Part 2 out of 27- Communications Railroads: 3,189 km total; 2,879 km 1.067-meter gauge, 310 km 0.600-meter gauge; limited trackage in use because of insurgent attacks; sections of the Benguela Railroad closed because of insurgency Highways: 73,828 km total; 8,577 km bituminous-surface treatment, 29,350 km crushed stone, gravel, or improved earth, remainder unimproved earth Inland waterways: 1,295 km navigable Pipelines: crude oil, 179 km Ports: Luanda, Lobito, Namibe, Cabinda Merchant marine: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 66,348 GRT/102,825 DWT; includes 11 cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker Civil air: 27 major transport aircraft Airports: 317 total, 184 usable; 28 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 60 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: fair system of wire, radio relay, and troposcatter routes; high frequency used extensively for military/Cuban links; 40,300 telephones; stations--17 AM, 13 FM, 2 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations - Defense Forces Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force/Air Defense; paramilitary forces--People's Defense Organization and Territorial Troops, Frontier Guard, Popular Vigilance Brigades Military manpower: males 15-49, 2,049,295; 1,030,868 fit for military service; 90,877 reach military age (18) annually Defense expenditures: NA ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Anguilla (dependent territory of the UK) - Geography Total area: 91 km2; land area: 91 km2 Comparative area: about half the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 61 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation; Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone Natural resources: negligible; salt, fish, lobsters Land use: NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other; mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds Environment: frequent hurricanes, other tropical storms (July to October) Note: located 270 km east of Puerto Rico - People Population: 6,883 (July 1990), growth rate 0.6% (1990) Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1990) Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1990) Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1,000 population (1990) Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1,000 live births (1990) Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 76 years female (1990) Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1990) Nationality: noun--Anguillan(s); adjective--Anguillan Ethnic divisions: mainly of black African descent Religion: Anglican, Methodist, and Roman Catholic Language: English (official) Literacy: 80% Labor force: 2,780 (1984) Organized labor: NA - Government Long-form name: none Type: dependent territory of the UK Capital: The Valley Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK) Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK) Constitution: 1 April 1982 Legal system: based on English common law National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief minister, Executive Council (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly Judicial branch: High Court Leaders: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Geoffrey O. WHITTAKER (since NA 1987); Head of Government--Chief Minister Emile GUMBS (since NA March 1984, served previously from February 1977 to May 1980) Political parties and leaders: Anguilla National Alliance (ANA), Emile Gumbs; Anguilla United Party (AUP), Ronald Webster; Anguilla Democratic Party (ADP), Victor Banks Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: House of Assembly--last held 27 February 1989 (next to be held February 1994); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(11 total, 7 elected) ANA 3, AUP 2, ADP 1, independent 1 Communists: none Member of: Commonwealth Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK) Flag: two horizontal bands of white (top, almost triple width) and light blue with three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design centered in the white band - Economy Overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on lobster fishing, offshore banking, tourism, and remittances from emigrants. In recent years the economy has benefited from a boom in tourism. Development is planned to improve the infrastructure, particularly transport and tourist facilities, and also light industry. Improvement in the economy has reduced unemployment from 40% in 1984 to about 5% in 1988. GDP: $23 million, per capita $3,350 (1988 est.); real growth rate 8.2% (1988) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1988 est.) Unemployment rate: 5.0% (1988 est.) Budget: revenues $9.0 million; expenditures $8.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1988 est.) Exports: $NA; commodities--lobsters and salt; partners--NA Imports: $NA; commodities--NA; partners --NA External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 3,000 kW capacity; 9 million kWh produced, 1,300 kWh per capita (1988) Industries: tourism, boat building, salt, fishing (including lobster) Agriculture: pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, poultry Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $33 million Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars); 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: NA - Communications Highways: 60 km surfaced Ports: Road Bay, Blowing Point Civil air: no major transport aircraft Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways of 1,100 m (Wallblake Airport) Telecommunications: modern internal telephone system; 890 telephones; stations--3 AM, 1 FM, no TV; radio relay link to island of St. Martin - Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Antarctica - Geography Total area: about 14,000,000 km2; land area: about 14,000,000 km2 Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US; second-smallest continent (after Australia) Land boundaries: see entry on Disputes Coastline: 17,968 km Maritime claims: see entry on Disputes Disputes: Antarctic Treaty suspends all claims; sections (some overlapping) claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France (Adelie Land), New Zealand (Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land), and UK; Brazil claims a Zone of Interest; the US and USSR do not recognize the territorial claims of other nations and have made no claims themselves (but reserve the right to do so); no formal claims have been made in the sector between 90o west and 150o west Climate: severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica colder than Antarctic Peninsula in the west; warmest temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing Terrain: about 98% thick continental ice sheet, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to 5,000 meters high; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, and the scientific research areas of Graham Land and Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of coastline Natural resources: coal and iron ore; chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum, and hydrocarbons have been found in small quantities along the coast; offshore deposits of oil and gas Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other (98% ice, 2% barren rock) Environment: mostly uninhabitable; katabatic (gravity) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise around the coast; during summer more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; in October 1987 it was reported that the ozone shield, which protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation, has dwindled to its lowest level ever over Antarctica; subject to active volcanism (Deception Island) Note: the coldest continent - People Population: no indigenous inhabitants; staffing of research stations varies seasonally; Summer (January) population--3,330; Argentina 179, Australia 216, Brazil 36, Chile 124, China 62, France 46, FRG 9, GDR 15, India 59, Italy 121, Japan 52, NZ 251, Poland 19, South Africa 102, South Korea 17, UK 72, Uruguay 47, US 1,250, USSR 653 (1986-87); Winter (July) population--1,148 total; Argentina 149, Australia 82, Brazil 11, Chile 59, China 16, France 32, FRG 9, GDR 9, India 17, Japan 37, NZ 11, Poland 19, South Africa 15, UK 61, Uruguay 10, US 242, USSR 369 (1986-87); Year-round stations--43 total; Argentina 7, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 3, China 1, France 1, FRG 1, GDR 1, India 1, Japan 2, NZ 1, Poland 1, South Africa 1, South Korea 1, UK 6, Uruguay 1, US 3, USSR 8 (1986-87); Summer only stations--26 total; Argentina 3, Australia 3, Chile 4, Italy 1, Japan 1, NZ 2, South Africa 2, US 4, USSR 6 (1986-87) - Government Long-form name: none Type: The Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, established, for at least 30 years, a legal framework for peaceful use, scientific research, and suspension of territorial claims. Administration is carried out through consultative member meetings--the 14th and last meeting was held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in October 1987. Consultative (voting) members include claimant nations (they claim portions of Antarctica as national territory and some claims overlap) and nonclaimant nations (they have made no claims to Antarctic territory, although the US and USSR have reserved the right to do so and do not recognize the claims of others); the year in parentheses indicates when an acceding nation was voted to full consultative (voting) status, while no date indicates an original 1959 treaty signatory. Claimant nations are--Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant nations are--Belgium, Brazil (1983), China (1985), FRG (1981), GDR (1987), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan, Poland (1977), South Africa, Uruguay (1985), US, and the USSR. Acceding (nonvoting) members, with year of accession in parenthesis, are--Austria (1987), Bulgaria (1978), Cuba (1984), Czechoslovakia (1962), Denmark (1965), Finland (1984), Greece (1987), Hungary (1984), Netherlands (1987), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Peru (1981), Romania (1971), South Korea (1986), Spain (1982), and Sweden (1984). Antarctic Treaty Summary: Article 1--area to be used for peaceful purposes only and military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific purposes; Article 2--freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3--free exchange of information and personnel; Article 4--does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5--prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6--includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60o 00' south, but that the water areas be covered by international law; Article 7--treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all activities and the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8--allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9--frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations and acceding nations given consultative status; Article 10--treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11--disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14--deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations. Other agreements: Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources; Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals; a mineral resources agreement is currently undergoing ratification by the Antarctic Treaty consultative parties - Economy Overview: No economic activity at present except for fishing off the coast and small-scale tourism, both based abroad. Exploitation of mineral resources will be held back by technical difficulties, high costs, and objections by environmentalists. - Communications Airports: 39 total; 25 usable; none with permanent surface runways; 3 with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Ports: none; offshore anchorage only - Defense Forces Note: none; Article 7 of the Antarctic Treaty states that advance notice of all activities and the introduction of military personnel must be given ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Antigua and Barbuda - Geography Total area: 440 km2; land area: 440 km2; includes Redonda Comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 153 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 24 nm; Extended economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands with some higher volcanic areas Natural resources: negligible; pleasant climate fosters tourism Land use: 18% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 7% meadows and pastures; 16% forest and woodland; 59% other Environment: subject to hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); insufficient freshwater resources; deeply indented coastline provides many natural harbors Note: 420 km east-southeast of Puerto Rico - People Population: 63,726 (July 1990), growth rate 0.3% (1990) Birth rate: 18 births/1,000 population (1990) Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990) Net migration rate: - 10 migrants/1,000 population (1990) Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (1990) Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 74 years female (1990) Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1990) Nationality: noun--Antiguan(s); adjective--Antiguan Ethnic divisions: almost entirely of black African origin; some of British, Portuguese, Lebanese, and Syrian origin Religion: Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some Roman Catholic Language: English (official), local dialects Literacy: 90% (est.) Labor force: 30,000; 82% commerce and services, 11% agriculture, 7% industry (1983) Organized labor: Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association (ABPSA), membership 500; Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU), 10,000 members; Antigua Workers Union (AWU), 10,000 members (1986 est.) - Government Long-form name: none Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Saint John's Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip Independence: 1 November 1981 (from UK) Constitution: 1 November 1981 Legal system: based on English common law National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981) Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Wilfred Ebenezer JACOBS (since 1 November 1981, previously Governor since 1976); Head of Government--Prime Minister Vere Cornwall BIRD, Sr. (since NA 1976); Deputy Prime Minister Lester BIRD (since NA 1976) Political parties and leaders: Antigua Labor Party (ALP), Vere C. Bird, Sr., Lester Bird; United National Democratic Party (UNDP), Dr. Ivor Heath Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: House of Representatives--last held 9 March 1989 (next to be held 1994); results--percentage of vote by party NA; seats--(17 total) ALP 15, UNDP 1, independent 1 Communists: negligible Other political or pressure groups: Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement (ACLM), a small leftist nationalist group led by Leonard (Tim) Hector; Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU), headed by Noel Thomas Member of: ACP, CARICOM, Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IMF, ISO, OAS, UN, UNESCO, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Edmund Hawkins LAKE; Chancery at Suite 2H, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 362-5211 or 5166, 5122, 5225; there is an Antiguan Consulate in Miami; US--the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, and in his absence, the Embassy is headed by Charge d'Affaires Roger R. GAMBLE; Embassy at Queen Elizabeth Highway, Saint John's (mailing address is FPO Miami 34054); telephone (809) 462-3505 or 3506 Flag: red with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white with a yellow rising sun in the black band - Economy Overview: The economy is primarily service oriented, with tourism the most important determinant of economic performance. During the period 1983-87, real GDP expanded at an annual average rate of 8%. Tourism's contribution to GDP, as measured by value added in hotels and restaurants, rose from about 14% in 1983 to 17% in 1987, and stimulated growth in other sectors--particularly in construction, communications, and public utilities. During the same period the combined share of agriculture and manufacturing declined from 12% to less than 10%. Antigua and Barbuda is one of the few areas in the Caribbean experiencing a labor shortage in some sectors of the economy. GDP: $353.5 million, per capita $5,550; real growth rate 6.2% (1989 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.1% (1988 est.) Unemployment rate: 5.0% (1988 est.) Budget: revenues $77 million; expenditures $81 million, including capital expenditures of $13 million (1988 est.) Exports: $30.4 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities--petroleum products 46%, manufactures 29%, food and live animals 14%, machinery and transport equipment 11%; partners--Trinidad and Tobago 40%, Barbados 8%, US 0.3% Imports: $302.1 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.); commodities--food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil; partners--US 27%, UK 14%, CARICOM 7%, Canada 4%, other 48% External debt: $245.4 million (1987) Industrial production: growth rate 10% (1987) Electricity: 49,000 kW capacity; 90 million kWh produced, 1,410 kWh per capita (1989) Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances) Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP; expanding output of cotton, fruits, vegetables, and livestock sector; other crops--bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes; not self-sufficient in food Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $40 million Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars); 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March - Communications Railroads: 64 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge and 13 km 0.610-meter gauge used almost exclusively for handling sugarcane Highways: 240 km Ports: St. John's Merchant marine: 80 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 307,315 GRT/501,552 DWT; includes 50 cargo, 4 refrigerated cargo, 8 container, 8 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 5 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 1 short-sea passenger; note--a flag of convenience registry Civil air: 10 major transport aircraft Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways less than 2,440 m Telecommunications: good automatic telephone system; 6,700 telephones; tropospheric scatter links with Saba and Guadeloupe; stations--4 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV, 2 shortwave; 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station - Defense Forces Branches: Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force (includes the Coast Guard) Military manpower: NA Defense expenditures: NA ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Arctic Ocean - Geography Total area: 14,056,000 km2; includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, and other tributary water bodies Comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of the US; smallest of the world's four oceans (after Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean) Coastline: 45,389 km Climate: persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature ranges; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow Terrain: central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack which averages about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure ridges may be three times that size; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight line movement from the New Siberian Islands (USSR) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland and Iceland); the ice pack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling land masses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonsov Ridge); maximum depth is 4,665 meters in the Fram Basin Natural resources: sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals, whales) Environment: endangered marine species include walruses and whales; ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean and lasts about 10 months; permafrost in islands; virtually icelocked from October to June; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage Note: major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); ships subject to superstructure icing from October to May; strategic location between North America and the USSR; shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and western USSR; floating research stations operated by the US and USSR - Economy Overview: Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including crude oil, natural gas, fishing, and sealing. - Communications Ports: Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (USSR), Prudhoe Bay (US) Telecommunications: no submarine cables Note: sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Asia) are important waterways ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Argentina - Geography Total area: 2,766,890 km2; land area: 2,736,690 km2 Comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Texas Land boundaries: 9,665 km total; Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km Coastline: 4,989 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation; Territorial sea: 200 nm (overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nm) Disputes: short section of the boundary with Uruguay is in dispute; short section of the boundary with Chile is indefinite; claims British-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims British-administered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, crude oil, uranium Land use: 9% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 52% meadows and pastures; 22% forest and woodland; 13% other; includes 1% irrigated Environment: Tucuman and Mendoza areas in Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike Pampas and northeast; irrigated soil degradation; desertification; air and water pollution in Buenos Aires Note: second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage) - People Population: 32,290,966 (July 1990), growth rate 1.2% (1990) Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (1990) Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1990) Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1990) Infant mortality rate: 32 deaths/1,000 live births (1990) Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 74 years female (1990) Total fertility rate: 2.8 children born/woman (1990) Nationality: noun--Argentine(s); adjective--Argentine Ethnic divisions: 85% white, 15% mestizo, Indian, or other nonwhite groups Religion: 90% nominally Roman Catholic (less than 20% practicing), 2% Protestant, 2% Jewish, 6% other Language: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French Literacy: 94% Labor force: 10,900,000; 12% agriculture, 31% industry, 57% services (1985 est.) Organized labor: 3,000,000; 28% of labor force - Government Long-form name: Argentine Republic Type: republic Capital: Buenos Aires (tentative plans to move to Viedma by 1990 indefinitely postponed) Administrative divisions: 22 provinces (provincias, singular--provincia), 1 national territory* (territorio nacional), and 1 district** (distrito); Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba, Corrientes, Distrito Federal**, Entre Rios, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego and Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur*, Tucuman Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain) Constitution: 1 May 1853 Legal system: mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day, 25 May (1810) Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camera de Diputados) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema) Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government--President Carlos Saul MENEM (since 8 July 1989); Vice President Eduardo DUHALDE (since 8 July 1989) Political parties and leaders: Justicialist Party (JP), Antonio Cafiero, Peronist umbrella political organization; Radical Civic Union (UCR), Raul Alfonsin, moderately left of center; Union of the Democratic Center (UCEDE), Alvaro Alsogaray, conservative party; Intransigent Party (PI), Dr. Oscar Alende, leftist party; several provincial parties Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: President--last held 14 May 1989 (next to be held May 1995); results--Carlos Saul Menem was elected; Chamber of Deputies--last held 14 May 1989 (next to be held May 1991); results--JP 47%, UCR 30%, UDC 7%, other 16%; seats--(254 total); JP 122, UCR 93, UDC 11, other 28 Communists: some 70,000 members in various party organizations, including a small nucleus of activists Other political or pressure groups: Peronist-dominated labor movement, General Confederation of Labor (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization), Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association), Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association), business organizations, students, the Roman Catholic Church, the Armed Forces Member of: CCC, FAO, G-77, GATT, Group of Eight, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOOC, ISO, ITU, IWC--International Whaling Commission, IWC--International Wheat Council, LAIA, NAM, OAS, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO, WSG Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Guido Jose Maria DI TELLA; Chancery at 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone 202) 939-6400 through 6403; there are Argentine Consulates General in Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Consulates in Baltimore, Chicago, and Los Angeles; US--Ambassador Terence A. TODMAN; Embassy at 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires (mailing address is APO Miami 34034); telephone p54o (1) 774-7611 or 8811, 9911 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face known as the Sun of May - Economy Overview: Argentina is rich in natural resources, and has a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Nevertheless, the economy has encountered major problems in recent years, leading to a recession in 1988-89. Economic growth slowed to 2.0% in 1987 and to - 1.8% in 1988; a sharp decline of - 5.5% has been estimated for 1989. A widening public-sector deficit and a multidigit inflation rate has dominated the economy over the past three years, reaching about 5,000% in 1989. Since 1978, Argentina's external debt has nearly doubled to $60 billion, creating severe debt-servicing difficulties and hurting the country's creditworthiness with international lenders. GNP: $72.0 billion, per capita $2,217; real growth rate - 5.5% (1989 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4,925% (1989) Unemployment rate: 8.5% (1989 est.) Budget: revenues $11.5 billion; expenditures $13.0 billion, including capital expenditures of $0.93 billion (1988) Exports: $9.6 billion (f.o.b., 1989); commodities--meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, hides, wool; partners--US 14%, USSR, Italy, Brazil, Japan, Netherlands Imports: $4.3 billion (c.i.f., 1989); commodities--machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and lubricants, agricultural products; partners--US 25%, Brazil, FRG, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands External debt: $60 billion (December 1989) Industrial production: growth rate - 8% (1989) Electricity: 16,449,000 kW capacity; 46,590 million kWh produced, 1,460 kWh per capita (1989) Industries: food processing (especially meat packing), motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GNP (including fishing); produces abundant food for both domestic consumption and exports; among world's top five exporters of grain and beef; principal crops--wheat, corn, sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets; 1987 fish catch estimated at 500,000 tons Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $1.0 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $3.6 billion; Communist countries (1970-88), $718 million Currency: austral (plural--australes); 1 austral (A) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: australes (A) per US$1--1,930 (December 1989), 8.7526 (1988), 2.1443 (1987), 0.9430 (1986), 0.6018 (1985) Fiscal year: calendar year - Communications Railroads: 34,172 km total (includes 169 km electrified); includes a mixture of 1.435-meter standard gauge, 1.676-meter broad gauge, 1.000-meter gauge, and 0.750-meter gauge Highways: 208,350 km total; 47,550 km paved, 39,500 km gravel, 101,000 km improved earth, 20,300 km unimproved earth Inland waterways: 11,000 km navigable Pipelines: 4,090 km crude oil; 2,900 km refined products; 9,918 km natural gas Ports: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario, Santa Fe Merchant marine: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,693,540 GRT/2,707,079 DWT; includes 45 cargo, 6 refrigerated cargo, 6 container, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 railcar carrier, 48 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 4 liquefied gas, 18 bulk Civil air: 54 major transport aircraft Airports: 1,799 total, 1,617 usable; 132 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 30 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 335 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: extensive modern system; 2,650,000 telephones (12,000 public telephones); radio relay widely used; stations--171 AM, no FM, 231 TV, 13 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; domestic satellite network has 40 stations - Defense Forces Branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic, Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval Prefecture, National Aeronautical Police Force Military manpower: males 15-49, 7,860,054; 6,372,189 fit for military service; 277,144 reach military age (20) annually Defense expenditures: 1.4% of GNP (1987) ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Aruba (part of the Dutch realm) - Geography Total area: 193 km2; land area: 193 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 68.5 km Maritime claims: Exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation Natural resources: negligible; white sandy beaches Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other Environment: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt Note: 28 km north of Venezuela - People Population: 62,656 (July 1990), growth rate 0.2% (1990) Birth rate: 16 births/1,000 population (1990) Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990) Net migration rate: - 8 migrants/1,000 population (1990) Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1990) Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 80 years female (1990) Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1990) Nationality: noun--Aruban(s); adjective--Aruban Ethnic divisions: 80% mixed European/Caribbean Indian Religion: 82% Roman Catholic, 8% Protestant; also small Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, and Jewish minority Language: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish Literacy: 95% Labor force: NA, but most employment is in the tourist industry (1986) Organized labor: Aruban Workers' Federation (FTA) - Government Long-form name: none Type: part of the Dutch realm--full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles Capital: Oranjestad Administrative divisions: none (self-governing part of the Netherlands) Independence: planned for 1996 Constitution: 1 January 1986 Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March Executive branch: Dutch monarch, governor, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Staten) Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice Leaders: Chief of State--Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Felipe B. TROMP (since 1 January 1986); Head of Government--Prime Minister Nelson ODUBER (since NA February 1989) Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson Oduber; Aruban People's Party (AVP), Henny Eman; National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro Kelly; New Patriotic Party (PPN), Eddy Werlemen; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Benny Nisbet; Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo Berlinski; Democratic Action '86 (AD'86), Arturo Oduber; governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: Parliament--last held 6 January 1989 (next to be held by January 1993); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(21 total) MEP 10, AVP 8, ADN 1, PPN 1, PPA 1 Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing part of the Netherlands) Flag: blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner - Economy Overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the economy. In 1985 the economy suffered a severe blow when Exxon closed its refinery, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings. Economic collapse was prevented by soft loans from the Dutch Government and by a booming tourist industry. Hotel capacity expanded by 20% between 1985 and 1987 and is projected to more than double by 1990. Unemployment has steadily declined from about 20% in 1986 to about 3% in 1988. GDP: $620 million, per capita $10,000; real growth rate 16.7% (1988 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1988 est.) Unemployment rate: 3% (1988 est.) Budget: revenues $145 million; expenditures $185 million, including capital expenditures of $42 million (1988) Exports: $47.5 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities--mostly petroleum products; partners--US 64%, EC Imports: $296.0 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.); commodities--food, consumer goods, manufactures; partners--US 8%, EC External debt: $81 million (1987) Industrial production: growth rate - 20% (1984) Electricity: 310,000 kW capacity; 945 million kWh produced, 15,120 kWh per capita (1989) Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities Agriculture: poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agricultural activity to the cultivation of aloes Aid: none Currency: Aruban florin (plural--florins); 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1--1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986) Fiscal year: calendar year - Communications Ports: Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas Airfield: government-owned airport east of Oranjestad Telecommunications: generally adequate; extensive interisland radio relay links; 72,168 telephones; stations--4 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 1 sea cable to St. Maarten - Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands until 1996 ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Ashmore and Cartier Islands (territory of Australia) - Geography Total area: 5 km2; land area: 5 km2; includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island Comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 74.1 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 12 nm; Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploration; Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: tropical Terrain: low with sand and coral Natural resources: fish Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other--grass and sand Environment: surrounded by shoals and reefs; Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983 Note: located in extreme eastern Indian Ocean between Australia and Indonesia 320 km off the northwest coast of Australia - People Population: no permanent inhabitants; seasonal caretakers - Government Long-form name: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands Type: territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry for Territories and Local Government Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia) Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia Note: administered by the Australian Minister for Arts, Sports, the Environment, Tourism, and Territories Graham Richardson Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia) - Economy Overview: no economic activity - Communications Ports: none; offshore anchorage only - Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Atlantic Ocean - Geography Total area: 82,217,000 km2; includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary water bodies Comparative area: slightly less than nine times the size of the US; second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean) Coastline: 111,866 km Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent from August to November Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the north Atlantic, counterclockwise warm water gyre in the south Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin; maximum depth is 8,605 meters in the Puerto Rico Trench Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones Environment: endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea; icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic from February to August and have been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; icebergs from Antarctica occur in the extreme southern Atlantic Note: ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north Atlantic from October to May and extreme south Atlantic from May to October; persistent fog can be a hazard to shipping from May to September; major choke points include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the Dover Strait, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; north Atlantic shipping lanes subject to icebergs from February to August; the Equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean - Economy Overview: Economic activity is limited to exploitation of natural resources, especially fish, dredging aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and crude oil and natural gas production (Caribbean Sea and North Sea). - Communications Ports: Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (FRG), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Leningrad (USSR), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Stockholm (Sweden) Telecommunications: numerous submarine cables with most between continental Europe and the UK, North America and the UK, and in the Mediterranean; numerous direct links across Atlantic via INTELSAT satellite network Note: Kiel Canal and St. Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Australia - Geography Total area: 7,686,850 km2; land area: 7,617,930 km2; includes Macquarie Island Comparative area: slightly smaller than the US Land boundaries: none Coastline: 25,760 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 12 nm; Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation; Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm Disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory) Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, crude oil Land use: 6% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 58% meadows and pastures; 14% forest and woodland; 22% other; includes NEGL% irrigated Environment: subject to severe droughts and floods; cyclones along coast; limited freshwater availability; irrigated soil degradation; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as the doctor occurs along west coast in summer; desertification Note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country - People Population: 16,923,478 (July 1990), growth rate 1.3% (1990) Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1990) Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1990) Net migration rate: 6 migrants/1,000 population (1990) Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1990) Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 80 years female (1990) Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1990) Nationality: noun--Australian(s); adjective--Australian Ethnic divisions: 95% Caucasian, 4% Asian, 1% Aboriginal and other Religion: 26.1% Anglican, 26.0% Roman Catholic, 24.3% other Christian Language: English, native languages Literacy: 98.5% Labor force: 7,700,000; 33.8% finance and services, 22.3% public and community services, 20.1% wholesale and retail trade, 16.2% manufacturing and industry, 6.1% agriculture (1987) Organized labor: 42% of labor force (1988) - Government Long-form name: Commonwealth of Australia Type: federal parliamentary state Capital: Canberra Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South 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) Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901 Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Australia Day (last Monday in January), 29 January 1990 Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives Judicial branch: High Court Leaders: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 1952), represented by Governor General William George HAYDEN (since NA February 1989); Head of Government--Prime Minister Robert James Lee HAWKE (since 11 March 1983); Deputy Prime Minister Paul KEATING (since 3 April 1990) Political parties and leaders: government--Australian Labor Party, Robert Hawke; opposition--Liberal Party, Andrew Peacock; National Party, Charles Blunt; Australian Democratic Party, Janine Haines Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 Elections: Senate--last held 11 July 1987 (next to be held by 12 May 1990); results--Labor 43%, Liberal-National 42%, Australian Democrats 8%, independents 2%; seats--(76 total) Labor 32, Liberal-National 34, Australian Democrats 7, independents 3; House of Representatives--last held 24 March 1990 (next to be held by November 1993); results--Labor 39.7%, Liberal-National 43%, Australian Democrats and independents 11.1%; seats--(148 total) Labor 78, Liberal-National 69, independent 1 Communists: 4,000 members (est.) Other political or pressure groups: Australian Democratic Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group) Member of: ADB, AIOEC, ANZUS, CCC, CIPEC (associate), Colombo Plan, Commonwealth, DAC, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IATP, IBA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, ILZSG, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOOC, IPU, IRC, ISO, ITC, ITU, IWC--International Whaling Commission, IWC--International Wheat Council, OECD, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Michael J. COOK; Chancery at 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202) 797-3000; there are Australian Consulates General in Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco; US--Ambassador Melvin F. SEMBLER; Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 (mailing address is APO San Francisco 6404); telephone p61o (62) 705000; there are US Consulates General in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, and a Consulate in Brisbane Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars - Economy Overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GNP comparable to levels in industrialized West European countries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Of the top 25 exports, 21 are primary products, so that, as happened during 1983-84, a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods but competition in international markets will be severe. GNP: $240.8 billion, per capita $14,300; real growth rate 4.1% (1989 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.0% (1989) Unemployment rate: 6.0% (December 1989) Budget: revenues $76.3 billion; expenditures $69.1 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (FY90 est.) Exports: $43.2 billion (f.o.b., FY89); commodities--wheat, barley, beef, lamb, dairy products, wool, coal, iron ore; partners--Japan 26%, US 11%, NZ 6%, South Korea 4%, Singapore 4%, USSR 3% Imports: $48.6 billion (c.i.f., FY89); commodities--manufactured raw materials, capital equipment, consumer goods; partners--US 22%, Japan 22%, UK 7%, FRG 6%, NZ 4% (1984) External debt: $111.6 billion (September 1989) Industrial production: growth rate 5.6% (FY88) Electricity: 38,000,000 kW capacity; 139,000 million kWh produced, 8,450 kWh per capita (1989) Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel, motor vehicles Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GNP and 37% of export revenues; world's largest exporter of beef and wool, second-largest for mutton, and among top wheat exporters; major crops--wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruit; livestock--cattle, sheep, poultry Aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-87), $8.8 billion Currency: Australian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2784 (January 1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985) Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June - Communications Railroads: 40,478 km total; 7,970 km 1.600-meter gauge, 16,201 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 16,307 km 1.067-meter gauge; 183 km dual gauge; 1,130 km electrified; government owned (except for a few hundred kilometers of privately owned track) (1985) Highways: 837,872 km total; 243,750 km paved, 228,396 km gravel, crushed stone, or stabilized soil surface, 365,726 km unimproved earth Inland waterways: 8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft Pipelines: crude oil, 2,500 km; refined products, 500 km; natural gas, 5,600 km Ports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart, Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville Merchant marine: 77 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,300,049 GRT/3,493,802 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 7 cargo, 5 container, 10 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 17 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 1 combination ore/oil, 1 livestock carrier, 29 bulk Civil air: around 150 major transport aircraft Airports: 564 total, 524 usable; 235 with permanent-surface runways, 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 311 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: good international and domestic service; 8.7 million telephones; stations--258 AM, 67 FM, 134 TV; submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; domestic satellite service; satellite stations--4 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 6 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations - Defense Forces Branches: Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force Military manpower: males 15-49, 4,588,750; 4,009,127 fit for military service; 136,042 reach military age (17) annually Defense expenditures: NA ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Austria - Geography Total area: 83,850 km2; land area: 82,730 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine Land boundaries: 2,640 km total; Czechoslovakia 548 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Switzerland 164 km, FRG 784 km, Yugoslavia 311 km Coastline: none--landlocked Maritime claims: none--landlocked Disputes: South Tyrol question with Italy Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers Terrain: mostly mountains with Alps in west and south; mostly flat, with gentle slopes along eastern and northern margins Natural resources: iron ore, crude oil, timber, magnesite, aluminum, lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower Land use: 17% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 24% meadows and pastures; 39% forest and woodland; 19% other; includes NEGL% irrigated Environment: because of steep slopes, poor soils, and cold temperatures, population is concentrated on eastern lowlands Note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube - People Population: 7,644,275 (July 1990), growth rate 0.3% (1990) Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1990) Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1990) Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1990) Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1990) Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 80 years female (1990) Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1990) Nationality: noun--Austrian(s); adjective--Austrian Ethnic divisions: 99.4% German, 0.3% Croatian, 0.2% Slovene, 0.1% other Religion: 85% Roman Catholic, 6% Protestant, 9% other Language: German Literacy: 98% Labor force: 3,037,000; 56.4% services, 35.4% industry and crafts, 8.1% agriculture and forestry; an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other European countries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 6% of labor force (1988) Organized labor: 1,672,820 members of Austrian Trade Union Federation (1984) - Government Long-form name: Republic of Austria Type: federal republic Capital: Vienna Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslander, singular--bundesland); Burgenland, Karnten, Niederosterreich, Oberosterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien Independence: 12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire) Constitution: 1920, revised 1929 (reinstated 1945) Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by a Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955) Executive branch: president, chancellor, vice chancellor, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung) consists of an upper council or Federal Council (Bundesrat) and a lower council or National Council (Nationalrat) Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for civil and criminal cases, Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic cases, Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for constitutional cases Leaders: Chief of State--President Kurt WALDHEIM (since 8 July 1986); Head of Government--Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986); Vice Chancellor Josef RIEGLER (since 19 May 1989) Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party of Austria (SPO), Franz Vranitzky, chairman; Austrian People's Party (OVP), Josef Riegler, chairman; Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), Jorg Haider, chairman; Communist Party (KPO), Franz Muhri, chairman; Green Alternative List (GAL), Andreas Wabl, chairman Suffrage: universal at age 19; compulsory for presidential elections Elections: President--last held 8 June 1986 (next to be held May 1992); results of Second Ballot--Dr. Kurt Waldheim 53.89%, Dr. Kurt Steyrer 46.11%; Federal Council--last held 23 November 1986 (next to be held November 1990); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(63 total) OVP 32, SPO 30, FPO 1; National Council--last held 23 November 1986 (next to be held November 1990); results--SP0 43.1%, OVP 41.3%, FPO 9.7%, GAL 4.8%, KPO 0.7%, other 0.32%; seats--(183 total) SP0 80, OVP 77, FP0 18, GAL 8 Communists: membership 15,000 est.; activists 7,000-8,000 Other political or pressure groups: Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist); three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party (OVP) representing business, labor, and farmers; OVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action Member of: ADB, Council of Europe, CCC, DAC, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, ILZSG, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, IWC--International Wheat Council, OECD, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WSG; Austria is neutral and is not a member of NATO or the EC Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Friedrich HOESS; Embassy at 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-4474; there are Austrian Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York; US--Ambassador Henry A. GRUNWALD; Embassy at Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna (mailing address is APO New York 09108); telephone p43o (222) 31-55-11; there is a US Consulate General in Salzburg Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red - Economy Overview: Austria boasts a prosperous and stable capitalist economy with a sizable proportion of nationalized industry and extensive welfare benefits. Thanks to an excellent raw material endowment, a technically skilled labor force, and strong links with West German industrial firms, Austria has successfully occupied specialized niches in European industry and services (tourism, banking) and produces almost enough food to feed itself with only 8% of the labor force in agriculture. Living standards are roughly comparable with the large industrial countries of Western Europe. Problems for the l990s include an aging population and the struggle to keep welfare benefits within budget capabilities. GDP: $103.2 billion, per capita $13,600; real growth rate 4.2% (1989 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (1989) Unemployment: 4.8% (1989) Budget: revenues $34.2 billion; expenditures $39.5 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (1988) Exports: $31.2 billion (f.o.b., 1989); commodities--machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber, textiles, paper products, chemicals; partners--FRG 35%, Italy 10%, Eastern Europe 9%, Switzerland 7%, US 4%, OPEC 3% Imports: $37.9 billion (c.i.f., 1989); commodities--petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals; partners--FRG 44%, Italy 9%, Eastern Europe 6%, Switzerland 5%, US 4%, USSR 2% External debt: $12.4 billion (December 1987) Industrial production: growth rate 5.8% (1989 est.) Electricity: 17,562,000 kW capacity; 49,290 million kWh produced, 6,500 kWh per capita (1989) Industries: foods, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals, electrical, paper and pulp, tourism, mining Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP (including forestry); principal crops and animals--grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets, sawn wood, cattle, pigs poultry; 80-90% self-sufficient in food Aid: donor--ODA and OOF commitments (1970-87), $1.7 billion Currency: Austrian schilling (plural--schillings); 1 Austrian schilling (S) = 100 groschen Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (S) per US$1--11.907 (January 1990), 13.231 (1989), 12.348 (1988), 12.643 (1987), 15.267 (1986), 20.690 (1985) Fiscal year: calendar year - Communications Railroads: 6,028 km total; 5,388 km government owned and 640 km privately owned (1.435- and 1.000-meter gauge); 5,403 km 1.435-meter standard gauge of which 3,051 km is electrified and 1,520 km is double tracked; 363 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge of which 91 km is electrified Highways: 95,412 km total; 34,612 are the primary network (including 1,012 km of autobahn, 10,400 km of federal, and 23,200 km of provincial roads); of this number, 21,812 km are paved and 12,800 km are unpaved; in addition, there are 60,800 km of communal roads (mostly gravel, crushed stone, earth) Inland waterways: 446 km Ports: Vienna, Linz (river ports) Merchant marine: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 209,311 GRT/366,401 DWT; includes 23 cargo, 1 container, 5 bulk Pipelines: 554 km crude oil; 2,611 km natural gas; 171 km refined products Civil air: 25 major transport aircraft Airports: 55 total, 54 usable; 19 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: highly developed and efficient; 4,014,000 telephones; extensive TV and radiobroadcast systems; stations--6 AM, 21 (544 repeaters) FM, 47 (867 repeaters) TV; satellite stations operating in INTELSAT 1 Atlantic Ocean earth station and 1 Indian Ocean earth station and EUTELSAT systems - Defense Forces Branches: Army, Flying Division Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,970,189; 1,656,228 fit for military service; 50,090 reach military age (19) annually Defense expenditures: 1.1% of GDP, or $1.1 billion (1989 est.) ---------------------------------------------------- Country: The Bahamas - Geography Total area: 13,940 km2; land area: 10,070 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut Land boundaries: none Coastline: 3,542 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation; Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber Land use: 1% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; NEGL% meadows and pastures; 32% forest and woodland; 67% other Environment: subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood damage Note: strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain - People Population: 246,491 (July 1990), growth rate 1.2% (1990) Birth rate: 17 births/1,000 population (1990) Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990) Infant mortality rate: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (1990) Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 75 years female (1990) Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1990) Nationality: noun--Bahamian(s); adjective--Bahamian Ethnic divisions: 85% black, 15% white Religion: Baptist 29%, Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 22%, smaller groups of other Protestants, Greek Orthodox, and Jews Language: English; some Creole among Haitian immigrants Literacy: 95% (1986) Labor force: 132,600; 30% government, 25% hotels and restaurants, 10% business services, 5% agriculture (1986) Organized labor: 25% of labor force - Government Long-form name: The Commonwealth of The Bahamas Type: commonwealth Capital: Nassau Administrative divisions: 21 districts; Abaco, Acklins Island, Andros Island, Berry Islands, Biminis, Cat Island, Cay Lobos, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Grand Bahama, Harbour Island, Inagua, Long Cay, Long Island, Mayaguana, New Providence, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, Spanish Wells Independence: 10 July 1973 (from UK) Constitution: 10 July 1973 Legal system: based on English common law National holiday: Independence Day, 10 July (1973) Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Acting Governor General Sir Henry TAYLOR (since 26 June 1988); Head of Government--Prime Minister Sir Lynden Oscar PINDLING (since 16 January 1967) Political parties and leaders: Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Sir Lynden O. Pindling; Free National Movement (FNM), Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: House of Assembly--last held 19 June 1987 (next to be held by June 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(49 total) PLP 31, FNM 16, independents 2 Communists: none known Other political or pressure groups: Vanguard Nationalist and Socialist Party (VNSP), a small leftist party headed by Lionel Carey; Trade Union Congress (TUC), headed by Arlington Miller Member of: ACP, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAS, PAHO, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Margaret E. MCDONALD; Chancery at Suite 865, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037; telephone (202) 944-3390; there are Bahamian Consulates General in Miami and New York; US--Ambassador Chic HECHT; Embassy at Mosmar Building, Queen Street, Nassau (mailing address is P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau); telephone (809) 322-1181 or 328-2206 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side - Economy Overview: The Bahamas is a stable, middle-income developing nation whose economy is based primarily on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone provides about 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs about 50,000 people or 40% of the local work force. The economy has boomed in recent years, aided by a steady annual increase in the number of tourists. The per capita GDP of over $9,800 is one of the highest in the region. GDP: $2.4 billion, per capita $9,875; real growth rate 2.0% (1988 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1988) Unemployment: 12% (1986) Budget: revenues $555 million; expenditures $702 million, including capital expenditures of $138 million (1989 est.) Exports: $733 million (f.o.b., 1987); commodities--pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish; partners--US 90%, UK 10% Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1987); commodities--foodstuffs, manufactured goods, mineral fuels; partners--Iran 30%, Nigeria 20%, US 10%, EC 10%, Gabon 10% External debt: $1.5 billion (September 1988) Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 368,000 kW capacity; 857 million kWh produced, 3,470 kWh per capita (1989) Industries: banking, tourism, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt production, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral weld, steel pipe Agriculture: accounts for less than 5% of GDP; dominated by small-scale producers; principal products--citrus fruit, vegetables, poultry; large net importer of food Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $42 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $344 million Currency: Bahamian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Bahamian dollar (B$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1--1.00 (fixed rate) Fiscal year: calendar year - Communications Highways: 2,400 km total; 1,350 km paved, 1,050 km gravel Ports: Freeport, Nassau Merchant marine: 533 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,684,123 GRT/19,574,532 DWT; includes 26 passenger, 15 short-sea passenger, 121 cargo, 40 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 42 refrigerated cargo, 16 container, 6 car carrier, 123 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 6 liquefied gas, 19 combination ore/oil, 29 chemical tanker, 1 specialized tanker, 86 bulk, 3 combination bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry Civil air: 9 major transport aircraft Airports: 59 total, 57 usable; 31 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 25 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: highly developed; 99,000 telephones in totally automatic system; tropospheric scatter and submarine cable links to Florida; stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables;1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station - Defense Forces Branches: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (a coast guard element only), Royal Bahamas Police Force Military manpower: NA Defense expenditures: NA ---------------------------------------------------- Country: Bahrain - Geography Total area: 620 km2; land area: 620 km2 Comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 161 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: not specific; Territorial sea: 3 nm Disputes: territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish Land use: 2% arable land; 2% permanent crops; 6% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 90% other; includes NEGL% irrigated Environment: subsurface water sources being rapidly depleted (requires development of desalination facilities); dust storms; desertification Note: proximity to primary Middle Eastern crude oil sources and strategic location in Persian Gulf through which much of Western world's crude oil must transit to reach open ocean - People Population: 520,186 (July 1990), growth rate 3.2% (1990) Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1990) Death rate: 3 deaths/1,000 population (1990) Net migration rate: 8 migrants/1,000 population (1990) Infant mortality rate: 19 deaths/1,000 live births (1990) Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 76 years female (1990) Total fertility rate: 4.1 children born/woman (1990) Nationality: noun--Bahraini(s); adjective--Bahraini Ethnic divisions: 63% Bahraini, 13% Asian, 10% other Arab, 8% Iranian, 6% other Religion: Muslim (70% Shia, 30% Sunni) Language: Arabic (official); English also widely spoken; Farsi, Urdu Literacy: 40% Labor force: 140,000; 42% of labor force is Bahraini; 85% industry and commerce, 5% agriculture, 5% services, 3% government (1982) Organized labor: General Committee for Bahrain Workers exists in only eight major designated companies - Government Long-form name: State of Bahrain
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