The 1995 CIA World FactbookPart 31 out of 45much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture @Russia:People Population: 149,909,089 (July 1995 est.) note: official Russian statistics put the population at 148,200,000 for 1994 Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (female 16,208,640; male 16,784,017) 15-64 years: 66% (female 50,711,209; male 48,247,101) 65 years and over: 12% (female 12,557,447; male 5,400,675) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 0.2% (1995 est.) note: official Russian statistics put the population growth rate at -6.0% for 1994 Birth rate: 12.64 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) note: official Russian statistics put the birth rate at 9.5 births per l,000 population for 1994 Death rate: 11.36 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) note: official Russian statistics put the death rate at 15.5 deaths per l,000 population in 1994 Net migration rate: 0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 26.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) note: official Russian statistics put the infant mortality rate at 19.9 deaths per l,000 live births in 1994 Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.1 years male: 64.1 years female: 74.35 years (1995 est.) note: official Russian statistics put life expectancy at birth as 64 years for total population in 1994 Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Russian(s) adjective: Russian Ethnic divisions: Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash 1.2%, Bashkir 0.9%, Byelorussian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1% Religions: Russian Orthodox, Muslim, other Languages: Russian, other Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989) total population: 98% male: 100% female: 97% Labor force: 85 million (1993) by occupation: production and economic services 83.9%, government 16.1% @Russia:Government Names: conventional long form: Russian Federation conventional short form: Russia local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya local short form: Rossiya former: Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Digraph: RS Type: federation Capital: Moscow Administrative divisions: 21 autonomous republics (avtomnykh respublik, singular - avtomnaya respublika); Adygea (Maykop), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatia (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy), Chuvashia (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Gorno-Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Ingushetia (Nazran'), Kabardino-Balkaria (Nal'chik), Kalmykia (Elista), Karachay-Cherkessia (Cherkessk), Karelia (Petrozavodsk), Khakassia (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mari El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordovia (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Tatarstan (Kazan'), Tuva (Kyzyl), Udmurtia (Izhevsk), Yakutia - also known as Sakha (Yakutsk); 49 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast'); Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Belgorod, Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Chita, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orel, Orenburg, Penza, Perm', Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan', Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver', Tyumen', Ul'yanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl'; 6 krays (krayev, singular - kray); Altay (Barnaul), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Primorskiy (Vladivostok), Stavropol'; 10 autonomous okrugs; Aga (Aginskoye), Chukotka (Anadyr'), Evenkia (Tura), Khantia-Mansia (Khanty-Mansiysk), Koryakia (Palana), Nenetsia (Nar'yan-Mar), Permyakia (Kudymkar), Taymyria (Dudinka), Ust'-Onda (Ust'-Ordynskiy), Yamalia (Salekhard); 1 autonomous oblast (avtomnykh oblast'); Birobijan note: the autonomous republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia were formerly the autonomous republic of Checheno-Ingushetia (the boundary between Chechenia and Ingushetia has yet to be determined); the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg are federal cities; an administrative division has the same name as its administrative center (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses) Independence: 24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, June 12 (1990) Constitution: adopted 12 December 1993 Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Boris Nikolayevich YEL'TSIN (since 12 June 1991); election last held 12 June 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; note - no vice president; if the president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier succeeds him; the premier serves as acting president until a new presidential election is held, which must be within three months head of government: Premier and Chairman of the Council of Ministers Viktor Stepanovich CHERNOMYRDIN (since 14 December 1992); First Deputy Chairmen of the Council of Ministers Oleg SOSKOVETS (since 30 April 1993) and Anatoliy CHUBAYS (since 5 November 1994) Security Council: originally established as a presidential advisory body in June 1991, but restructured in March 1992 with responsibility for managing individual and state security Presidential Administration: drafts presidential edicts and provides staff and policy support to the entire executive branch cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president Group of Assistants: schedules president's appointments, processes presidential edicts and other official documents, and houses the president's press service and primary speechwriters Council of Heads of Republics: includes the leaders of the 21 ethnic-based Republics Council of Heads of Administrations: includes the leaders of the 66 autonomous territories and regions, and the mayors of Moscow and St. Petersburg Presidential Council: prepares policy papers for the president Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly Federation Council: elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); results - two members elected from each of Russia's 89 territorial units for a total of 176 deputies; 2 seats unfilled as of 15 May 1994 (Chechnya did not participate in the election); Speaker Vladimir SHUMEYKO (Russia's Democratic Choice) State Duma: elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (450 total) Russia's Democratic Choice 78, New Regional Policy 66, Liberal Democrats 63, Agrarian Party 55, Communist Party of the Russian Federation 45, Unity and Accord 30, Yavlinskiy-Boldyrev-Lukin Bloc (Yabloko) 27, Women of Russia 23, Democratic Party of Russia 15, Russia's Path 12, other parties 23, affiliation unknown 12, unfilled (as of 13 March 1994; Chechnya did not participate in the election) 1; Speaker Ivan RYBKIN (Agrarian Party); note - as of 11 April 1995, seats were as follows: Russia's Democratic Choice 54, New Regional Policy 32, Liberal Democrats 54, Agrarian Party 51, Communist Party of the Russian Federation 45, Unity and Accord 25, Yavlinskiy-Boldyrev-Lukin Bloc (Yabloko) 28, Liberal Democratic Union of 12 December 9, Women of Russia 22, Democratic Party of Russia 10, Russia's Path 12, Duma 96 23, Russia 35, Stability 36, affiliation unknown 14 Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (highest court for criminal, civil, and administrative cases), Superior Court of Arbitration (highest court that resolves economic disputes) Political parties and leaders: pro-market democrats: Party of Russian Unity and Accord, Sergey SHAKHRAY; Russia's Democratic Choice Party, Yegor GAYDAR; Russian Movement for Democratic Reforms, Anatoliy SOBCHAK; Yavlinskiy-Boldyrev-Lukin Bloc (Yabloko), Grigoriy YAVLINSKIY; Liberal Democratic Union of 12 December, Boris FEDOROV centrists/special interest parties: Civic Union for Stability, Justice, and Progress, Arkadiy VOL'SKIY; Democratic Party of Russia, Sergey GLAZ'YEV; Women of Russia, Alevtina FEDULOVA; Social Democratic Peoples' Party, Vasiliy LIPITSKIY; New Regional Policy (NRP), Vladimir MEDVEDEV anti-market and/or ultranationalist parties: Agrarian Party, Mikhail LAPSHIN; Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Gennadiy ZYUGANOV; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY; Derzhava, Aleksandr RUTSKOY note: more than 20 political parties and associations tried to gather enough signatures to run slates of candidates in the 12 December 1993 legislative elections, but only 13 succeeded Other political or pressure groups: NA Member of: BSEC, CBSS, CCC, CE (guest), CERN (observer), CIS, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NACC, NSG, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sergey LAVROV chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700 through 5704 FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735 consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco, and Seattle US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas R. PICKERING embassy: Novinskiy Bul'var 19/23, Moscow mailing address: APO AE 09721 telephone: [7] (095) 252-24-51 through 59 FAX: [7] (095) 956-42-61 consulate(s) general: St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red @Russia:Economy Overview: Russia, a vast country with a wealth of natural resources, a well-educated population, and a diverse industrial base, continues to experience formidable difficulties in moving from its old centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. President YEL'TSIN's government has made substantial strides in converting to a market economy since launching its economic reform program in January 1992 by freeing nearly all prices, slashing defense spending, eliminating the old centralized distribution system, completing an ambitious voucher privatization program, establishing private financial institutions, and decentralizing foreign trade. Russia, however, has made little progress in a number of key areas that are needed to provide a solid foundation for the transition to a market economy. Financial stabilization has remained elusive, with wide swings in monthly inflation rates. Only limited restructuring of industry has occurred so far because of a scarcity of investment funds and the failure of enterprise managers to make hard cost-cutting decisions. In addition, Moscow has yet to develop a social safety net that would allow faster restructuring by relieving enterprises of the burden of providing social benefits for their workers and has been slow to develop the legal framework necessary to fully support a market economy and to encourage foreign investment. As a result, output has continued to fall. According to Russian official data, which probably overstate the fall, GDP declined by 15% in 1994 compared with a 12% decline in 1993. Industrial output in 1994 fell 21% with all major sectors taking a hit. Agricultural production in 1994 was down 9%. The grain harvest totaled 81 million tons, some 15 million tons less than in 1993. Unemployment climbed to an estimated 6.6 million or about 7% of the work force by yearend 1994. Floundering Russian firms have already had to put another 4.8 million workers on involuntary, unpaid leave or shortened workweeks. Government fears of large-scale unemployment continued to hamper industrial restructuring efforts. According to official Russian data, real per capita income was up nearly 18% in 1994 compared with 1993, in part because many Russians are working second jobs. Most Russians perceive that they are worse off now because of growing crime and health problems and mounting wage arrears. Russia has made significant headway in privatizing state assets, completing its voucher privatization program at midyear 1994. At least a portion of about 110,000 state enterprises were transferred to private hands by the end of 1994. Including partially privatized firms, the private sector accounted for roughly half of GDP in 1994. Financial stabilization continued to remain a challenge for the government. Moscow tightened financial policies in late 1993 and early 1994, including postponing planned budget spending, and succeeded in reducing monthly inflation from 18% in January to about 5% in July and August. At midyear, however, the government relaxed austerity measures in the face of mounting pressure from industry and agriculture, sparking a new round of inflation; the monthly inflation rate jumped to roughly 15% per month during the fourth quarter. In response, Moscow announced a fairly tight government budget for 1995 designed to bring monthly inflation down to around 1% by the end of 1995. According to official statistics, Russia's 1994 trade with nations outside the former Soviet Union produced a $12.3 billion surplus, up from $11.3 billion in 1993. Foreign sales - comprised largely of oil, natural gas, and other raw materials - grew more than 8%. Imports also were up 8% as demand for food and other consumer goods surged. Russian trade with other former Soviet republics continued to decline. At the same time, Russia paid only a fraction of the roughly $20 billion in debt that came due in 1994, and by the end of the year, Russia's hard currency foreign debt had risen to nearly $100 billion. Moscow reached agreement to restructure debts with Paris Club official creditors in mid-1994 and concluded a preliminary deal with its commercial bank creditors late in the year to reschedule debts owed them in early 1995. Capital flight continued to be a serious problem in 1994, with billions of additional dollars in assets being moved abroad, primarily to bank accounts in Europe. Russia's physical plant continues to deteriorate because of insufficient maintenance and new construction. Plant and equipment on average are twice the age of the West's. Many years will pass before Russia can take full advantage of its natural resources and its human assets. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $721.2 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992) National product real growth rate: -15% (1994 est.) National product per capita: $4,820 (1994 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% per month (average 1994) Unemployment rate: 7.1% (December 1994) with considerable additional underemployment Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $48 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood and wood products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and military manufactures partners: Europe, North America, Japan, Third World countries, Cuba Imports: $35.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, medicines, meat, grain, sugar, semifinished metal products partners: Europe, North America, Japan, Third World countries, Cuba External debt: $95 billion-$100 billion (yearend 1994) Industrial production: growth rate -21% (1994) Electricity: capacity: 213,100,000 KW production: 876 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,800 kWh (1994) Industries: complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; ship- building; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables Agriculture: grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, meat, milk, vegetables, fruits; because of its northern location does not grow citrus, cotton, tea, and other warm climate products Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for domestic consumption; government has active eradication program; used as transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe and Latin America Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1990-94), $15 billion; other countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1990-93), $120 billion Currency: 1 ruble (R) = 100 kopeks Exchange rates: rubles per US$1 - 3,550 (29 December 1994), 1,247 (27 December 1993); nominal exchange rate still deteriorating but real exchange rate holding steady Fiscal year: calendar year @Russia:Transportation Railroads: total: 154,000 km; note - 87,000 km in common carrier service (49,000 km diesel; and 38,000 km electrified); 67,000 km serve specific industries and are not available for common carrier use broad gauge: 154,000 km 1.520-m gauge (1 January 1994) Highways: total: 934,000 km (445,000 km serve specific industries or farms and are not available for common carrier use) paved and graveled: 725,000 km unpaved: 209,000 km (1 January 1994) Inland waterways: total navigable routes in general use 101,000 km; routes with navigation guides serving the Russian River Fleet 95,900 km; of which routes with night navigational aids 60,400 km; man-made navigable routes 16,900 km (1 January 1994) Pipelines: crude oil 48,000 km; petroleum products 15,000 km; natural gas 140,000 km (30 June 1993) Ports: Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Kaliningrad, Kazan', Khabarovsk, Kholmsk, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow, Murmansk, Nakhodka, Nevel'sk, Novorossiysk, Petropavlovsk, St. Petersburg, Rostov, Sochi, Tuapse, Vladivostok, Volgograd, Vostochnyy, Vyborg Merchant marine: total: 800 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,295,109 GRT/10,128,579 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk cargo 26, cargo 424, chemical tanker 7, combination bulk 22, combination ore/oil 16, container 81, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 111, passenger 4, passenger-cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 19, roll-on/roll-off cargo 62, short-sea passenger 16, specialized tanker 2 note: in addition, Russia owns 235 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,084,439 DWT that operate under Maltese, Cypriot, Liberian, Panamanian, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Honduran, Marshall Islands, Bahamian, and Vanuatu registry Airports: total: 2,517 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 54 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 202 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 108 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 115 with paved runways under 914 m: 151 with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 25 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 45 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 134 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 291 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 1,392 @Russia:Communications Telephone system: 24,400,000 telephones; 20,900,000 telephones in urban areas and 3,500,000 telephones in rural areas; of these, total installed in homes 15,400,000; total pay phones for long distant calls 34,100; about 164 telephones/1,000 persons; Russia is enlisting foreign help, by means of joint ventures, to speed up the modernization of its telecommunications system; in 1992, only 661,000 new telephones were installed compared with 855,000 in 1991, and in 1992 the number of unsatisfied applications for telephones reached 11,000,000; expanded access to international E-mail service available via Sprint network; the inadequacy of Russian telecommunications is a severe handicap to the economy, especially with respect to international connections local: NMT-450 analog cellular telephone networks are operational and growing in Moscow and St. Petersburg intercity: intercity fiberoptic cable installation remains limited international: international traffic is handled by an inadequate system of satellites, land lines, microwave radio relay and outdated submarine cables; this traffic passes through the international gateway switch in Moscow which carries most of the international traffic for the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States; a new Russian Raduga satellite will link Moscow and St. Petersburg with Rome from whence calls will be relayed to destinations in Europe and overseas; satellite earth stations - INTELSAT, Intersputnik, Eutelsat (Moscow), INMARSAT, Orbita Radio: broadcast stations: AM 1,050, FM 1,050, shortwave 1,050 radios: 48.8 million (radio receivers with multiple speaker systems for program diffusion 74,300,000) Television: broadcast stations: 7,183 televisions: 54.2 million @Russia:Defense Forces Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces, Air Defense Forces, Strategic Rocket Forces Manpower availability: males age 15-49 38,264,699; males fit for military service 29,951,977; males reach military age (18) annually 1,106,176 (1995 est.) Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP note: the Intelligence Community estimates that defense spending in Russia fell about 15% in real terms in 1994, reducing Russian defense outlays to about one-fourth of peak Soviet levels in the late 1980s; although Russia may still spend as much as 10% of its GDP on defense, this is significantly below the 15% to 17% burden the former USSR carried during much of the 1980s; conversion of military expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results ________________________________________________________________________ RWANDA @Rwanda:Geography Location: Central Africa, east of Zaire Map references: Africa Area: total area: 26,340 sq km land area: 24,950 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Maryland Land boundaries: total 893 km, Burundi 290 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km, Zaire 217 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: none Climate: temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible Terrain: mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east Natural resources: gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), natural gas, hydropower Land use: arable land: 29% permanent crops: 11% meadows and pastures: 18% forest and woodland: 10% other: 32% Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion natural hazards: periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Zaire international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note: landlocked; predominantly rural population @Rwanda:People Population: 8,605,307 (July 1995 est.) note: the demographic estimates were prepared before civil strife, starting in April 1994, set in motion substantial and continuing population changes Age structure: 0-14 years: 51% (female 2,184,549; male 2,201,049) 15-64 years: 47% (female 2,034,278; male 1,968,298) 65 years and over: 2% (female 126,255; male 90,878) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 2.67% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 48.52 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 21.82 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) note: since April 1994, more than one million refugees have fled the civil strife between the Hutu and Tutsi factions in Rwanda and crossed into Zaire, Burundi, and Tanzania; close to 350,000 Rwandan Tutsis who fled civil strife in earlier years are returning to Rwanda and a few of the recent Hutu refugees are going home despite the danger of doing so; the ethnic violence continues and in 1995 could produce further refugee flows as well as deter returns Infant mortality rate: 118.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 39.33 years male: 38.5 years female: 40.19 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 8.12 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Rwandan(s) adjective: Rwandan Ethnic divisions: Hutu 90%, Tutsi 9%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 1%, indigenous beliefs and other 25% Languages: Kinyarwanda (official), French (official), Kiswahili used in commercial centers Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 50% male: 64% female: 37% Labor force: 3.6 million by occupation: agriculture 93%, government and services 5%, industry and commerce 2% @Rwanda:Government Names: conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda conventional short form: Rwanda local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda local short form: Rwanda Digraph: RW Type: republic; presidential system note: after genocide and civil war in April 1994, the Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front, in July 1994, took power and formed a new government Capital: Kigali Administrative divisions: 10 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture in French; plural - NA, singular - prefegitura in Kinyarwanda); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali, Ruhengeri Independence: 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship) National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962) Constitution: 18 June 1991 Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult Executive branch: chief of state: President Pasteur BIZIMUNGU (since 19 July 1994); took office following the siezure of the government by the Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front and the exiling of interim President Dr. Theodore SINDIKUBWABO; no future election dates have been set head of government: Prime Minister Faustin TWAGIRAMUNGU (since the siezure of power by the Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front in July 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president Legislative branch: unicameral National Development Council: (Conseil National de Developpement) elections last held 19 December 1988 (next to be held NA 1995); results - MRND was the only party; seats - (70 total) MRND 70 Judicial branch: Constitutional Court consists of the Court of Cassation and the Council of State in joint session Political parties and leaders: Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), Alexis KANYARENGWE, Chairman; National Revolutionary Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND); significant independent parties include: Democratic Republican Movement (MDR); Liberal Party (PL); Democratic and Socialist Party (PSD); Coalition for the Defense of the Republic (CDR); Party for Democracy in Rwanda (PADER); Christian Democratic Party (PDL) note: formerly a one-party state, Rwanda legalized independent parties in mid-1991 Other political or pressure groups: Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), the RPF military wing, Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME, commander; Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Joseph W. MUTABOBA chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544 US diplomatic representation: note: US Embassy closed indefinitely chief of mission: Ambassador David P. RAWSON embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali telephone: [250] 756 01 through 03 FAX: [250] 721 28 Flag: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green with a large black letter R centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Guinea, which has a plain yellow band @Rwanda:Economy Overview: Rwanda is a poor African nation suffering bitterly from ethnic-based civil war. Almost 50% of GDP comes from the agricultural sector; coffee and tea make up 80%-90% of total exports. The amount of fertile land is limited, however, and deforestation and soil erosion continue to create problems. The industrial sector in Rwanda is small, contributing only 17% to GDP. Manufacturing focuses mainly on the processing of agricultural products. The Rwandan economy remains dependent on coffee/tea exports and foreign aid. Weak international prices since 1986 have caused the economy to contract and per capita GDP to decline. A structural adjustment program with the World Bank began in October 1990. Ethnic-based insurgency since 1990 has devastated wide areas, especially in the north, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. A peace accord in mid-1993 temporarily ended most of the fighting, but massive resumption of civil warfare in April 1994 in the capital city Kigali and elsewhere has been taking thousands of lives and severely affecting short-term economic prospects. The economy suffers massively from failure to maintain the infrastructure, looting, neglect of important cash crops, and lack of health care facilities. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.9 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: -8% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $950 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $350 million expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.) Exports: $44 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: coffee 63%, tea, cassiterite, wolframite, pyrethrum partners: Germany, Belgium, Italy, Uganda, UK, France, US Imports: $250 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: textiles, foodstuffs, machines and equipment, capital goods, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material partners: US, Belgium, Germany, Kenya, Japan External debt: $873 million (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -2.2% (1991); accounts for 17% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 60,000 kW production: 190 million kWh consumption per capita: 23 kWh (1993) Industries: mining of cassiterite (tin ore) and wolframite (tungsten ore), tin, cement, agricultural processing, small-scale beverage production, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes Agriculture: cash crops - coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums); main food crops - bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; stock raising Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $128 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $45 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $58 million note: in October 1990 Rwanda launched a Structural Adjustment Program with the IMF; since September 1991, the EC has given $46 million and the US $25 million in support of this program (1993) Currency: 1 Rwandan franc (RF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Rwandan francs (RF) per US$1 - 144.3 (3rd quarter 1994), 144.25 (1993), 133.35 (1992), 125.14 (1991), 82.60 (1990) Fiscal year: calendar year @Rwanda:Transportation Railroads: 0 km Highways: total: 4,885 km paved: 880 km unpaved: gravel, sand and gravel 1,305 km; unimproved earth 2,700 km Inland waterways: Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft Ports: Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye Airports: total: 7 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2 with paved runways under 914 m: 3 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 @Rwanda:Communications Telephone system: NA telephones; telephone system does not provide service to the general public but is intended for business and government use local: NA intercity: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the prefectures by microwave radio relay; the remainder of the network depends on wire and high frequency radio international: international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant countries; 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) and 1 SYMPHONIE earth station in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service) Radio: broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: NA Television: broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA @Rwanda:Defense Forces Branches: Army, Gendarmerie Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,792,326; males fit for military service 913,711 (1995 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $112.5 million, 7% of GDP (1992) ________________________________________________________________________ SAINT HELENA (dependent territory of the UK) @Saint Helena:Geography Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of Angola, about two-thirds of the way from South America to Africa Map references: Africa Area: total area: 410 sq km land area: 410 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 2.3 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes Ascension, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, Nightingale Island, and Tristan da Cunha Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 60 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds Terrain: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains Natural resources: fish; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns, no minerals Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 3% other: 83% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha international agreements: NA Note: Napoleon Bonaparte's place of exile and burial (the remains were taken to Paris in 1840); harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world @Saint Helena:People Population: 6,762 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Population growth rate: 0.31% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 9.5 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 6.43 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 36.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.07 years male: 73.01 years female: 76.89 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.13 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Saint Helenian(s) adjective: Saint Helenian Ethnic divisions: NA Religions: Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic Languages: English Literacy: age 20 and over can read and write (1987) total population: 97% male: 97% female: 98% Labor force: 2,516 by occupation: professional, technical, and related workers 8.7%, managerial, administrative, and clerical 12.8%, sales people 8.1%, farmer, fishermen, etc. 5.4%, craftspersons, production process workers 14.7%, others 50.3% (1987) @Saint Helena:Government Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Helena Digraph: SH Type: dependent territory of the UK Capital: Jamestown Administrative divisions: 1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha* Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK) National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen, 10 June 1989 (second Saturday in June) Constitution: 1 January 1989 Legal system: NA Suffrage: NA Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor A. N. HOOLE (since NA 1991) cabinet: Executive Council Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council: elections last held July 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected) independents 15 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: none Member of: ICFTU Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK) US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK) Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship @Saint Helena:Economy Overview: The economy depends primarily on financial assistance from the UK. The local population earns some income from fishing, the raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment overseas. National product: GDP $NA National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $NA Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.1% (1986) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $11.2 million expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93) Exports: $27,400 (f.o.b., FY92/93) commodities: fish (frozen and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), handicrafts partners: South Africa, UK Imports: $9.8 million (c.i.f., FY92/93) commodities: food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts partners: UK, South Africa External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 9,800 kW production: 10 million kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993) Industries: crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing Agriculture: maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being developed; crawfishing on Tristan da Cunha Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1992-93), $13.5 million Currency: 1 Saint Helenian pound (#S) = 100 pence Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January 1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6033 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990); note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British pound Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @Saint Helena:Transportation Railroads: 0 km Highways: total: NA (mainland 107 km, Ascension NA, Tristan da Cunha NA) paved: 169.7 km (mainland 87 km, Ascension 80 km, Tristan da Cunha 2.70 km) unpaved: NA (mainland 20 km earth roads, Ascension NA, Tristan da Cunha NA) Ports: Georgetown, Jamestown Merchant marine: none Airports: total: 1 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 @Saint Helena:Communications Telephone system: 550 telephones; automatic network local: NA intercity: HF radio links to Ascension, then into worldwide submarine cable and satellite networks international: major coaxial submarine cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and UK at Ascension; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations Radio: broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: 1,500 Television: broadcast stations: 0 televisions: NA @Saint Helena:Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK ________________________________________________________________________ SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS @Saint Kitts And Nevis:Geography Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 269 sq km land area: 269 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 135 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November) Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors Natural resources: negligible Land use: arable land: 22% permanent crops: 17% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 17% other: 41% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: hurricanes (July to October) international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling @Saint Kitts And Nevis:People Population: 40,992 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (female 7,072; male 7,430) 15-64 years: 57% (female 11,784; male 11,756) 65 years and over: 8% (female 1,729; male 1,221) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 0.85% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 23.49 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 9.56 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: -5.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 19.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.51 years male: 63.51 years female: 69.69 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.56 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s) adjective: Kittsian, Nevisian Ethnic divisions: black African Religions: Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic Languages: English Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1980) total population: 97% male: 97% female: 98% Labor force: 20,000 (1981) @Saint Kitts And Nevis:Government Names: conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis Digraph: SC Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Basseterre Administrative divisions: 14 parishs; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capisterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point Independence: 19 September 1983 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 19 September (1983) Constitution: 19 September 1983 Legal system: based on English common law Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clement Athelston ARRINDELL (since 19 September 1983, previously Governor General of theWest Indies Associated States since NA November 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Kennedy Alphonse SIMMONDS (since 19 September 1983, previously Premier of the West Indies Associated States since NA February 1980); Deputy Prime Minister Hugh HEYLIGER (since November 1994) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly: elections last held 29 November 1993 (next to be held by 15 November 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (14 total, 11 elected) PAM 4, SKNLP 4, NRP 1, CCM 2 Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia) Political parties and leaders: People's Action Movement (PAM), Dr. Kennedy SIMMONDS; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party (SKNLP), Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS; Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), Simeon DANIEL; Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Vance AMORY Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS (associate), IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Erstein Mallet EDWARDS chancery: Suite 608, 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 833-3550 FAX: [1] (202) 833-3553 US diplomatic representation: no official presence; covered by embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red @Saint Kitts And Nevis:Economy Overview: The economy has traditionally depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have hurt the industry in recent years. Tourism and export-oriented manufacturing have begun to assume larger roles, although they still only account for 7% and 4% of GDP respectively. Growth in the construction and tourism sectors spurred the economic expansion in 1994. Most food is imported. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $210 million (1994 est.) National product real growth rate: 4.5% (1994 est.) National product per capita: $5,300 (1994 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1993) Unemployment rate: 12.2% (1990) Budget: revenues: $103.2 million expenditures: $102.6 million, including capital expenditures of $50.1 million (1995 est.) Exports: $32.4 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery, food, electronics, beverages and tobacco partners: US 50%, UK 30%, CARICOM nations 11% (1992) Imports: $100 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery, manufactures, food, fuels partners: US 43%, CARICOM nations 18%, UK 12%, Canada 4%, Japan 4%, OECS 4% (1992) External debt: $43.3 million (1992) Industrial production: growth rate 5.9% (1992 est.) Electricity: capacity: 15,800 kW production: 45 million kWh consumption per capita: 990 kWh (1993) Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages Agriculture: accounts for 17% of GDP; cash crop - sugarcane; subsistence crops - rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing potential not fully exploited Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-88), $10.7 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $67 million Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: calendar year @Saint Kitts And Nevis:Transportation Railroads: total: 58 km on Saint Kitts for sugarcane narrow gauge: 58 km 0.760-m gauge Highways: total: 300 km paved: 125 km unpaved: otherwise improved 125 km; unimproved earth 50 km Ports: Basseterre, Charlestown Merchant marine: none Airports: total: 2 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 @Saint Kitts And Nevis:Communications Telephone system: 2,400 telephones; good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radio connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin local: NA intercity: interisland links are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF radio; within the islands all calls are local international: international calls are carried by radio to Antigua and Barbuda and there switched to submarine cable or to INTELSAT, or carried to Saint Martin by radio and switched to INTELSAT Radio: broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: NA Television: broadcast stations: 4 televisions: NA @Saint Kitts And Nevis:Defense Forces Branches: Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP ________________________________________________________________________ SAINT LUCIA @Saint Lucia:Geography Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 620 sq km land area: 610 sq km comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 158 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August Terrain: volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys Natural resources: forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 20% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 13% other: 54% Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region natural hazards: hurricanes and volcanic activity international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling @Saint Lucia:People Population: 156,050 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (female 26,710; male 27,255) 15-64 years: 60% (female 47,584; male 46,326) 65 years and over: 5% (female 5,040; male 3,135) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 1.17% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 22.48 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 6.1 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: -4.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 20.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.88 years male: 66.33 years female: 73.67 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.37 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian Ethnic divisions: African descent 90.3%, mixed 5.5%, East Indian 3.2%, Caucasian 0.8% Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3% Languages: English (official), French patois Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1980) total population: 67% male: 65% female: 69% Labor force: 43,800 by occupation: agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.) @Saint Lucia:Government Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia Digraph: ST Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Castries Administrative divisions: 11 quarters; Anse La Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux Fort Independence: 22 February 1979 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 22 February (1979) Constitution: 22 February 1979 Legal system: based on English common law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Stanislaus Anthony JAMES (since 10 October 1988) head of government: Prime Minister John George Melvin COMPTON (since 3 May 1982) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: consists of an 11-member body, 6 appointed on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 2 after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups House of Assembly: elections last held 27 April 1992 (next to be held by April 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) UWP 11, SLP 6 Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: United Workers' Party (UWP), John COMPTON; Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Julian HUNTE; Progressive Labor Party (PLP), Jon ODLUM Member of: ACCT (associate), ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (subscriber), NAM, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Joseph Edsel EDMUNDS chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6728 consulate(s) general: New York US diplomatic representation: no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados) Flag: blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border @Saint Lucia:Economy Overview: Though foreign investment in manufacturing and information processing in recent years has increased Saint Lucia's industrial base, the economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy dependence on banana production, which is subject to periodic droughts and tropical storms. Indeed, the destructive effect of Tropical Storm Debbie in mid-1994 caused the loss of 60% of the year's banana crop. Increased competition from Latin American bananas will probably further reduce market prices, exacerbating Saint Lucia's need to diversify its economy in coming years, e.g., by expanding tourism, manufacturing, and construction National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $610 million (1994 est.) National product real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.) National product per capita: $4,200 (1994 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.8% (1993) Unemployment rate: 25% (1993 est.) Budget: revenues: $121 million expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of $104 million (1992 est.) Exports: $122.8 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: bananas 60%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil partners: UK 56%, US 22%, CARICOM 19% (1991) Imports: $276 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 21%, food and live animals, chemicals, fuels partners: US 34%, CARICOM 17%, UK 14%, Japan 7%, Canada 4% (1991) External debt: $96.4 million (1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 3.5% (1990 est.); accounts for 12% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 20,000 kW production: 112 million kWh consumption per capita: 693 kWh (1993) Industries: clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing Agriculture: accounts for 14% of GDP and 43% of labor force; crops - bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus fruit, root crops, cocoa; imports food for the tourist industry Illicit drugs: transit country for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $120 million Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @Saint Lucia:Transportation Railroads: 0 km Highways: total: 760 km paved: 500 km unpaved: otherwise improved 260 km Ports: Castries, Vieux Fort Merchant marine: none Airports: total: 3 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 @Saint Lucia:Communications Telephone system: 9,500 telephones local: low density (6 telephones/100 persons) but the system is automatically switched intercity: no intercity traffic international: direct microwave link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; interisland troposcatter link to Barbados Radio: broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: NA Television: broadcast stations: 1 cable televisions: NA @Saint Lucia:Defense Forces Branches: Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, Coast Guard Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP ________________________________________________________________________ SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON (territorial collectivity of France) @Saint Pierre And Miquelon:Geography Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada) Map references: North America Area: total area: 242 sq km land area: 242 sq km comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 120 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and France Climate: cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy Terrain: mostly barren rock Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 4% other: 83% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard international agreements: NA Note: vegetation scanty @Saint Pierre And Miquelon:People Population: 6,757 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Population growth rate: 0.78% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 13.02 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 5.83 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: 0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 10.77 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76 years male: 74.4 years female: 77.92 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French Ethnic divisions: Basques and Bretons (French fishermen) Religions: Roman Catholic 98% Languages: French Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982) total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% Labor force: 2,850 (1988) by occupation: NA @Saint Pierre And Miquelon:Government Names: conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon Digraph: SB Type: territorial collectivity of France Capital: Saint-Pierre Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France) Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763) National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) Legal system: French law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) head of government: Commissioner of the Republic Yves HENRY (since NA December 1993); President of the General Council Gerard GRIGNON (since NA April 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers Legislative branch: unicameral General Council: elections last held NA April 1994 (next to be held NA April 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (19 total) seats by party NA French Senate: elections last held NA September 1986 (next to be held NA September 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) PS 1 French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) UDF 1 Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel) Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party (PS), Albert PEN; Union for French Democracy (UDF/CDS), Gerard GRIGNON Member of: FZ, WFTU Diplomatic representation in US: none (territorial collectivity of France) US diplomatic representation: none (territorial collectivity of France) Flag: the flag of France is used @Saint Pierre And Miquelon:Economy Overview: The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped steadily over the years. In March 1989, an agreement between France and Canada set fish quotas for Saint Pierre's trawlers fishing in Canadian and Canadian-claimed waters for three years. The agreement settles a longstanding dispute that had virtually brought fish exports to a halt. The islands are heavily subsidized by France. Imports come primarily from Canada and France. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $66 million (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $10,000 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment rate: 9.6% (1990) Budget: revenues: $18.3 million expenditures: $18.3 million, including capital expenditures of $5.5 million (1989 est.) Exports: $30 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts partners: US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal (1990) Imports: $82 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.) commodities: meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials partners: Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 10,000 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 6,013 kWh (1993) Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism Agriculture: vegetables, cattle, sheep, pigs for local consumption; fish catch of 20,500 metric tons (1989) Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $500 million Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.2943 (January 1995), 5.520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990) Fiscal year: calendar year @Saint Pierre And Miquelon:Transportation Railroads: 0 km Highways: total: 120 km paved: 60 km unpaved: earth 60 km (1985) Ports: Saint Pierre Merchant marine: none Airports: total: 2 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2 @Saint Pierre And Miquelon:Communications Telephone system: 3,601 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: radio communication with most countries in the world; 1 satellite link in French domestic satellite system Radio: broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 radios: NA Television: broadcast stations: 0 televisions: NA @Saint Pierre And Miquelon:Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of France ________________________________________________________________________ SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES @Saint Vincent And The Grenadines:Geography Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 340 sq km land area: 340 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 84 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November) Terrain: volcanic, mountainous; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent Natural resources: negligible Land use: arable land: 38% permanent crops: 12% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 41% other: 3% Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano is a constant threat international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification Note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada @Saint Vincent And The Grenadines:People Population: 117,344 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (female 19,551; male 20,185) 15-64 years: 61% (female 35,565; male 35,573) 65 years and over: 5% (female 3,793; male 2,677) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 0.65% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 19.62 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 5.46 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: -7.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 17.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.66 years male: 71.15 years female: 74.21 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s) adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian Ethnic divisions: African descent, Caucasian, East Indian, Carib Indian Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist Languages: English, French patois Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970) total population: 96% male: 96% female: 96% Labor force: 67,000 (1984 est.) by occupation: NA @Saint Vincent And The Grenadines:Government Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Digraph: VC Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Kingstown Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick Independence: 27 October 1979 (from UK)
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