telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador E. Michael SOUTHWICK embassy: Parliament Avenue, Kampala
mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala telephone: [256] (41) 259792, 259793, 259795 FAX: [256] (41) 259794
Flag: six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the staff side
@Uganda:Economy
Overview: Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee is the major export crop and accounts for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986 the government – with the support of foreign countries and international agencies – has acted to rehabilitate and stabilize the economy by undertaking currency reform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing prices of petroleum products, and improving civil service wages. The policy changes are especially aimed at dampening inflation and boosting production and export earnings. In 1990-94, the economy turned in a solid performance based on continued investment in the rehabilitation of infrastructure, improved incentives for production and exports, and gradually improving domestic security. The economy again prospered in 1994 with rapid growth, low inflation, growing foreign investment, a trimmed bureaucracy, and the continued return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $16.2 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 6% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $850 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $365 million
expenditures: $545 million, including capital expenditures of $165 million (1989 est.)
Exports: $237 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: coffee 97%, cotton, tea
partners: US 25%, UK 18%, France 11%, Spain 10%
Imports: $696 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: petroleum products, machinery, cotton piece goods, metals, transportation equipment, food
partners: Kenya 25%, UK 14%, Italy 13%
External debt: $2.9 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 1.5% (1992); accounts for 5% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity: 160,000 kW
production: 780 million kWh
consumption per capita: 32 kWh (1993)
Industries: sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement
Agriculture: mainly subsistence; accounts for 57% of GDP and over 80% of labor force; cash crops – coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco; food crops – cassava, potatoes, corn, millet, pulses; livestock products – beef, goat meat, milk, poultry; self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $145 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.4 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $60 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $169 million
Currency: 1 Ugandan shilling (USh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Ugandan shillings (USh) per US$1 – 1,195 (December 1994), 1,195.0 (1993), 1.133.8 (1992), 734.0 (1991), 428.85 (1990), 223.1 (1989)
Fiscal year: 1 July – 30 June
@Uganda:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 1,300 km single track
narrow gauge: 1,300 km 1.000-m-gauge
Highways:
total: 26,200 km
paved: 1,970 km
unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 5,849 km; earth, tracks 18,381 km
Inland waterways: Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, Lake George, Lake Edward; Victoria Nile, Albert Nile; principal inland water ports are at Jinja and Port Bell, both on Lake Victoria
Ports: Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell
Merchant marine:
total: 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,091 GRT/NA DWT
Airports:
total: 29
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 9
with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 6 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9
@Uganda:Communications
Telephone system: NA telephones; fair system local: NA
intercity: microwave and radio communications stations international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 9
televisions: NA
@Uganda:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Wing
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,231,019; males fit for military service 2,298,654 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion – $55 million, 1.7% of budget (FY93/94)
________________________________________________________________________
UKRAINE
@Ukraine:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland and Russia
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States – European States
Area:
total area: 603,700 sq km
land area: 603,700 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries: total 4,558 km, Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 939 km, Poland 428 km, Romania (southwest) 169 km, Romania (west) 362 km, Russia 1,576 km, Slovakia 90 km
Coastline: 2,782 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: undefined
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: certain territory of Moldova and Ukraine – including Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina – are considered by Bucharest as historically a part of Romania; this territory was incorporated into the former Soviet Union following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1940; potential dispute with Russia over Crimea; has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation
Climate: temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; summers are warm across the greater part of the country, hot in the south
Terrain: most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaux, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south
Natural resources: iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulphur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber
Land use:
arable land: 56%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 12%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 30%
Irrigated land: 26,000 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl’ Nuclear Power Plant natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to – Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified – Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Note: strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia; second largest country in Europe
@Ukraine:People
Population: 51,867,828 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (female 5,217,850; male 5,407,450) 15-64 years: 65% (female 17,563,924; male 16,334,299) 65 years and over: 14% (female 4,976,893; male 2,367,412) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.04% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 12.31 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 12.67 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 20.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.11 years
male: 65.59 years
female: 74.87 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ukrainian(s)
adjective: Ukrainian
Ethnic divisions: Ukrainian 73%, Russian 22%, Jewish 1%, other 4%
Religions: Ukrainian Orthodox – Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox – Kiev Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate), Protestant, Jewish
Languages: Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989) total population: 98%
male: 100%
female: 97%
Labor force: 23.55 million (January 1994) by occupation: industry and construction 33%, agriculture and forestry 21%, health, education, and culture 16%, trade and distribution 7%, transport and communication 7%, other 16% (1992)
@Ukraine:Government
Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ukraine
local long form: none
local short form: Ukrayina
former: Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph: UP
Type: republic
Capital: Kiev (Kyyiv)
Administrative divisions: 24 oblasti (singular – oblast’), 1 autonomous republic* (avtomnaya respublika), and 2 municipalites (mista, singular – misto) with oblast status**; Cherkas’ka (Cherkasy), Chernihivs’ka (Chernihiv), Chernivets’ka (Chernivtsi), Dnipropetrovs’ka (Dnipropetrovs’k), Donets’ka (Donets’k), Ivano-Frankivs’ka (Ivano-Frankivs’k), Kharkivs’ka (Kharkiv), Khersons’ka (Kherson), Khmel’nyts’ka (Khmel’nyts’kyy), Kirovohrads’ka (Kirovohrad), Kyyiv**, Kyyivs’ka (Kiev), Luhans’ka (Luhans’k), L’vivs’ka (L’viv), Mykolayivs’ka (Mykolayiv), Odes’ka (Odesa), Poltavs’ka (Poltava), Respublika Krym* (Simferopol’), Rivnens’ka (Rivne), Sevastopol’**, Sums’ka (Sevastopol’), Ternopil’s’ka (Ternopil’), Vinnyts’ka (Vinnytsya), Volyns’ka (Luts’k), Zakarpats’ka (Uzhhorod), Zaporiz’ka (Zaporizhzhya), Zhytomyrs’ka (Zhytomyr) note: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name differs from oblast’ name
Independence: 1 December 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 August (1991)
Constitution: using 1978 pre-independence constitution; new constitution currently being drafted
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 Leonid D. KUCHMA (since 19 July 1994); election last held 26 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results – Leonid KUCHMA 52.15%, Leonid KRAVCHUK 45.06% head of government: Acting Prime Minister Yeuben MARCHUK (since 3 March 1995); First Deputy Prime Ministers Yevhen MARCHUK and Viktor PYNZENYK (since 31 October 1994) and six deputy prime ministers cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president and approved by the Supreme Council
National Security Council: originally created in 1992, but signficantly revamped and strengthened under President KUCHMA; members include the president, prime minister, Ministers of Finance, Environment, Justice, Internal Affairs, Foreign Economic Relations, Economic and Foreign Affairs; the NSC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on domestic and international matters and advising the president
Presidential Administration: helps draft presidential edicts and provides policy support to the president Council of Regions: advisory body created by President KUCHMA in September 1994; includes the Chairmen of Oblast and Kiev and Sevastopol City Supreme Councils
Legislative branch: unicameral
Supreme Council: elections last held 27 March 1994 with repeat elections continuing through December 1998 to fill empty seats (next to be held NA); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (450 total) Communists 91, Rukh 22, Agrarians 18, Socialists 15, Republicans 11, Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists 5, Labor 5, Party of Democratic Revival 4, Democrats 2, Social Democrats 2, Civil Congress 2, Conservative Republicans 1, Party of Economic Revival of Crimea 1, Christian Democrats 1, independents 225; note – 405 deputies have been elected; run-off elections for the remaining 45 seats to be held by December 1998
Judicial branch: joint commission formed in April 1995 to define a program of judicial reform by year-end
Political parties and leaders: Green Party of Ukraine, Vitaliy KONONOV, leader; Liberal Party of Ukraine; Liberal Democratic Party of Ukraine, Volodymyr KLYMCHUK, chairman; Democratic Party of Ukraine, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych YAVORIVSKIY, chairman; People’s Party of Ukraine, Leopol’d TABURYANSKYY, chairman; Peasants’ Party of Ukraine, Serhiy DOVHRAN’, chairman; Party of Democratic Rebirth (Revival) of Ukraine, Volodymyr FILENKO, chairman; Social Democratic Party of Ukraine, Yuriy VUZDUHAN, chairman; Socialist Party of Ukraine, Oleksandr MOROZ, chairman; Ukrainian Christian Democratic Party, Vitaliy ZHURAVSKYY, chairman; Ukrainian Conservative Republican Party, Stepan KHMARA, chairman; Ukrainian Labor Party, Valentyn LANDYK, chairman; Ukrainian Party of Justice, Mykhaylo HRECHKO, chairman; Ukrainian Peasants’ Democratic Party, Serhiy PLACHINDA, chairman; Ukrainian Republican Party, Mykhaylo HORYN’, chairman; Ukrainian National Conservative Party, Viktor RADIONOV, chairman; Ukrainian People’s Movement for Restructuring (Rukh), Vyacheslav CHORNOVIL, chairman; Ukrainian Communist Party, Petr SYMONENKO; Agrarian Party; Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists, S. STESTKO; Civil Congress, O. BAZYLUK; Party of Economic Revival of Crimea; Democratic Party Of Ukraine, Serhiy DOVMAN’, chairman
Other political or pressure groups: New Ukraine (Nova Ukrayina); Congress of National Democratic Forces
Member of: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CEI (associate members), CIS, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yuriy SHCHERBAK chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 333-0606
FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817
consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador William Green MILLER embassy: 10 Yuria Kotsyubinskovo, 252053 Kiev 53 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (044) 244-73-49, 244-37-45 FAX: [7] (044) 244-73-50
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow represent grainfields under a blue sky
@Ukraine:Economy
Overview: After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing more than three times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied equipment and raw materials to industrial and mining sites in other regions of the former USSR. In early 1992, the Ukrainian government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Loose monetary and fiscal policies pushed inflation to hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Greater monetary and fiscal restraint lowered inflation in 1994, but also contributed to an accelerated decline in industrial output. Since his election in July 1994, President KUCHMA has developed – and parliament has approved – a comprehensive economic reform program, maintained financial discipline, and reduced state controls over prices, the exchange rate, and foreign trade. Implementation of KUCHMA’s economic agenda will encounter considerable resistance from parliament, entrenched bureaucrats, and industrial interests and will contribute to further declines in output and rising unemployment which will sorely test the government’s ability to stay the course on reform in 1995.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $189.2 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
National product real growth rate: -19% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $3,650 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% per month (1994)
Unemployment rate: 0.4% officially registered; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $11.8 billion (1994)
commodities: coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, grain, meat partners: FSU countries, China, Italy, Switzerland
Imports: $14.2 billion (1994)
commodities: energy, machinery and parts, transportation equipment, chemicals, textiles
partners: FSU countries, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic
External debt: $7.5 billion (yearend 1994)
Industrial production: growth rate -28% (1994 est.); accounts for 50% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity: 54,380,000 kW
production: 182 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,200 kWh (1994)
Industries: coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food-processing (especially sugar)
Agriculture: accounts for about 25% of GDP; grain, vegetables, meat, milk, sugar beets
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid: $550 million economic aid and $350 million to help disassemble the atomic weapons from the US in 1994
Currency: Ukraine withdrew the Russian ruble from circulation on 12 November 1992 and declared the karbovanets (plural karbovantsi) sole legal tender in Ukrainian markets; Ukrainian officials claim this is an interim move toward introducing a new currency – the hryvnya – possibly in mid-1995
Exchange rates: karbovantsi per 1$US – 107,900 (end December 1994), 130,000 (April 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Ukraine:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 23,350 km
broad gauge: 23,350 km 1.524-m gauge (8,600 km electrified)
Highways:
total: 273,700 km
paved and graveled: 236,400 km
unpaved: earth 37,300 km
Inland waterways: 1,672 km perennially navigable (Pryp”yat’ and Dnipro Rivers)
Pipelines: crude oil 2,010 km; petroleum products 1,920 km; natural gas 7,800 km (1992)
Ports: Berdyans’k, Illichivs’k, Izmayil, Kerch, Kherson, Kiev (Kyyiv), Mariupol’, Mykolayiv, Odesa, Pivdenne, Reni
Merchant marine:
total: 379 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,799,253 GRT/5,071,175 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 7, bulk 55, cargo 221, chemical tanker 2, container 20, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 10, passenger 12, passenger-cargo 5, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 32, short-sea passenger 7
Airports:
total: 706
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 14 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 55 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 57 with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 7
with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 16 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 37 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 476
@Ukraine:Communications
Telephone system: 7,886,000 telephone circuits; about 151.4 telephone circuits/1,000 persons (1991); the telephone system is inadequate both for business and for personal use; 3.56 million applications for telephones had not been satisfied as of January 1991; electronic mail services have been established in Kiev, Odesa, and Luhans’k by Sprint local: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network operates in Kiev (Kyyiv) and allows direct dialing of international calls through Kiev’s EWSD digital exchange
intercity: NA
international: calls to other CIS countries are carried by land line or microwave; other international calls to 167 countries are carried by satellite or by the 150 leased lines through the Moscow gateway switch; INTELSAT, INMARSAT, and Intersputnik earth stations
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA radios: 15 million
Television:
broadcast stations: NA
televisions: 20 million
@Ukraine:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 12,324,832; males fit for military service 9,667,642; males reach military age (18) annually 359,546 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: 544.3 billion karbovantsi, less than 4% of GDP (forecast for 1993); note – conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
________________________________________________________________________
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
@United Arab Emirates:Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total area: 75,581 sq km
land area: 75,581 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries: total 867 km, Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline: 1,318 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: location and status of boundary with Saudi Arabia is not final; no defined boundary with most of Oman, but Administrative Line in far north; claims two islands in the Persian Gulf occupied by Iran (Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg or Greater Tunb, and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek or Lesser Tunb); claims island in the Persian Gulf jointly administered with Iran (Jazireh-ye Abu Musa or Abu Musa); in 1992, the dispute over Abu Musa and the Tunb islands became more acute when Iran unilaterally tried to control the entry of third country nationals into the UAE portion of Abu Musa island, Tehran subsequently backed off in the face of significant diplomatic support for the UAE in the region
Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 2%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 98%
Irrigated land: 50 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources being overcome by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms international agreements: party to – Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified – Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Note: strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
@United Arab Emirates:People
Population: 2,924,594 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (female 499,559; male 521,415) 15-64 years: 64% (female 643,819; male 1,229,730) 65 years and over: 1% (female 10,296; male 19,775) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.55% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 27.02 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 3.03 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 21.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.51 years
male: 70.42 years
female: 74.71 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.53 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Emirian(s)
adjective: Emirian
Ethnic divisions: Emirian 19%, other Arab 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982) note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)
Religions: Muslim 96% (Shi’a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%
Languages: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write but definition of literary not available (1985)
total population: 71%
male: 72%
female: 69%
Labor force: 580,000 (1986 est.)
by occupation: industry and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 5%
note: 80% of labor force is foreign (est.)
@United Arab Emirates:Government
Names:
conventional long form: United Arab Emirates conventional short form: none
local long form: Al Imarata al Arabiyah al Muttahidah local short form: none
former: Trucial States
Abbreviation: UAE
Digraph: TC
Type: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE central government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat, singular – imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), ‘Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Dubai, Ra’s al Khaymah, Sharjah, Umm al Qaywayn
Independence: 2 December 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1971)
Constitution: 2 December 1971 (provisional)
Legal system: secular codes are being introduced by the UAE Government and in several member emirates; Islamic law remains influential
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:
chief of state: President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (since 2 December 1971), ruler of Abu Dhabi; Vice President Shaykh MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy head of government: Prime Minister Shaykh MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy; Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990) Supreme Council of Rulers: composed of the seven emirate rulers, the council is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation, Abu Dhabi and Dubayy rulers have veto power; council meets four times a year
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral Federal National Council (Majlis Watani Itihad); no elections
Judicial branch: Union Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
Other political or pressure groups: NA
Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Husayn al-SHAALI chancery: Suite 600, 3000 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 338-6500
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador William A. RUGH embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi
mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi; American Embassy Abu Dhabi, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6010 (pouch) telephone: [971] (2) 436691, 436692
FAX: [971] (2) 434771
consulate(s) general: Dubayy (Dubai)
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side
@United Arab Emirates:Economy
Overview: The UAE has an open economy with one of the world’s highest incomes per capita and with a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas output (about 40% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since 1973, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. At present levels of production, crude oil reserves should last for over 100 years. Although much stronger economically than most Gulf states, the UAE faces similar problems with weak international oil prices and the pressures for cuts in OPEC oil production quotas. The UAE government is encouraging increased privatization within the economy.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $62.7 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: -0.5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $22,480 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.1% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1988)
Budget:
revenues: $4.3 billion
expenditures: $4.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est)
Exports: $24 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: crude oil 66%, natural gas, re-exports, dried fish, dates
partners: Japan 35%, South Korea 5%, Iran 4%, Oman 4%, Singapore 4% (1993)
Imports: $20 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, food
partners: Japan 12%, UK 10%, US 9%, Germany 7%, South Korea 5% (1993)
External debt: $11.6 billion (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 1.7% (1992 est.); accounts for 50% of GDP, including petroleum
Electricity:
capacity: 4,760,000 kW
production: 16.5 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 5,796 kWh (1993)
Industries: petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling
Agriculture: accounts for 2% of GDP and 5% of labor force; cash crop – dates; food products – vegetables, watermelons, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish; only 25% self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs: growing role as heroin transshipment and money-laundering center
Economic aid:
donor: pledged in bilateral aid to less developed countries (1979-89) $9.1 billion
Currency: 1 Emirian dirham (Dh) = 100 fils
Exchange rates: Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1 – 3.6710 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@United Arab Emirates:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,000 km
paved: 1,800 km
unpaved: gravel, graded earth 200 km
Pipelines: crude oil 830 km; natural gas, including natural gas liquids, 870 km
Ports: Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina’ Jabal’ Ali, Mina’ Khalid, Mina’ Rashid, Mina’ Saqr, Mina’ Zayid, Umm al Qiwain
Merchant marine:
total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,128,253 GRT/1,938,770 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 18, chemical tanker 1, container 10, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3
Airports:
total: 41
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 9 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 12 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8
@United Arab Emirates:Communications
Telephone system: 386,600 telephones; modern system consisting of microwave and coaxial cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubayy local: NA
intercity: microwave and coaxial cable international: 3 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 ARABSAT earth station; submarine cables to Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 3, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 12
televisions: NA
@United Arab Emirates:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Federal Police Force)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,072,261; males fit for military service 583,967; males reach military age (18) annually 19,266 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion – $1.59 billion, 4.3% of GDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
UNITED KINGDOM
@United Kingdom:Geography
Location: Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 244,820 sq km
land area: 241,590 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands
Land boundaries: total 360 km, Ireland 360 km
Coastline: 12,429 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Northern Ireland question with Ireland; Gibraltar question with Spain; Argentina claims Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas); Argentina claims South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Mauritius claims island of Diego Garcia in British Indian Ocean Territory; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and Ireland (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area); territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory)
Climate: temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than half of the days are overcast
Terrain: mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast
Natural resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica
Land use:
arable land: 29%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 48%
forest and woodland: 9%
other: 14%
Irrigated land: 1,570 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues: sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants contribute to air pollution; some rivers polluted by agricultural wastes and coastal waters polluted because of large-scale disposal of sewage at sea
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to – Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified – Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification
Note: lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters
@United Kingdom:People
Population: 58,295,119 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (female 5,572,189; male 5,843,192) 15-64 years: 65% (female 18,723,583; male 18,935,931) 65 years and over: 16% (female 5,471,383; male 3,748,841) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.27% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 13.18 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 10.66 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77 years
male: 74.18 years
female: 79.95 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural) adjective: British
Ethnic divisions: English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh 1.9%, Ulster 1.8%, West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%
Religions: Anglican 27 million, Roman Catholic 9 million, Muslim 1 million, Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 400,000, Hindu 350,000, Jewish 300,000 (1991 est.)
note: the UK does not include a question on religion in its census
Languages: English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991 est.) total population: 99%
Labor force: 28.048 million
by occupation: services 62.8%, manufacturing and construction 25.0%, government 9.1%, energy 1.9%, agriculture 1.2% (June 1992)
@United Kingdom:Government
Names:
conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
conventional short form: United Kingdom
Abbreviation: UK
Digraph: UK
Type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: London
Administrative divisions: 47 counties, 7 metropolitan counties, 26 districts, 9 regions, and 3 islands areas England: 39 counties, 7 metropolitan counties*; Avon, Bedford, Berkshire, Buckingham, Cambridge, Cheshire, Cleveland, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derby, Devon, Dorset, Durham, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucester, Greater London*, Greater Manchester*, Hampshire, Hereford and Worcester, Hertford, Humberside, Isle of Wight, Kent, Lancashire, Leicester, Lincoln, Merseyside*, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Nottingham, Oxford, Shropshire, Somerset, South Yorkshire*, Stafford, Suffolk, Surrey, Tyne and Wear*, Warwick, West Midlands*, West Sussex, West Yorkshire*, Wiltshire Northern Ireland: 26 districts; Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Down, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn, Londonderry, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, Strabane Scotland: 9 regions, 3 islands areas*; Borders, Central, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, Grampian, Highland, Lothian, Orkney*, Shetland*, Strathclyde, Tayside, Western Isles*
Wales: 8 counties; Clwyd, Dyfed, Gwent, Gwynedd, Mid Glamorgan, Powys, South Glamorgan, West Glamorgan
Dependent areas: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong Kong (scheduled to become a Special Administrative Region of China on 1 July 1997), Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
Independence: 1 January 1801 (United Kingdom established)
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system: common law tradition with early Roman and modern continental influences; no judicial review of Acts of Parliament; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the Queen, born 14 November 1948) head of government: Prime Minister John MAJOR (since 28 November 1990)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament House of Lords: consists of a 1,200-member body, four-fifths are hereditary peers, 2 archbishops, 24 other senior bishops, serving and retired Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, other life peers, Scottish peers House of Commons: elections last held 9 April 1992 (next to be held by NA April 1997); results – Conservative 41.9%, Labor 34.5%, Liberal Democratic 17.9%, other 5.7%; seats – (651 total) Conservative 336, Labor 271, Liberal Democratic 20, other 24
Judicial branch: House of Lords
Political parties and leaders: Conservative and Unionist Party, John MAJOR; Labor Party, Anthony (Tony) Blair; Liberal Democrats (LD), Jeremy (Paddy) ASHDOWN; Scottish National Party, Alex SALMOND; Welsh National Party (Plaid Cymru), Dafydd Iwan WIGLEY; Ulster Unionist Party (Northern Ireland), James MOLYNEAUX; Democratic Unionist Party (Northern Ireland), Rev. Ian PAISLEY; Ulster Popular Unionist Party (Northern Ireland); Social Democratic and Labor Party (SDLP, Northern Ireland), John HUME; Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland), Gerry ADAMS
Other political or pressure groups: Trades Union Congress; Confederation of British Industry; National Farmers’ Union; Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sir Robin William RENWICK chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-1340
FAX: [1] (202) 898-4255
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, consulate(s): Dallas, Miami, and Seattle
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Adm. William W. CROWE embassy: 24/31 Grosvenor Square, London, W. 1A1AE mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040 telephone: [44] (71) 499-9000
FAX: [44] (71) 409-1637
consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh
Flag: blue with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); known as the Union Flag or Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including dependencies, Commonwealth countries, and others
@United Kingdom:Economy
Overview: The UK is one of the world’s great trading powers and financial centers, and its economy ranks among the four largest in Western Europe. The economy is essentially capitalistic; over the past 13 years the ruling Tories have greatly reduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with only 1% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves, and primary energy production accounts for 12% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance, now employing only 25% of the work force and generating only 21% of GDP. The economy registered 4.2% GDP growth in 1994, its fastest annual rate for six years. Exports and manufacturing output are the primary engines of growth. Unemployment is gradually falling. Inflation is at the lowest level in 27 years, but British monetary authorities raised interest rates to 6.25% in 1994 in a preemptive strike on emerging inflationary pressures such as higher taxes and rising manufacturing costs. The combination of a buoyant economy and fiscal tightening is projected to trim the FY94/95 budget shortfall to about $50 billion – down from about $75 billion in FY93/94. The major economic policy question for Britain in the 1990s is the terms on which it participates in the financial and economic integration of Europe.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $1.0452 trillion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 4.2% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $17,980 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 9.3% (1994)
Budget:
revenues: $325.5 billion
expenditures: $400.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $33 billion (FY93/94 est.)
Exports: $200 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods, transport equipment partners: EU countries 56.7% (Germany 14.0%, France 11.1%, Netherlands 7.9%), US 10.9%
Imports: $215 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, machinery, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
partners: EU countries 51.7% (Germany 14.9%, France 9.3%, Netherlands 8.4%), US 11.6%
External debt: $16.2 billion (June 1992)
Industrial production: growth rate 5.6% (1994)
Electricity:
capacity: 65,360,000 kW
production: 303 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 5,123 kWh (1993)
Industries: production machinery including machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other consumer goods
Agriculture: accounts for only 1.5% of GDP; wide variety of crops and livestock products
Illicit drugs: gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market; producer of synthetic drugs; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering center
Economic aid:
donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1992-93), $3.2 billion
Currency: 1 British pound (#) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: British pounds (#) per US$1 – 0.6350 (January 1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6033 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 April – 31 March
@United Kingdom:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 16,888 km; note – several additional small standard-gauge and narrow-gauge lines are privately owned and operated broad gauge: 330 km 1.600-m gauge (190 km double track) standard gauge: 16,558 km 1.435-m gauge (4,950 km electrified; 12,591 km double or multiple track)
Highways:
total: 360,047 km (includes Northern Ireland) paved: 360,047 km (includes Northern Ireland; Great Britain has 3,100 km limited access divided highway)
Inland waterways: 2,291 total; British Waterways Board, 606 km; Port Authorities, 706 km; other, 979 km
Pipelines: crude oil (almost all insignificant) 933 km; petroleum products 2,993 km; natural gas 12,800 km
Ports: Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Grangemouth, Hull, Leith, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Medway, Sullom Voe, Tees, Tyne
Merchant marine:
total: 155 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,249,823 GRT/3,978,336 DWT
ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 24, chemical tanker 2, container 23, liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 56, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, short-sea passenger 13, specialized tanker 1
Airports:
total: 505
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 10 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 174 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 91
with paved runways under 914 m: 172 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 27
@United Kingdom:Communications
Telephone system: 30,200,000 telephones; technologically advanced domestic and international system
local: NA
intercity: NA equal mix of buried cables, microwave and optical-fiber systems
international: 40 coaxial submarine cables; 10 INTELSAT (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 INMARSAT, and 1 EUTELSAT earth satellite; at least 8 large international switching centers
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 225, FM 525 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0 radios: 70 million
Television:
broadcast stations: 207 (repeaters 3,210) televisions: 20 million
@United Kingdom:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal Air Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 14,429,485; males fit for military service 12,041,935 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion – $35.1 billion, 3.1% of GDP (FY95/96)
________________________________________________________________________
UNITED STATES
@United States:Geography
Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Map references: North America
Area:
total area: 9,372,610 sq km
land area: 9,166,600 sq km
comparative area: about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about one-half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly smaller than China; about two and one-half times the size of Western Europe note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
Land boundaries: total 12,248 km, Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Cuba 29 km (US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay), Mexico 3,326 km
Coastline: 19,924 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 12 nm
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island); US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation; Republic of Marshall Islands claims Wake Island
Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida and arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
Terrain: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii
Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 26%
forest and woodland: 29%
other: 25%
Irrigated land: 181,020 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; very limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification
natural hazards: tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic coast; tornadoes in the midwest; mudslides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska is a major impediment to development international agreements: party to – Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified – Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Tropical Timber 94
Note: world’s fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and China)
@United States:People
Population: 263,814,032 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (female 28,391,451; male 29,845,630) 15-64 years: 65% (female 86,454,415; male 85,474,002) 65 years and over: 13% (female 19,949,978; male 13,698,559) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.02% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 15.25 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 8.38 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.88 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.99 years
male: 72.8 years
female: 79.7 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: American(s)
adjective: American
Ethnic divisions: white 83.4%, black 12.4%, Asian 3.3%, Native American 0.8% (1992)
Religions: Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10% (1989)
Languages: English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)
Literacy: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling (1979)
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97%
Labor force: 131.056 million (includes unemployed) (1994) by occupation: managerial and professional 27.5%, technical, sales and administrative support 30.3%, services 13.7%, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 25.5%, farming, forestry, and fishing 2.9%
@United States:Government
Names:
conventional long form: United States of America conventional short form: United States
Abbreviation: US or USA
Digraph: US
Type: federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Capital: Washington, DC
Administrative divisions: 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Dependent areas: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US has administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship with all four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is a Commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986)
Independence: 4 July 1776 (from England)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution: 17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993); election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results – William Jefferson CLINTON (Democratic Party) 43.2%, George BUSH (Republican Party) 37.7%, Ross PEROT (Independent) 19.0%, other 0.1%
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president with Senate approval
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress Senate: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (100 total) Republican Party 54, Democratic Party 46 House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (435 total) Republican Party 231, Democratic Party 203, independent 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Haley BARBOUR, national committee chairman; Jeanie AUSTIN, co-chairman; Democratic Party, David C. WILHELM, national committee chairman; several other groups or parties of minor political significance
Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CP, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G- 2, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Flag: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
@United States:Economy
Overview: The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $25,850, the largest among major industrial nations. The economy is market oriented with most decisions made by private individuals and business firms and with government purchases of goods and services made predominantly in the marketplace. In 1989 the economy enjoyed its seventh successive year of substantial growth, the longest in peacetime history. The expansion featured moderation in wage and consumer price increases and a steady reduction in unemployment to 5.2% of the labor force. In 1990, however, growth slowed to 1% because of a combination of factors, such as the worldwide increase in interest rates, Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in August, the subsequent spurt in oil prices, and a general decline in business and consumer confidence. In 1991 output fell by 0.6%, unemployment grew, and signs of recovery proved premature. Growth picked up to 2.3% in 1992 and to 3.1% in 1993. Unemployment, however, declined only gradually, the increase in GDP being mainly attributable to gains in output per worker. The year 1994 witnessed a solid 4% gain in real output, a low inflation rate of 2.6%, and a drop in unemployment below 6%. The capture of both houses of Congress by the Republicans in the elections of 8 November 1994 means substantial changes are likely in US economic policy, including changes in the ways the US will address its major economic problems in 1995-96. These problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs of an aging population, and sizable budget and trade deficits.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $6.7384 trillion (1994)
National product real growth rate: 4.1% (1994)
National product per capita: $25,850 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 5.5% (March 1995)
Budget:
revenues: $1.258 trillion
expenditures: $1.461 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)
Exports: $513 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products partners: Western Europe 24.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 10.5% (1993)
Imports: $664 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery, automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and beverages
partners: Canada, 19.3%, Western Europe 18.1%, Japan 18.1% (1993)
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate 5.4% (1994 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 695,120,000 kW
production: 3.1 trillion kWh
consumption per capita: 11,236 kWh (1993)
Industries: leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
Agriculture: accounts for 2% of GDP and 2.9% of labor force; favorable climate and soils support a wide variety of crops and livestock production; world’s second largest producer and number one exporter of grain; surplus food producer; fish catch of 4.4 million metric tons (1990)
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for domestic consumption with 1987 production estimated at 3,500 metric tons or about 25% of the available marijuana; ongoing eradication program aimed at small plots and greenhouses has not reduced production
Economic aid:
donor: commitments, including ODA and OOF, (FY80-89), $115.7 billion
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
British pounds: (#) per US$ – 0.6350 (January 1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6033 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990) Canadian dollars: (Can$) per US$ – 1.4129 (January 1995), 1.3656 (1994), 1.2901 (1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991), 1.1668 (1990) French francs: (F) per US$ – 5.2943 (January 1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990) Italian lire: (Lit) per US$ – 1,609.5 (January 1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990) Japanese yen: (Y) per US$ – 99.75 (January 1995), 102.21 (1994), 111.20 (1993), 126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991), 144.79 (1990) German deutsche marks: (DM) per US$ – 1.5313 (January 1995), 1.6228 (1994), 1.6533 (1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595 (1991), 1.6157 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 October – 30 September
@United States:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 240,000 km mainline routes (nongovernment owned) standard gauge: 240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)
Highways:
total: 6,243,163 km
paved: 3,633,520 km (including 84,865 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,609,643 km (1990)
Inland waterways: 41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes (est.)
Pipelines: petroleum 276,000 km; natural gas 331,000 km (1991)
Ports: Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral, Portland (Oregon), Prudhoe Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Toledo
Merchant marine:
total: 354 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,462,000 GRT/16,477,000 DWT
ships by type: bulk 22, cargo 28, chemical tanker 16, intermodal 130, liquefied gas tanker 13, passenger-cargo 2, tanker 130, tanker tug-barge 13
note: in addition, there are 189 government-owned vessels
Airports:
total: 15,032
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 181 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 208 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,242 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2,489 with paved runways under 914 m: 8,994
with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 180 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1,730
@United States:Communications
Telephone system: 126,000,000 telephones; 7,557,000 cellular telephones
local: NA
intercity: large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites
international: 16 satellites and 24 ocean cable systems in use; 61 INTELSAT (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean) earth stations (1990)
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 4,987, FM 4,932, shortwave 0 radios: 530 million
Television:
broadcast stations: 1,092 (about 9,000 cable TV systems) televisions: 193 million
@United States:Defense Forces
Branches: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (includes Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force
Defense expenditures: $284.4 billion, 4.2% of GDP (1994 est.)
________________________________________________________________________
URUGUAY
@Uruguay:Geography
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
Map references: South America
Area:
total area: 176,220 sq km
land area: 173,620 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Washington State
Land boundaries: total 1,564 km, Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
Coastline: 660 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 200 nm; overflight and navigation guaranteed beyond 12 nm
International disputes: short section of boundary with Argentina is in dispute; two short sections of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute – Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay River
Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
Natural resources: soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals
Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 78%
forest and woodland: 4%
other: 10%
Irrigated land: 1,100 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: substantial pollution from Brazilian industry along border; one-fifth of country affected by acid rain generated by Brazil; water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
natural hazards: seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in weather fronts
international agreements: party to – Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified – Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
@Uruguay:People
Population: 3,222,716 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25% (female 392,262; male 409,580) 15-64 years: 63% (female 1,026,314; male 995,492) 65 years and over: 12% (female 233,377; male 165,691) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.74% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 17.57 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 9.27 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.46 years
male: 71.24 years
female: 77.83 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.41 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan
Ethnic divisions: white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%
Religions: Roman Catholic 66% (less than half adult population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other 30%
Languages: Spanish, Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 96%
Labor force: 1.355 million (1991 est.) by occupation: government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)
@Uruguay:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay conventional short form: Uruguay
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay local short form: Uruguay
Digraph: UY
Type: republic
Capital: Montevideo
Administrative divisions: 19 departments (departamentos, singular – departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres
Independence: 25 August 1828 (from Brazil)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1828)
Constitution: 27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980
Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March 1995); Vice President Hugo BATALLA (since 1 March 1995); election last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General) Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores): elections last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999); results – Colorado 36%, Blanco 34 %, Encuentro Progresista 27%, New Sector 3%; seats – (30 total) Colorado 11, Blanco 10, Encuentro Progresista 8, New Sector 1
Chamber of Representatives (Camera de Representantes): elections last held 27 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1999); results – Colorado 32%, Blanco 31%, Encuentro Progresista 31%, New Sector 5%; seats – (99 total) Colorado 32, Blanco 31, Encuentro Progresista 31, New Sector 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: National (Blanco) Party; Colorado Party, Jorge BATLLE; Broad Front Coalition, Gen. Liber SEREGNI Mosquera; New Sector Coalition, Hugo BATALLA; Encuentro Progresista
Member of: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MERCOSUR, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo MACGILLYCUDDY chancery: 1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York consulate(s): New Orleans
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: [598] (2) 23 60 61, 48 77 77 FAX: [598] (2) 48 86 11
Flag: nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy
@Uruguay:Economy
Overview: Uruguay’s economy is a small one with favorable climate, good soils, and substantial hydropower potential. Economic development has been restrained in recent years by excessive government regulation of economic detail and 40% to 130% inflation. Although the GDP growth rate slowed in 1993 to 1.7%, following a healthy expansion to 7.5% in 1992, it rebounded in 1994 to an estimated 4%, spurred mostly by increasing agricultural and other exports and a surprise reversal of the downward trend in industrial production. In a major step toward regional economic cooperation, Uruguay confirmed its commitment to the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR) customs union by implementing MERCOSUR’s common external tariff on most tradables on 1 January 1995. Inflation in 1994 declined for the third consecutive year, yet, at 44%, it remains the highest in the region; analysts predict that the expanding fiscal deficit and wage indexation will force the inflation rate back toward the 50% mark in 1995.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $23 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $7,200 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 44% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.9 billion
expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $388 million (1991 est.)
Exports: $1.78 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal products, leather, rice
partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, China, Italy
Imports: $2.461 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, minerals, plastics
partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Nigeria
External debt: $4.2 billion (1993)
Industrial production: growth rate 3.9% (1992); accounts for 28% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity: 2,070,000 kW
production: 9 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 1,575 kWh (1993)
Industries: meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles, footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, petroleum refining, wine
Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP; large areas devoted to livestock grazing; wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; fishing; self-sufficient in most basic foodstuffs
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $105 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $420 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $69 million
Currency: 1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos
Exchange rates: Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1 – 5.6 (January 1995), 4.4710 (January 1994), 3.9484 (1993), 3.0270 (1992), 2.0188 (1991), 1.1710 (1990)
note: on 1 March 1993 the former New Peso (N$Ur) was replaced as Uruguay’s unit of currency by the Peso which is equal to 1,000 of the New Pesos
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Uruguay:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 3,000 km
standard gauge: 3,000 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:
total: 49,900 km
paved: 6,700 km
unpaved: gravel 3,000 km; earth 40,200 km
Inland waterways: 1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft
Ports: Fray Bentos, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Punta del Este
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,405 GRT/110,939 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, container 1, oil tanker 1
Airports:
total: 85
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8 with paved runways under 914 m: 54
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14
@Uruguay:Communications