Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 7,686,850 sq kmwater: 68,920 sq kmnote: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Islandland: 7,617,930 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:25,760 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropicalin north
Terrain:mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 mhighest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m
Natural resources:bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium,nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas,petroleum
Land use:arable land: 6.55% (includes about 27 million hectares ofcultivated grassland)permanent crops: 0.04%other: 93.41% (2001)
Irrigated land:24,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires
Environment - current issues:soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development,urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising dueto the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing foragricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many uniqueanimal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeastcoast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened byincreased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limitednatural fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; populationconcentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular,tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occursalong the west coast in the summer
People Australia
Population:19,913,144 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.1% (male 2,044,449; female 1,948,574)15-64 years: 67.2% (male 6,747,687; female 6,623,995)65 years and over: 12.8% (male 1,121,522; female 1,426,917) (2004est.)
Median age: total: 36.3 years male: 35.5 years female: 37.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.9% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:12.4 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:7.38 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:3.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.26 yearsmale: 77.4 yearsfemale: 83.27 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.76 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:14,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Australian(s)adjective: Australian
Ethnic groups:Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%
Religions:Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%,non-Christian 11%, other 12.6%
Languages:English, native languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: 100%female: 100% (1980 est.)
Government Australia
Country name:conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australiaconventional short form: Australia
Government type:democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch assovereign
Capital:Canberra
Administrative divisions:6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, NewSouth Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia,Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
Dependent areas:Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling)Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands,Norfolk Island
Independence:1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
National holiday:Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution:9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Legal system:based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February1952), represented by Governor General Maj. Gen. (Ret.) MichaelJEFFERY (since 11 August 2003)head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister John ANDERSON (since 20 July 1999)cabinet: Parliament nominates and selects, from among its members, alist of candidates to serve as government ministers; from this list,the governor general swears in the final selections for the Cabinetelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the primeminister; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party or leader of a majority coalition is sworn in asprime minister by the governor generalnote: government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party
Legislative branch:bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12from each of the six states and two from each of the two mainlandterritories; one-half of the members elected every three years bypopular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives (150 seats - this is up from 148 seats in 2001election; members elected by popular vote on the basis ofpreferential representation to serve three-year terms; no state canhave fewer than five representatives)elections: Senate - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held notlater than June 2008); House of Representatives - last held 9October 2004 (next to be held not later than November 2007)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty (as of 1 July 2003) - Liberal Party-National Party coalition34, Australian Labor Party 28, Australian Democrats 7, Green Party2, One Nation Party 1, Country Liberal Party 1, AustralianProgressive Alliance 1, independent 2; House of Representatives -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LiberalParty-National Party coalition 86, Australian Labor Party 60,Country Liberal Party 1, independent and other 3
Judicial branch:High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointedby the governor general)
Political parties and leaders:Australian Democrats [Andrew BARTLETT]; Australian Labor Party[Mark LATHAM]; Australian Progressive Alliance [Meg LEES]; CountryLiberal Party [Terry MILLS]; Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; LiberalParty [John Winston HOWARD]; The Nationals [John ANDERSON]; OneNation Party [Len HARRIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Australian Monarchist League [leader NA]; Australian RepublicanMovement [leader NA]
International organization participation:ANZUS, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group,BIS, C, CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris Club, PCA,PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNMISET, UNTSO,UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. THAWLEYconsulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, NewYork, and San FranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 797-3168telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFERembassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian CapitalTerritory 2600mailing address: APO AP 96549telephone: [61] (02) 6214-5600FAX: [61] (02) 6214-5970consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
Flag description:blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and alarge seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known asthe Commonwealth Star, representing the federation of the coloniesof Australia in 1901; the star depicts one point for each of the sixoriginal states and one representing all of Australia's internal andexternal territories; the remaining half is a representation of theSouthern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointedstar and four larger, seven-pointed stars
Economy Australia
Economy - overview:Australia has an enviable Western-style capitalist economy, with aper capita GDP on par with the four dominant West Europeaneconomies. Rising output in the domestic economy has been offsettingthe global slump, and business and consumer confidence remainsrobust. Australia's emphasis on reforms, low inflation, and growingties with China are other key factors behind the economy's strength.The impact of drought, weak foreign demand, and strong import demandpushed the trade deficit up to $18 billion in 2003 and to $20billion in 2004 from $8 billion in 2002. One other concern is thedomestic housing bubble.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $571.4 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $29,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.5% industry: 26.3% services: 70.2% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):24.8% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 2%highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:35.2 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.8% (2003 est.)
Labor force:10.19 million (37256)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 5%, industry 22%, services 73% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:6% (2003)
Budget:revenues: $185 billionexpenditures: $181 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003)
Public debt:18.2% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry
Industries:mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing,chemicals, steel
Industrial production growth rate:-0.1% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:198.2 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:184.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:731,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:796,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:523,400 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:530,800 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:3.664 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:33.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:23.33 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:9.744 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-30.14 billion (2003)
Exports:$68.67 billion (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery andtransport equipment
Exports - partners:Japan 18.1%, US 8.7%, China 8.4%, South Korea 7.4%, New Zealand7.4%, UK 6.7% (2003)
Imports:$82.91 billion (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines,telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleumproducts
Imports - partners:US 16%, Japan 12.5%, China 11%, Germany 6.1%, UK 4.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$33.26 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$233.5 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $894 million (FY99/00)
Currency:Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:AUD
Exchange rates:Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002),1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000), 1.55 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Australia
Telephones - main lines in use:10.815 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:14.347 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international servicedomestic: domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone inareas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellulartelephonesinternational: country code - 61; submarine cables to New Zealand,Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 10Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indianand Pacific Ocean regions) (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:25.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:104 (1997)
Televisions:10.15 million (1997)
Internet country code:.au
Internet hosts:2,847,763 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):571 (2002)
Internet users:9.472 million (2002)
Transportation Australia
Railways:total: 44,015 km (5,290 km electrified)broad gauge: 1,957 km 1.600-m gaugestandard gauge: 27,095 km 1.435-m gauge (2,828 km electrified)dual gauge: 213 km dual gauge (2003)narrow gauge: 14,957 km 1.067-m gauge (2,462 km electrified)
Highways:total: 811,603 kmpaved: 314,090 km (including 18,619 km of expressways)unpaved: 497,513 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darlingriver systems) (2004)
Pipelines:condensate/gas 492 km; gas 28,680 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km;oil 4,773 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport (Tasmania),Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceston (Tasmania),Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville
Merchant marine:total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,531,461 GRT/1,999,409 DWTforeign-owned: United Kingdom 2, United States 12registered in other countries: 60 (2004 est.)by type: bulk 20, cargo 5, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 2,container 3, liquefied gas 4, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 7, rollon/roll off 6
Airports:444 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 305 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 131 914 to 1,523 m: 139 under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 143 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 112 under 914 m: 14 (2004 est.)
Military Australia
Military branches:Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force,new Special Operations Command (announced in December 2002)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:16 years of age for voluntary service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 5,061,810 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 4,356,671 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 140,182 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$14,120.1 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.8% (2003)
Transnational Issues Australia
Disputes - international:the 1999 maritime delimitation established partial maritimeboundaries with East Timor over part of the Timor Gap but temporaryresource-sharing agreements over an unreconciled area grantAustralia 90% share of exploited gas reserves and hamper creation ofa southern maritime boundary with Indonesia (see Ashmore and CartierIslands disputes); Australia asserts a territorial claim toAntarctica and to its continental shelf (see Antarctica)
Illicit drugs:Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiateproducts; government maintains strict controls over areas of opiumpoppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Austria
Introduction Austria
Background:Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire,Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in WorldWar I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequentoccupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's statusremained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 endedthe occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbadeunification with Germany. A constitutional law that same yeardeclared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition forSoviet military withdrawal. Following the Soviet Union's collapse in1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995, someAustrian's have called into question this neutrality. A prosperous,democratic country, Austria entered the European Monetary Union in1999.
Geography Austria
Location:Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates:47 20 N, 13 20 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 83,870 sq kmwater: 1,426 sq kmland: 82,444 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:total: 2,562 kmborder countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330km, Switzerland 164 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain andsome snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers withoccasional showers
Terrain:in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the easternand northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 mhighest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m
Natural resources:oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony,magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 16.91% permanent crops: 0.86% other: 82.23% (2001)
Irrigated land:457 sq km (2000 est.)
Natural hazards:landslides; avalanches; earthquakes
Environment - current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europewith many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major riveris the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlandsbecause of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
People Austria
Population:8,174,762 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.9% (male 665,680; female 633,560)15-64 years: 68.1% (male 2,799,411; female 2,764,426)65 years and over: 16% (male 518,748; female 792,937) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 40 yearsmale: 38.8 yearsfemale: 41.2 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.14% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:8.9 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:9.56 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 5.76 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.87 yearsmale: 76 yearsfemale: 81.89 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.35 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:10,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Austrian(s)adjective: Austrian
Ethnic groups:German 88.5%, indigenous minorities 1.5% (includes Croatians,Slovenes, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Roma), recent immigrantgroups 10% (includes Turks, Bosnians, Serbians, Croatians) (2001)
Religions:Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 0.1%,none 17.4%
Languages:German (official nationwide), Slovene (official in Carinthia),Croatian (official in Burgenland), Hungarian (official in Burgenland)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: NAfemale: NA
Government Austria
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Austriaconventional short form: Austrialocal short form: Oesterreichlocal long form: Republik Oesterreich
Government type:federal republic
Capital:Vienna
Administrative divisions:9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland,Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark,Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
Independence:1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 12 November 1918 (republicproclaimed)
National holiday:National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the StateTreaty restoring national sovereignty and the end of occupation andthe passage of the law on permanent neutrality
Constitution:1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
Legal system:civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review oflegislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separateadministrative and civil/penal supreme courts; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (since 8 July 2004)head of government: Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (OeVP)(since 4February 2000); Vice Chancellor Hubert GORBACH (since 21 October2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the adviceof the chancellorelections: president elected by direct popular vote for a six-yearterm; presidential election last held 25 April 2004 (next to be heldNA April 2010); chancellor traditionally chosen by the presidentfrom the plurality party in the National Council; vice chancellorchosen by the president on the advice of the chancellornote: government coalition - OeVP and FPOeelection results: Heinz FISCHER elected president; percent of vote -Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER (OeVP) 47.6%
Legislative branch:bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of FederalCouncil or Bundesrat (62 members; members represent each of thestates on the basis of population, but with each state having atleast three representatives; members serve a five- or six-year term)and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members electedby direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - OeVP42.3%, SPOe 36.5%, FPOe 10.0%, Greens 9.5%; seats by party - OeVP79, SPOe 69, FPOe 18, Greens 17elections: National Council - last held 24 November 2002 (next to beheld in the fall of 2006)
Judicial branch:Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; AdministrativeCourt or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court orVerfassungsgerichtshof
Political parties and leaders:Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL]; Freedom Partyof Austria or FPOe [Ursula HAUBNER]; Social Democratic Party ofAustria or SPOe [Alfred GUSENBAUER]; The Greens [Alexander VAN DERBELLEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Austrian Trade Union Federation (nominally independent butprimarily Socialist) or OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber;OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; RomanCatholic Church, including its chief lay organization, CatholicAction; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party orOeVP representing business, labor, and farmers and othernon-government organizations in the areas of environment and humanrights
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN,EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG,OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG,UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Eva NOWOTNYchancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 895-6750telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador William Lee LYONS BROWN, Jr.embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Viennamailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [43] (1) 31339-0, 31375, 31335FAX: [43] (1) 3100682
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
Economy Austria
Economy - overview:Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standardof living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especiallyGermany's. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreigninvestors attracted by Austria's access to the single Europeanmarket and proximity to EU aspirant economies. Slow growth inGermany and elsewhere in the world held the economy to 0.7% growthin 2001, 1.4% in 2002, and again less than 1% in 2003. However,recent data signal that the recovery has started. The governmentestimates economic growth in 2004 of 1.7-2.1% and of 2.5% in 2005.The government is planning a EURO 500 billion income tax cut in2004, though some economists doubt it will have stimulative effectsin 2004, because it will be offset by higher health insurancecontributions and higher taxes on energy. For 2005, Austria plans atax cut of EURO 2.5 billion and harmonization of the various pensionschemes. To meet increased competition from both EU and CentralEuropean countries, particularly the new EU members, Austria willneed to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy, continueto deregulate the service sector, and lower its tax burden. A keyissue is the encouragement of much greater participation in thelabor market by its aging population.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $245.3 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.7% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $30,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.5% industry: 25.7% services: 70.9% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.5% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:3.9% (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 22.5% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:31 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.4% (2003 est.)
Labor force:3.425 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 4%, industry and crafts 29%, services 67% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:4.4% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $67 billionexpenditures: $70 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:67.6% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle,pigs, poultry; lumber
Industries:construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, chemicals,lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communicationsequipment, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:1.9% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:58.75 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:54.85 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:14.25 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:14.47 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:20,670 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:262,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:35,470 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:262,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:85.69 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:1.731 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:7.81 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:403 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:6.033 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:24.9 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-1.353 billion (2003)
Exports:$83.45 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper andpaperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel; textiles,foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Germany 31.9%, Italy 9.6%, Switzerland 5.2%, US 4.9%, France 4.8%,UK 4.7% (2003)
Imports:$81.59 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods,oil and oil products; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Germany 43.2%, Italy 6.7%, Hungary 5.4%, Switzerland 5%,Netherlands 4.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$12.73 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$15.5 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $520 million (2002)
Currency:euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by the financial institutionsof member countries; as of 1 January 2002, the euro became the onlylegal tender in EMU member countries, including Austria
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001),1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Austria
Telephones - main lines in use:3.881 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:7,094,500 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: highly developed and efficientdomestic: there are 48 main lines for every 100 persons; the fiberoptic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internetservices are availableinternational: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat; inaddition, there are about 600 VSAT (very small aperture terminals)(2002)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 65 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:6.08 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:10 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:4.25 million (1997)
Internet country code:.at
Internet hosts:387,006 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):37 (2000)
Internet users:3.73 million (2003)
Transportation Austria
Railways:total: 6,021 km (3,552 km electrified)standard gauge: 5,565 km 1.435-m gauge (3,430 km electrified)narrow gauge: 34 km 1.000-m gauge (28 km electrified); 422 km0.760-m gauge (94 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:total: 200,000 kmpaved: 200,000 km (including 1,633 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:358 km (2003)
Pipelines:gas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 149 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna
Merchant marine:total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 29,624 GRT/37,425 DWTby type: cargo 4, container 2registered in other countries: 34 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Netherlands 1
Airports:55 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 24 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 14 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 27 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2003 est.)
Military Austria
Military branches:Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for voluntary service; from 2007, at the earliest, compulsory military service obligation will be reduced from 8 months to 6 (June 2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,066,467 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,699,384 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 48,981 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.497 billion (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.85% (June 2004)
Transnational Issues Austria
Disputes - international:minor disputes with the Czech Republic over the Temelin NuclearPower Plant
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South Americancocaine destined for Western Europe
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Azerbaijan
Introduction Azerbaijan
Background:Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim population- regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Unionin 1991. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolveits conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakhenclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16% of itsterritory and must support some 800,000 refugees and internallydisplaced persons as a result of the conflict. Corruption isubiquitous and the promise of widespread wealth from Azerbaijan'sundeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled.
Geography Azerbaijan
Location:Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran andRussia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range
Geographic coordinates:40 30 N, 47 30 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 86,600 sq kmnote: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and theNagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished byAzerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991water: 500 sq kmland: 86,100 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:total: 2,013 kmborder countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia(with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran(with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivanexclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800km, est.)
Climate:dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain:large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it belowsea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, QarabagYaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi(Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina
Land use: arable land: 19.63% permanent crops: 2.71% other: 77.66% (2001)
Irrigated land:14,550 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:droughts
Environment - current issues:local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (ApsheronPeninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to bethe ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severeair, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oilspills, from the use of DDT as a pesticide, and from toxicdefoliants used in the production of cotton
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave arelandlocked
People Azerbaijan
Population:7,868,385 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27% (male 1,081,579; female 1,046,270)15-64 years: 65.2% (male 2,499,618; female 2,630,386)65 years and over: 7.8% (male 242,253; female 368,279) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 27.3 yearsmale: 25.9 yearsfemale: 28.8 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.52% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:19.81 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:9.76 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-4.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 82.07 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 80.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 83.99 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 63.25 yearsmale: 59.09 yearsfemale: 67.62 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.39 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,400 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Azerbaijani(s)adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic groups:Azeri 90%, Dagestani 3.2%, Russian 2.5%, Armenian 2%, other 2.3%(1998 est.)note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakhregion
Religions:Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other1.8% (1995 est.)note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan;percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower
Languages:Azerbaijani (Azeri) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995est.)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97%male: 99%female: 96% (1989 est.)
Government Azerbaijan
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijanconventional short form: Azerbaijanlocal long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasiformer: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republiclocal short form: none
Government type:republic
Capital:Baku (Baki)
Administrative divisions:59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities* (saharlar; sahar- singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar respublika): rayons: Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, AgdasRayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Astara Rayonu, Balakan Rayonu,Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu,Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu,Gadabay Rayonu, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu,Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu,Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu,Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, QazaxRayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu,Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Salyan Rayonu, SamaxiRayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Susa Rayonu,Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, XanlarRayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, YardimliRayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, ZardabRayonu: cities: Ali Bayramli Sahari, Baki Sahari, Ganca Sahari, LankaranSahari, Mingacevir Sahari, Naftalan Sahari, Saki Sahari, SumqayitSahari, Susa Sahari, Xankandi Sahari, Yevlax Sahari: autonomous republic: Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi
Independence:30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaidzhan, 28 May (1918)
Constitution:adopted 12 November 1995
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president andconfirmed by the National Assemblyelection results: Ilham ALIYEV elected president; percent of vote -Ilham ALIYEV 76.8%, Isa GAMBAR 14%elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term;election last held 15 October 2003 (next to be held NA October2008); prime minister and first deputy prime ministers appointed bythe president and confirmed by the National Assemblyhead of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Abbas ABBASOV (since 10 November2003)
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -NAP and allies 108, APF "Reform" 6, CSP 3, PNIA 2, Musavat Party 2,CPA 2, APF "Classic" 1, Compatriot Party 1elections: last held 4 November 2000 (next to be held NA November2005)note: 100 members of the current parliament were elected on thebasis of single mandate constituencies, while 25 were elected basedon proportional balloting; as a result of a 24 August 2002 nationalreferendum on changes to the constitution, all 125 members of thenext parliament will be elected from single mandate constituenciesnote: PNIA, Musavat, and APF "Classic" parties refused to take theirseats
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF [Ali KARIMLI, leader of "Reform"faction; Mirmahmud MIRALI-OGLU, leader of "Classic" faction]; CivicSolidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLY]; Civic Union Party[Ayaz MUTALIBOV]; Communist Party of Azerbaijan or CPA [RamizAHMADOV]; Compatriot Party [Mais SAFARLI]; Democratic Party forAzerbaijan or DPA [Rasul QULIYEV, chairman]; Justice Party [IlyasISMAILOV]; Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA];Musavat [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; New Azerbaijan Party or NAP[vacant]; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan or PNIA[Etibar MAMMADLI, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijanor SDP [Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV]note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:Sadval, Lezgin movement; self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-KarabakhRepublic; Talysh independence movement; Union of Pro-AzerbaijaniForces (UPAF)
International organization participation:AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz PASHAYEV chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911 telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Reno L. HARNISH III embassy: 83 Azadlyg Prospecti, Baku AZ1007 mailing address: American Embassy Baku, Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050 telephone: [9] (9412) 98-03-35, 36, 37 FAX: [9] (9412) 656-671
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; acrescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
Economy Azerbaijan
Economy - overview:Azerbaijan's number one export is oil. Azerbaijan's oil productiondeclined through 1997 but has registered an increase every yearsince. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) withforeign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion tolong-term oilfield development, should generate the funds needed tospur future industrial development. Oil production under the firstof these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company,began in November 1997. Azerbaijan shares all the formidableproblems of the former Soviet republics in making the transitionfrom a command to a market economy, but its considerable energyresources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recentlybegun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties andstructures are slowly being replaced. One obstacle to economicprogress is the need for stepped up foreign investment in thenon-energy sector. A second obstacle is the continuing conflict withArmenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia and theother former Soviet republics is declining in importance while tradeis building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-termprospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of newpipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its oilwealth.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $26.65 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:11.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14.1% industry: 45.7% services: 40.2% (2002 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):50.4% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:49% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 27.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force:4.99 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture and forestry 41%, industry 7%, services 52% (2001)
Unemployment rate:1.1% (official rate is 1.2%) (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.063 billionexpenditures: $2.202 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003)
Public debt:16.3% of GDP (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco;cattle, pigs, sheep, goats
Industries:petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment;steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:6.1% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:18.23 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:16.65 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:700 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:400 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:307,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:140,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:589 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:5.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:6.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:62.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-2.021 billion (2003)
Exports:$2.605 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Italy 34.1%, Czech Republic 11.4%, Germany 10.5%, France 8.2%,Turkey 5.9%, Georgia 4.5%, Russia 4.5% (2003)
Imports:$2.498 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals
Imports - partners:Russia 15.5%, Turkey 12%, UK 8.7%, Germany 8.1%, China 7.8%,Ukraine 5.4%, Italy 4.6%, US 4.6%, Kazakhstan 4.3% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$820.9 million (2003)
Debt - external:$1.575 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $140 million (2000 est.)
Currency:Azerbaijani manat (AZM)
Currency code:AZM
Exchange rates:Azerbaijani manats per US dollar - 4,910.73 (2003), 4,860.82(2002), 4,656.58 (2001), 4,474.15 (2000), 4,120.17 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Azerbaijan
Telephones - main lines in use:923,800 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:870,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate; requires considerable expansion andmodernization; teledensity of 10 main lines per 100 persons is low(2002)domestic: the majority of telephones are in Baku and otherindustrial centers - about 700 villages still without publictelephone service; satellite service connects Baku to a modernswitch in its exclave of Naxcivaninternational: country code - 994; the old Soviet system of cableand microwave is still serviceable; a satellite connection to Turkeyenables Baku to reach about 200 additional countries, some of whichare directly connected to Baku by satellite providers other thanTurkey (1997)