Constitution:
22 December 1989, suspended 3 December 1990; Provisional National Charter 1 March 1991; national conference drafting new constitution to submit to referendum January 1993
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
11 August
Political parties and leaders:
Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS; former dissident group), Idriss DEBY, chairman
note:
President DEBY has promised political pluralism, a new constitution, and free elections by September 1993; numerous dissident groups; 26 opposition political parties
Other political or pressure groups: NA
Suffrage:
universal at age NA
Elections:
National Consultative Council:
last held 8 July 1990; disbanded 3 December 1990 President:
last held 10 December 1989 (next to be held NA); results – President Hissein HABRE was elected without opposition; note – the government of then President HABRE fell on 1 December 1990, and Idriss DEBY seized power on 3 December 1990; national conference opened 15 January 1993; election to follow by end of year
Executive branch:
president, Council of State (cabinet) Legislative branch:
unicameral National Consultative Council (Conseil National Consultatif) was disbanded 3 December 1990 and replaced by the Provisional Council of the Republic, with 30 members appointed by President DEBY on 8 March 1991 Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
*Chad, Government
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Col. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990) Head of Government:
Prime Minister Joseph YODOYMAN (since NA August 1992) Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Kombaria Loumaye MEKONYO chancery:
2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone:
(202) 462-4009
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Richard W. BOGOSIAN
embassy:
Avenue Felix Eboue, N’Djamena
mailing address:
B. P. 413, N’Djamena
telephone:
[235] (51) 62-18, 40-09, or 51-62-11 FAX:
[235] 51-33-72
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flag of Andorra, which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
*Chad, Economy
Overview:
The climate, geographic location, and lack of infrastructure and natural resources make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is burdened by the ravages of civil war, conflict with Libya, drought, and food shortages. In 1986 real GDP returned to its 1977 level, with cotton, the major cash crop, accounting for 48% of exports. Over 80% of the work force is employed in subsistence farming and fishing. Industry is based almost entirely on the processing of agricultural products, including cotton, sugarcane, and cattle. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, with its economy in trouble and many regions suffering from shortages. Oil companies are exploring areas north of Lake Chad and in the Doba basin in the south. Good crop weather led to 8.4% growth in 1991. National product:
GDP – exchange rate conversion – $1.1 billion (1991 est.) National product real growth rate:
8.4% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
$215 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2%-3% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $115 million; expenditures $412 million, including capital expenditures of $218 million (1991 est.) Exports:
$193.9 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
cotton 48%, cattle 35%, textiles 5%, fish partners:
France, Nigeria, Cameroon
Imports:
$294.1 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; note – excludes military equipment partners:
US, France, Nigeria, Cameroon
External debt:
$492 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 12.9% (1989 est.); accounts for nearly 15% of GDP Electricity:
40,000 kW capacity; 70 million kWh produced, 15 kWh per capita (1991) Industries:
cotton textile mills, slaughterhouses, brewery, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes
Agriculture:
accounts for about 45% of GDP; largely subsistence farming; cotton most important cash crop; food crops include sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc; livestock – cattle, sheep, goats, camels; self-sufficient in food in years of adequate rainfall
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $198 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $28 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $80 million
Currency:
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
*Chad, Economy
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine Francs (CFAF) per US$1 – 274.06 (January 1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Chad, Communications
Highways:
31,322 km total; 32 km bituminous; 7,300 km gravel and laterite; remainder unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
2,000 km navigable
Airports:
total:
69
usable:
55
with permanent-surface runways:
5
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
4
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
24
Telecommunications:
fair system of radiocommunication stations for intercity links; broadcast stations – 6 AM, 1 FM, limited TV service; many facilities are inoperative; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*Chad, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army (includes Ground Forces, Air Force, and Gendarmerie), Republican Guard Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,246,617; fit for military service 647,908; reach military age (20) annually 52,870 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion – $58 million, 5.6% of GDP (1989)
*Chile, Geography
Location:
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean between Argentina and Peru
Map references:
South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
756,950 km2
land area:
748,800 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana note:
includes Isla de Pascua (Easter Island) and Isla Sala y Gomez Land boundaries:
total 6,171 km, Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km Coastline: 6,435 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
short section of the southern boundary with Argentina is indefinite; Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Bolivia over Rio Lauca water rights; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims Climate:
temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south Terrain:
low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east Natural resources:
copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum Land use:
arable land:
7%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
16%
forest and woodland:
21%
other:
56%
Irrigated land:
12,650 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
subject to severe earthquakes, active volcanism, tsunami; Atacama Desert one of world’s driest regions; desertification Note:
strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage)
*Chile, People
Population:
13,739,759 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.54% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
20.9 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate:
5.55 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate:
15.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
74.15 years
male:
71.16 years
female:
77.29 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.51 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Chilean(s)
adjective:
Chilean
Ethnic divisions:
European and European-Indian 95%, Indian 3%, other 2% Religions:
Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population:
93%
male:
94%
female:
93%
Labor force:
4.728 million
by occupation:
services 38.3% (includes government 12%), industry and commerce 33.8%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 19.2%, mining 2.3%, construction 6.4% (1990)
*Chile, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Chile
conventional short form:
Chile
local long form:
Republica de Chile
local short form:
Chile
Digraph:
CI
Type:
republic
Capital:
Santiago
Administrative divisions:
13 regions (regiones, singular – region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana, Tarapaca, Valparaiso note:
the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica Independence:
18 September 1810 (from Spain)
Constitution:
11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 30 July 1989 Legal system:
based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 September (1810) Political parties and leaders:
Concertation of Parties for Democracy consists mainly of four parties: PDC, PPD, PR, PS; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle; Party for Democracy (PPD), Sergio BITAR; Radical Party (PR), Carlos GONZALEZ Marquez; Sociaistl Party (PS), German CORREA; Independent Democratic Union (UDI), Jovino NOVOA; National Renovation (RN), Andree ALLAMAND; Center-Center Union (UCC), Francisco Juner ERRAZURIZ; Communist Party of Chile (PCCh), Volodia TEITELBOIM; Allende Leftist Democratic Movement (MIDA), Mario PALESTRO
Other political or pressure groups: revitalized university student federations at all major universities dominated by opposition political groups; labor – United Labor Central (CUT) includes trade unionists from the country’s five largest labor confederations; Roman Catholic Church
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory Elections:
Chamber of Deputies:
last held 14 December 1989 (next to be held December 1993); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (120 total) Concertation of Parties for Democracy 71 (PDC 38, PPD 17, PR 5, other 11), RN 29, UDI 11, right-wing independents 9
President:
last held 14 December 1989 (next to be held December 1993); results – Patricio AYLWIN (PDC) 55.2%, Hernan BUCHI 29.4%, other 15.4%
*Chile, Government
Senate:
last held 14 December 1989 (next to be held December 1993); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (46 total, 38 elected) Concertation of Parties for Democracy 22 (PDC 13, PPD 5, PR 2, PSD 1, PRSD 1), RN 6, UDI 2, right-wing independents 8
Executive branch:
president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consisting of an upper house or Senate (Senado) and a lower house or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government: President Patricio AYLWIN Azocar (since 11 March 1990) Member of:
CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Patricio SILVA Echenique chancery:
1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone:
(202) 785-1746
consulates general:
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Curtis W. KAMMAN
embassy:
Codina Building, 1343 Agustinas, Santiago mailing address:
APO AA 34033
telephone:
[56] (2) 671-0133
FAX:
[56] (2) 699-1141
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center; design was based on the US flag
*Chile, Economy
Overview:
The government of President AYLWIN, which took power in 1990, retained the economic policies of PINOCHET, although the share of spending for social welfare has risen steadily. In 1991 growth in GDP recovered to 6% (led by consumer spending) after only 2% growth in 1990. The pace accelerated in 1992 as the result of strong investment and export growth, and GDP rose 10.4%. Nonetheless, inflation fell further, to 12.7%, compared with 27.3% in 1990 and 18.7% in 1991. The buoyant economy spurred a 25% growth in imports, and the trade surplus fell in 1992, although international reserves increased. Inflationary pressures are not expected to ease much in 1993, and economic growth is likely to approach 7%. National product:
GDP – exchange rate conversion – $34.7 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 10.4% (1992) National product per capita:
$2,550 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12.7% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
4.9% (1992)
Budget:
revenues $10.9 billion; expenditures $10.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.2 billion (1993)
Exports:
$10 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
copper 41%, other metals and minerals 8.7%, wood products 7.1%, fish and fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1991)
partners:
EC 32%, US 18%, Japan 18%, Brazil 5% (1991) Imports:
$9.2 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, raw materials 15.4%, petroleum 10%, foodstuffs 5.7%
partners:
US 21%, EC 18%, Brazil 9%, Japan 8% (1991) External debt:
$16.9 billion (year end 1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 14.56% (1992); accounts for 34% of GDP Electricity:
5,769,000 kW capacity; 22,010 million kWh produced, 1,630 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles Agriculture:
accounts for about 9% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); major exporter of fruit, fish, and timber products; major crops – wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, deciduous fruit; livestock products – beef, poultry, wool; self-sufficient in most foods; 1991 fish catch of 6.6 million metric tons; net agricultural importer Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $521 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.6 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $386 million
*Chile, Economy
Currency:
1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos Exchange rates:
Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1 – 384.04 (January 1993), 362.59 (1992), 349.37 (1991), 305.06 (1990), 267.16 (1989), 245.05 (1988) Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Chile, Communications
Railroads:
7,766 km total; 3,974 km 1.676-meter gauge, 150 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 3,642 km 1.000-meter gauge; 1,865 km 1.676-meter gauge and 80 km 1.000-meter gauge electrified
Highways:
79,025 km total; 9,913 km paved, 33,140 km gravel, 35,972 km improved and unimproved earth (1984)
Inland waterways:
725 km
Pipelines:
crude oil 755 km; petroleum products 785 km; natural gas 320 km Ports:
Antofagasta, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Valparaiso, San Antonio, Talcahuano, Arica
Merchant marine:
31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 445,330 GRT/756,018 DWT; includes 8 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 oil tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas tanker, 3 combination ore/oil, 8 bulk; note – in addition, 1 naval tanker and 1 military transport are sometimes used commercially
Airports:
total:
396
usable:
351
with permanent-surface runways:
48
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
13
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
57
Telecommunications:
modern telephone system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities; 768,000 telephones; broadcast stations – 159 AM, no FM, 131 TV, 11 shortwave; satellite ground stations – 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic
*Chile, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army of the Nation, National Navy (including Naval Air, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force of the Nation, Carabineros of Chile (National Police), Investigative Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 3.653 million; fit for military service 2,722,479; reach military age (19) annually 119,434 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion – $1 billion, 3.4% of GDP (1991 est.)
*China, Header
Affiliation:
(also see separate Taiwan entry)
*China, Geography
Location:
East Asia, between India and Mongolia Map references:
Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
9,596,960 km2
land area:
9,326,410 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than the US
Land boundaries:
total 22,143.34 km, Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km, Hong Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea 1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 km, Mongolia 4,673 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605 km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km Coastline:
14,500 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
claim to shallow areas of East China Sea and Yellow Sea territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
boundary with India; bilateral negotiations are under way to resolve disputed sections of the boundary with Russia; boundary with Tajikistan under dispute; a short section of the boundary with North Korea is indefinite; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; maritime boundary dispute with Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto, as does Taiwan, (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai)
Climate:
extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north Terrain:
mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east
Natural resources:
coal, iron ore, petroleum, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, world’s largest hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land:
10%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
31%
forest and woodland:
14%
other:
45%
Irrigated land:
478,220 km2 (1991 – Chinese statistic)
*China, Geography
Environment:
frequent typhoons (about five times per year along southern and eastern coasts), damaging floods, tsunamis, earthquakes; deforestation; soil erosion; industrial pollution; water pollution; air pollution; desertification
Note:
world’s third-largest country (after Russia and Canada)
*China, People
Population:
1,177,584,537 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.1% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
18.29 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate:
7.34 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate:
52.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.74 years
male:
66.78 years
female:
68.8 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.85 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Chinese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Chinese
Ethnic divisions:
Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1% Religions:
Daoism (Taoism), Buddhism, Muslim 2-3%, Christian 1% (est.) note:
officially atheist, but traditionally pragmatic and eclectic Languages:
Standard Chinese (Putonghua) or Mandarin (based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic divisions entry) Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population:
73%
male:
84%
female:
62%
Labor force:
567.4 million
by occupation:
agriculture and forestry 60%, industry and commerce 25%, construction and mining 5%, social services 5%, other 5% (1990 est.)
*China, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
People’s Republic of China
conventional short form:
China
local long form:
Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
local short form:
Zhong Guo
Abbreviation:
PRC
Digraph:
CH
Type:
Communist state
Capital:
Beijing
Administrative divisions:
23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions* (zizhiqu,, singular and plural), and 3 municipalities** (shi, singular and plural);, Anhui, Beijing Shi**, Fujian, Gansu,, Guangdong, Guangxi*, Guizhou, Hainan,, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning,
Nei Mongol*, Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai Shi**, Shanxi,, Sichuan, Tianjin Shi**, Xinjiang*, Xizang* (Tibet), Yunnan, Zhejiang, note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province Independence: 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch’in Dynasty 221 BC; Qing or Ch’ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12 February 1912; People’s Republic established 1 October 1949)
Constitution:
most recent promulgated 4 December 1982 Legal system:
a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are being made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law National holiday:
National Day, 1 October (1949)
Political parties and leaders:
Chinese Communist Party (CCP), JIANG Zemin, general secretary of the Central Committee (since 24 June 1989); eight registered small parties controlled by CCP
Other political or pressure groups: such meaningful opposition as exists consists of loose coalitions, usually within the party and government organization, that vary by issue Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
National People’s Congress:
last held March 1993 (next to be held March 1998); results – CCP is the only party but there are also independents; seats – (2,977 total) (elected at county or xian level)
President:
last held 27 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results – JIANG Zemin was nominally elected by the Eighth National People’s Congress Executive branch:
president, vice president, premier, four vice premiers, State Council
*China, Government
Legislative branch:
unicameral National People’s Congress (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui) Judicial branch:
Supreme People’s Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993); Vice President RONG Yiren (since 27 March 1993)
Chief of State and Head of Government (de facto): DENG Xiaoping (since NA 1977)
Head of Government:
Premier LI Peng (Acting Premier since 24 November 1987, Premier since 9 April 1988) Vice Premier ZHU Rongji (since 8 April 1991); Vice Premier ZOU Jiahua (since 8 April 1991); Vice Premier QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993); Vice Premier LI Lanqing (29 March 1993) Member of:
AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UNTSO, UN Trusteeship Council, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador LI Daoyu
chancery:
2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone:
(202) 328-2500 through 2502
consulates general:
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador J. Stapleton ROY
embassy:
Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, Beijing
mailing address:
100600, PSC 461, Box 50, Beijing or FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone:
[86] (1) 532-3831
FAX:
[86] (1) 532-3178
consulates general:
Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang Flag:
red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner
*China, Economy
Overview:
Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been trying to move the economy from the sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more productive and flexible economy with market elements, but still within the framework of monolithic Communist control. To this end the authorities have switched to a system of household responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in services and light manufacturing, and opened the foreign economic sector to increased trade and joint ventures. The most gratifying result has been a strong spurt in production, particularly in agriculture in the early 1980s. Industry also has posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment and modern production methods have helped spur production of both domestic and export goods. Aggregate output has more than doubled since 1978. On the darker side, the leadership has often experienced in its hybrid system the worst results of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude, corruption) and of capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation). Beijing thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals and thereby lessening the credibility of the reform process. In 1991, and again in 1992, output rose substantially, particularly in the favored coastal areas. Popular resistance, changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres have weakened China’s population control program, which is essential to the nation’s long-term economic viability. National product: GNP $NA
National product real growth rate:
12.8% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.4% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
2.3% in urban areas (1992)
Budget:
deficit $16.3 billion (1992)
Exports:
$85.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
textiles, garments, telecommunications and recording equipment, petroleum, minerals
partners:
Hong Kong and Macau, Japan, US, Germany, South Korea, Russia (1992) Imports:
$80.6 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
specialized industrial machinery, chemicals, manufactured goods, steel, textile yarn, fertilizer
partners:
Hong Kong and Macau, Japan, US, Taiwan, Germany, Russia (1992) External debt:
$69.3 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate 20.8% (1992)
Electricity:
158,690,000 kW capacity; 740,000 million kWh produced, 630 kWh per capita (1992)
*China, Economy
Industries:
iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers, consumer durables, food processing Agriculture:
accounts for 26% of GNP; among the world’s largest producers of rice, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, and pork; commercial crops include cotton, other fibers, and oilseeds; produces variety of livestock products; basically self-sufficient in food; fish catch of 13.35 million metric tons (including fresh water and pond raised) (1991) Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of opium in at least 18 provinces and administrative regions; bulk of production is in Yunnan Province; transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle
Economic aid:
donor – to less developed countries (1970-89) $7.0 billion; US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $220.7 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $13.5 billion Currency:
1 yuan (Y) = 10 jiao
Exchange rates:
yuan (Y) per US$1 – 5.7640 (January 1993), 5.5146 (1992), 5.3234 (1991), 4.7832 (1990), 3.7651 (1989), 3.7221 (1988) Fiscal year:
calendar year
*China, Communications
Railroads:
total about 64,000 km; 54,000 km of common carrier lines, of which 53,400 km are 1.435-meter gauge (standard) and 600 km are 1.000-meter gauge (narrow); 11,200 km of standard gauge common carrier route are double tracked and 6,900 km are electrified (1990); an additional 10,000 km of varying gauges (0.762 to 1.067-meter) are dedicated industrial lines Highways:
about 1,029,000 km (1990) total; 170,000 km (est.) paved roads, 648,000 km (est.) gravel/improved earth roads, 211,000 km (est.) unimproved earth roads and tracks
Inland waterways:
138,600 km; about 109,800 km navigable Pipelines:
crude oil 9,700 km (1990); petroleum products 1,100 km; natural gas 6,200 km Ports:
Dalian, Guangzhou, Huangpu, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Xingang, Zhanjiang, Ningbo, Xiamen, Tanggu, Shantou Merchant marine:
1,478 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,029,320 GRT/21,120,522 DWT; includes 25 passenger, 42 short-sea passenger, 18 passenger-cargo, 6 cargo/training, 811 cargo, 11 refrigerated cargo, 81 container, 18 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 multifunction/barge carrier, 177 oil tanker, 11 chemical tanker, 263 bulk, 3 liquefied gas, 1 vehicle carrier, 9 combination bulk, 1 barge carrier; note – China beneficially owns an additional 227 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling approximately 6,187,117 DWT that operate under Panamanian, British, Hong Kong, Maltese, Liberian, Vanuatu, Cypriot, Saint Vincent, Bahamian, and Romanian registry Airports:
total:
330
usable:
330
with permanent-surface runways:
260
with runways over 3,500 m:
fewer than 10
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
90
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
200
Telecommunications:
domestic and international services are increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed internal system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and most townships; 11,000,000 telephones (December 1989); broadcast stations – 274 AM, unknown FM, 202 (2,050 repeaters) TV; more than 215 million radio receivers; 75 million TVs; satellite earth stations – 4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 INMARSAT, and 55 domestic
*China, Defense Forces
Branches:
People’s Liberation Army (PLA), PLA Navy (including Marines), PLA Air Force Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 343,361,925; fit for military service 190,665,512; reach military age (18) annually 10,844,047 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion – $NA, NA% of GNP
*Christmas Island, Header
Affiliation:
(territory of Australia)
*Christmas Island, Geography
Location:
in the Indian Ocean, between Australia and Indonesia Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total area:
135 km2
land area:
135 km2
comparative area:
about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
138.9 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
12 nm
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds Terrain:
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau Natural resources:
phosphate
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
almost completely surrounded by a reef Note:
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
*Christmas Island, People
Population:
1,685 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
-2.44% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
NA years
male:
NA years
female:
NA years
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun:
Christmas Islander(s)
adjective:
Christmas Island
Ethnic divisions:
Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population Religions:
Buddhist 36.1%, Muslim 25.4%, Christian 17.7% (Roman Catholic 8.2%, Church of England 3.2%, Presbyterian 0.9%, Uniting Church 0.4%, Methodist 0.2%, Baptist 0.1%, and other 4.7%), none 12.7%, unknown 4.6%, other 3.5% (1981) Languages:
English
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island, Ltd.
*Christmas Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form:
Christmas Island
Digraph:
KT
Type:
territory of Australia
Capital:
The Settlement
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
none (territory of Australia)
Constitution:
Christmas Island Act of 1958
Legal system:
under the authority of the governor general of Australia National holiday:
NA
Political parties and leaders:
none
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general of Australia, administrator, Advisory Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
none
Judicial branch:
none
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) Head of Government:
Administrator M. J. GRIMES (since NA) Member of:
none
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation:
none (territory of Australia)
Flag:
the flag of Australia is used
*Christmas Island, Economy
Overview:
Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine as no longer economically viable. Plans have been under way to reopen the mine and also to build a casino and hotel to develop tourism, with a possible opening date during the first half of 1992.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports:
$NA
commodities:
phosphate
partners:
Australia, NZ
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
consumer goods
partners:
principally Australia
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
11,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced, 17,800 kWh per capita (1990) Industries:
phosphate extraction (near depletion) Agriculture:
NA
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates:
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 – 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988) Fiscal year:
1 July – 30 June
*Christmas Island, Communications
Highways:
adequate road system
Ports:
Flying Fish Cove
Airports:
total:
1
useable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439:
1
Telecommunications:
4,000 radios (1982); broadcasting stations – 1 AM, 1 TV
*Christmas Island, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia
*Clipperton Island, Header
Affiliation:
(possession of France)
*Clipperton Island, Geography
Location:
in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico Map references:
World
Area:
total area:
7 km2
land area:
7 km2
comparative area:
about 12 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
11.1 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claimed by Mexico
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
coral atoll
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100% (all coral)
Irrigated land:
0 km2
Environment:
reef about 8 km in circumference
*Clipperton Island, People
Population:
uninhabited
*Clipperton Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Clipperton Island
local long form:
none
local short form:
Ile Clipperton
former:
sometimes called Ile de la Passion Digraph: IP
Type:
French possession administered by France from French Polynesia by High Commissioner of the Republic
Capital:
none; administered by France from French Polynesia Independence:
none (possession of France)
*Clipperton Island, Economy
Overview:
The only economic activity is a tuna fishing station.
*Clipperton Island, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
*Clipperton Island, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
*Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Header
Affiliation:
(territory of Australia)
*Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Geography
Location:
in the Indian Ocean, 1,070 km southwest of Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total area:
14 km2
land area:
14 km2
comparative area:
about 24 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC note:
includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline:
2.6 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of the year; moderate rain fall
Terrain:
flat, low-lying coral atolls
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
*Cocos (Keeling) Islands, People
Population:
593 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.53% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
NA years
male:
NA years
female:
NA years
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/women
Nationality:
noun:
Cocos Islander(s)
adjective:
Cocos Islander
Ethnic divisions:
West Island:
Europeans
Home Island:
Cocos Malays
Religions:
Sunni Muslims
Languages:
English
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
*Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form:
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Digraph:
CK
Type:
territory of Australia
Capital:
West Island
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
none (territory of Australia)
Constitution:
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 Legal system:
based upon the laws of Australia and local laws National holiday:
NA
Political parties and leaders:
NA
Suffrage:
NA
Elections: NA
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general of Australia, administrator, chairman of the Islands Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral Islands Council
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) Head of Government:
Administrator B. CUNNINGHAM (since NA); Chairman of the Islands Council Haji WAHIN bin Bynie (since NA)
Member of:
none
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation:
none (territory of Australia)
Flag:
the flag of Australia is used
*Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Economy
Overview:
Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia. National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports:
$NA
commodities:
copra
partners:
Australia
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
foodstuffs
partners:
Australia
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
1,000 kW capacity; 2 million kWh produced, 2,980 kWh per capita (1990) Industries:
copra products
Agriculture:
gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates:
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 – 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988) Fiscal year:
1 July – 30 June
*Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Communications
Ports:
none; lagoon anchorage only
Airports:
total:
1
useable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
250 radios (1985); linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile communications via satellite with Australia; broadcast stations – 1 AM, no FM, no TV
*Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia
*Colombia, Geography
Location:
Northern South America, between Panama and Venezuela Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1,138,910 km2
land area:
1,038,700 km2
comparative area:
slightly less than three times the size of Montana note:
includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank Land boundaries:
total 7,408 km, Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km
Coastline:
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km) Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial dispute with Nicaragua over Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank
Climate:
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands Terrain:
flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes mountains, eastern lowland plains
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds Land use:
arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
29%
forest and woodland:
49%
other:
16%
Irrigated land:
5,150 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; periodic droughts Note:
only South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
*Colombia, People
Population:
34,942,767 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.83% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
23.4 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate:
4.82 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate:
-0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate:
29.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
71.72 years
male:
68.99 years
female:
74.53 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.54 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Colombian(s)
adjective:
Colombian
Ethnic divisions:
mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Indian 3%, Indian 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population:
87%
male:
88%
female:
86%
Labor force:
12 million (1990)
by occupation:
services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)
*Colombia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Colombia
conventional short form:
Colombia local long form:
Republica de Colombia
local short form:
Colombia
Digraph:
CO
Type:
republic; executive branch dominates government structure Capital:
Bogota
Administrative divisions:
23 departments (departamentos, singular – departamento), 5 commissariats*, (comisarias, singular – comisaria), 4 intendancies** (intendencias, singular, – intendencia), and 1 special district***, (distrito especial); Amazonas*,, Antioquia, Arauca**, Atlantico, Bogota***, Bolivar, Boyaca,, Caldas, Caqueta,
Casanare**, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia*, Guaviare*,, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo**,, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia**, Santander, Sucre, Tolima,, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes*, Vichada*, note: the Constitution of 5 July 1991 states that the commissariats and intendancies are to become full departments and a capital district (distrito capital) of Santa Fe de Bogota is to be established by 1997 Independence:
20 July 1810 (from Spain)
Constitution:
5 July 1991
Legal system:
based on Spanish law; judicial review of executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday:
Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Party (PL), Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo, president; Social Conservative Party (PCS), Misael PASTRANA Borrero; National Salvation Movement (MSN), Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado; Democratic Alliance M-19 (AD/M-19) is headed by 19th of April Movement (M-19) leader Antonio NAVARRO Wolf, coalition of small leftist parties and dissident liberals and conservatives; Patriotic Union (UP) is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and Colombian Communist Party (PCC), Carlos ROMERO Other political or pressure groups:
three insurgent groups are active in Colombia – Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Manuel MARULANDA and Alfonso CANO; National Liberation Army (ELN), Manuel PEREZ; and dissidents of the recently demobilized People’s Liberation Army (EPL), Francisco CARABALLO Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory Elections:
President:
last held 27 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results – Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo (Liberal) 47%, Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado (National Salvation Movement) 24%, Antonio NAVARRO Wolff (M-19) 13%, Rodrigo LLOREDA (Conservative) 12%
*Colombia, Government
Senate:
last held 27 October 1991 (next to be held March 1994); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (102 total) Liberal 58, Conservative 22, AD/M-19 9, MSN 5, UP 1, other 7
House of Representatives:
last held 27 October 1991 (next to be held March 1994); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (161 total) Liberal 87, Conservative 31, AD/M-19 13, MSN 10, UP 3, other 17
Executive branch:
president, presidential designate, Cabinet Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress (Congreso) consists of a nationally elected upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a nationally elected lower chamber or House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes) Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justical), Constitutional Court, Council of State
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government: President Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo (since 7 August 1990) Member of:
AG, CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jaime GARCIA Parra
chancery:
2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone:
(202) 387-8338
consulates general:
Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulates:
Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Tampa US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Morris D. BUSBY
embassy:
Calle 38, No. 8-61, Bogota
mailing address:
P. O. Box A. A. 3831, Bogota or APO AA 34038 telephone:
[57] (1) 285-1300 or 1688
FAX:
[57] (1) 288-5687
consulate:
Barranquilla
Flag:
three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
*Colombia, Economy
Overview:
Economic development has slowed gradually since 1986, but growth rates remain high by Latin American standards. Conservative economic policies have kept inflation and unemployment near 30% and 10%, respectively. The rapid development of oil, coal, and other nontraditional industries in recent years has helped to offset the decline in coffee prices – Colombia’s major export. The collapse of the International Coffee Agreement in the summer of 1989, a troublesome rural insurgency, energy rationing, and drug-related violence have dampened growth. The level of violence, in Bogota in particular, surged to higher levels in the first quarter of 1993, further delaying the economic resurgence expected from government reforms. These reforms center on fiscal restraint, trade and investment liberalization, financial and labor reform, and privatization of state utilities and commercial banks.
National product:
GDP – exchange rate conversion – $51 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate:
3.3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,500 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
25% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
10% (1992)
Budget:
revenues $5.0 billion; current expenditures $5.1 billion, capital expenditures $964 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
$7.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
petroleum, coffee, coal, bananas, fresh cut flowers partners:
US 44%, EC 21%, Japan 5%, Netherlands 4%, Sweden 3% (1991) Imports:
$5.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products
partners:
US 36%, EC 16%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 3%, Japan 3% (1991) External debt:
$17 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate -0.5% (1991); accounts for 20% of GDP Electricity:
10,193,000 kW capacity; 36,000 million kWh produced, 1,050 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, metal products, cement; mining – gold, coal, emeralds, iron, nickel, silver, salt
Agriculture:
growth rate 3% (1991 est.) accounts for 22% of GDP; crops make up two-thirds and livestock one-third of agricultural output; climate and soils permit a wide variety of crops, such as coffee, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseeds, vegetables; forest products and shrimp farming are becoming more important
*Colombia, Economy
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis, coca, and opium; about 37,500 hectares of coca under cultivation; the world’s largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of cocaine to the US and other international drug markets Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.6 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.3 billion, Communist countries (1970-89), $399 million Currency:
1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos Exchange rates:
Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 – 820.08 (January 1993), 759.28 (1992), 633.05 (1991), 502.26 (1990), 382.57 (1989), 299.17 (1988) Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Colombia, Communications
Railroads:
3,386 km; 3,236 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track (2,611 km in use), 150 km 1.435-meter gauge
Highways:
75,450 km total; 9,350 km paved, 66,100 km earth and gravel surfaces Inland waterways:
14,300 km, navigable by river boats Pipelines:
crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km
Ports:
Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Covenas, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco
Merchant marine:
27 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 227,719 GRT/356,665 DWT; includes 9 cargo, 3 oil tanker, 8 bulk, 7 container Airports:
total:
1,233
usable:
1,059
with permanent-surface:
69
with runways over 3,659 m:
1 with runways 2,440-2,459 m:
9
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
200
Telecommunications:
nationwide radio relay system; 1,890,000 telephones; broadcast stations – 413 AM, no FM, 33 TV, 28 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations and 11 domestic satellite earth stations
*Colombia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, including Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional) Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 9,428,358; fit for military service 6,375,944; reach military age (18) annually 356,993 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion – $630 million, 1.3% of GDP (1993 est.)
*Comoros, Geography
Location:
in the extreme northern Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
2,170 km2
land area:
2,170 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
340 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claims French-administered Mayotte Climate:
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) Terrain:
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills Natural resources:
negligible
Land use: arable land:
35%
permanent crops:
8%
meadows and pastures:
7%
forest and woodland:
16%
other:
34%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; cyclones possible during rainy season
Note:
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
*Comoros, People
Population:
511,651 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.54% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
46.75 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate:
11.31 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate:
81.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
57.35 years
male:
55.23 years
female:
59.55 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.86 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Comoran(s)
adjective:
Comoran
Ethnic divisions:
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava Religions:
Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14% Languages:
Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population:
48%
male:
56%
female:
40%
Labor force:
140,000 (1982)
by occupation:
agriculture 80%, government 3%
note:
51% of population of working age (1985)
*Comoros, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros conventional short form:
Comoros
local long form:
Republique Federale Islamique des Comores local short form:
Comores
Digraph:
CN
Type:
independent republic
Capital:
Moroni
Administrative divisions:
three islands; Njazidja (Grand Comore), Nzwani (Anjouan), and Mwali (Moheli) note:
there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Mutsamudu
Independence:
6 July 1975 (from France)
Constitution:
7 June 1992
Legal system:
French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Political parties and leaders:
over 20 political parties are currently active, the most important of which are; Comoran Union for Progress (UDZIMA), Omar TAMOU; Islands’ Fraternity and Unity Party (CHUMA), Said Ali KEMAL; Comoran Party for Democracy and Progress (PCDP), Ali MROUDJAE; Realizing Freedom’s Capability (UWEZO), Mouazair ABDALLAH; Democratic Front of the Comoros (FDR), Moustapha CHELKH; Dialogue Proposition Action (DPA/MWANGAZA), Said MCHAWGAMA; Rally for Change and Democracy (RACHADE), Hassan HACHIM; Union for Democracy and Decentralization (UNDC), Mohamed Taki Halidi IBRAHAM; Maecha Bora, leader NA; MDP/NGDC (expansion NA), leader NA; Comoran Popular Front (FPC), Mohamed HASSANALI, Mohamed El Arif OUKACHA, Abdou MOUSTAKIM (Secretary General) Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Federal Assembly:
last held November-December 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (42 total) UNDC 7, CHUMA 3, ADP 2, MDP/NGDC 5, FDC 2, MAECHA BORA 2, FPC 2, RACHADE 1, UWEZO 1, MWANGAZA 1, 16 other seats to smaller parties
President:
last held 11 March 1990 (next to be held March 1996); results – Said Mohamed DJOHAR (UDZIMA) 55%, Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (UNDC) 45% Executive branch:
president, Council of Ministers (cabinet), prime minister Legislative branch:
unicameral Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale) Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
*Comoros, Government
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government: President Said Mohamed DJOHAR (since 11 March 1990); Prime Minister Ibrahim HALIDI (since 1 January 1992)
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Amini Ali MOUMIN
chancery:
(temporary) at the Comoran Permanent Mission to the UN, 336 East 45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone:
(212) 972-8010
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Kenneth N. PELTIER
embassy:
address NA, Moroni
mailing address:
B. P. 1318, Moroni
telephone:
[269] 73-22-03, 73-29-22
FAX:
no service available at this time
Flag:
green with a white crescent placed diagonally (closed side of the crescent points to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag); there are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago – Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (which is a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by the Comoros)
*Comoros, Economy
Overview:
One of the world’s poorest countries, Comoros is made up of several islands that have poor transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a low level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the leading sector of the economy. It contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production, and rice, the main staple, accounts for