Illicit drugs: increasingly a transshipment point for heroin and cocaine
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $665 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $870 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $25 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $77 million
Currency: 1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1 – 1.00 (officially fixed rate since 1940); unofficial parallel exchange rate of US$1 – L$7 (January 1992), unofficial rate floats against the US dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Liberia:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 490 km (single track); note – three rail systems owned and operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction with Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad, closed in 1989 after iron ore production ceased; the other two have been shut down by the civil war
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:
total: 10,087 km
paved: 603 km
unpaved: gravel 5,171 km (includes 2,323 km of private roads of rubber and timber firms, open to the public); earth 4,313 km
Ports: Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia
Merchant marine:
total: 1,549 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 56,709,634 GRT/97,038,680 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 392, cargo 121, chemical tanker 114, combination bulk 33, combination ore/oil 57, container 124, liquefied gas tanker 75, oil tanker 459, passenger 32, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 58, roll-on/roll-off cargo 18, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 54 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 53 countries; the 10 major fleet flags are: United States 232 ships, Japan 190, Norway 166, Greece 125, Germany 125, United Kingdom 102, Hong Kong 95, China 45, Russia 41, and the Netherlands 34
Airports:
total: 59
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 43 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 11
@Liberia:Communications
Telephone system: NA telephones; telephone and telegraph service via radio relay network; main center is Monrovia; most telecommunications services inoperable due to insurgency movement local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 5
televisions: NA
@Liberia:Defense Forces
Branches: NA; the ultimate structure of the Liberian military force will depend on who is the victor in the ongoing civil war
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 732,063; males fit for military service 390,849 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion – $30 million, 2% of GDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
LIBYA
@Libya:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 1,759,540 sq km
land area: 1,759,540 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries: total 4,383 km, Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline: 1,770 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Gulf of Sidra closing line: 32 degrees 30 minutes north
International disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between Chad and Libya belongs to Chad, and that Libya must withdraw from it by 31 May 1994; Libya has withdrawn some its forces in response to the ICJ ruling, but still maintains an airfield in the disputed area; maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia; claims part of northern Niger and part of southeastern Algeria
Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 8%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 90%
Irrigated land: 2,420 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities natural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; duststorms, sandstorms international agreements: party to – Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified – Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
@Libya:People
Population: 5,248,401 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (female 1,226,851; male 1,269,813) 15-64 years: 49% (female 1,261,424; male 1,331,093) 65 years and over: 3% (female 76,017; male 83,203) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.7% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 44.89 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7.91 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 61.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.29 years
male: 62.12 years
female: 66.57 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.32 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan
Ethnic divisions: Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religions: Sunni Muslim 97%
Languages: Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1984) total population: 60%
male: 77%
female: 42%
Labor force: 1 million (includes about 280,000 resident foreigners) by occupation: industry 31%, services 27%, government 24%, agriculture 18%
@Libya:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya conventional short form: Libya
local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishirakiyah
local short form: none
Digraph: LY
Type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
Capital: Tripoli
Administrative divisions: 25 municipalities (baladiyah, singular – baladiyat); Ajdabiya, Al ‘Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati’, Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan
Independence: 24 December 1951 (from Italy)
National holiday: Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution: 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
Legal system: based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Mu’ammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969)
head of government: Chairman of the General People’s Committee (Premier) Abd al Majid al-Qa’ud (since 29 January 1994) cabinet: General People’s Committee; established by the General People’s Congress
note: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples’ committees
Legislative branch: unicameral
General People’s Congress: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples’ committees
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
Other political or pressure groups: various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements
Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: none
US diplomatic representation: none
Flag: plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)
@Libya:Economy
Overview: The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about one-third of GDP. In 1990 per capita GDP was the highest in Africa at $5,410, but GDP growth rates have slowed and fluctuated sharply in response to changes in the world oil market. Import restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. Windfall revenues from the hike in world oil prices in late 1990 improved the foreign payments position and resulted in a current account surplus through 1992. The nonoil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Although agriculture accounts for only 5% of GDP, it employs 18% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food requirements. The UN sanctions imposed in April 1992 have not yet had a major impact on the economy because Libya’s oil revenues generate sufficient foreign exchange which sustains imports of food, consumer goods, and equipment for the oil industry and ongoing development projects.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $32.9 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: -0.9% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $6,510 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $8.1 billion
expenditures: $9.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.1 billion (1989 est.)
Exports: $7.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas partners: Italy, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Turkey, Greece, Egypt
Imports: $6.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods partners: Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, Eastern Europe
External debt: $3.5 billion excluding military debt (1991 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 10.5% (1990)
Electricity:
capacity: 4,600,000 kW
production: 16.1 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,078 kWh (1993)
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Agriculture: 5% of GDP; cash crops – wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus fruits, peanuts; 75% of food is imported
Economic aid:
recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $242 million
note: no longer a recipient
Currency: 1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams
Exchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1 – 0.3555 (January 1995), 0.3596 (1994), 0.3250 (1993), 0.3013 (1992), 0.2684 (1991), 0.2699 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Libya:Transportation
Railroads:
note: Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all previous systems having been dismantled; current plans are to construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a mineral-rich area, but there has been no progress; other plans made jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum, Egypt, to Tobruk with completion set for mid-1994; no progress has been reported
Highways:
total: 19,300 km
paved: bituminous 10,800 km
unpaved: gravel, earth 8,500 km
Inland waterways: none
Pipelines: crude oil 4,383 km; petroleum products 443 km (includes liquified petroleum gas 256 km); natural gas 1,947 km
Ports: Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah, Misratah, Ra’s Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah
Merchant marine:
total: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 686,136 GRT/1,208,194 DWT
ships by type: cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, short-sea passenger 4
Airports:
total: 146
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 24 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
with paved runways under 914 m: 21 with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 4
with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 17 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 44
@Libya:Communications
Telephone system: 370,000 telephones; modern telecommunications system
local: NA
intercity: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, tropospheric scatter, and 14 domestic satellites
international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) satellite earth stations; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; planned ARABSAT and Intersputnik satellite earth stations
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 12
televisions: NA
@Libya:Defense Forces
Branches: Armed Peoples of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah (includes Army, Navy, and Air and Air Defense Command), Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,131,175; males fit for military service 672,571; males reach military age (17) annually 54,676 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion – $1.4 billion, 6.1% of GDP (1994 est.)
________________________________________________________________________
LIECHTENSTEIN
@Liechtenstein:Geography
Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 160 sq km
land area: 160 sq km
comparative area: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total 78 km, Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: claims 1,600 square kilometers of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February 1948, when the Communists seized power
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential
Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 38%
forest and woodland: 19%
other: 18%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to – Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified – Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Note: landlocked; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
@Liechtenstein:People
Population: 30,654 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (female 2,897; male 2,974) 15-64 years: 71% (female 10,853; male 10,777) 65 years and over: 10% (female 1,930; male 1,223) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.2% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 12.95 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.52 years
male: 73.86 years
female: 81.17 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic divisions: Alemannic 95%, Italian and other 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 87.3%, Protestant 8.3%, unknown 1.6%, other 2.8% (1988)
Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy: age 10 and over can read and write (1981) total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Labor force: 19,905 of which 11,933 are foreigners; 6,885 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day by occupation: industry, trade, and building 53.2%, services 45%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 1.8% (1990)
@Liechtenstein:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Furstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein
Digraph: LS
Type: hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital: Vaduz
Administrative divisions: 11 communes (gemeinden, singular – gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence: 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established)
National holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution: 5 October 1921
Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989; assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein (born 11 June 1968)
head of government: Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993); Deputy Head of Government Dr. Thomas BUECHEL (since 15 December 1993) cabinet: Cabinet; elected by the Diet; confirmed by the sovereign
Legislative branch: unicameral
Diet (Landtag): elections last held on 24 October 1993 (next to be held by March 1997); results – VU 50.1%, FBP 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats – (25 total) VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal cases, Superior Court (Obergericht) for civil cases
Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Oswald KRANTZ; Progressive Citizens’ Party (FBP), Otmar HASLER; The Free List (FL)
Member of: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, GATT, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in US: in routine diplomatic matters, Liechtenstein is represented in the US by the Swiss Embassy
US diplomatic representation: the US has no diplomatic or consular mission in Liechtenstein, but the US Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has consular accreditation at Vaduz
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band
@Liechtenstein:Economy
Overview: Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital service sector and living standards on par with its large European neighbors. Low business taxes – the maximum tax rate is 20% – and easy incorporation rules have induced about 25,000 holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. Liechtenstein plans to join the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between EFTA and EU) in 1995.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $630 million (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $22,300 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 1.5% (1994)
Budget:
revenues: $259 million
expenditures: $292 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Exports: $NA
commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery
partners: EC countries 42.7%, EFTA countries 20.9% (Switzerland 15.4%), other 36.4% (1990)
Imports: $NA
commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
partners: NA
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 23,000 kW
production: 150 million kWh
consumption per capita: 5,230 kWh (1992)
Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism
Agriculture: livestock, vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi
Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 – 1.2880 (January 1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993), 1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Liechtenstein:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 18.5 km; note – owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways
standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
Highways:
total: 322.93 km
paved: 322.93 km
Ports: none
Airports: none
@Liechtenstein:Communications
Telephone system: 25,400 telephones; limited, but sufficient automatic telephone system
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and radio relay
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA radios: NA
note: linked to Swiss networks
Television:
broadcast stations: NA
televisions: NA
note: linked to Swiss networks
@Liechtenstein:Defense Forces
Note: defense is responsibility of Switzerland
________________________________________________________________________
LITHUANIA
@Lithuania:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 65,200 sq km
land area: 65,200 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total 1,273 km, Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline: 108 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: dispute with Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) over the position of the Nemunas (Nemen) River border presently located on the Lithuanian bank and not in midriver as by international standards
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters and summers
Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Natural resources: peat
Land use:
arable land: 49.1%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 22.2%
forest and woodland: 16.3%
other: 12.4%
Irrigated land: 430 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to – Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified – Biodiversity, Climate Change
@Lithuania:People
Population: 3,876,396 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (female 426,616; male 444,556) 15-64 years: 65% (female 1,299,052; male 1,227,420) 65 years and over: 12% (female 313,217; male 165,535) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.71% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 14.46 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 10.95 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.37 years
male: 66.68 years
female: 76.3 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic divisions: Lithuanian 80.1%, Russian 8.6%, Polish 7.7%, Byelorussian 1.5%, other 2.1%
Religions: Roman Catholic, Lutheran, other
Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989) total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98%
Labor force: 1.836 million
by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 18%, other 40% (1990)
@Lithuania:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph: LH
Type: republic
Capital: Vilnius
Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singular – rajonas) and 11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*, Anyksciu Rajonas, Birsionas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Marijampoles Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*, Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa* Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas, Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininky Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Siltues Rajonas, Sirvinty Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traky Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 February (1918)
Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 25 November 1992; elected acting president by Parliament 25 November 1992 and elected by direct vote 15 February 1993); election last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1997); results – Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS was elected; note – on 25 November 1992 BRAZAUSKAS was elected chairman of Parliament and, as such, acting president of the Republic; he was confirmed in office by direct balloting 15 February 1993 head of government: Premier Adolfas SLEZEVICIUS (since 10 March 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
Seimas (parliament): elections last held 26 October and 25 November 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results – LDDP 51%; seats – (141 total) LDDP 73, Conservative Party 30, LKDP 17, LTS 8, Farmers’ Union 4, LLS 4, Center Union 2, others 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party (LKDP), Povilas KATILIUS, chairman; Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (LDDP), Adolfas SLEZEVICIUS, chairman; Lithuanian Nationalist Union (LTS), Rimantas SMETONA, chairman; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), Aloyzas SAKALAS, chairman; Farmers’ Union, Jonas CIULEVICIUS, chairman; Center Union, Romualdas OZOLAS, chairman; Conservative Party, Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, chairman; Lithuanian Polish Union (LLS), Rytardas MACIKIANEC, chairman
Other political or pressure groups: Homeland Union; Lithuanian Future Forum; Farmers Union
Member of: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alfonsas EIDINTAS chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860, 2639
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador James W. SWIHART, Jr. embassy: Akmenu 6, Vilnius 2600
mailing address: APO AE 09723
telephone: [370] (2) 223-031
FAX: [370] (2) 222-779
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
@Lithuania:Economy
Overview: Since independence in September 1991, Lithuania has made steady progress in developing a market economy. Almost 50% of state property has been privatized and trade is diversifying with a gradual shift away from the former Soviet Union to Western markets. In addition, the Lithuanian government has adhered to a disciplined budgetary and financial policy which has brought inflation down from a monthly average of around 14% in first half 1993 to an average of 3.1% in 1994. Nevertheless, the process has been painful with industrial output in 1993 less than half the 1991 level. The economy appeared to have bottomed out in 1994, and Vilnius’s policies have laid the groundwork for vigorous recovery over the next few years. Recovery will build on Lithuanian’s strategic location with its ice-free port at Klaipeda and its rail and highway hub in Vilnius connecting it with Eastern Europe, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, and on its agriculture potential, highly skilled labor force, and diversified industrial sector. Lacking important natural resources, it will remain dependent on imports of fuels and raw materials.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $13.5 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
National product real growth rate: -0.5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $3,500 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.1% (monthly average 1994)
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (January 1995)
Budget:
revenues: $258.5 million
expenditures: $270.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports: $2.2 billion (1994)
commodities: electronics 18%, petroleum products 5%, food 10%, chemicals 6% (1989)
partners: Russia, Ukraine, Germany
Imports: $2.7 billion (1994)
commodities: oil 24%, machinery 14%, chemicals 8%, grain NA% (1989) partners: Russia, Germany, Belarus
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate -52% (1992); accounts for 35% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity: 6,190,000 kW
production: 18.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 4,608 kWh (1993)
Industries: industry’s share in the economy has been declining substantially over the past year, due to the economic crisis and the growth of services in the economy; among branches which are still important: metal-cutting machine tools 6.6%, electric motors 4.6%, television sets 6.2%, refrigerators and freezers 5.4%; other branches: petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, and amber
Agriculture: employs around 18% of labor force; accounts for 25% of GDP; sugar, grain, potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables, meat, milk, dairy products, eggs, fish; most developed are the livestock and dairy branches, which depend on imported grain; net exporter of meat, milk, and eggs
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-86), $NA million; Communist countries (1971-86), $NA million
Currency: introduced the convertible litas in June 1993
Exchange rates: litai per US$1 – 4 (fixed rate 1 May 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Lithuania:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 2,010 km
broad gauge: 2,010 km 1.524-m gauge (120 km electrified) (1990)
Highways:
total: 44,200 km
paved: 35,500 km
unpaved: earth 8,700 km (1990)
Inland waterways: 600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)
Ports: Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine:
total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 275,893 GRT/321,440 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 28, combination bulk 11, railcar carrier 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
Airports:
total: 96
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
with paved runways under 914 m: 14 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 63
@Lithuania:Communications
Telephone system: 900,000 telephones; 240 telephones/1,000 persons; telecommunications system ranks among the most modern of the former Soviet republics
local: NA
intercity: land lines and microwave radio relay international: international connections no longer depend on the Moscow gateway switch, but are established by satellite through Oslo from Vilnius and through Copenhagen from Kaunas; 1 EUTELSAT and 1 INTELSAT earth station; an NMT-450 analog cellular network operates in Vilnius and other cities and is linked internationally through Copenhagen by EUTELSAT; international electronic mail is available; land lines or microwave to former USSR republics
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1, longwave 1 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 3
televisions: NA
@Lithuania:Defense Forces
Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 949,663; males fit for military service 750,386; males reach military age (18) annually 27,630 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion – $30 million, 2% of GDP (1994); note – for 1995 defense expenditures were $54 million at exchange rate conversion
________________________________________________________________________
LUXEMBOURG
@Luxembourg:Geography
Location: Western Europe, between France and Germany
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 2,586 sq km
land area: 2,586 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: total 359 km, Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: none
Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain: mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle floodplain in the southeast
Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited)
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 20%
forest and woodland: 21%
other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: deforestation; air and water pollution in urban areas natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to – Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified – Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Note: landlocked
@Luxembourg:People
Population: 404,660 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (female 35,372; male 36,645) 15-64 years: 68% (female 136,960; male 137,792) 65 years and over: 14% (female 35,774; male 22,117) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.57% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 12.61 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 9.42 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.95 years
male: 73.31 years
female: 80.75 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic divisions: Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, and European (guest and worker residents)
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%
Languages: Luxembourgisch, German, French, English
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Labor force: 177,300 (one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany) by occupation: services 65%, industry 31.6%, agriculture 3.4% (1988)
@Luxembourg:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg conventional short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg local short form: Luxembourg
Digraph: LU
Type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Luxembourg
Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence: 1839
National holiday: National Day, 23 June (1921) (public celebration of the Grand Duke’s birthday)
Constitution: 17 October 1868, occasional revisions
Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964); Heir Apparent Prince HENRI (son of Grand Duke JEAN, born 16 April 1955) head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNKER (since 1 January 1994); Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the sovereign
Legislative branch: unicameral
Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes): elections last held on 12 June 1994 (next to be held by June 1999); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (60 total) CSV 21, LSAP 17, DP 12, Action Committee for Democracy and Pension Rights 5, Greens 5 note: the Council of State (Conseil d’Etat) is an advisory body whose views are considered by the Chamber of Deputies
Judicial branch: Superior Court of Justice (Cour Superieure de Justice)
Political parties and leaders: Christian Social People’s Party (CSV), Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES; Socialist Workers Party (LSAP), Ben FAYOT; Democratic Party (DP), Henri GRETHEN; Action Committee for Democracy and Pension Rights, Roby MEHLEN; other minor parties
Other political or pressure groups: group of steel companies representing iron and steel industry; Centrale Paysanne representing agricultural producers; Christian and Socialist labor unions; Federation of Industrialists; Artisans and Shopkeepers Federation
Member of: ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CCC, CE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alphonse BERNS chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171
FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270
consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Clay CONSTANTINOU embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: PSC 11, Luxembourg City; APO AE 09132-5380 telephone: [352] 46 01 23
FAX: [352] 46 14 01
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France
@Luxembourg:Economy
Overview: The stable, prosperous economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and negligible unemployment. Agriculture is based on small but highly productive family-owned farms. The industrial sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified, particularly toward high-technology firms. During the past decade, growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing proportion of the economy. Luxembourg participates in an economic union with Belgium on trade and most financial matters, is also closely connected economically to the Netherlands, and as a member of the 15-member European Union enjoys the advantages of the open European market.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $9.2 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 2.6% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $22,830 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 2.4% (1994)
Budget:
revenues: $4 billion
expenditures: $4.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)
Exports: $6.4 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass, aluminum, other industrial products partners: EC 76%, US 5%
Imports: $8.3 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.) commodities: minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods partners: Belgium 37%, Germany 31%, France 12%, US 2%
External debt: $800 million (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate -0.5% (1990); accounts for 25% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity: 1,238,750 kW
production: 1.374 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,395 kWh (1993)
Industries: banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Agriculture: accounts for less than 3% of GDP (including forestry); principal products – barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; cattle raising widespread
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1 – 31.549 (January 1995), 33,456 (1994), 34.597 (1993), 32.150 (1992), 34.148 (1991), 33.418 (1990); note – the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Luxembourg:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 271 km
standard gauge: 271 km 1.435-m gauge (243 km electrified; 178 km double track) (1994)
Highways:
total: 5,108 km
paved: 5,062 km (95 km of limited access divided highway) unpaved: 46 km (1992)
Inland waterways: 37 km; Moselle River
Pipelines: petroleum products 48 km
Ports: Mertert
Merchant marine:
total: 45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,129,466 GRT/1,790,988 DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 6, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 8, oil tanker 7, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 6, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2
Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1
@Luxembourg:Communications
Telephone system: 230,000 telephones; highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables; nationwide mobile phone system
local: NA
intercity: buried cable
international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 3 and 1 direct-broadcast satellite link televisions: NA
@Luxembourg:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 103,990; males fit for military service 85,912; males reach military age (19) annually 2,190 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion – $129 million, 1.2% of GDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
MACAU
(overseas territory of Portugal)
@Macau:Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total area: 16 sq km
land area: 16 sq km
comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total 0.34 km, China 0.34 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims: not specified
International disputes: none
Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain: generally flat
Natural resources: negligible
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to – Ozone Layer Protection (extended from Portugal)
Note: essentially urban; one causeway and one bridge connect the two islands to the peninsula on mainland
@Macau:People
Population: 490,901 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (female 56,991; male 60,944) 15-64 years: 68% (female 167,366; male 165,168) 65 years and over: 8% (female 23,537; male 16,895) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.25% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 14.5 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 4.21 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.86 years
male: 77.41 years
female: 82.43 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Macanese (singular and plural) adjective: Macau
Ethnic divisions: Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%
Religions: Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%, other 1.2% (1981)
Languages: Portuguese (official), Cantonese is the language of commerce
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981) total population: 90%
male: 93%
female: 86%
Labor force: 180,000 (1986)
by occupation: NA
@Macau:Government
Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Macau
local long form: none
local short form: Ilha de Macau
Digraph: MC
Type: overseas territory of Portugal scheduled to revert to China in 1999
Capital: Macau
Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular – concelho); Ilhas, Macau
Independence: none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20 December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau’s existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 year after transition)
National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law drafted primarily by Beijing awaiting final approval
Legal system: Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of Portugal) Mario Alberto SOARES (since 9 March 1986)
head of government: Governor Gen. Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA (since 20 March 1991)
cabinet: Consultative Council; consists of five members appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five members elected for a four-year term (2 represent administrative bodies, 1 represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and 2 economic interests), and three statuatory members
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly: elections last held on 10 March 1991 (next to be held NA); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (23 total, 8 elected by universal suffrage, 8 by indirect suffrage, and 7 appointed by the governor) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Association to Defend the Interests of Macau; Macau Democratic Center; Group to Study the Development of Macau; Macau Independent Group
Other political or pressure groups: wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy pro-Communist merchants representing China’s interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over administration
Member of: CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, IMO (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), WTO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US: none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration)
US diplomatic representation: the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag: the flag of Portugal is used
@Macau:Economy
Overview: The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned other small industries – toys, artificial flowers, and electronics. The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has provided about two-thirds of export earnings; the gambling industry represented well over 40% of GDP in 1992. Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $4.8 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $10,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.7% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $305 million
expenditures: $298 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)
Exports: $1.8 billion (1992 est.)
commodities: textiles, clothing, toys partners: US 35%, Hong Kong 12.5%, Germany 12%, China 9.9%, France 8% (1992 est.)
Imports: $2 billion (1992 est.)
commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods partners: Hong Kong 33%, China 20%, Japan 18% (1992 est.)
External debt: $91 million (1985)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 258,000 kW
production: 950 million kWh
consumption per capita: 2,093 kWh (1993)
Industries: clothing, textiles, toys, plastic products, furniture, tourism
Agriculture: rice, vegetables; food shortages – rice, vegetables, meat; depends mostly on imports for food requirements
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 pataca (P) = 100 avos
Exchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1 – 8.034 (1991-94), 8.024 (1990), 8.030 (1989); note – linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Macau:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: 42 km
paved: 42 km
Ports: Macau
Merchant marine: none
Airports: none usable, 1 under construction; 1 seaplane station
@Macau:Communications
Telephone system: 52,000 telephones; fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services local: NA
intercity: NA
international: high-frequency radio communication facility; access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 0 radios: 115,000
Television:
broadcast stations: 0; note – TV programs received from Hong Kong televisions: NA
@Macau:Defense Forces
Branches: NA
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 141,160; males fit for military service 78,578 (1995 est.)
Note: defense is responsibility of Portugal
________________________________________________________________________
MACEDONIA, THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
Area:
total area: 25,333 sq km
land area: 24,856 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries: total 748 km, Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: dispute with Greece over name, symbols, and certain constitutional provisions
Climate: hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
Terrain: mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; there are three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River
Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulphur, timber
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 5%
meadows and pastures: 20%
forest and woodland: 30%
other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants natural hazards: high seismic risks
international agreements: party to – Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
Note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:People
Population: 2,159,503 (July 1995 est.) note: the Macedonian government census of July 1994 put the population at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely undercounted
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25% (female 257,876; male 277,314) 15-64 years: 67% (female 711,810; male 733,903) 65 years and over: 8% (female 97,475; male 81,125) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.9% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 15.82 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74 years
male: 71.87 years
female: 76.3 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.02 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic divisions: Macedonian 65%, Albanian 22%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%, Gypsies 3%, other 4%
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%
Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: 591,773 (June 1994)
by occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Government
Names:
conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia conventional short form: none
local long form: Republika Makedonija local short form: Makedonija
Abbreviation: F.Y.R.O.M.
Digraph: MK
Type: emerging democracy
Capital: Skopje
Administrative divisions: 34 counties (opstinas, singular – opstina) Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar, Delcevo, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Murgasevo, Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar, Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos, Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti Nikole, Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Vinica
Independence: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: 8 September
Constitution: adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991); election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1997); results – Kiro GLIGOROV was elected by the Assembly in 1991; reelected by popular vote in 1994
head of government: Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 4 September 1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Sobranje
Legislative branch: unicameral
Assembly (Sobranje): elections last held 16 and 30 October 1994 (next to be held November 1998); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (120 total) seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, Judicial Court of the Republic
Political parties and leaders: Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia (SDSM; former Communist Party), Branko CRVENKOVSKI, president; Party for Democratic Prosperity (PDP); note – two factions competing for party name; one faction is led by Abdurahman HALITI and the other faction is led by Arber XHAFFERI; National Democratic Party (NDP), Ilijas HALINI, president; Alliance of Reform Forces of Macedonia – Liberal Party (SRSM-LP), Stojan ANDOV, president; Socialist Party of Macedonia (SPM), Kiro POPOVSKI, president; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE), Ljupco GEORGIEVSKI, president; Party of Yugoslavs in Macedonia (SJM), Milan DURCINOV, president; Democratic Party (DP), Petar GOSEV, president
Other political or pressure groups: Movement for All Macedonian Action (MAAK); Democratic Party of Serbs; Democratic Party of Turks; Party for Democratic Action (Slavic Muslim)
Member of: CCC, CE (guest), CEI, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, OSCE (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: the US recognized The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on 8 February 1994
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Victor D. COMRAS liaison office: ul. 27 Mart No. 5, 9100 Skopje mailing address: USLO Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] (91) 116-180
FAX: [389] (91) 117-103
Flag: 16-point gold sun (Vergina, Sun) centered on a red field
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Economy
Overview: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, although the poorest republic in the former Yugoslav federation, can meet basic food and energy needs through its own agricultural and coal resources. Its economic decline will continue unless ties are reforged or enlarged with its neighbors Serbia and Montenegro, Albania, Greece, and Bulgaria. The economy depends on outside sources for all of its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts. An important supplement of GDP is the remittances from thousands of Macedonians working in Germany and other West European nations. Continued political turmoil, both internally and in the region as a whole, prevents any swift readjustments of trade patterns and economic programs. The country’s industrial output and GDP are expected to decline further in 1995. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’s geographical isolation, technological backwardness, and potential political instability place it far down the list of countries of interest to Western investors. Resolution of the dispute with Greece and an internal commitment to economic reform would encourage foreign investment over the long run. In the immediate future, the worst scenario for the economy would be the spread of fighting across its borders.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $1.9 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: -15% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $900 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 54% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $1.06 billion (1993)
commodities: manufactured goods 40%, machinery and transport equipment 14%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 23%, raw materials 7.6%, food (rice) and live animals 5.7%, beverages and tobacco 4.5%, chemicals 4.7% (1990)
partners: principally Serbia and Montenegro and the other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, Greece, Albania
Imports: $1.2 billion (1993)
commodities: fuels and lubricants 19%, manufactured goods 18%, machinery and transport equipment 15%, food and live animals 14%, chemicals 11.4%, raw materials 10%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 8.0%, beverages and tobacco 3.5% (1990) partners: other former Yugoslav republics, Greece, Albania, Germany, Bulgaria
External debt: $840 million (1992)
Industrial production: growth rate -14% (1993)
Electricity:
capacity: 1,600,000 kW
production: NA kWh
consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)
Industries: low levels of technology predominate, such as, oil refining by distillation only; produces basic liquid fuels, coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, and ferronickel; light industry produces basic textiles, wood products, and tobacco
Agriculture: meets the basic needs for food; principal crops are rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, and millet; also grown are cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus fruit, and vegetables; agricultural production is highly labor intensive
Illicit drugs: limited illicit opium cultivation; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
Economic aid:
recipient: US $10 million (for humanitarian and technical assistance) EC promised a 100 ECU million economic aid package (1993)
Currency: the denar, which was adopted by the Macedonian legislature 26 April 1992, was initially issued in the form of a coupon pegged to the German mark; subsequently repegged to a basket of seven currencies
Exchange rates: denar per US$1 – 39 (November 1994), 865 (October 1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 922 km
standard gauge: 922 km 1.435-m gauge (1994)
Highways:
total: 10,591 km
paved: 5,091 km
unpaved: gravel 1,404 km; earth 4,096 km (1991)
Inland waterways: none, lake transport only
Pipelines: none
Ports: none
Airports:
total: 16
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways under 914 m: 11
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Communications
Telephone system: 125,000 telephones local: NA
intercity: NA
international: no satellite links
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 2, shortwave 0 radios: 370,000
Television:
broadcast stations: 5 (relays 2)
televisions: 325,000
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 585,403; males fit for military service 474,467; males reach military age (19) annually 19,693 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: 7 billion denars, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note – conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results
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MADAGASCAR
@Madagascar:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 587,040 sq km
land area: 581,540 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,828 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)
Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Natural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish
Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 58%
forest and woodland: 26%
other: 11%
Irrigated land: 9,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered
natural hazards: periodic cyclones international agreements: party to – Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified – Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Note: world’s fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
@Madagascar:People
Population: 13,862,325 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (female 3,231,647; male 3,265,715) 15-64 years: 50% (female 3,511,699; male 3,413,564)