ethnic Pashtun areas in southern Afghanistan; opposing factions have their stonghold in the ethnically diverse north – General DOSTAM’s National Islamic Movement controls several northcentral provinces and Commander MASOOD controls the ethnic Tajik majority areas of the northeast
Legislative branch: non-functioning as of June 1993
Judicial branch: non-functioning as of March 1995, although there are local Shari’a (Islamic law) courts throughout the country
Political parties and leaders: Taliban (Religious Students Movement), Mohammad OMAR; Supreme Defense Council of Afghanistan [comprised of Jumbesh-i-Melli Islami (National Islamic Movement), Abdul Rashid DOSTAM; Jamiat-i-Islami (Islamic Society), Burhanuddin RABBANI and Ahmad Shah MASOOD; and Hizbi Wahdat-Khalili faction (Islamic Unity Party), Abdul Karim KHALILI]; other smaller parties are Hizbi Islami-Gulbuddin (Islamic Party), Gulbuddin HIKMATYAR faction; Hizbi Islami-Khalis (Islamic Party), Yunis KHALIS faction; Ittihad-i-Islami Barai Azadi Afghanistan (Islamic Union for the Liberation of Afghanistan), Abdul Rasul SAYYAF; Harakat-Inqilab-i-Islami (Islamic Revolutionary Movement), Mohammad Nabi MOHAMMADI; Jabha-i-Najat-i-Milli Afghanistan (Afghanistan National Liberation Front), Sibghatullah MOJADDEDI; Mahaz-i-Milli-Islami (National Islamic Front), Sayed Ahamad GAILANI; Hizbi Wahdat-Akbari faction (Islamic Unity Party), Mohammad Akbar AKBARI; Harakat-i-Islami (Islamic Movement), Mohammed Asif MOHSENI
Political pressure groups and leaders: tribal elders represent traditional Pashtun leadership; Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Australia, US, and elsewhere have organized politically; Peshawar, Pakistan-based groups such as the Coordination Council for National Unity and Understanding in Afghanistan (CUNUA), Ishaq GAILANI; Writers Union of Free Afghanistan (WUFA), A. Rasul AMIN; Mellat (Social Democratic Party), leader NA
International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission : Ambassador (vacant); Charge d’Affaires Yar Mohammed MOHABBAT
chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-3770, 3771
FAX: [1] (202) 328-3516
consulate(s) general : New York
consulate(s): Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US embassy in Kabul has been closed since January 1989 due to security concerns
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a gold emblem centered on the three bands; the emblem features a temple-like structure with Islamic inscriptions above and below, encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bolder Islamic inscription above, all of which are encircled by two crossed scimitars
Economy
Economy – overview: Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country, highly dependent on farming and livestock raising (sheep and goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to political and military upheavals during more than 17 years of war, including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989). During the war one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan and Iran sheltering a combined peak of more than 6 million refugees. Now, only 750,000 registered Afghan refugees remain in Pakistan and about 1.2 million in Iran. Another 1 million have probably moved into and around urban areas within Afghanistan. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over the past 17 years because of the loss of labor and capital and the disruption of trade and transport. Millions of people continue to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and medical care. Inflation remains a serious problem throughout the country, with one estimate putting the rate at 240% in Kabul in 1996. Numerical data are likely to be either unavailable or unreliable.
GDP: purchasing power parity – $18.1 billion (1996 est.)
GDP – real growth rate: NA%
GDP – per capita: purchasing power parity – $800 (1996 est.)
GDP – composition by sector:
agriculture: 56%
industry: 15%
services: 29%
Inflation rate – consumer price index: 240% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total: 7.1 million
by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 67.8%, industry 10.2%, construction 6.3%, commerce 5.0%, services and other 10.7% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, and cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, oil, coal, copper
Electricity – capacity: 371,000 kW (1993)
Electricity – production: 670 million kWh (1994)
Electricity – consumption per capita: 35 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture – products: wheat, fruits, nuts, karakul pelts; wool, mutton
Exports:
total value: $80 million (1996 est.) commodities: fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems partners : FSU, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, India, UK, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia
Imports:
total value : $150 million (1996 est.) commodities: food and petroleum products; most consumer goods partners: FSU, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Singapore, India, South Korea, Germany
Debt – external: $2.3 billion (March 1991 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA; about $56 million in UN aid plus additional bilateral aid and aid in kind (1996)
note: US provided $450 million in bilateral assistance (1985-93); US continues to contribute to multilateral assistance through the UN programs of food aid, immunization, land mine removal, and a wide range of aid to refugees and displaced persons
Currency: 1 afghani (AF) = 100 puls
Exchange rates: afghanis (Af) per US$1 – 17,000 (December 1996), 7,000 (January 1995), 1,900 (January 1994), 1,019 (March 1993), 850 (1991); note – these rates reflect the free market exchange rates rather than the official exchange rate, which is a fixed rate of 50.600 afghanis to the dollar
Fiscal year: 21 March – 20 March
@Afghanistan:Communications
Telephones: 31,200 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic : very limited telephone and telegraph service international: satellite earth stations – 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 0, shortwave 2
Radios: 1.8 million (1996 est.); note – about 60% of families own a radio
Television broadcast stations: NA
note: one television station run by Jumbesh faction provides intermittent service
Televisions: 100,000 (1993 est.)
@Afghanistan:Transportation
Railways:
total: 24.6 km
broad gauge: 9.6 km 1.524-m gauge from Gushgy (Turkmenistan) to Towraghondi; 15 km 1,524-m gauge from Termiz (Uzbekistan) to Kheyrabad transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya
Highways:
total: 21,000 km
paved: 2,793 km
unpaved: 18,207 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 1,200 km; chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to about 500 DWT
Pipelines: petroleum products – Uzbekistan to Bagram and Turkmenistan to Shindand; natural gas 180 km
Ports and harbors: Kheyrabad, Shir Khan
Airports: 33 (1996 est.)
Airports – with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m : 2
under 914 m: 7 (1996 est.)
Airports – with unpaved runways:
total: 17
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: NA; note – the military does not exist on a national basis; some elements of the former Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Forces, National Police Force (Sarandoi), and tribal militias still exist but are factionalized among the various groups
Military manpower – military age: 22 years of age
Military manpower – availability:
males age 15-49 : 5,813,298 (1997 est.)
Military manpower – fit for military service: males : 3,118,004 (1997 est.)
Military manpower – reaching military age annually: males: 231,250 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures – dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures – percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes – international: some support from RABBANI and MASOOD to anti-government Islamic fighters in Tajikistan’s civil war; support to Islamic militants worldwide by some factions; question over which group should hold Afghanistan’s seat at the UN
Illicit drugs: world’s second-largest illicit opium producer after Burma (1,230 metric tons in 1996 – down 2% from 1995) and a major source of hashish
______________________________________________________________________
ALBANIA
@Albania:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 28,750 sq km
land: 27,400 sq km
water: 1,350 sq km
Area – comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 720 km
border countries: Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro)
Coastline: 362 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea : 12 nm
Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point : Maja e Korabit 2,753 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 38%
other: 21% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,410 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast
Environment – current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents
Environment – international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Wetlands signed, but not ratified : none of the selected agreements
Geography – note: strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
@Albania:People
Population: 3,299,757 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 575,087; female 534,618) 15-64 years: 60% (male 927,791; female 1,068,922) 65 years and over: 6% (male 80,135; female 113,204) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.9% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 21.96 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 7.54 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over : 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 47.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population : 68.28 years
male: 65.24 years
female: 71.55 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Albanian(s)
adjective: Albanian
Ethnic groups: Albanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.)
note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)
Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice
Languages: Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek
Literacy:
definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 72%
male: 80%
female: 63% (1955 est.)
@Albania:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Albania conventional short form: Albania
local long form: Republika e Shqiperise local short form: Shqiperia
former: People’s Socialist Republic of Albania
Data code: AL
Government type: emerging democracy
National capital: Tirane
Administrative divisions: 26 districts (rrethe, singular – rreth); Berat, Dibre, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Kolonje, Korce, Kruje, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Mat, Mirdite, Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar, Tepelene, Tirane, Tropoje, Vlore
note: some new administrative units may have been created
Independence: 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
Constitution: an interim basic law was approved by the People’s Assembly on 29 April 1991; a draft constitution was rejected by popular referendum in the fall of 1994 and a new draft is pending
Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state : President of the Republic Sali BERISHA (since 9 April 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister of the interim National Reconciliation Government Bashkim FINO (since 12 March 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by the People’s Assembly for a five-year term; election last held NA 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); prime minister appointed by the president election results : Sali BERISHA elected president; percent of People’s Assembly vote – NA
Legislative branch: unicameral People’s Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats; most members are elected by direct popular vote and some by proportional vote for four-year terms) elections: last held 26 May 1996 (next tentatively scheduled for 29 June 1997)
election results: percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – DP 122, PS 10, RP 3, UHP 3, Balli Kombetar 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman of the Supreme Court is elected by the People’s Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Albanian Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albania Workers Party) [Fatos NANO, chairman]; Democratic Party or PD [Tritan SHEHU]; Albanian Republican Party or PR [Sabri GODO]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Skender GJINUSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Neritan CEKA, chairman]; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil MELO, chairman]; Movement for Democracy Party or LDP [ruled by committee of Genc RULI, Alfred SERREQI, Dashimir SHEHI, Maksim KONOMI]; Balli Kombetar [Hysen SELFO]
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission : Ambassador Lublin DILJA chancery: Suite 1000, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942, 8187
FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission : Ambassador Marisa R. LINO (15 July 1996) embassy: Rruga E. Labinoti 103, Tirane
mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100 (A), APO AE 09624 telephone: [355] (42) 328-75, 335-20
FAX: [355] (42) 322-22
Flag description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
Economy
Economy – overview: An extremely poor country by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more open-market economy. The economy rebounded in 1993-95 after a severe depression accompanying the collapse of the previous centrally planned system in 1990 and 1991. However, a weakening of government resolve to maintain stabilization policies in the election year of 1996 contributed to renewal of inflationary pressures, spurred by the budget deficit which exceeded 12%. The collapse of financial pyramid schemes in early 1997 – which had attracted deposits from a substantial portion of Albania’s adult population – triggered unrest in much of the south in early 1997. The economy continues to be buoyed by remittances of some 20% of the labor force which works abroad, mostly in Greece and Italy. These remittances supplement GDP and help offset the large foreign trade deficit. Most agricultural land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes. Overall economic performance is likely to be substantially worse in 1997; inflation will easily top 50% and GDP may drop by 5% or more.
GDP: purchasing power parity – $4.4 billion (1996 est.)
GDP – real growth rate: 5% (1996 est.)
GDP – per capita: purchasing power parity – $1,290 (1996 est.)
GDP – composition by sector:
agriculture: 56%
industry: 21%
services: 23% (1995)
Inflation rate – consumer price index: 17.4% (1996)
Labor force:
total: 1.692 million (1994 est.) (including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed)
by occupation : agriculture (nearly all private) 49.5%, private sector 22.2%, state (nonfarm) sector 28.3% (including state-owned industry 7.8%); note – includes only those domestically employed
Unemployment rate: 13% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $624 million
expenditures : $996 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)
Electricity – capacity: 1.533 million kW (1995)
Electricity – production: 3.86 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity – consumption per capita: 1,221 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture – products: wide range of temperate-zone crops and livestock
Exports:
total value: $205 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities : asphalt, metals and metallic ores, electricity, crude oil, vegetables, fruits, tobacco
partners: Italy, US, Greece, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Imports:
total value: $680 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities : machinery, consumer goods, grains partners: Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Debt – external: $500 million (1994 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient : ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 lek (L) = 100 qintars
Exchange rates: leke (L) per US$1 – 150.00 (May 1997), 104.50 (1996), 92.70 (1995), 94.62 (1994), 102.06 (1993), 75.03 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Albania:Communications
Telephones: 55,000
Telephone system:
domestic: obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for every village; in 1992, following the fall of the communist government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and used it to build fences
international : inadequate; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirane exchange to Italy and Greece
Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 577,000 (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 9
Televisions: 300,000 (1993 est.)
@Albania:Transportation
Railways:
total : 670 km
standard gauge: 670 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 15,500 km
paved: 4,650 km
unpaved: 10,850 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 43 km plus Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)
Pipelines: crude oil 145 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural gas 64 km (1991)
Ports and harbors: Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
Merchant marine:
total: 8 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 39,201 GRT/57,938 DWT (1996 est.)
Airports: 11 (1994 est.)
Airports – with paved runways:
total: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1994 est.)
Airports – with unpaved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m : 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards
Military manpower – military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower – availability:
males age 15-49: 738,082 (1997 est.)
Military manpower – fit for military service: males: 600,403 (1997 est.)
Military manpower – reaching military age annually: males: 31,823 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures – dollar figure: $42 million (1996)
Military expenditures – percent of GDP: 1.5% to 2.0% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes – international: the Albanian Government supports protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian Republic; Albanians in Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs and representation in government
Illicit drugs: increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active in Central and Eastern Europe ______________________________________________________________________
ALGERIA
@Algeria:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 3 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total : 2,381,740 sq km
land: 2,381,740 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area – comparative: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 6,343 km
border countries : Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km
Coastline: 998 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
Terrain: mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point : Chott Melrhir -40 m
highest point: Tahat 3,003 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 2%
other : 82% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,550 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mud slides
Environment – current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment – international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Geography – note: second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
@Algeria:People
Population: 29,830,370 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years : 39% (male 5,923,391; female 5,712,088) 15-64 years: 57% (male 8,619,009; female 8,450,774) 65 years and over: 4% (male 525,556; female 599,552) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.18% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 28.01 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.76 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 47.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.62 years
male : 67.5 years
female: 69.79 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.48 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun : Algerian(s)
adjective: Algerian
Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Languages: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 61.6%
male: 73.9%
female : 49% (1995 est.)
@Algeria:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria conventional short form: Algeria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza’iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Shabiyah
local short form: Al Jaza’ir
Data code: AG
Government type: republic
National capital: Algiers
Administrative divisions: 48 provinces (wilayas, singular – wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M’Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen
Independence: 5 July 1962 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)
Constitution: 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996; note – referendum approving the revisions of 28 November 1996 was signed into law 7 December 1996
Legal system: socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials, including several Supreme Court justices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Liamine ZEROUAL (appointed president 31 January 1994, elected president 16 November 1995) head of government : Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 31 December 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
election results : Liamine ZEROUAL elected president; percent of vote – Liamine ZEROUAL 61.3%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the National People’s Assembly or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (380 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; suspended since 1992) and the Council of Nations (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; members serve six-year terms; created as a result of the constitutional revision of November 1996) elections : National People’s Assembly – first-round held 26 December 1991; second round canceled by the military after President BENDJEDID resigned 11 January 1992, effectively suspending the assembly (next election scheduled for 5 June 1997)
election results: percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – the fundamentalist FIS won 188 of the 231 seats contested in the first round of the 1991 elections
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Islamic Salvation Front (FIS, outlawed April 1992), Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in Germany); National Liberation Front (FLN), Boualem BENHAMOUDA, secretary general; Socialist Forces Front (FFS), Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exile in Switzerland); Movement of a Peaceful Society (Hamas), Mahfoud NAHNAH, chairman; Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD), Said SAADI, secretary general; Algerian Renewal Party (PRA), Noureddine BOUKROUH, chairman; Nahda Movement (Al Nahda), Abdallah DJABALLAH, president; Democratic National Rally (RND), Abdelkader BENSALAH, chairman; Movement for Democracy in Algeria (MDA), Ahmed Ben BELLA
note : the government established a multiparty system in September 1989 and, as of 31 December 1990, over 50 legal parties existed; a new party law was enacted in March 1997
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ramtane LAMAMRA chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800
FAX : [1] (202) 667-2174
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN embassy : 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers telephone: [213] (2) 69-11-86, 69-12-55
FAX: [213] (2) 69-39-79
Flag description: two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white with a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion)
Economy
Economy – overview: The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 57% of government revenues, 25% of GDP, and almost all export earnings; Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the second largest gas exporter; and it ranks fourteenth for oil reserves. Algiers’ efforts to reform one of the most centrally planned economies in the Arab world began after the 1986 collapse of world oil prices plunged the country into a severe recession. In 1989, the government launched a comprehensive, IMF-supported program to achieve economic stabilization and to introduce market mechanisms into the economy. Despite substantial progress toward economic adjustment, in 1992 the reform drive stalled as Algiers became embroiled in political turmoil. In September 1993, a new government was formed, and one priority was the resumption and acceleration of the structural adjustment process. Buffeted by the slump in world oil prices and burdened with a heavy foreign debt, Algiers concluded a one-year standby arrangement with the IMF in April 1994. Following a Paris Club debt rescheduling in 1995, a robust harvest, and elevated oil prices, the economy experienced a strong recovery and key economic improvements. Recent and planned investments in developing hydrocarbon resources are likely to increase growth and export earnings.
GDP: purchasing power parity – $115.9 billion (1996 est.)
GDP – real growth rate: 4% (1996 est.)
GDP – per capita: purchasing power parity – $4,000 (1996 est.)
GDP – composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 50%
services: 38% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate – consumer price index: 19.8% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total: 7.8 million (1996 est.)
by occupation: government 29.5%, agriculture 22%, construction and public works 16.2%, industry 13.6%, commerce and services 13.5%, transportation and communication 5.2% (1989)
Unemployment rate: 28% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues : $14.3 billion
expenditures: $17.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Industries: petroleum, light industries, natural gas, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity – capacity: 6.01 million kW (1994)
Electricity – production: 18.7 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity – consumption per capita: 583 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture – products: wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle
Exports:
total value: $11 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: petroleum and natural gas 97% partners: Italy 18.8%, US 14.8%, France 11.8%, Spain 8%, Germany 7.9% (1995 est.)
Imports:
total value : $10.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: capital goods, food and beverages, consumer goods partners: France 29%, Spain 10.5%, Italy 8.2%, US 8%, Germany 5.6% (1995 est.)
Debt – external: $32 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $420 million (1996)
Currency: 1 Algerian dinar (DA) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1 – 57.136 (January 1997), 54.749 (1996), 47.663 (1995), 35.059 (1994), 23.345 (1993), 21.836 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Algeria:Communications
Telephones: 862,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: excellent service in north but sparse in south; domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic earth stations are planned)
international: 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations – 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 26, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 6 million (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 18
Televisions: 2 million (1993 est.)
@Algeria:Transportation
Railways:
total : 4,772 km
standard gauge: 3,616 km 1.435-m gauge (301 km electrified; 215 km double track)
narrow gauge: 1,156 km 1.055-m gauge
Highways:
total: 102,424 km
paved : 70,570 km (including 6,080 km of expressways) unpaved: 31,854 km (1995 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 6,612 km; petroleum products 298 km; natural gas 2,948 km
Ports and harbors: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys, Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes
Merchant marine:
total : 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 925,261 GRT/1,094,281 DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 27, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas tanker 11, oil tanker 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, short-sea passenger 5, specialized tanker 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 119 (1996 est.)
Airports – with paved runways:
total: 66
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m : 24
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 17 (1996 est.)
Airports – with unpaved runways:
total: 53
2,438 to 3,047 m : 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 31 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie
Military manpower – military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower – availability:
males age 15-49: 7,666,961 (1997 est.)
Military manpower – fit for military service: males: 4,700,502 (1997 est.)
Military manpower – reaching military age annually: males: 337,630 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures – dollar figure: $1.3 billion (1994)
Military expenditures – percent of GDP: 2.7% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes – international: part of southeastern region claimed by Libya; land boundary dispute with Tunisia settled in 1993 ______________________________________________________________________
AMERICAN SAMOA
(territory of the US)
@American Samoa:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 14 20 S, 170 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 199 sq km
land: 199 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Area – comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 116 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages 124 inches; rainy season from November to April, dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata 966 m
Natural resources: pumice, pumicite
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 10%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland : 70%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March
Environment – current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines
Environment – international agreements: party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography – note: Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean
@American Samoa:People
Population: 61,819 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 3.72% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 35.23 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 4.01 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female total population : NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.91 years
male: 71.03 years
female: 74.85 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.16 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s)
adjective: American Samoan
Ethnic groups: Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%
Religions: Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant denominations and other 30%
Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English
note: most people are bilingual
Literacy:
definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)
@American Samoa:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS
Data code: AQ
Dependency status: unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs
Government type: NA
National capital: Pago Pago
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state : President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government: Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1997) and Lieutenant Governor Togiola Tulafono (since 3 January 1997) cabinet: NA
elections: governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results: Tauese P. SUNIA elected governor of American Samoa; percent of vote – Tauese P. SUNIA (Democrat) 51%, Peter REID (Independent) 49%
Legislative branch: bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats – 20 of which are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs who serve four-year terms) elections: House of Representatives – last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998); Senate – last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results : House of Representatives – percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – NA; Senate – percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – NA
note: American Samoa elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998); results – Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
Judicial branch: High Court, chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior
Political parties and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US)
Flag description: blue with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club
Economy
Economy – overview: Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa conducts the great bulk of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. The tuna canneries and the government are by far the two largest employers. Other economic activities include a slowly developing tourist industry. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to American Samoa’s economic well-being. According to one observer, attempts by the government to develop a larger and broader economy are restrained by Samoa’s remote location, its limited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes.
GDP: purchasing power parity – $128 million (1991 est.)
GDP – real growth rate: NA%
GDP – per capita: purchasing power parity – $2,600 (1991 est.)
GDP – composition by sector:
agriculture : NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate – consumer price index: NA %
Labor force:
total: 14,400 (1990)
by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1991)
Budget:
revenues: $97 million ($43 million in local revenue and $54 million in grant revenue)
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90/91)
Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity – capacity: 33,000 kW (1993)
Electricity – production: 100 million kWh (1994)
Electricity – consumption per capita: 1,743 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture – products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy farming
Exports:
total value: $306 million (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: canned tuna 93%
partners : US 99.6%
Imports:
total value: $360.3 million (c.i.f., 1989) commodities: materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6%
partners : US 62%, Japan 9%, NZ 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji 4%, other 7%
Debt – external: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
note : important financial support from the US
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October – 30 September
@American Samoa:Communications
Telephones: 9,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular phone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station international: satellite earth station – 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 8,000 (1993 est.)
@American Samoa:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total : 350 km
paved: 150 km
unpaved: 200 km
Ports and harbors: Aunu’u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta’u
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 3 (1996 est.)
Airports – with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1996 est.)
Military
Military – note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes – international: none
______________________________________________________________________
ANDORRA
@Andorra:Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total : 450 sq km
land: 450 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area – comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 125 km
border countries : France 60 km, Spain 65 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Riu Valira 840 m
highest point : Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 56%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: snowslides, avalanches
Environment – current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion
Environment – international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography – note: landlocked
@Andorra:People
Population: 64,000 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14% (male 4,788; female 4,452) 15-64 years : 74% (male 25,291; female 21,807) 65 years and over: 12% (male 3,903; female 3,759) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.72% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 10.67 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 1.16 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 83.45 years
male : 80.53 years
female: 86.53 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.21 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran
Ethnic groups: Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%, French 6%, other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic (predominant)
Languages: Catalan (official), French, Castilian
Literacy: NA
@Andorra:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra
local long form: Principat d’Andorra local short form : Andorra
Data code: AN
Government type: parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who are represented locally by officials called veguers
National capital: Andorra la Vella
Administrative divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies, singular – parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Independence: 1278
National holiday: Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
Constitution: Andorra’s first written constitution was drafted in 1991; adopted 14 March 1993
Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) and Spanish Episcopal Coprince Monseigneur Juan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January 1971); note – each coprince is represented by a veguer (current names NA)
head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne (since 21 December 1994)
cabinet: Executive Council designated by the executive council president
elections: executive council president elected by the General Council and formally appointed by the coprinces; election last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council president; percent of General Council vote – NA
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of the 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held February 2001) election results: percent of vote by party – UL 57%, AND 21%, IDN 7%, ND 7%, other 8%; seats by party – UL 16, AND 6, ND 2, IDN 2, UPO 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) two civil judges appointed by the veguers, one appeals judge appointed by the coprinces alternately; Ecclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain); Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal des Cortes presided over by the two civil judges, one appeals judge, the veguers, and two members of the General Council
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Group or AND [Oscar RIBAS Reig and Jordi FARRAS]; Liberal Union or UL [Francesc CERQUEDA]; New Democracy or ND [Jaume BARTOMEU]; Andorran National Coalition or CNA [Antoni CERQUEDA]; National Democratic Initiative or IDN [Vincenc MATEU]; Liberal Party of Andorra (Partit Liberal d’Andorra) or PLA [Marc FORNE]; Unio Parroquial d’Ordino or UDO note : there are two other small parties
International organization participation: CE, ECE, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, UN, UNESCO, WIPO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission : Ambassador Juli MINOVES-TRIQUELL (also Permanent Representative to the UN)
chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064
FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate General’s office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: (343) 280-2227; FAX: (343) 205-7705; note – Consul General Maurice S. PARKER makes periodic visits to Andorra
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield; similar to the flags of Chad and Romania that do not have a national coat of arms in the center
Economy
Economy – overview: Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra’s tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 10 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra’s duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra’s comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its “tax haven” status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited by a scarcity of arable land, and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.
GDP: purchasing power parity – $1.2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP – real growth rate: NA%
GDP – per capita: purchasing power parity – $18,000 (1995 est.)
GDP – composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate – consumer price index: NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 0%
Budget:
revenues : $138 million
expenditures: $177 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993)
Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco, banking
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity – capacity: 35,000 kW (1992)
Electricity – production: 140 million kWh (1992)
Electricity – consumption per capita: NA kWh; note – Andorra exports most of its electricity to France and Spain
Agriculture – products: small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep raising
Exports:
total value : $47 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: electricity, tobacco products, furniture partners : France 49%, Spain 47%
Imports:
total value: $1 billion (1995)
commodities: consumer goods, food
partners: France, Spain, US 4.2%
Debt – external: $NA
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes; 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos; the French and Spanish currencies are used
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 – 5.4169 (January 1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 – 134.77 (January 1997), 126.66 (1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Andorra:Communications
Telephones: 21,258 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic : modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges
international: landline circuits to France and Spain
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 10,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.)
@Andorra:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 269 km
paved: 198 km
unpaved : 71 km (1991 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
Military
Military – note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
Transnational Issues
Disputes – international: none
______________________________________________________________________
ANGOLA
Introduction
Current issues: Civil war has been the norm since independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975. A cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the countryside. The two sides signed another peace accord on 20 November 1994 and the cease-fire is generally holding, but military tensions persist and banditry is increasing. In order to bring armed insurgents under government control the peace accord of 20 November 1994 provided for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the Angolan armed forces. Military integration began in June 1996 and a Government of National Unity and Reconciliation was installed in April 1997. Efforts which began in May 1997 to extend government into UNITA-occupied areas are proceeding slowly. The original 7,200-man UN peacekeeping force began a phased drawdown in late 1996. All UN peacekeepers are scheduled to depart by September 1997 but a small UN military observer force will probably remain in Angola through 1998.
@Angola:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 18 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1,246,700 sq km
land : 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area – comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,198 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km of which 220 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda province, Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km
Coastline: 1,600 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 20 nm
Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m
Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 43%
other : 32% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 750 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
Environment – current issues: the overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment – international agreements: party to: Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
Geography – note: Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Congo (Kinshasa)
@Angola:People
Population: 10,548,847 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 2,393,009; female 2,327,186) 15-64 years: 52% (male 2,793,038; female 2,753,624) 65 years and over: 3% (male 131,720; female 150,270) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.06% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 44.11 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 17.24 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population : 1.02 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 135.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population : 47.32 years
male: 45.12 years
female: 49.64 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.27 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Angolan(s)
adjective: Angolan
Ethnic groups: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (est.)
Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42%
male : 56%
female: 28% (1990 est.)
@Angola:Government
Country name:
conventional long form : Republic of Angola conventional short form: Angola
local long form: Republica de Angola local short form: Angola
former: People’s Republic of Angola
Data code: AO
Government type: transitional government, nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system
National capital: Luanda
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (provincias, singular – provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire
Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Constitution: 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992
Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979)
head of government: Prime Minister Fernando Jose de Franca Vieira Dias VAN DUNEM (since 8 June 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: President DOS SANTOS originally elected without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola’s first multiparty elections in 28-29 September 1992, the last elections to be held, (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by the president and answerable to the Assembly
election results: DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the total vote, making a run-off election necessary between him and second-place Jonas SAVIMBI; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI’s National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) disputed the results of the first election; the civil war was resumed
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (223 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA) election results : percent of vote by party – MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%, others 12%; seats by party – NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS], is the ruling party and has been in power since 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Jonas SAVIMBI], is the largest opposition party and engaged in years of armed resistance to the government note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but won few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly
Political pressure groups and leaders: Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC
note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC (observer), ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA “N’dalu” chancery: 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 760, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
FAX : [1] (202) 785-1258
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald K. STEINBERG embassy: No. 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda mailing address: C.P. 6484, Luanda; American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550 (pouch) telephone : [244] (2) 345-481, 346-418
FAX: [244] (2) 346-924
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)
Economy
Economy – overview: Angola is an economy in disarray. Despite its abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world’s lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 80%-90% of the population but accounts for about 12% of GDP. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 50% to GDP. Notwithstanding the signing of a peace accord in November 1994, sporadic violence continues, millions of land mines remain, and many farmers are reluctant to return to their fields. As a result, much of the country’s food must still be imported. To take advantage of its rich resources – notably gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, arable land, and large oil deposits – Angola will need to observe the cease-fire, implement the peace agreement, and reform government policies. Despite the high inflation and political difficulties, total output grew an estimated 9% in 1996, largely due to increased oil production.
GDP: purchasing power parity – $8.3 billion (1996 est.)
GDP – real growth rate: 9% (1996 est.)
GDP – per capita: purchasing power parity – $800 (1996 est.)
GDP – composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 56%
services: 32% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate – consumer price index: 1,700% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total: 2.783 million economically active by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry 15% (1985 est.)
Unemployment rate: extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $928 million
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963 million (1992 est.)
Industries: petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing; brewing; tobacco products; sugar; textiles;
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity – capacity: 620,000 kW (1994)
Electricity – production: 1.82 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity – consumption per capita: 171 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture – products: bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish
Exports:
total value: $4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton partners: US 70%, EU
Imports:
total value : $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles and clothing; substantial military supplies
partners : Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain
Debt – external: $12.5 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $451 million (1994)
Currency: 1 new kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei
Exchange rates: new kwanza (NKz) per US$1 – 201,994 (November 1996), 900,000 (25 April 1995), 600,000 (10 January 1995), 90,000 (1 June 1994), 7,000 (16 December 1993), 3.884 (July 1993), 550 (April 1992) note: black market rates – new Kwanza (NKz) per US$1 – 1,900,000 (6 April 1995), 180,000 (1 June 1994), 50,000 (16 December 1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Angola:Communications
Telephones: 78,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: telephone service limited mostly to government and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military links domestic: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and