, UNPG 1, PDG-RDA 1, other 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Guinea or PDG-AST; Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally orPDG-RDA ; Party for Unity andProgress or PUP - the governing party; Party forRenewal and Progress or PRP ; Rally for the GuineanPeople or RPG ; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG; Union for the New Republic orUNR
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO(correspondent), ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Aly THIAM chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-9420 FAX: (202) 483-8688
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joyce E. LEADER embassy: Rue Ka 038, Conakry mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry telephone: 41 15 20, 41 15 21, 41 15 23 FAX: 41 15 22
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Rwanda, which has a large black letter R centered in the yellow band
@Guinea:Economy
Economy - overview: Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains a poor underdeveloped nation. The agricultural sector employs 80% of the work force. Guinea possesses over 25% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for about 75% of exports in 1998. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. The government made encouraging progress in budget management in 1997-99. Even with a recovery in prices for some of Guinea's main commodity exports, annual GDP is unlikely to increase by more than 5% in 2000-2001.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.2 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.7% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,200 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 31% services: 45% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 31.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 2.4 million (1983)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 11%, services 5.4%, civil service 3.6%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $553 million expenditures: $652 million, including capital expenditures of $317 million (1995 est.)
Industries: bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries
Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (1994)
Electricity - production: 535 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 63.55% hydro: 36.45% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 498 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber
Exports: $695 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports - commodities: bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products
Exports - partners: Russia, US, Benelux, Ukraine, Ireland, Spain (1997)
Imports: $560 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs (1997)
Imports - partners: France, Cote d'Ivoire, US, Benelux, Hong Kong (1997)
Debt - external: $3.15 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $433.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Guinean francs (FG) per US$1 - 1,292.5 (January 1999), 1,236.8 (1998), 1,095.3 (1997), 1,004.0 (1996), 991.4 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guinea:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 11,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 950 (1995)
Telephone system: poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system domestic: microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communication international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: 357,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1997)
Televisions: 85,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Guinea:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,086 km standard gauge: 279 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge (includes 662 km in common carrier service from Kankan to Conakry)
Highways: total: 30,500 km paved: 5,033 km unpaved: 25,467 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft native craft
Ports and harbors: Boke, Conakry, Kamsar
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 15 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Guinea:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard,Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National PoliceForce (Surete National)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,721,941 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 869,442 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $56 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY96)
@Guinea:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________