WORLD.UA

TOURISM

2009-10-29T06:10:00.000-07:00

Practically all people, irrespective of their incomes and a way of life, dream of rest. Thus the majority of them as the most comprehensible kind of rest will name tourism. Today travel companies offer a huge choice of routes for rest and travel. You can get the permit in sanatorium, have a rest in comfortable hotel or go to automobile travel. Rest in small family hotel where the house comfort and a home cookery will be offered you is possible also . If you are the convinced supporter of productive leisure – for you great opportunities open to test the endurance and force, and also to be loaded by energy and to lift adrenaline level in blood. A choice for you!

Afghanistan.

2009-10-29T06:05:00.002-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
CAPITAL: Kabul
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary Islamic State
AREA: 647,497 Sq Km (251,773 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2010 POPULATION: 28,926,000

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South West Asia. It is bound by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the northwest, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to the north and China to the northeast. The country is divided from southeast to northwest by the Hindu Kush and Pamir Mountain Ranges and is divided into three geographical regions. (1.) The central highlands which account for 64% of the land area and are part of the Himalayan Ranges. The Hindu Kush ridge rises above 6,400 metres (21,000 feet). (2.) The fertile northern plains with elevations of up to 600 metres (2,000 feet). (3.) The southwestern plateau which accounts for 25% of the land area and is an arid region vegetated mostly by scrub with an average elevation of about 900 metres (3,000 feet). The principal rivers are the Kabul and Amu-Darya which rises in the Hindu Kush and flows northwestward. Major Cities (pop. est.); Kabul 2,800,000, Kandahar 324,000, Herat 255,000, Mazar-e Sharif 188,000 (2004). Land Use; forested 2%, pastures 46%, agricultural-cultivated 12%, other 39% (2000).

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CLIMATE: Afghanistan has a continental dry climate with large differences between day and night temperatures as well as quick seasonal transitions. Summer temperatures in the plains can reach 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit) while in the higher plateaux winter temperatures can fall to -26 degrees Celsius (-15 degrees Fahrenheit). The "Winds of 120 Days" which occur between June to September can have velocities of up to 180 kmph (108 mph) and the rainy season is from October to April, although rainfall is very irregular. Average temperature ranges in Kabul are from -8 to 2 degrees Celsius (18 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 16 to 33 degrees Celsius (61 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit) in July.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Pushtuns also known as Pukhtuns and Pathan who account for around 49% of the population and are divided into two sub-tribes (1.) the Durranis and (2.) the Ghilzais. The principal ethnic minority are the Tajikis who account for almost 18% of the population. Other smaller ethnic minorities include the Hazara Mongols (Hazars) who account for 9%, Aimaks, Uzbekis, Turkmens, Nuristanis and Qisilbashes.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Population; 23,867,000 (2005) Density; 37 persons per sq km (96 persons per sq mi) (2004). Urban-Rural; 22.4% urban, 77.6% rural (2003). Sex Distribution; 51.2% male, 48.8% female (1004). Life Expectancy at Birth; 42.3 years male, 42.7 years female (2004). Age Breakdown; 45% under 15, 27% 15 to 29, 16% 30 to 44, 8% 45 to 59, 3.5% 60 to 74, 0.5% 75 and over (2004). Birth Rate; 47.3 per 1,000 (2004). Death Rate; 21.1 per 1,000 (2004). Increase Rate; 26.2 per 1,000 (2004). Infant Mortality Rate; 166.0 per 1,000 live births (2004).

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RELIGIONS: The official religion is Islam with approximately 89% of the population Sunni Muslims while 9% are Shiite Muslims and 1% belong to the other Islamic sects. Other religious minorities include small amounts of Hindus, Sikhs and Parsis.

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LANGUAGES: The official languages are Dari (Afghan Persian) and Pashto. A little English, French and German is also spoken while English and French are taught in schools as secondary languages. In the north Turkmen and Uzbeki are also widely spoken.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 88.5%, some primary 6.8%, complete primary 0.3%, some secondary 1.2%, higher 3.2% (1980). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 29% (2003).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In 1953 Mohammed Daoud Khan became Prime Minister, following which he established close military, economic and political ties with the USSR. In 1964 provisions were made for the establishment of a constitutional monarchy after Prime Minister Daoud resigned. In 1973 while King Zahir Shah was receiving medical treatment in Italy a military coup led by Daoud overthrew the government, established a republic and abolished the monarchy. On Apr. 27, 1978 pro-Soviet leftists took power in a bloody coup known as the "Great Saur Revolution" which resulted in the death of President Daoud and an economic and military treaty with the USSR. In Dec. 1979, the USSR began a massive military airlift into Kabul and the three month old regime of Hafizullah Amin ended with a Soviet backed coup on Dec. 27, 1979. Pres. Amin was replaced by Babrak Karmal, a greater pro-Soviet faction leader. For the next 9 years the Soviet troops fanned out over Afghanistan fighting the Muslim "Holy Warriors" or Mujaheddin in a long, protracted guerrilla war. In Nov. 1987 Dr. Najibullah was elected President. On Apr. 14, 1988 a UN-mediated agreement was signed which provided for the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, the creation of a neutral Afghan state and the repatriation of millions of Afghan refugees. The US and USSR pledged to serve as guarantors of the agreement, however, Afghan rebels rejected the pact and vowed to continue fighting while the Soviets remained in Afghanistan. On Feb. 15, 1989 the Soviets completed their troop withdrawal as fighting between the Afghan rebels and government forces escalated for control of the government. In Mar. 1990 there was an unsuccessful coup attempt led by Afghan military forces and in Sept. 1991 the US and USSR declared that they would halt arms supplies from Jan. 1992 with the purpose of achieving a permanent cease-fire. In Apr. 1992 Afghan rebels with the assistance of General Abdul Rashid Dostam, leader of the government's secret police, seized control of Kabul ousting President Najibullah's regime. On June 28, 1992 caretaker President Sibgatullah Mojadedi surrendered power to Burhanuddin Rabbani who headed a 10-member Supreme Leadership Council of guerrilla leaders. In June 1992 fighting escalated between rival Shiite and Sunni Muslim factions around Kabul with some 100 people killed and 1,000 injured in four days of conflict. On Dec. 30, 1992 some 1,335 delegates from around the country formed a National Council which met in Kabul and elected Rabbani to a two-year term as president. The majority of the rebels boycotted the council meeting and shelled the city from their hill strongholds while voting was in progress. In Jan. 1993 the national assembly of tribal and religious leaders reaffirmed Rabbani's presidency, approved the creation of new armed forces and a parliament, and set out a strict Islamic path for the country. In Mar. 1993 Gulbuddin Hekmatyar leader of the Hezb-i-Islami was designated Prime Minister with a 22-member cabinet divided amongst the 10 major rebel groups being formed on May 20 despite continuing fighting. On June 17. 1993 Hekmatyar was formally sworn in and on Sept. 27, 1993 after four days of negotiations an interim constitution had been approved with planned elections announced for 1994.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Afghani (Af) divided into 100 Puls.

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ECONOMY: Gross Domestic Product; USD $7,000,000,000,000 (2003). Public Debt; USD $5,319,000,000 (2000). Imports; USD $2,101,000,000 (2004). Exports; USD $144,000,000 (2004). Tourism Receipts; USD $1,000,000 (1998). Balance of Trade; USD$ -1,957,000,000 (2004). Economically Active Population; 5,557,000 or 29.4% of total population (1994). Unemployed; 30% (2004).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the China, Pakistan, India, Japan and Russia.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Barley, Coal, Copper, Cotton, Fruit, Goats, Iron, Maize, Natural Gas, Nuts, Rice, Sheep, Sugar, Vegetables, Wheat.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Bicycles, Carpets, Cement, Food Processing, Footwear, Fur and Leather Products, Furniture, Plastics, Textiles.

MAIN EXPORTS: Carpets, Cotton, Fruit, Karakul Skins and Wool, Natural Gas, Nuts.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 25 km (15.3 mi) (2001). Roads; length 20,720 km (12,875 mi) (2001). Vehicles; cars 176,700 (2004), trucks and buses 116,278 (2004). Merchant Marine; vessels nil. Air Transport; passenger-km 143,000,000 (88,856,000 passenger-mi) (2000), cargo ton-km 21,000,000 (13,048,000 short ton-mi) (2000).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total circulation of 129,000 (2000). Radio; receivers 2,950,000 (2000). Television; receivers 362,000 (2000). Telephones; units 36,700 (2003). Cell/Mobile; subscribers 135,000 (2003). Internet; users 700 ( 2003).

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MILITARY: 13,000 (2004) total active duty personnel with 100% army, 0.0% navy and 0.0% air force while military expenditure accounts for 9% (2003) of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Albania.

2009-10-29T06:05:00.001-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Albania
CAPITAL: Tirane
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Unitary Multiparty Republic
AREA: 28,748 Sq Km (11,100 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 3,875,200

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Albania is one of the smallest nations in Europe. It is bound by the Adriatic Sea to the west, Serbia and Montenegro to the north and northeast, Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. Just over 20% of the land area is coastal or flat plains which are poorly drained while the major cities are located on the coastal plains or in the upland valleys. The remainder of the country is mountainous and hilly covered by scrub forest while there are many lagoon lakes in the lowlands as well as small glacial lakes in the uplands. The principal river is the Buene River. Major Cities (pop. est.); Tirane 243,000, Durres 85,000, Elbasan 83,000, Shkoder 82,000, Vlore 74,000 (1990). Land Use; forested 37%, pastures 15%, agricultural-cultivated 24%, other 24% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Albania has a Mediterranean climate with the coastal plains experiencing hot and dry summers, and frequent thunderstorms. Winters are mild as well as wet and can be quite severe in the mountains with snow cover lasting for long periods of time. Average annual precipitation in the mountain areas can exceed 1,000 mm (39 inches). The average temperature ranges in Tirane are from 17 to 31 degrees Celsius (63 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit) in July to 2 to 21 degrees Celsius (36 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit) in January.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Albanians who account for around 98% of the population and are divided into two groups (1.) the Gegs (Ghegs) to the north of the Shkumbin River and (2.) the Tosks to the south. Other ethnic minorities include Greeks, Macedonians, Vlachs, Bulgarians, Gypsies and Serbs.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 115 persons per sq km (298 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 35.8% urban, 64.2% rural (1989). Sex Distribution; 51.5% male, 48.5% female (1989). Life Expectancy at Birth; 69.6 years male, 75.5 years female (1989). Age Breakdown; 33% under 15, 29% 15 to 29, 19% 30 to 44, 12% 45 to 59, 6% 60 to 74, 2% 75 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 24.7 per 1,000 (1989). Death Rate; 5.7 per 1,000 (1989). Increase Rate; 19.0 per 1,000 (1989). Infant Mortality Rate; 28.2 per 1,000 live births (1987).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Muslims which account for around 21% of the population, while some Christians both Orthodox and Roman Catholics account for 5.4% and the remainder are atheist. Prior to 1944's communist takeover approximately 70% of the population were Muslims, 20% were Orthodox Christians and 10% were Roman Catholic.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Albanian with two dialects (1.) Geg (Gheg) to the north of the Shkumbin river and (2.) Tosk to the south.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: primary education 74.7%, secondary 20.9%, higher 4.4% (1979). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over virtually 100% (1989).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: Albania was proclaimed a republic on Jan. 11, 1946. In 1948 the Friendship Treaty between Albania and Yugoslavia was canceled due to serious conflict in Soviet dominated Communist Information Bureau. During the 1950's Yugoslav-Albanian diplomatic relations were broken off, although they were later resumed in 1953. In 1955 Albania was admitted to the UN as part of a general agreement between the East and West. Soviet influence was replaced by a strong political alliance with China which led to several billion dollars in financial aid, although China cut off the aid in 1978. From 1985 to 1990 diplomatic relations with most European nations as well as the former USSR and the US were resumed. In 1990 the government announced plans for gradual democratization with the lifting of religious restrictions and the freedom to travel abroad. By the close of 1990 the regime agreed to free multiparty elections to take place in Mar. 1991. Within days after the elections, protests and general industrial strikes forced the communist cabinet to resign and share power with the Democratic Party which pledged to introduce a free market economy and raise the standard of living. In Jan. 1991 some 15,000 refugees fled to Greece while in March some 24,000 boat people left for Italy. In Aug. 1991 another exodus of 18,000 people for Italy resulted in their subsequent forced repatriation and in a step up in Italian governmental aid for Albania. In Dec. 1991 after continuing food riots resulted in a number of deaths a nonpartisan, Vilson Ahmeti was named to head a new government. On Mar. 22, 1992 landslide elections were won by Democratic Party over the Socialist Party. On April 9, 1992 Sali Berisha became the first democratically elected President in 70 years. In July 1992 local elections were held in which the Socialist Party made gains and held local admistrative control over the countryside while the Democrats continued to hold control over most of the large cities. In Nov. 1992 the a rift developed within the Democrats with the spilt resulting in the formation of a new party, the Democratic Alliance. Also during 1992, the massive humanitarian aid program by the Italian government continued. During 1993, former Communist leader Ramiz Alia, the Socialist Party leader Fatos Nano and most of the former Politburo members were under arrest awaiting trial on charges of abusing their office. Economically, the government had actively pursued its program of stabilizing the economy, although it would still have to rely heavily on foreign aid to ensure the program's successful completion. In Apr. 1993 Pope John Paul II made a historic visit, the first since visit since the last pontiff died en route in 1464.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Lek (plural; Leke) divided into 100 Quindars.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $1,163,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $861,000,000 (1993). Imports; USD $601,000,000 (1994). Exports; USD $ 141,000,000 (1994). Tourism Receipts; N/A. Balance of Trade; Lek -460,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 1,540,000 or 49.4% of total population (1993). Unemployed; 17.5% (1993).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are Serbia and Montenegro, Czech Fed. Rep., Slovakia, Romania, Italy, Poland, Germany, Greece and France.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Asphalt, Bitumen, Cereals, Chrome, Copper, Cotton, Grapes, Olives, Potatoes, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Timber, Tobacco.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Cement, Food Processing, Fertilizers, Mining, Petroleum, Refining, Textiles, Tobacco.

MAIN EXPORTS: Asphalt and Bitumen, Clothing, Food, Fruit and Vegetables, Non-Ferrous Metal Ores, Petroleum and Petroleum Products, Tobacco.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 684 km (425 mi) (1989), passenger-km 752,000,000 (467,000,000 passenger-mi) (1989), cargo ton-km 674,000,000 (462,000,000 short ton-mi) (1989). Roads; length 16,700 km, (10,377 mi) (1989). Vehicles; cars 3,500 (1970), trucks and buses 11,200 (1970). Merchant Marine; vessels 19 (1990), deadweight tonnage 74,648 (1990). Air Transport; N/A.

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 2 with a total circulation of 165,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 550,000 (1994). Television; receivers 324,900 (1990). Telephones; 49,000 (1993).

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MILITARY: 73,000 (1995) total active duty personnel with 82.2% army, 3.4% navy and 13.7% air force while military expenditure accounts for 8.2% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Algeria.

2009-10-29T06:04:00.001-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria
CAPITAL: Algiers
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Multiparty Republic with interim military administration
AREA: 2,381,741 Sq Km (919,595 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 31,624,000

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Algeria is located in North Africa midway along the Mediterranean coastline. It is bound by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Morocco to the west, Mauritania and Mali to the southwest, Niger to the southeast, Libya to the east and Tunisia to the northeast. The two mountain ranges of the Tell Atlas and Sahara Atlas divide the country into three topographical zones, (1.) a narrow fertile coastal plain and (2.) a high plateau which is a vast steppe plain that forms a depression between the Tell and Sahara Atlases. The plateau is also covered by salt lakes and salt marshes. (3.) The Sahara Desert which accounts for over 85% of the land area. Most of the Sahara is covered by Hamadas which are rocky plateaux and two great sand deserts, the Great Western Erg and the Great Eastern Erg. The only permanent river is the Chelif River. Major Cities (pop. est.); Algiers 1,507,000, Oran 610,000, Constantine 441,000, Annaba 223,000, Batna 182,000 (1987). Land Use; forested 2%, pastures 13%, agricultural-cultivated 3%, other 82% (1993).

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CLIMATE: The climate of Algeria is divided into three types, (1.) a Mediterranean in the north with dry hot summers and mild wet winters with rainfall increasing from west to east. (2.) A continental in the high plateau regions with higher daily temperatures while rainfall is patchy falling mainly within a short period. (3.) A true desert climate in the Sahara with erratic and spasmodic rainfall. In the summer Algeria experiences hot winds from the south known as the Chehili or Sirocco. The average temperature ranges in Algiers are from 9 to 15 degrees Celsius (48 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 22 to 29 degrees Celsius (72 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit) in August.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Arabs or Arabized Berbers who account for around 83% of the population while the remaining 17% are Berbers. The non-Arab and non-Berber population accounts for 100,000 people mainly of European descent, predominantly French, although there are minorities of Italians, Spanish, Maltese and Corsican descendants. Although Algeria is predominantly a Muslim nation it is one of the few Muslim countries to have a surplus of females and over 50% of the population reported to be under the age of 20.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 11 persons per sq km (28 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 49.7% urban, 50.3% rural (1987). Sex Distribution; 50.5% male, 49.5% female (1987). Life Expectancy at Birth; 65.8 years male, 66.3 years female (1987). Age Breakdown; 44% under 15, 28% 15 to 29, 14% 30 to 44, 8% 45 to 59, 4% 60 to 74, 2% 75 and over (1987). Birth Rate; 33.2 per 1,000 (1988). Death Rate; 4.9 per 1,000 (1988). Increase Rate; 28.3 per 1,000 (1988). Infant Mortality Rate; 63.4 per 1,000 live births (1987).

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RELIGIONS: The official religion is Islam with 99% of the population Sunni Muslims while Roman Catholics and Jews combined represent less than 1% of the population.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Arabic which is spoken by approximately 81% of the population, although due to France's long colonial rule French is also spoken with many Berbers choosing it as opposed to the imposition of Arabic. By necessity most Berbers are bilingual and even trilingual as they also have their own language with dialects.

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EDUCATION: Economically active aged 16 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 38.2%, primary 20.8%, secondary 11.1%, vocational 19.7%, higher 9.3% (1989). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 6,281,000 or 49.6% (1987).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In 1945 an Arab nationalist movement launched a guerrilla war against French rule which resulted in heavy casualties. The eventual ceasefire as well as the withdrawal of the French troops was negotiated by the French President Charles De Gaulle, and as a result some one million Europeans were repatriated. On July 3, 1962 Algeria gained independence and Ahmed Ben Bella, the victor of the resulting infighting, ruled from 1962 to 1965 when an army coup installed Col. Houari Boumedienne as leader. In 1967 Algeria declared war with Israel, broke with the US and moved toward eventual military and political ties with the former USSR. In 1988 some 500 people died in riots protesting against economic hardship and in 1989 voters approved a new constitution which cleared the way for a multi-party political system as well as guaranteed fundamental rights and freedom for the Algerians. After the 1990 municipal elections in which the Front Islamique du Salut (FIS) won a weeping victory, the party leadership began to insist on general and presidential elections in 1991. The government (FLN) responded by promising legislative elections in June, but refusing presidential elections as well. During the year the government continued its market economy and electoral reforms. However, the FIS objected to these electoral reforms claiming they gerrymandered the new consitiuencies in favor of the FLN. In June 1991 a general strike called by the FIS led to fierce fighting between demonstrators and riot police and the country was placed into a State of Emergency which resulted in the postponement of elections. Also resulting from the crisis was the dismissal of Mouloud Hamrouche's government and its replacement by a pragmatic administration until elections in Dec. 1991. In the first round of elections held on Dec. 26, 1991 the FIS won a clear majority, however, before the planned Jan. 11, 1992 second round of elections took place the Algerian army forced Pres. Chadli Bendjedid to resign. A new army-backed regime, invited the political exiled Muhammad Boudiaf to return from Morocco to head the High Security Council (HSC). The security forces dismantled the FIS arresting some 9,000 militants and on Mar. 4, 1992 banned the FIS which resulted in an urban terrorist campaign against the regime. In April, 1992 Boudiaf appointed a 60-man Consultative Council and attempted to create a new political movement, the Assemble Patriotique. On June 29, 1992 Boudiaf was assassinated by a member of his personal bodyguard as a result of his anti-corruption drive and succeeded by Ali Kafi. On July 8, 1992 Belaid Abdessalam replaced Sid Ahmed Ghozali as Prime Minister and in October established special courts and severe punishments in an attempt to halt urban terrorism. During 1993 urban violence continued at the same levels as the previous year with more than 200 security personnel killed. During Feb. 1993 attacks and killings continued against prominent figures which resulted in a mass demonstration in Algiers on March 22. On the same day 18 soldiers were also killed in their barracks at Bougzoul. On Aug. 21, 1993 the HSC forced Abdessalam from office and established a new administration led by Redha Malek. Malek reversed his predecessor's policies by rescheduling foreign debt while maintained a resolute opposition to the Islamist movement. By Oct. 1993 some 1,000 Islamist sympathizers had died with 3,800 before the courts and 240 condemned to death.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Dinar (DA) divided into 100 Centimes.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $44,347000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $24,587,000,000 (1993). Imports; USD $7,770,000,000 (1993). Exports; USD $10,230,000,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; USD $55,000,000 (1992). Balance of Trade; USD -$260,000,000 (1991). Economically Active Population; 5,711,000 or 22.8% of total population (1990). Unemployed; 27% (1994).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are France, Germany, Japan, the US, Italy, the UK, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Barley, Cattle, Cereals, Citrus Fruits, Copper, Dates, Fish, Grapes, Iron Ore, Lead, Livestock, Oats, Oil and Natural Gas, Olives, Phosphates, Sheep, Timber, Uranium, Vegetables, Wheat, Zinc.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Cement, Clothing, Fertilizers, Food Processing, Iron and Steel, Mining, Machinery, Oil and Natural Gas Production and Refining, Petrochemicals, Textiles, Transport Equipment, Wine Production.

MAIN EXPORTS: Crude Oil, Dates, Fruit and Vegetables, Natural Gas, Petroleum Products, Wine.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 3,836 km (2,384 mi) (1988), passenger-km 1,972,000,000 (1,225,000,000 passenger-mi) (1987), cargo ton-km 2,937,000,000 (1,327,000,000 short ton-mi) (1987). Roads; length 81,648 km, (50,734 mi) (1986). Vehicles; cars 712,700 (1985), trucks and buses 471,500 (1985). Merchant Marine; vessels 148 (1990), deadweight tonnage 1,062,067 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 2,248,000,000 (1,397,000,000 passenger-mi) (1987), cargo ton-km 10,622,000 (7,275,000 short ton-mi) (1987).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 5 with a total circulation of 1,000,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 3,500,000 (1994). Television; receivers 2,000,000 (1994). Telephones; units 1,068,000 (1993).

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MILITARY: 122,000 (1995) total active duty personnel with 86.3% army, 5.5% navy and 8.2% air force while military expenditure accounts for 3.0% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

American Samoa.

2009-10-29T06:03:00.002-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: American Samoa
CAPITAL: Pago Pago
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Unorganized and Unincorporated US Territory
AREA: 199 Sq Km (77 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 53,000

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LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY: American Samoa is a small group of five volcanic islands and two coral atolls located in the South Pacific Ocean about 3,700 km (2,298 mi) southwest of Honolulu and 2,575 km (2,220 mi) northeast of New Zealand. The principal island is Tutuila while the other islands are the Aunu'u, Tau, Ofu, Olosega, Swains island and the small isolated atoll of Rose Island.

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CLIMATE: American Samoa has a tropical maritime climate moderated by the SE trade winds. The rainy season is from November to April and the dry season is from May to October with little seasonal temperature variation.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Samoans who are Polynesians and ethnically the same as those located in Western Samoa, speaking the same language.

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with more than half the islanders members of the Congregational Church while 19% of the population are Roman Catholic.

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LANGUAGES: The official languages are Samoan and English with the majority of the population bilingual. The Samoan language is closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages.

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1990: American Samoa remains an unincorporated territory of the US and its people are US nationals, but not citizens. The 1960 constitution, which combines traditional practices with the needs of a modern state, gives the American Samoans self government with certain powers reserved to the US Secretary of the Interior. A revised constitution was drawn up in 1986 which still excludes commoners and women from voting, but this has yet to be ratified by the US congress.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the US Dollar divided into 100 Cents.

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the US, other Pacific Islands as well as Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Bananas, Fish, Taro, Vegetables.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Aluminum Recycling, Drink Bottling, Electrical and Automotive Workshops, Fish Processing and Canning, Handicrafts, Shipping Services.

MAIN EXPORTS: Bananas, Handicrafts, Pet Food.

Andorra.

2009-10-29T06:03:00.001-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Principality of Andorra
CAPITAL: Andorra La Vella
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Co-principality between France and Spain
AREA: 465 Sq Km (180 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 65,100

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Andorra is a landlocked country bordered by France to the north and Spain to the south. It is one of the smallest countries in Europe and is located on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees Mountains. The country's terrain is rugged with little level ground and mostly consists of gorges, narrow valleys and defiles which are surrounded by mountain peaks. The country is well drained by a single basin and mountain pastures account for 44% of the land area, while forests consisting of pine, fir, oak, birch and box trees cover 41% of the land area. Major Cities (pop. est.); Andorra la Vella 22,000, Les Escaldes 13,000, Encamp 10,000 (1993). Land Use; forested 22%, pastures 56%, agricultural-cultivated 2%, other 20% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Andorra has an alpine climate with severe cold winters resulting in the northern valleys being snowbound for a minimum of six months per year. Depending on altitude, the summers are mild or warm and dry with low humidity. Average annual precipitation is 808 mm (32 inches) while average temperatures ranges are from -1 to 6 degrees Celsius (30 to 43 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 12 to 26 degrees Celsius (54 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit) in July.

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PEOPLE: Native Andorrans are a minority accounting for only 27% of the population, while the largest ethnic majority are the Spanish who account for around 50% of the population. The French also account for 8% of the population, the Portuguese for 7% and the British for 5%.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 118 persons per sq km (306 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 64.7% urban, 35.3% rural (1986). Sex Distribution; 53.1% male, 46.9% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 74.0 years male, 81.0 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 17% under 15, 26% 15 to 29, 27% 30 to 44, 15% 45 to 59, 11% 60 to 74, 4% 75 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 12.6 per 1,000 (1989). Death Rate; 4.2 per 1,000 (1989). Increase Rate; 8.4 per 1,000 (1989). Infant Mortality Rate; 13.3 per 1,000 live births (1987).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with 95% of the population Roman Catholic while the remainder are Jews, Jehovah Witnesses and Protestants.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Catalan, a romance language related to Provencal, although French and Castilian Spanish are also widely spoken.

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EDUCATION: Aged 15 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 5.5%, primary 47.3%, secondary 21.6%, higher 24.9% (1985). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over virtually 100% (1987).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: Andorra is neither a republic or a monarchy, it is simply the last surviving remnant of the feudal system of medieval Europe. Its internal government is ruled by an exclusive aristocracy and although the Andorrans claim they are independent they are ruled in reality by the French head of state and the Bishop of Spain. In Jan. 1982 Andorra's first executive council was formed under the leadership of a President. In June 1990 Andorra signed a customs union agreement with the EU to permit the free movement of industrial goods between the two parties. In May 1991 Andorra hosted the IV Games of the Small Countries of Europe. In June 1991 the General Council agreed unanimously to draft the country's first constitution. On July 1, 1991 Andorra's customs union agreement went into effect, ending its economic isolation from the union. In Jan. 1992 the first mass demonstrations were held in protest to the political deadlock within the parliament as a result of Oscar Ribas Reig's attempt to introduce a new constitution which in effect would have legalized political parties and trade unions. As a result, Ribas was forced to resign as President of the Executive Council and on Jan. 30, 1992 the General Council was dissolved with elections announced for April 5. The close elections were won by the reformists and Ribas was sworn in as head of government on May 4, 1992. The new government's agenda was to complete a new constitution which would provide a modern political and legal framework and submit it when complete to a people's referendum. On March 14, 1993 the referendum resulted in an overwhelmingly vote to adopt the new constitution thus ending a 715 year old feudal system of government. The new constitution although allowing for full sovereignty, also maintained the unique system of co-princes but with greatly reduced powers. On May 4, 1993 the new constitution was enacted. On July 28, 1993 Andorra became a member of the UN. On Dec. 12, 1993 Oscar Ribas Reig's party won the most seats in general elections and formed a new coalition government.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Euro (EUR).

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $1,231,000,000 (1992). Public Debt; USD $132,000,000 (1992). Imports; Ptas 116,385,000,000 (1992). Exports; Ptas 4,208,000,000 (1992). Tourism Receipts; N/A. Balance of Trade; Pta -112,177,000,000 (1992). Economically Active Population; 28,222 or 51.8% of total population (1990). Unemployed; N/A.

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are France, Spain, Germany and Portugal.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Barley, Cattle, Potatoes, Rye, Sheep, Tobacco, Vegetables.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Forestry, Furniture, Leather, Publishing, Tax Free Trading, Textiles, Tobacco Processing, Tourism.

MAIN EXPORTS: Cigarettes, Cigars, Furniture, Mineral Water, Postage Stamps.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; nil. Roads; length 220 km (137 mi) (1990). Vehicles; cars 31,571 (1989), trucks and buses 4,193 (1989). Merchant Marine; nil. Air Transport; nil.

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 3 with a total circulation of 4,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 10,000 (1994). Television; receivers 4,000 (1993). Telephones; units 26,800 (1993).

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MILITARY: nil.

Angola.

2009-10-29T06:02:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Angola
CAPITAL: Luanda
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Multiparty Republic
AREA: 1,246 700 Sq Km (481,354 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 12,897,000

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Angola is located on the western coast of South Africa. It is bound by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) to the north and northeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. A separate province of Cabinda is enclosed by the Congo. A sparsely watered coastal plain extends along the coast and rises towards the interior which contains irregular terraces that form sub-plateaux. The central plateau accounts for around 66% of the land area and has numerous rivers which run into basins of the Congo and Zambezi Rivers that in turn flow to the Atlantic Ocean. The northwestern region of the central plateau and the enclave of Cabinda are covered by equatorial jungles while the southern regions and coastal plain are semi-arid. The Namib Desert occupies the coastal plain above Mocamedes. Major Cities (pop. est.); Luanda 1,000,000, Huambo 203,000, Beneguela 155,000, Lobito 150,000 (1983). Land Use; forested 42%, pastures 23%, agricultural-cultivated 3%, other 32% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Angola has a tropical climate with regional variations from a moderate tropical climate to a desert climate depending on the location. The prevailing winds are predominantly from the west, southwest and south southwest. Average temperature ranges in Luanda are from 18 to 23 degrees Celsius (64 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit) in August to 24 to 30 degrees Celsius (75 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit) in March.

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PEOPLE: Almost the entire population is of Bantu origin with various and numerous tribal groups. The principal ethnic majority are the Ovimbundu who alone represent 37% of the population while the Mbundu, Lunda, Chokwe, Nganguela, Ovambo, Herero, Kangala, Humbe, Luvale, Bunda, Luchazi, Kwandare and Cuanhama account for 38% of the population. The Ovambo and Herero are nomadic cattle herders that regularly migrate across the Angola-Namibia border.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 8 persons per sq km (21 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 26.8% urban, 73.2% rural (1988). Sex Distribution; 51.1% male, 48.9% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 42.9 years male, 46.1 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 42% under 15, 28% 15 to 29, 17% 30 to 44, 10% 45 to 59, 3% 60 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 47.2 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 20.2 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 27.0 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 137.0 per 1,000 live births (1990).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with around 70% of the population Roman Catholic while 20% are Protestant. Although, a large number still adhere to traditional tribal beliefs.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Portuguese, although the national language is Bantu with the number of dialects spoken as varied as the Bantu sub-tribes.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: N/A. Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 1,196,000 or 28% (1980).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: Although most of the countries of Africa gained independence in the late 1950's to early 1960's, Portugal refused to grant independence to Angola. The Portuguese treated Angola as well as their other African territories as part of Portugal while the Angolans wanted to join the rest of the African continent in gaining independence. This led to armed revolts in 1961 in the northern part of the country with Angolan guerrillas waging a long war against the Portuguese. In 1974 a military coup in Portugal toppled it's government and armed conflict soon escalated in Angola between the three nationalist movements. The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), The National Front of Angolan Liberation (FNA) and The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). In 1975 the South African Republic invaded and occupied parts of southern Angola to protect their nationals and to take military action against the Namibian guerrilla camps located there. In 1985 South Africa signed a formal withdrawal accord, although sporadic incursions over the border continued until Aug. 1988. In the same year Cuba agreed to withdraw its troops and the warring factions agreed to a ceasefire on June 22, 1989. In Mar. 1991, the Angolan ruling party relinquished its commitment to Marxism, opening the way for peace negotiations and at the end of May, the Cuban troop withdrawal was completed. In June 1991 a peace treaty was signed in Lisbon officially ending the civil war and internationally supervised elections were held in Sept. 1992. In early Oct. 1992 the former rebel movement UNITA led by Dr Jonas Savimbi withdrew from the Angola's new joint armed forces in protest over alleged electoral fraud as another civil war loomed. In late October UNITA and the ruling government (MPLA) led by Dos Santos agreed to halt troop movements in an attempt to negotiate a power sharing arrangement to avert further bloodshed, although fighting continued to escalate. In Jan. 1993, a military offensive by government forces appeared to gain the upper hand against UNITA rebels, but, on Jan. 20, 1993 UNITA rebels seized control of the oil distribution center of Soyo in the northwest. At the end of January both sides agreed to more talks, although fierce fighting continued for the UNITA capital, Huambo, which fell to UNITA on Mar. 7, 1993. Further talks in April also floundered and on May 19, 1993 the US officially recognized the MPLA government. A further ceasefire in Sept. 1993 was rejected by UNITA and further talks in Nov.-Dec. 1993 were also to no avail.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the New Kwanza (NKz) divided into 100 Iwei.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $6,010,000,000 (1989). Public Debt; USD $7,727,000,000 (1993). Imports; USD $1,347,000,000 (1991). Exports; USD $3,427,000,000 (1991). Tourism Receipts; USD $20,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; USD $1,565,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 4,166,000 or 40.3% of total population (1991). Unemployed; N/A.

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are Portugal, Cuba, Germany, the US, the UK, Canada, Japan and the former USSR.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Asphalt, Bananas, Cassava, Citrus Fruits, Coffee, Copper, Cotton, Diamonds, Fish, Gypsum, Iron Ore, Limestone, Maize, Manganese, Oil, Palm Oil, Phosphates, Salt, Sisal, Sugar Beets, Sweet Potatoes, Timber.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Cement, Chemicals, Fishing, Food Processing, Forestry, Mining, Oil Refining, Paper and Pulp, Textiles, Tobacco.

MAIN EXPORTS: Coffee, Crude Oil, Diamonds, Fish, Maize, Oil, Petroleum Products, Sisal, Timber, Tobacco.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 2,789 km (1,733 mi) (1988), passenger-km 326,000,000 (203,000,000 passenger-mi) (1988), cargo ton-km 1,720,000,000 (1,178,000,000 short ton-mi) (1988). Roads; length 73,830 km, (45,876 mi) (1986). Vehicles; cars 122,000 (1989), trucks and buses 44,000 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 111 (1990), deadweight tonnage 122,403 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 975,000,000 (606,000,000 passenger-mi) (1985), cargo ton-km 33,900,000 (23,218,000 short ton-mi) (1985).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 4 with a total circulation of 500,000 (1994). Radio; receivers 450,000 (1994). Television; receivers 50,500 (1994) Telephones; units 53,300 (1993).

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MILITARY: 82,000 (1995) total active duty personnel with 91.5% army, 1.8% navy and 6.7% air force while military expenditure accounts for 23.9% (1986) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Antigua and Barbuda.

2009-10-29T06:01:00.002-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Antigua and Barbuda
CAPITAL: St. John's
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Monarchy
AREA: 442 Sq Km (171 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 70,800

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Antigua and Barbuda are located along the outer edge of the Leeward islands in the Caribbean Sea. The territory consists of three islands, of which, one is a small uninhabited rocky outcrop called Redonda. Of the two main islands (1.) Antigua is composed of volcanic rock, coral and limestone. It has inlets and bays with rolling hills vegetated with flowering trees while (2.) Barbuda is a flat coral island with a large lagoon on the west side of the island and has miles of beaches with pink and white sands. Major Cities (pop. est.); St. John's 22,000 (1991). Land Use; forested 11%, pastures 9%, agricultural-cultivated 18%, other 62% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Although drier than most other Caribbean islands, Antigua and Barbuda has a tropical climate with low humidity. The islands are tempered by sea breezes and trade winds. Annual average precipitation is approximately 1,000 mm (39 inches) and the hot season is between May to November. Average temperature ranges in St. John's are from 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) to 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) with night temperatures during the cool season falling between 16 to 18 degrees Celsius (60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit).

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PEOPLE: Around 89% of the population are of Black African origin while 10% are Mulattoes, who are of mixed African and European descent. Around 1% of the population are of British, Portuguese, Lebanese and Syrian origins.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 184.8 persons per sq km (478.6 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 32.0% urban, 68.0% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 48.0% male, 52.0% female (1985). Life Expectancy at Birth; 70.0 years male, 73.0 years female (1989). Age Breakdown; 37% under 15, 31% 15 to 29, 13% 30 to 44, 12% 45 to 59, 6% 60 to 74, 1% 75 and over (1985). Birth Rate; 14.1 per 1,000 (1988). Death Rate; 4.6 per 1,000 (1988). Increase Rate; 9.5 per 1,000 (1988). Infant Mortality Rate; 21.2 per 1,000 live births (1987).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with 45% of the population Anglican while around 42% are Protestants mainly Moravians, Methodists and Seven Day Adventists. Another 10% are Roman Catholics and less than 1% are Rastafarians.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is English, although there are some local dialects are also spoken.

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EDUCATION: Total population having attained: no formal schooling 15.0%, primary 79.2%, secondary 4.5%, higher 1.3% (1970). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 45,000 or 90.0% (1985).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In 1951 universal adult suffrage was introduced and in 1956 a form of ministerial government was introduced. In 1967 Antigua became an associated state of Britain and on Nov. 1, 1981 Antigua and Barbuda gained independence within the Commonwealth with Vere Bird of the Antigua Labor Party (ALP) as Prime Minister. In 1984 and 1989 the ALP was re-elected. In Nov. 1990 a judicial report was issued into the shipment of arms from Israel to Colombia which led to widespread public discussion on corruption and in Mar. 1991 there was a demonstration in protest to political corruption. In Sept. 1991 the government embarked on the development of an economic and political reform program. In Feb. 1992 opposition protest demonstrations began calling for Vere Bird's resignation as allegations surfaced that he had deposited an $67,000 government check into his own bank account which also resulted in further demonstrations. In opposition, the three main political parties banded together to form the United Progressive Party (UPP). In April 1992, the UPP inspired a general strike which closed most businesses. Bird as a result of the protests announced he would step down as leader of the ALP before the 1994 general elections. In March 1993, the High Court ruled that legislation barring government employees from publishing political information or expressing political views was illegal. In April 1993, the government cracked down on foreign drug traffickers after Antigua and Barbuda was increasingly being used as a transshipment point. In June 1993, James Carlisle was sworn in as the new governor-general and in August 1993 son and Foreign Affairs minister Lester Bird was elected to replaced his father as the new ALP leader in preparation for elections scheduled for March 1994.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the East Caribbean Dollar (ECD) divided into 100 Cents.

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the USA, Dominica, the UK and other CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market) countries.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Cabbages, Carrots, Cattle, Chickens, Cotton, Cucumbers, Egg Plants, Fish, Fruit, Goats, Pigs, Pineapples, Shellfish, Sugar Cane, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Vegetables, Yams.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Clothing, Cotton Production, Electronic Component Assembly, Food Processing, Fishing, Tourism.

MAIN EXPORTS: Clothing, Cotton, Rum, Shellfish, Sugar.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 78 km (48 mi) (1993). Roads; length 1,161 km (721 mi) (1986). Vehicles; cars 12,000 (1989), trucks and buses 2,700 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 204 (1990), deadweight tonnage 608,438 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 177,000,000 (110,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km nil (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Weekly Newspapers; total of 3 and 1 Bi-Weekly Newspaper with a total circulation of 12,200 (1990). Radio; receivers 75,000 (1994). Television; receivers 28,000 (1994). Telephones; units 19,200 (1993).

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MILITARY: Defense force member of the Eastern Caribbean regional security system.

Argentina.

2009-10-29T06:01:00.001-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Argentina
CAPITAL: Buenos Aires
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Federal Republic
AREA: 2,766,899 Sq Km (1,068,302 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 35,780,000

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Argentina is located in the southern area of the South American Continent. It is bound by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil to the northeast, Chile to the west, Uruguay and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Argentina is divided into four topographical regions. (1.) The Pampas which contains many lakes and rises gradually from the Atlantic Ocean to the Andean foothills, (2.) Patagonia which is a windswept semiarid region that rises to elevations of 1,500 metres (4,921 feet) with depressions that drop below sea level by 32 metres (104 feet), (3.) the northeastern lowlands which lie to the north of the Pampas and east of the Andes and (4.) the northwestern Andes which extend along the western half of the country. The Andes contain broad valleys and are generally inhospitable. The principal rivers are the Parana, Uruguay and Paraguay Rivers which drain into the Rio de la Plata Basin in northern Argentina while in the south the Colorado and Negro Rivers rise in the Andes and flow to the Atlantic Ocean. Major Cities (pop. est.); Buenos Aries 2,961,000, Cordoba 1,179,000, Rosario 1,078,000, La Planta 543,000 (1991). Land Use; forested 19%, pastures 52%, agricultural-cultivated 10%, other 19% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Most of Argentina lies in the shadow of the Andes. As the prevailing westerly winds lose their moisture and descend into Argentina temperatures increase while humidity decreases. As a whole, the climate varies from a humid sub-tropical climate in the north with the central semi-arid Pampa ranging from a tropical to a moderately cool climate. The southern area of the country is sub-arctic and is directly influenced by the prevailing westerlies. Rainfall diminishes from east to west with snow rarely falling. Average temperature ranges in Buenos Aires are from -5 to 14 degrees Celsius (23 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit) in June to 17 to 29 degrees Celsius (63 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit) in January.

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PEOPLE: Around 85% of the population are of European origins predominantly Spanish and Italian, although British as well as other Europeans, Jews and Middle Easterners are also represented. Latin American migration has been a recent trend and the remaining 15% are AmerIndians as well as Mestizos who are of mixed AmerIndian and European descent. The AmerIndians are estimated only at 50,000 and are concentrated in the extremities of the north, northwest and south.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 12 persons per sq km (30 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 86.2% urban, 13.8% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 48.9% male, 51.1% female (1991). Life Expectancy at Birth; 67.0 years male, 74.0 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 30% under 15, 23% 15 to 29, 20% 30 to 44, 14% 45 to 59, 10% 60 to 74, 3% 75 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 20.0 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 9.0 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 11.0 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 26.0 per 1,000 live births (1987).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with 93% of the population Roman Catholic while 2% are Protestant and another 2% are Jews.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Spanish, although it differs in pronunciation and grammar from Castilian Spanish. Additionally, English, French, German and Italian are spoken by the relevant minorities. The three AmerIndian languages that remain are Tehuelche, Guarani and Quechua.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: less than primary education 32.0%, of which 6.0% have no formal schooling, primary 34.6%, secondary 20.5%, higher 6.9% (1980). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 95.3% (1990).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In Sept. 1930 a coup brought Argentina's first military government to power with the period from 1930-1943 known as the "Era of Patriotic Fraud." Again in 1943 under Col. Juan Domingo Peron another military coup took place and in 1945 the provisional government took the first steps toward the establishment of a constitutional regime. In 1951 Pres. Peron was reelected and in 1955 the armed forces temporarily united against the President forcing him into exile. In 1966 military commanders of the armed forces suspended the Congress and dissolved all political parties. By 1969 unrest became widespread and several people were killed in a series of general strikes. In 1973 Peron returned from exile and was reelected after the resignation of Hector Campora, a fellow Peronist who resigned after only 50 days in office. In 1974 Pres. Peron died and was succeeded by his wife Isabelita. In 1976 the military took control of the government and arrested Isabelita and implemented the "Dirty War" in which thousands of Argentines disappeared with most believed to be tortured and executed. In March 1981 Maj.Gen. Viola was ousted by the military and was replaced by the Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Galtieri. In 1982 Argentina under Gen. Galtieri invaded the Falkland Islands with the hope of restoring national credibility, although after a short combat with the British, the Argentine forces surrendered. In 1983 Argentina was in a severe economic crisis and Raul Alfonsin took office. In May 1989 the Peronists returned to power under Carlos Saul Menem and in Dec. 1990 he pardoned many of the military leaders involved in the "Dirty War". Argentina's unsuccessful fight against hyper-inflation which reached 1,800% at the end of 1990 has increased the discontent among the people. In Jan. 1991, there was a major Cabinet reshuffle in the wake of "corruption in high places" allegations regarding the country's privatization program. In April 1991, Domingo Cavallo was appointed as Economy Minister and introduced a convertibility plan to stabilize the economy. In late 1991 the President's personal popularity had suffered a downturn in the wake of drug money-laundering scandals involving family members and his former campaign secretary. During 1992 Pres. Menem averted further bad publicity from the continuing corruption saga involving his family and close aides. Cavallo's convertibility plan was also incorporated into law and obliged the government to back the issue of currency with dollar reserves. During mid-1992 the economic reform process was deepen after growing voter discontent with government policies surfaced in senate elections. Various protests and strikes organized by the government's opposition parties continued throughout the last quarter of 1992. Argentina continued to prosper in 1993 under the framework of stability provided by the 1991 "convertibility plan". Pres. Mendem's desired changes to the 1853 constitution to allow his reelection bid in the planned 1995 elections were renewed in 1993. In Nov. 1993, amendments to the constitution to allow the reelection of a second consecutive reduced 4 year term were finally agreed to by the party leaders and ratified by the Chamber of Deputies and Senate in December. In Dec. 1993 Menem was forced to return home from a state visit to the Vatican after rioting broke out between public workers who had not been paid and security forces. Also in late 1993 government files were opened which confirmed that some 1,000 Nazi war criminals had entered the country after WWII.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Peso (P) formerly the Austral (A) which is divided into 100 Centavos.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $224,013,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $61,534,000,000 (1993). Imports; USD $16,651,000,000 (1993). Exports; USD $12,869,000,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; USD $3,614,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; USD -$4,002,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 12,305,000 or 38% of total population (1990). Unemployed; 7.3% (1989).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the former USSR, Brazil, the Netherlands, the USA, Japan, Italy, Germany, Chile and Spain.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Apples, Cattle, Citrus Fruits, Coal, Copper, Cotton, Fruit, Fish, Grapes, Gold, Iron Ore, Lead, Limestone, Maize, Manganese, Mica, Oil and Natural Gas, Olives, Potatoes, Peanuts, Rice, Sheep, Silver, Sorghum, Soya Beans, Sugar, Sunflower Seeds, Timber, Tungsten, Tobacco, Uranium, Wheat, Zinc.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Cement, Chemicals, Fishing, Food Processing, Forestry, Machinery, Mining, Petroleum, Plastics, Refining, Steel, Textiles, Vehicles, Wood and Paper Pulp.

MAIN EXPORTS: Animal and Vegetable Oils, Animal Foodstuffs, Chemicals, Fruit and Vegetables, Leather, Machinery, Maize, Meat, Soya Beans, Sugar, Wheat, Wool.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 34,115 km (21,198 mi) (1988), passenger-km 10,221,200,000 (6,351,157,000 passenger-mi) (1988), cargo ton-km 9,010,600,000 (6,171,360,000 short ton-mi) (1988). Roads; length 211,369 km (131,339 mi) (1986). Vehicles; cars 4,088,000 (1989), trucks and buses 1,512,000 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 479 (1990), deadweight tonnage 2,872,288 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 8,431,000,000 (5,239,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 185,963,000 (127,366,000 short ton-mi) (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 190 with a total circulation of 4,780,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 21,500,000 (1994). Television; receivers 7,165,000 (1994). Telephones; units 4,115,000 (1993).

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MILITARY: 67,300 (1995) total active duty personnel with 60.0% army, 26.8% navy and 13.2% air force while military expenditure accounts for 1.7% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Armenia.

2009-10-29T06:00:00.002-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Armenia
CAPITAL: Yerevan
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Unitary Multiparty Republic
AREA: 29,800 Sq Km (11,500 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 3,876,300

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LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY: Armenia is a former republic of the USSR. It is bound by Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, Turkey to the west and southwest as well as Iran to the southeast. Topographically, the country can be divided into four regions. (1.) The northeastern area of folded back mountains which are the central ranges of the Lesser Caucasus. (2.) The central volcanic area which stretches to the Gukasian and Dzharakhetskii Ranges in the southwest and to the Karabakh Highlands in the southeast. This area also consists of lava plateaux, highlands and massifs with little surface drainage. (3.) The southern area which consists of a broken network of valleys and deep gorges and (4.) the northwestern area which comprises the Ararat Plain that is marked by a flat aggregated relief. The principal rivers are Arak and its tributaries while the largest lake is Lake Sevan. Major Cities (pop. est.); Yerevan 1,250,000, Gyumri 163,000, Kirovakan 76,000 (1989). Land Use; forested 14%, pastures 23%, agricultural-cultivated 19%, other 44% (1993).

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CLIMATE: The climate of Armenia is influenced by the Black and Caspian Seas as well as the surrounding highlands. In general, Armenia has a continental climate with dry hot summers and cold winters. Average annual precipitation varies from 300 to 635 mm (12 to 25 inches) while average temperature ranges are from 16 to 23 degrees Celsius (62 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit) in July to -12 to -9 degrees Celsius (10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit) in January.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are Armenians who account for 93% of the population while around 3% are Azerbaijanis. Other ethnic minorities include Ukrainians and Russians.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 119 persons per sq km (309 persons per sq mi) (1993). Urban-Rural; 69.5% urban, 30.5% rural (1991). Sex Distribution; 49.5% male, 50.5% female (1992). Life Expectancy at Birth; 67.4 years male, 73.3 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 30% under 15, 26% 15 to 29, 21% 30 to 44, 14% 45 to 59, 6% 60 to 64, 3% 65 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 21.6 per 1,000 (1992). Death Rate; 6.5 per 1,000 (1992). Increase Rate; 15.1 per 1,000 (1992). Infant Mortality Rate; 17.9 per 1,000 live births (1990).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians of the Armenian Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Evangelical Churches.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Armenian while Russian is also widely spoken and each ethnic minority also has its own language.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: primary or no formal schooling 7.4%, incomplete secondary 18.6%, complete secondary 57.7%, higher 13.8% (1989). Literacy; N/A.

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: On Dec. 12, 1991 Armenia declared its independence, although prior to independence its history was closely tied with that of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). In Mar. 1953 Yosef Stalin died and was succeeded by Georgy Malenkov who was in turn forced to relinquish the party leadership to Nikita Khrushchev after a little over one week in power. In 1955 the Warsaw pact militarily aligned the Soviet Union with other communist countries and in Nov. 1956 the Soviet Red Army invaded Hungary to quell uprisings. In 1957 three communist ministers unsuccessfully attempted to depose Khrushchev which resulted in their expulsion from the central committee. In 1962 under Khrushchev's rule the USSR was involved in the Cuban Missile crisis and in the same year relations with China were broken off as a result of ideological differences. In Oct. 1964 Khrushchev was forced to retire and was succeeded by Leonid Brezhnev. In Aug. 1968 the Warsaw Pact forces led by the Red Army invaded Czechoslovakia to halt their Prague Spring reforms. In 1977 Breshnev was elected President. In Nov. 1982 Brezhnev died and was succeeded by Yuri Andropov, the former head of the KGB. Andropov introduced limited economic reforms and established an anti-corruption program. In Feb 1984 Andropov died and was succeeded by Konstantin Chernenko who in turn died on Mar. 10, 1985. On Mar. 11, 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev was elected as Chernenko's successor and Gorbachev embarked on a program which restructured the USSR's relations with the West. Gorbachev also established Glasnost (openness) as well as Perestroika (restructuring and reform). In Apr. 1986 a meltdown in the reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power station in Ukraine sent radioactive fallout across northern Europe. In Dec. 1987 the USSR and USA signed the Treaty on Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF). In Feb. 1988 a dispute erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh which resulted in mass demonstrations and strikes in the two republics. In Dec. 1988 an earthquake in Armenia killed some 50,000 people. In Apr. 1989 troops violently repressed demonstrations in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. In Dec. 1989 the Lithuanian Parliament adopted multiparty politics. In Jan. 1990 Gorbachev visited Lithuania and was met by some 250,000 pro-independence demonstrators. In Feb. 1990 some 18 people were killed in riots over housing discrimination in Tajikistan. In May 1990 Boris Yeltsin was elected President of the Russian Federation and on Nov. 1, 1990 launched a 500 day plan to give the Russian Republic a free market economy. In June 1990 Nakhichevan an Azerbaijani enclave bordering Iran declared its intention for a unification with Iran while a civil war was escalating between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In the same month around 150 people were killed during ethnic clashes in Kyrgyzstan. In Jan 1991 another 15 people were killed as the Red Army seized a television station in Lithuania while in Latvia the Soviet Black Berets killed 5 people in an attack on the ministry building. In the same month troops were being deployed in Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Moldova. In Mar. 1991 pro-Yeltsin demonstrators held a mass rally. On Aug. 18, 1991 as Gorbachev was vacationing in the Crimea, the Politburo hard liners attempted a coup to remove Gorbachev from power through the declaration of a State of Emergency under the control of a State Committee. Almost immediately republic leaders declared the emergency committee illegal as well as unconstitutional and began to barricade their parliaments as troops and tanks were deployed throughout the republics. By Aug. 20 senior officers had refused to order their troops to use force against the civilians and on Aug. 21, 1991 the coup collapsed as troops were ordered to return to their barracks. Immediately following the unsuccessful coup many republics suspended or purged the communist party and on Sept. 5, 1991 after 3 days of debate the 74 years of centralized communist control came to an end. In Jan. 1992 Armenia became a founding member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Since the break-up of the USSR, fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan has escalated over the disputed enclave, Nagorno-Karabakh, that has been territory of Azerbaijan since 1923 although the population is predominately Armenian. In Feb. 1992 the Armenian forces captured Khojali providing them with access to the only airfield in the region. This allowed the Armenian forces to ferry in supplies to continue the war and to gain air control thus halting the indiscriminate bombing of Armenian towns and villages there. After taking the enclave a land corridor through Azerbaijani territory was secured linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. The enclave declared its independence as the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and requested Armenian recognition. Pres. Levon Ter-Petrosyan refused to recognize the republic arguing that Armenia shouldn't be the first to do so. The Nargorno-Karabakh parliament disagreed with Ter-Petrosyan who was prepared to accept autonomy and free access for the enclave. The conflict with Azerbaijan was bringing economic hardship for Armenia as it had been cut of from its energy resources which forced a slowdown in manufacturing with industrial capacity running at only 18% in October 1992 while the state bank had no foreign reserves and money due from the collapse of the USSR was frozen in the Bank for Foreign Trade in Moscow. During 1993 Armenia was relatively politically stable despite the severe economic hardships and the waning support for Pres. Ter-Petrosyan. In Feb. 1993, Prime Minister Khosrow Arutyunyan was dismissed after a disagreement on the 1993 budget. In July 1993 economic relations with Russia were further strained when the Russian Central Bank decided to withdraw from circulation all pre-1993 banknotes. In Sept. 1993 an opposition standoff and demand for new parliamentary elections to be held in March 1994 was rejected. On Nov. 22, 1993 Armenia officially introduced a new national currency the Dram. Also during 1993 little progress had been made regarding a satisfactory political settlement over the war and disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Foreign relations with Iran, Turkey and Russia deteriorated after Karabakh Armenian forces launch fresh summer offensive in southern Azerbaijan. The offensive was thought to be Yeravan inspired and resulted in Armenia's further political isolation.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Dram (D) formerly the Rouble (R) divided into 100 Lumas.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $2,462,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; N/A. Imports; R 290,477,000,000 (1993). Exports; R 155,666,000,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; N/A. Balance of Trade; R -1,039,000,000 (1990). Economically Active Population; 1,592,000 or 42.4% of total population (1994). Unemployed; 5.6% (1994).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partner is the CIS.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Antimony, Arsenic, Barley, Chromites, Citrus Fruits, Copper, Cotton, Gold, Iron, Limestone, Livestock, Magnesium, Mercury, Molybdenum, Potatoes, Pumice, Silver, Sugar Beets, Tobacco, Wheat, Wine Grapes, Zinc.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Automobiles, Cement, Ceramics, Chemical and Petrochemical Processing, Electronics, Food Processing, Glass, Machinery and Machine Tools, Construction Materials, Sugar Refining, Textiles, Timber Processing.

MAIN EXPORTS: Automobiles, Ceramics, Chemicals, Electronics, Glass, Machine Tools, Machinery, Petrochemicals, Processed Foods, Textiles, Timber.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 823 km (511 mi) (1991), passenger-km 316,000,000 (196,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 4,884,000,000 (3,345,000,000 short ton-mi) (1990). Roads; length 7,700 km (4,785 mi) (1991). Vehicles; cars 230,110 (1990). Merchant Marine; nil. Air Transport; passenger-km 5,556,900,000 (3,452,897,000 passenger-mi) (1993), cargo ton-km 49,000,000 (33,560,000 short ton-mi) (1993).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 7 with a total circulation of 82,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 642,000 (1993). Television; receivers 722,000 (1993). Telephones; units 584,000 (1993).

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MILITARY: est. 32,700 (1994) total active duty personnel with 100% army while military expenditure accounts for 2.3% of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Australia.

2009-10-29T06:00:00.001-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Commonwealth of Australia
CAPITAL: Canberra
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Federal Multiparty Parliamentary State with Sovereign Monarchy
AREA: 7,686,850 Sq Km (2,967,710 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 18,594,000

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Australia is the smallest continent in the world. Lying southeast of Asia, it is bound by the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Coral Sea to the northeast, the Timor Sea to the northwest, the Indian Ocean to the west and the Tasman Sea to the southeast. The continent consists largely of plains and plateaux, and can be divided into three principal topographical regions. (1.) The Western Plateau which is a vast desert and semidesert region that covers almost 66% of the land area and is comprised of ancient rocks similar to those of Africa. The Western Plateau has an average elevation of 305 metres (1,000 feet) and is relieved by the Hamersley Range to the west, the Kimberley Ranges and the valleys of Arnhem Land to the north-central as well as the Macdonnell, Musgrave and Petermann Ranges to the East. Also located on the plateau are the country's four major deserts - the Gibson, Great Sandy, Great Victoria and Simpson as well as a massive monolith known as Ayers Rock which rises over 335 metres (1,100 feet). The plateau is also surrounded by escarpments, of which the most unusual is the Nullarbor Plain a flat, smooth, barren lowland that stretches inland along the Great Australian Bight. (2.) The Central Eastern Lowlands which comprises Lake Eyre as well as the Murray, Darling and Gulf of Carpentaria drainage basins stretch from the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north to Western Victoria in the south. The average elevation of the Central Eastern Lowlands is only 152 metres (500 feet) and falls to 12 metres (40 feet) below sea-level at Lake Eyre. The Great Artesian Basin also found beneath the Central Eastern Lowlands is the largest artesian basin in the world and accounts for approximately 20% of the continent. (3.) The Eastern Highlands also described as the Great Dividing Range consist of a complex belt of tablelands, ridges and coastal ranges stretching from Cape York in northern Queensland to southern Victoria, and again resurfacing across Bass Strait in Tasmania. The Eastern Highlands have an average elevation of under 914 metres (3,000 feet) and are low and broad in the north, while tablelands characterized by the New England Plateau and the Blue Mountains are located in the central region. In the south the highlands pass through the Australian Alps and the Snowy Mountains, and across Victoria. The Eastern Highlands also contain a number of rivers, although many are short and swift with the Murray River the longest while its chief tributaries are the Darling, Murrumbidgee and Lachlan Rivers. Major Cities (pop. est.); Sydney 3,739,000, Melbourne 3,198,000, Brisbane 1,455,000, Perth 1,239,000, Adelaide 1,076,000, Newcastle 460,000, Canberra 328,000, Gold Coast 314,000, Woollongong 251,000, Hobart 194,000 (1994). Land Use; pastures 54%, agricultural-cultivated 6%, other including forests, deserts and urban 40% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Australia's climatic conditions are characterized by warmth, little rain, clear skies and sunshine while temperature ranges are moderate with the absence of an intense cold winter. The continent can be divided into several climatic zones, an arid and semiarid interior, the monsoonal north and the sub-humid to humid east. Australia can experience hurricanes and cyclones on both coasts mainly on the northeast and northwest while droughts are also common. Although droughts are generally limited, severe national droughts have occurred. More than 33% of the country has an average annual precipitation under 260 mm (10 inches) while less than 33% receives over 500 mm (19.5 inches). Average temperature ranges in Sydney are from 8 to 16 degrees Celsius (46 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit) in July to 18 to 26 degrees Celsius (64 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit) in January.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Whites who account for 95% of the population and are principally of British descent. However, around 22% of the population were born abroad with principal ethnic groups including Italians, Croats, Serbs, Greeks, Maltese, Germans, Dutch, Asians, New Zealanders, North Americans and South Africans. The native Aboriginal population accounts for around 1.5% of the population while Asians account for 1.3%

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 2.3 persons per sq km (6 persons per sq mi) (1993). Urban-Rural; 85.4% urban, 14.6% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 49.9% male, 50.1% female (1991). Life Expectancy at Birth; 74.4 years male, 80.3 years female (1991). Age Breakdown; 22% under 15, 24% 15 to 29, 23% 30 to 44, 15% 45 to 59, 11% 60 to 74, 5% 75 and over (1991). Birth Rate; 15.1 per 1,000 (1992). Death Rate; 7.1 per 1,000 (1992). Increase Rate; 8.0 per 1,000 (1992). Infant Mortality Rate; 7.0 per 1,000 live births (1992).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians, of which 52% of the population are Protestant or Anglican, 25% are Roman Catholic and 3% are Greek Orthodox. Other minorities include Muslims as well as Buddhists and both account for less than 1% each.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is English, although Aboriginal and other numerous ethnic immigrant languages are also spoken.

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EDUCATION: Aged 15 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 0.3%, primary and secondary 56.1%, post secondary 34.0%, university 9.6% (1992). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 99.5% (1990).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: After World War II Australia had an open door policy towards displaced European refugees which resulted in an influx of immigrants. In 1947 Prime Minister Ben Chifley unsuccessfully attempted to nationalize the country's banks and Australia became one of the original members of the UN. In 1949 Sir Robert Menzies was elected Prime Minister of a Liberal coalition government and in the same year Australia contributed forces to a UN command in the Korean War. In 1950 Australia became a member of the Colombo Plan to aid underdeveloped South and South East Asian countries. In 1951 Australia signed the ANZUS Security Treaty between Australia, New Zealand and the United States. In 1954 Australia became a member of South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) and in 1965 Australian troops were sent to Vietnam. During the late 1960's Aborigines were granted the right to vote and to claim social benefits. In 1966 Prime Minister Menzies retired and Harold Holt replaced him as head of the coalition government. In 1967 Harold Holt mysteriously disappeared and was presumed to have died during a swimming accident when swept out to sea. Prime Minister Holt was replaced by John Gorton who was in turn succeeded by William McMahon in 1971. In 1972 Gough Whitlam leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) won power and in 1974 Prime Minister Whitlam dissolved both houses of Parliament. In 1975 the Senate blocked the government's money bills and in Nov. 1975 Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed Prime Minister Whitlam and dissolved the Senate which resulted in angry protests and demonstrations. In Dec. 1975 Malcolm Fraser who was appointed interim Prime Minister by the Governor-General was elected as head of another Liberal coalition government which held office until 1983. In Mar. 1983 Robert (Bob) Hawke was elected Prime Minister under an ALP government. In Dec. 1983 the government embarked on a program of economic deregulation and in 1984 legislation was approved which granted greater protection to sacred Aboriginal sites. In Oct. 1985 Ayers Rock was transferred to an Mutijulu Aboriginal Community and then leased back to the government for a period of 99 years. In 1986 the Australian Act gave the country full independence from Britain while still retaining its Commonwealth membership and the Queen as its sovereign head of state. In July 1987 Prime Minister Hawke was re-elected for his third term in office and in the same year a Royal Commission was set up to investigate the death rates of Aborigines in police custody. In 1988 Australia celebrated its bi-centenary of colonization. In Mar 1990 the ALP with Prime Minister Hawke was re-elected for another term. In 1990 Australia sent three war ships to the US-led coalition forces that liberated Kuwait after Iraq had invaded and annexed Kuwait in Aug. 1990. In July 1991 the government controversially banned the mining of Coronation Hill in the Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory over Aboriginal land rights. In Dec. 1991 the former ALP treasurer, Paul Keating replaced Bob Hawke as party leader and Prime Minister ending several months of internal party conflict. Also during 1991 as a result of the deepening recession there were spectacular collapses of several major banks and corporations on a large scale. Royal commissions such as the infamous "WA Inc" investigating a coalition of corporate and political corruption and misappropriation of government monies as well as trials of the more famous bankrupts soon followed. During 1991 foreign relations with the USA over wheat subsidies and Malaysia over the screening of a television series called "Embassy" which they saw as mocking their country and disrespectful to Islam were also damaged. In Feb. 1992 Bob Hawke resigned from his safe Labor seat of Wills forcing a by-election which resulted in the election of an independent, Phil Cleary. Also during 1992 Bob Hawke reneged on his promise not to undermine the Prime Minister, by publicly attacking Keating. Further woes for the ALP included damage as a result of a scandal involving the arrest of a relative of the Labor power-broker Senator Graham Richardson on a forgery charge. Sen. Richardson was latter forced to resign over his relationship with this relative while in South Australia the Labor Premier was also forced to resign over the losses of a State-owned bank. Relations with the UK also soured in 1992 with Keating calling for the establishment of an Australian republic and accusations of British abandonment of Australia and South East Asia to the Japanese in WWII during the Queens royal tour in Feb. 1992. During 1992 Keating also incited hot nationalistic debate over his call for a new national flag while relations with the USA continued to be strain over grain subsidies and relations with Malaysia improved after production of the program "Embassy" ceased. On Mar. 13, 1993 snap elections resulted in the ALP being re-elected for a record fifth term. Although the opposition were defeated John Hewson was re-elected as leader of the Liberal Party and appointed a shadow ministry that included a record number of five women. Also during 1993 Keating setup a Republican Advisory Committee of prominent Australians which keep the republican issue under debate. Additionally, debate also centered on the High Court's Mabo decision which recognized native land title and established a new entitlement to land for the indigenous inhabitants. On Sept. 2, 1993 Keating released a draft of proposed legislation, which included the establishment of a federal tribunal to grant compensation for dispossessed Aborigines and Islanders, to deal with the problems that arose with the ruling. The legislation was ratified by both houses of Parliament on Deck. 22, 1993 to take effect on Jan. 1, 1994. During 1993 foreign relations were focused on mending the "trade" rift between Australia and the USA, and cementing good foreign relations with the US. The economy also show signs of recovery with the stabilizing factor of low inflation and a steady rise in the stock exchange, although unemployment remain high and the government had enormous difficulties with its proposed budget requiring revision three times.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Dollar (AUD) divided into 100 Cents.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $310,050,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; AUD $80,948,000,000 (1993). Imports; AUD $66,910,000,000 (1994). Exports; AUD $62,839,000,000 (1994). Tourism Receipts; USD $4,655,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; AUD -$5,021,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 9,003,000 or 49.5% of total population (1995). Unemployed; 7.9% (1995).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are China, Japan, Egypt, Indonesia and the former USSR.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Barley, Bauxite, Cattle, Coal, Copper, Diamonds, Fish, Fruit, Gold, Iron Ore, Lead, Maize, Manganese, Natural Gas, Nickel, Oats, Opals, Oil, Pigs, Rice, Rutile, Sheep, Sorghum, Sugar cane, Timber, Tin, Tobacco, Tungsten, Uranium, Vegetables, Wheat, Zinc.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Aluminum Refining and Smelting, Cement, Chemicals, Fishing, Food Processing, Forestry, Iron and Steel, Light Engineering, Machinery, Mining, Oil and Gas Production, Textiles and Clothing, Vehicles, Wool and Hide Processing.

MAIN EXPORTS: Alumina, Aluminum, Beef, Coal, Iron Ore, Manufactured Goods, Petroleum Products, Various Minerals, Veal, Wheat, Wool.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 37,295 km (23,174 mi) (1991), passenger-km 2,187,120,000 (1,359,013,000 passenger-mi) (1989), cargo ton-km 53,163,000,000 (36,411,000,000 short ton-mi) (1991). Roads; length 810,264 km (503,475 mi) (1990). Vehicles; cars 7,913,200 (1992), trucks and buses 2,041,300 (1992). Merchant Marine; vessels 695 (1992), deadweight tonnage 3,857,271 (1992). Air Transport; passenger-km 41,279,000,000 (25,650,000,000 passenger-mi) (1991), cargo ton-km 2,578,029,000 (1,765,692,000 short ton-mi) (1991).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 69 with a total circulation of 4,600,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 20,000,000 (1994). Television; receivers 8,000,000 (1994). Telephones; units 8,540,000 (1993).

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MILITARY: 56,100 (1995) total active duty personnel with 42.2% army, 26.7% navy and 31.1% air force while military expenditure accounts for 2.4% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Austria.

2009-10-29T05:59:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Austria
CAPITAL: Vienna
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Federal Multiparty Republic
AREA: 83,853 Sq Km (32,376 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 7,995,500

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LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY: Austria is a small mountainous landlocked country in South Central Europe. It is bound by Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south as well as Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. Although almost 75% of the country is mountainous and Austria can be topographically divided into (1.) the Eastern Alps, (2.) the northern Alpine forelands, (3.) the Bohemian Plateau, (4.) the Vienna Basin and (5.) the eastern and southern lowlands. The principal river is the Danube and its tributaries which flow eastward through central Austria. Austria has the highest percentage of forest in Central Europe with forests covering around 37% of the land area, of which conifers account for 85% while 10% are beech, 2% are oak and deciduous trees account for the remainder. Major Cities (pop. est.); Vienna 1,540,000, Graz 238,000, Linz 203,000, Salzburg 144,000, Innsbruck 118,000 (1991). Land Use; forested 39%, pastures 24%, agricultural-cultivated 18%, other 19% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Austria's climate is influenced by three climatic systems, (1.) the North Atlantic maritime, (2.) the Mediterranean and (3.) the continental. The country can also be divided into three climatic regions, (1.) the Alps where it is often sunny in winter but cloudy in summer. (2.) The Danube Valley and Vienna Basin, the driest regions where winter snow is rarely deep. (3.) The southeast region which experiences heavy thunderstorms and where winters can be severe, although summers are warmer and sunnier than the Alps region. Winters are generally cold throughout the country and the summer months are often the wettest with heavy rainfall that is also short in duration. Average temperature ranges in Vienna are from -4 to 1 degrees Celsius (25 to 34 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 15 to 25 degrees Celsius (59 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit) in July.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Austrians who account for around 98% of the population and are of German origin. The principal ethnic minority groups are the Croats who account for .7% of the population, the Slovenes for .3% and others which include Magyars, Czechs and Slovaks.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 93 persons per sq km (241 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 57.7% urban, 42.3% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 47.7% male, 52.3% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 72.1 years male, 78.8 years female (1989). Age Breakdown; 17% under 15, 24% 15 to 29, 21% 30 to 44, 18% 45 to 59, 13% 60 to 74, 7% 75 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 11.6 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 10.7 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 0.9 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 7.9 per 1,000 live births (1990).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with 85 to 90% of the population Roman Catholic while around 6% are Evangelical Lutherans and 1% are Muslims. There is also a small number of Jews.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is German with 99% of the population speaking it, although different dialects are associated with class distinctions.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: through lower secondary 40.0%, general secondary or vocational 54.3%, higher 5.7% (1989). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over virtually 100% (1989).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: During 1943, a conference in Moscow announced the intentions to recreate Austria as an independent sovereign state with democratic foundations. It was recognized internationally as an independent state in Dec. 1945. In 1955 the Austrian State Treaty banned any future economic and political union with Germany, reaffirmed the 1919 Habsburg Law and ensured Austria's future and permanent neutrality. In 1972 Austria signed a free trade industrial agreement with the EC and applied for membership in July 1989. An international panel of historians issued a report in 1988 which concluded that Pres. Kurt Waldheim knew of war crimes in Greece and Yugoslavia while serving in the German army during World War II, did nothing to stop them and later covered up his war record, however, the panel also found no evidence that Waldheim himself committed war crimes. In Oct. 1990 National Council elections resulted in the continuation of a SPO/OVP coalition government. On June 21, 1991 the controversial leader, Jorg Haider, of the right-wing Freedom Party (FPO) lost his post as Karnten provincial governor over continued remarks in "Nazi jargon", although regional election in November resulted in substantial gains for the FPO after campaigning with an anti-immigration agenda. In 1991 the Austrian government for the first time formally acknowledged that many Austrians had supported Adolf Hitler during his invasion and in mid-1991 received notice from the EU that negotiations for entry to the union should begin in 1993. During 1991 the worldwide recession hit Austria while the escalation of the Yugoslav war and continued violations of the Yugoslav-Austria border resulted in a military operation in the region. Also in the largest murder trial in the country's history four nurses were convicted of killing numerous elderly patients at a Vienna hospital. Spring Presidential elections in 1992 resulted in the election of Thomas Klestil of the OVP. In June 1992 the 32-year old controversy over South Tyrol (Sudtirol) came to an end when Italy and Austria announced the completion of a 1969 plan that contained 137 measures which would guarantee Sudtirol's autonomy. During 1992 the flow of European refugees swelled so that by September the country was harboring some 57,000 Yugoslav refugees. As a result the government and authorities were plagued with right-wing anti-immigration and anti-foreigner activities. On Feb. 1, 1993 negotiations began on Austria's full membership to the EU which resulted in Austria's plan for a referendum on the issue. In June 1993 after decades of tension Israel and Austria established new diplomatic relations that greatly broaden cooperation between the two countries. In Dec. 1993 there were a series of right-wing letter box bombings, one in which injured the mayor of Vienna. During 1993 unemployment reached its highest level in 40 years while the government further privatized state-owned property, curtailed social services and increased taxes as austerity measures. In the political front nationalism and the radical right grew stronger with the FPO winners at further regional elections while a number of former officials faced trial for their alleged involvement in the illegal exports of arms to Iran with Interior Minister Karl Blecha convicted.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Euro divided into 100 cents.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $183,530,000,000 (1993). National Debt; USD $88,149,000,000 (1992). Imports; S 593,900,000,000 (1993). Exports; S 487,600,000,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; USD $13,400,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; S -89,300,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 3,679,000 or 46.7% of total population (1992). Unemployed; 6.5% (1994).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, the former USSR and the UK.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Anhydrous Gypsum, Barley, Cattle, Clay, Copper, Graphite, Hay and Fodder, Iron Ore, Kaolin, Lignite, Maize, Manganese, Natural Gas, Oil, Potatoes, Salt, Sheep, Sugar Beets, Talc, Temperate Fruits, Timber, Vines, Wheat.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Aluminum and Lead Processing, Beer, Ceramics, Chemicals, Clothing, Electrical Goods, Food Processing, Forestry, Glassware, Iron and Steel, Oil and Gas Production, Oil and Gas Refining, Textiles, Tourism, Wine, Wood Products.

MAIN EXPORTS: Chemical, Iron and Steel, Machinery, Meat and Dairy Products, Textiles, Timber, Wood Products.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 6,662 km (4,140 mi) (1989), passenger-km 8,464,000,000 (5,259,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 12,691,000,000 (8,692,000,000 short ton-mi) (1990). Roads; length 107,099 km (66,548 mi) (1989). Vehicles; cars 2,902,949 (1989), trucks and buses 256,228 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 32 (1990), deadweight tonnage 233,618 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 2,819,000,000 (1,752,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 45,400,000 (31,094,000 short ton-mi) (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 27 with a total circulation of 3,108,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 4,710,000 (1994). Television; receivers 2,706,000 (1994). Telephones; units 3,579,000 (1993).

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MILITARY: 51,250 (1994) total active duty personnel with 85.9% army, 0.0% navy and 14.1% air force while military expenditure accounts for 1.0% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Azerbaijani.

2009-10-29T05:57:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Azerbaijani Republic
CAPITAL: Baku
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Federal Multiparty Republic
AREA: 86,600 Sq Km (33,400 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 8,347,200

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LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY: Azerbaijan is a former republic of the USSR. It is bound by Iran to the south, Armenia to the west, Georgia to the northwest, Russia to the north and the Caspian Sea to the east. The territory also includes the Nakhichevan Oblast which lies between Iran, Turkey and Armenia. Around 50% of the land area is mountainous and the country can be divided into three topographical regions. (1.) The Greater Caucasus in the north which is represented by the Main or Dividing Range and is characterized by glacial structures while to the east the Greater Caucasus descends rapidly to form broad low hills with an arid terrain. (2.) The Lesser Caucasus in the south, which consists of the Shakhdag, Karabakh and Murordg Mountain Ranges also contain vast lava plateaux as well as extinct volcanoes. (3.) The Kura Depression, part of which lies between the Greater and Lesser Caucasuses. In the northern and western areas of the Kura Depression, low hills, ridges and valleys are found while the central and eastern parts consist of alluvial flatlands as well as low delta areas along the coast. The Nakhichevan Oblast is characterized by sloping plains of the Araks Valley, plateaux and broken mountain range slopes. The country's principal rivers are the Kura and Araks. Major Cities (pop. est.); Baku 1,080,500, Gyandzha (Kirovabad) 282,200, Sumgait 236,200, Mingechaur 91,000, Nakhickevan 62,000 (1991). Land Use; forested 22%, pastures 25%, agricultural-cultivated 11%, other 42% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Azerbaijan's climate varies from an arid subtropical and humid subtropical to a mountainous tundra climate. Average annual precipitation is between 200 to 300 mm (8 to 12 inches) in the lowlands and 300 to 900 mm (12 to 35.5 inches) in the highlands, although precipitation is distributed unevenly throughout the year. On the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus average annual precipitation ranges from 1,000 to 1,300 mm (39 to 51 inches). Average temperature ranges on the lowlands are from 25 to 27 degrees Celsius (77 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit) in July to 0 to 3 degrees Celsius (32 to 37 degrees Fahrenheit) in January and between -3 to -6 degrees Celsius (27 to 21 degrees Fahrenheit) in January on the highlands.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are Azerbaijanis who account for 83% of the population while 6% are Russians and another 6% are Armenians. Other ethnic minorities include Ukrainians, Georgians, Tartars, Jews and others.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 85 persons per sq km (220 persons per sq mi) (1993). Urban-Rural; 53.7% urban, 46.3% rural (1991). Sex Distribution; 49.3% male, 50.7% female (1992). Life Expectancy at Birth; 66.9 years male, 74.8 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 33% under 15, 30% 15 to 29, 17% 30 to 44, 13% 45 to 59, 5% 60 to 74, 2% 75 and over (1989). Birth Rate; 27.0 per 1,000 (1992). Death Rate; 6.3 per 1,000 (1992). Increase Rate; 20.7 per 1,000 (1992). Infant Mortality Rate; 25.3 per 1,000 live births (1992).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Shiite Muslims, although there is also a Roman Catholic minority.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Azerbaijani while Russian is also widely spoken and each ethnic minority also has its own language.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: primary or no formal schooling 12.2%, incomplete secondary 19.2%, complete secondary 58.1%, higher 10.5% (1989). Literacy; N/A.

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: On Aug. 30, 1991 Azerbaijan declared its independence, although prior to independence its history was closely tied with that of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). In Mar. 1953 Yosef Stalin died and was succeeded by Georgy Malenkov who was in turn forced to relinquish the party leadership to Nikita Khrushchev after a little over one week in power. In 1955 the Warsaw pact, militarily aligned the Soviet Union with other communist countries and in Nov. 1956 the Soviet Red Army invaded Hungary to quell uprisings. In 1957 three communist ministers unsuccessfully attempted to depose Khrushchev which resulted in their expulsion from the central committee. In 1962 under Khrushchev's rule the USSR was involved in the Cuban Missile crisis and in the same year relations with China were broken off as a result of ideological differences. In Oct. 1964 Khrushchev was forced to retire and was succeeded by Leonid Brezhnev. In Aug. 1968 the Warsaw Pact forces led by the Red Army invaded Czechoslovakia to halt their Prague Spring reforms. In 1977 Breshnev was elected President. In Nov. 1982 Brezhnev died and was succeeded by Yuri Andropov, the former head of the KGB. Andropov introduced limited economic reforms and established an anti-corruption program. In Feb 1984 Andropov died and was succeeded by Konstantin Chernenko who in turn died on Mar. 10, 1985. On Mar. 11, 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev was elected as Chernenko's successor and Gorbachev embarked on a program which restructured the USSR's relations with the West. Gorbachev also established Glasnost (openness) as well as Perestroika (restructuring and reform). In Apr. 1986 a meltdown in the reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power station in Ukraine sent radioactive fallout across northern Europe. In Dec. 1987 the USSR and USA signed the Treaty on Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF). In Feb. 1988 a dispute erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno Karabakh which resulted in mass demonstrations and strikes in the two republics. In Dec. 1988 an earthquake in Armenia killed some 50,000 people. In Apr. 1989 troops violently repressed demonstrations in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. In Dec. 1989 the Lithuanian Parliament adopted multiparty politics. In Jan. 1990 Gorbachev visited Lithuania and was met by some 250,000 pro-independence demonstrators. In Feb. 1990 some 18 people were killed in riots over housing discrimination in Tajikistan. In May 1990 Boris Yeltsin was elected President of the Russian Federation and on Nov. 1, 1990 launched a 500 day plan to give the Russian Republic a free market economy. In June 1990 Nakhichevan an Azerbaijani enclave bordering Iran declared its intention for a unification with Iran while a civil war was escalating between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In the same month around 150 people were killed during ethnic clashes in Kyrgyzstan. In Jan 1991 another 15 people were killed as the Red Army seized a television station in Lithuania while in Latvia the Soviet Black Berets killed 5 people in an attack on the ministry building. In the same month troops were being deployed in Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Moldova. In Mar. 1991 pro-Yeltsin demonstrators held a mass rally. On Aug. 18, 1991 as Gorbachev was vacationing in the Crimea, the Politburo hard liners attempted a coup to remove Gorbachev from power through the declaration of a State of Emergency under the control of a State Committee. Almost immediately republic leaders declared the emergency committee illegal as well as unconstitutional and began to barricade their parliaments as troops and tanks were deployed throughout the republics. By Aug. 20 senior officers had refused to order their troops to use force against the civilians and on Aug. 21, 1991 the coup collapsed as troops were ordered to return to their barracks. Immediately following the unsuccessful coup many republics suspended or purged the communist party and on Sept. 5, 1991 after 3 days of debate the 74 years of centralized communist control came to an end. In Jan. 1992 Azerbaijan became a founding member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Since the break-up of the USSR, fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan has escalated over the disputed enclave, Nagorno-Karabakh, that has been territory of Azerbaijan since 1923 although the population is predominately Armenian. In March 1992 after the fall of the town of Khojali in Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenian forces angry demonstrations eventually forced the resignation of Ayaz Mutalibov, the former Communist Party leader. Yabub Mamedov another ex-communist succeeded Mutalibov until May 1992, when Multalibov was briefly returned to power after Shusha the center of Azerbaijani culture in Nagorno-Karabakh fell to Armenian forces. The Azerbaijani Popular Front (APF) headed by Abulfez Elchibey organized mass demonstration that resulted in the interim replacement of Mutalibov by Isa Gambarov until presidential elections could be held. On June 7, 1992 presidential elections resulted in Elchibey being elected while the old parliament elected in 1990 and dominated by Communists remained the same. Both Pres. Elchibey and his Armenian counterpart sought to reached a diplomatic solution over the disputed enclave, although the Dashnaktstiun Party which dominates the Nagorno-Karabakh parliament would settle for nothing less than complete independence. As a result Nagorno-Karabakh declared its independence, proclaimed the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and sought international recognition. During 1992 Azerbaijan's parliament formally voted to leave the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and introduced its own currency to underline its economic independence. Also during the year several international agreements for gas and oil exploration were entered into. In Feb. 1993 amid rumors of an planned coup attempt a leading army commander, Suret Guseynov, was dismissed while the continuing lack of military gains over Nagorno-Karabakh, the oppression of political opposition and a worsening economic situation combined to erode the popularity of the pro-Turkish Pres. Elcibey. In June 1993, Guseynov's forces repelled an attack on their headquarters by government forces and occupied Gyandzha. Gusynov's forces then marched to Baku unchallenged, precipitating Elchibey's internal exile and the appointment of the former Nakhichevan parliament chairman, Geidar Aliev, as acting president. In Sept. 1993 Aliev visited Moscow for talks with Boris Yeltsin and other leading officials on political and economic cooperation while later that month the National Assembly voted to rejoin the CIS. In Oct. 1993 Aliev was elected President with some 99% of the vote and signed an end to Turkey's privileged relationship with Azerbaijan. Also in October a visit from the Iranian Pres. Ali Akbar Rafsanjani also focused on stronger economic cooperation. During 1993 the CSCE and Russia attempted to negotiate a political solution to the continuing conflict which resulted in a cease-fire agreement in late July, although a fresh offensive by Karabakh forces into southern Azerbaijan took place in August.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Manat (M) divided into 100 Gopik.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $5,428,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; N/A. Imports; R 117,427,000,000 (1993). Exports; R 113,589,000,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; N/A. Balance of Trade; R 3,838,000,000 (1993). Economically Active Population; 2,869,000 or 39.7% of total population (1992). Unemployed; 3.7% (1991).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the CIS and Iran.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Alumina, Clay, Copper, Cotton, Fruits, Grapes, Iron Ore, Limestone, Livestock, Maize, Natural Gas, Oil, Potatoes, Pyrite, Rice, Salt, Tea, Tobacco, Vegetables, Wheat.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Electric Power Construction, Electrical Equipment, Fishing, Food Processing, Glass, Livestock Processing, Machinery, Mineral Fertilizers, Oil Refining, Petroleum and Chemical Refining, Petroleum Equipment, Silk Milling, Steel, Synthetic Alcohol, Wine Making.

MAIN EXPORTS: Chemical Products, Electrical Equipment, Fertilizers, Food Products, Glass, Machinery, Minerals, Natural Gas, Petroleum Products, Tea, Wine.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 2,090 km (1,299 mi) (1991), passenger-km N/A., cargo ton-km N/A. Roads; length 36,700 km (22,804 mi) (1991). Vehicles; cars 235,600 (1988). Merchant Marine; N/A. Air Transport; N/A.

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 6 with a total circulation of 427,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 1,174,000 (1992). Television; receivers 1,522,000 (1992). Telephones; units 647,000 (1993).

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MILITARY: 86,700 (1995) total active duty personnel with 84.5% army, 2.6% navy and 12.9% air force while military expenditure accounts for est. 5.6% (1991) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Bahamas.

2009-10-29T05:55:00.002-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: The Commonwealth of the Bahamas
CAPITAL: Nassau
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Monarchy
AREA: 13,935 Sq Km (5,380 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 291,800

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: The Bahamas is a series of long flat coralline limestone islands in the West Atlantic Ocean. There are nearly 700 islands and over 2,000 cays in the archipelago, of which only about 40 islands are inhabited. These islands comprise two oceanic banks, (1.) the Bahama Bank and (2.) the Great Bahama Bank. The island's terrain, for the most part, is low and flat with a few small lakes and mangroves swamps. The shorelines are marked with coral reefs and there are no navigable rivers. Major Cities (pop. est.); Greater Nassau 172,000, Freeport/Lucaya 27,000 (1990). Land Use; forested 32%, pastures 1%, agricultural-cultivated 1%, other 66% (1993).

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CLIMATE: The Bahamas has a semitropical climate with two seasons. (1.) The winter season from December to April and (2.) the summer season from May to November, with relative humidity ranging from 60 to 100%. Average annual precipitation is 1,320 mm (52 inches) and most rainfall occurs between May to June and September to October. The hurricane season which lasts from June to November does experience gale force winds, although normally wind rarely exceeds 24 kmph (15 mph). Average temperature ranges in Nassau are from 18 to 25 degrees Celsius (64 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit) in February to 24 to 32 degrees Celsius (75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit) in August.

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PEOPLE: Approximately 72% of the population are of Black African descent, while 14% are mixed and 13% are White. Many of the origin Black African inhabitants arrived on the island, as it was the major staging location for the slave trade or they were bought over by the British who fled in the thousands from the British colonies in the US during the American Revolution. More than 75% of the population inhabit New Providence or Grand Bahama.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 19 persons per sq km (49 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 59.1% urban, 40.9% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 48.5% male, 51.5% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 67.0 years male, 74.0 years female (1987). Age Breakdown; 38% under 15, 28% 15 to 29, 18% 30 to 44, 10% 45 to 59, 5% 60 to 74, 1% 75 and over (1985). Birth Rate; 20.2 per 1,000 (1989). Death Rate; 5.9 per 1,000 (1989). Increase Rate; 14.3 per 1,000 (1989). Infant Mortality Rate; 22.3 per 1,000 live births (1988).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with Baptists accounting for 32% of the population, Anglicans for 20% and 18% are Roman Catholic. The remainder are divided among other Protestant, Greek Orthodox and Jewish faiths.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is English with the majority of the population speaking British English, although American English is having an increasing influence.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 6.7%, primary 15.4%, secondary 63.0%, higher 14.9% (1970). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 139,000 or 95.0% (1986).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In 1950 the US established a testing ground for guided missiles in the Bahamas. During 1958 Black resentment against economic and political discrimination led to a 19 day strike in Nassau. The strike led to reforms that enabled the Bahamas to attain internal self government in 1964. In 1963 the US founded an underwater defense training center. On July 10, 1973 the Bahamas gained independence within the Commonwealth. In 1983 allegations of widespread government corruption involving the money from drug trafficking created a major scandal and a royal commission was set up to investigate the allegations, however, no conclusive evidence was found to implicate the Prime Minister, Sir Lynden Pindling. Although, two other cabinet ministers and many officials were implicated and subsequently forced to resign. In 1991, new legislation was passed to strengthen the competitiveness of the Bahamas as an offshore financial center and to institute a stock exchange. Also during 1991 there was a severe downturn in tourist arrivals and government revenues. As a result British Airways withdrew its UK-Bahamas service in April 1991 leaving the country without a direct air link to Europe. In August 1992 the Free National Movement led by Hubert Ingraham won general elections thereby ending Prime Minister Lynden Pindling's 25 year rule. Also in the same month Hurricane Andrew swept through the Bahamas causing some $250 million worth of damage and leaving 1,700 people homeless. In Nov. 1992, Pindling resigned as leader of the Progressive Liberal Party. In Feb. 1993, a Commission of Inquiry began investigations into allegations of corruption and misuse of funds at Bahamasair, the national airline as well as the Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation and the Bahamas Hotel Corporation. In May 1993, an agreement was signed to establish an industrial park at Freeport for US, European and Asian high-tech companies. In June 1993 a task force was appointed to undertake a feasibility study of establishing a local securities market in the Bahamas. Also during 1993, some 600 illegal Haitian immigrants had arrived by June with most of them being deported by the authorities.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Dollar (BD) divided into 100 Cents.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $3,059,000,000 (1993). National Debt; USD $1,463,000,000 (1994). Imports; BD $1,801,000,000 (1991). Exports; BD $1,517,000,000 (1991). Tourism Receipts; USD $1,333,000,000 (1994). Balance of Trade; BD -$600,000,000 (1993). Economically Active Population; 136,900 or 51.5% of total population (1993). Unemployed; 20% (1994).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the USA, Canada, the UK, other EU countries, Nigeria and Libya.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Fish, Fruit and Vegetables, Limestone, Okra, Onions, Salt, Shellfish, Timber, Tomatoes.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Cement, Fishing, Forestry, Oil Refining, Pharmaceuticals, Pipe Manufacturing, Rum and Liquor, Salt Mining, Steel, Tourism.

MAIN EXPORTS: Crude Oil, Chemicals, Fruit, Limestone, Petroleum Products, Pulpwood, Rum, Salt, Seafoods, Tomatoes.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; nil. Roads; length 4,100 km (2,548 mi) (1984). Vehicles; cars 69,000 (1989), trucks and buses 14,000 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 807 (1990), deadweight tonnage 22,365,394 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 217,600,000 (135,210,000 passenger-mi) (1985), cargo ton-km 217,000 (149,000 short ton-mi) (1985).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 3 with a total circulation of 35,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 134,000 (1994). Television; receivers 60,000 (1994). Telephones; units 79,500 (1993).

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MILITARY: 850 (1994) total active duty personnel with 100% coast guard while military expenditure accounts for 0.5% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Bangladesh.

2009-10-29T05:55:00.001-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: People's Republic of Bangladesh
CAPITAL: Dacca (Dhaka)
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Unitary Multiparty Republic
AREA: 143,998 Sq Km (55,598 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 130,804,500

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Bangladesh is a low lying riverine country located between the foothills of the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean. It is bound by India to the north, east and west, Myanmar to the southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south. The country is characterized by alluvial plains which are dissected by numerous connecting rivers as well as streams and the country is vulnerable to both flood and drought. The land is devoted mainly to agriculture due to its fertile alluvial soils. Hills rise only in Chittagong region of the extreme southeast and the northeastern region of Sylhet. The country is covered by lush vegetation with bamboo and palm forests mixed with monsoonal forests while the areas of the south are covered with mangroves and hardwood forests. Major Cities (pop. est.); Dacca 6,105,000, Chittagong 2,041,000, Khulna 877,000, Rajshahi 517,000, Mymensingh 186,000 (1991). Land Use; forested 15%, pastures 5%, agricultural-cultivated 74%, other 6% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Bangladesh has a tropical monsoonal climate with three distinct seasons. (1.) The hot summer season when rain occurs from heavy thunderstorms between March and June. (2.) The main rainy season between June and September when over 80% of the annual precipitation occurs in heavy and frequent downpours. Although the rainy season is cooler than the hot summer season it is still warm and humid. (3.) The cool winter season which is mostly dry and lasts from October to February. The average annual precipitation varies between 1,270 mm and 1,520 mm (50 to 60 inches) depending on the region. Three types of violent storms trouble the country depending on the season and they are (1.) cyclonic storms, (2.) thunderstorms and (3.) tornadoes. Average temperature ranges in Chittagong are from 13 to 26 degrees Celsius (55 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 25 to 31 degrees Celsius (77 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit) in June.

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PEOPLE: Over 98% of the population are Bengalis while the remainder are Biharis, who are non-Bengalis that fled from eastern India in 1947, and other tribal groups, of which the largest are the Chakmas, Marmas, Tipperas and the Moros. Most of the tribal groups live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts while in the coastal areas there are also scattered communities of Arab, Dutch and Portuguese settlers.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 755 persons per sq km (1,956 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 24.4% urban, 75.6% rural (1989). Sex Distribution; 51.5% male, 48.5% female (1991). Life Expectancy at Birth; 56.0 years male, 56.0 years female (1989). Age Breakdown; 42% under 15, 26% 15 to 29, 16% 30 to 44, 9% 45 to 59, 5% 60 and over, 2% not known (1988). Birth Rate; 33.0 per 1,000 (1989). Death Rate; 11.4 per 1,000 (1989). Increase Rate; 21.6 per 1,000 (1989). Infant Mortality Rate; 98.0 per 1,000 live births (1989).

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RELIGIONS: The official religion is Islam with approximately 83% of the population Sunni Muslims. This makes Bangladesh the third largest Islamic state in the world after Indonesia and Pakistan. The Muslim society is divided into three distinct classes, (1.) the Ashraf (better), (2.) the Ajlaf (lower) and the (3.) Arzal (lowest). Hindus account for 12% of the population and less than 1% are Buddhist, Christian or other.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Bengali with English used for official, legal and commerce purposes, and it is widely understood by most educated people.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 70.4%, primary 24.1%, secondary 4.2%, higher 1.3% (1981). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 35.3% (1990).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In 1947 British rule ended and the Indian provinces were divided into predominantly Hindu India, Muslim West Pakistan and Muslim East Pakistan. On the March 26, 1971 East Pakistan was declared the independent state of Bangladesh which resulted in a full scale civil war with West Pakistani troops. On Dec. 16, 1971 Bangladesh's independence was secured after the intervention of India in the civil war. Independent Bangladesh faced serious problems as the economy was weak and badly damaged from the independence war as well as the breaking of economic ties with Pakistan. In 1972 a constitution was adopted providing for parliamentary democracy as well as a secular state and Shaikb Mujib ur-Rahman returned to power as Prime Minister after his release from a West Pakistani jail. In 1974 severe floods caused widespread famine and property damage. In the same year the government declared a State of Emergency after internal security was threatened by Islamic fundamentalist terrorists. In August 1975 Pesident Mujib was killed along with most of his family by a group of military officers after growing discontent escalated as a result of constitutional amendments in January that replaced the parliamentary democracy with a single party presidential rule. Also during the same year Maj.Gen. Zia ur-Rahman (Zia) emerged as the leading figure in the military government and he became chief Martial Law administrator. In April 1977 he became President and the constitution was amended to make Bangladesh an Islamic state. In May 1981 Zia was finally assassinated after another unsuccessful coup attempt. In March 1982 Lt. Gen.. Hossain Mohammad Ershad led a coup, reimposed Martial Law and took power as Martial Law administrator. In 1983 Ershad formed a new People's Party and assumed the presidency of Bangladesh. During 1983 to 1984 there were many strikes as well as riots and Martial Law was lifted in Nov. 1986. Again in Nov. 1987 another State of Emergency was imposed and the Parliament was dissolved in Dec. 1987. In Aug. and Sept. 1988 the worst floods on record devastated the country. After months of demonstrations President Ershad resigned in Dec. 1990 and was subsequently arrested on charges of plundering the nation. He was finally imprisoned for 10 years for possession of illegal firearms. In Feb. 1991, elections saw the formation of a the first civilian government in nine years and in August a constitutional amendment was approved returning the country to a Westminster-style parliamentary system of democracy. On April 30, 1991 a cyclone with winds up to 235 km/h (146 mph) hit Chittagong and Cox's Bazar causing some US$2.7 billion dollars in damage while 4.5 million people had lost their homes or property and 131,000 were killed. The US responded to the disaster by diverting homeward bound Gulf War troops to join the relief effort. In May 1991 further tornadoes and widespread flooding further compounded the country's problems and continued throughput most of the year. In April 1992 Bangladesh signed a repatriation agreement with Myanmar (Burma) and held eight rounds of talks in an attempt to persuade 265,000 muslim refugees to return to Myanmar, although they refused to return until the human rights situation improved. In July 1992 Zia's government announced a US$1.7 million deficit budget for the 1992-93 fiscal year and on August 30, 1992 defeated an opposition motion of no-confidence in nonperformance of curbing lawlessness. In Sept. 1992 the government passed an ordinance in an attempt to stop campus terrorism where universities produced the activists of the national political parties. In Nov. 1992 an agreement allowing more economic and political power for the Chakma insurgents in the Chittagong Hill Tracts was signed after 17 years of sporadic fighting. Also during the year, relations improved with India after a small land corridor that Dacca needed to gain access to two small enclaves was handed over in June ending a 18-year dispute. On Jan. 24, 1993 a bomb exploded during a rally of the opposition Awami League while two days later a dawn-to-noon nationwide strike paralyzed the economy. Further opposition strikes were held in July and August to protest alleged government corruption. In March 1993 a border attack by Myanmar soldiers on a Bangladesh village further strained relations over the refugee situation. Also during the year, former President Ershad was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison on charges from corruption to possession of illegal firearms while foreign and trade relations with Malaysia, India, China and Pakistan also improved.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Taka (Tk) divided into 100 Poisha.

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the USA, Mozambique, Iran, Pakistan, Sudan, Japan and other West European countries.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Cattle, Coal, Fish, Glass Sand, Jute, Limestone, Natural Gas, Peat, Rice, Salt, Sugar Cane, Tea, Timber, Tobacco, Wheat, White Clay.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Aluminum Works, Fertilizers, Fishing, Glass works, Jute Mining, Paper and Leather Processing, Shipyards, Sugar Refining, Tea, Textiles.

MAIN EXPORTS: Jute, Leather, Tea, Frozen Fish, Porcelain wares, Fertilizer, Cement, Textiles.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 2,817 km (1,750 mi) (1989), passenger-km 5,244,000,000 (3,258,000,000 passenger-mi) (1989), cargo ton-km 660,000,000 (452,000,000 short ton-mi) (1989). Roads; length 176,876 km (109,906 mi) (1989). Vehicles; cars 39,169 (1989), trucks and buses 51,247 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 308 (1990), deadweight tonnage 620,634 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 2,201,000,000 (1,368,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 93,903,000 (64,314,000 short ton-mi) (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 51 with a total circulation of 710,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 4,650,000 (1994). Television; receivers 350,000 (1994). Telephones; units 268,400 (1993).

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MILITARY: 115,500 (1995) total active duty personnel with 87.5% army, 6.9% navy and 5.6% air force while military expenditure accounts for 1.5% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Bahrain.

2009-10-29T05:54:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: State of Bahrain
CAPITAL: Al Manamah
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Absolute Monarchy
AREA: 678 Sq Km (262 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 585,000

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Bahrain is a group of islands in the Persian Gulf midway between the tip of the Qatar Peninsula and the Saudi Arabian mainland. The island group includes six primary islands which are Bahrain, Muharraq, Sitrah, Umm al Nassan, Jidda and Nabi Salih. Bahrain has a desert topography except for a narrow strip of land along the northern coast. In the interior the land rises gradually towards a central range of hills. Most of the other islands are flat and sandy. A number of fresh water springs or artesian wells are located along the northern coast of the Bahrain. In general, the soil is poor and saline, supporting little or no vegetation. Major Cities (pop. est.); Al Manamah 140,400, Ar Rifa 46,000, Al Muharraq 45,300, Madinat Isa 34,500 (1991). Land Use; pastures 6%, agricultural-cultivated 3%, other including deserts and marshes 91% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Bahrain has an arid desert climate characterized by very hot summers with high humidity while winters are relatively cooler. Average annual precipitation is only 76 mm (3 inches). Various winds influence the temperatures and include the Bara from the north, which is a cool wind that sometimes reduces the temperature in June, the Shamal from the northeast which is a moist wind that dominates all year round and the Quss from the south or southwest, which is a hot dry sand laden wind. Average temperature ranges on Bahrain are from 14 to 20 degrees Celsius (67 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 29 to 38 degrees Celsius (84 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit) in August.

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PEOPLE: Between 73% and 75% of the population are indigenous Arabs with diversity among the ethnic minorities. Around 14% of the population are Saudi Arabian and Omanis while 9% are Iranians with the remainder divided among the Asians, Baluchis, Pakistanis, Indians and British Europeans.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 745 persons per sq km (1,930 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 83.0% urban, 17.0% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 58.0% male, 42.0% female (1988). Life Expectancy at Birth; 65.0 years male, 68.4 years female (1986). Age Breakdown; 35% under 15, 26% 15 to 29, 26% 30 to 44, 10% 45 to 59, 3% 60 and over (1988). Birth Rate; 26.5 per 1,000 (1988). Death Rate; 3.2 per 1,000 (1988). Increase Rate; 23.3 per 1,000 (1988). Infant Mortality Rate; 23.5 per 1,000 live births (1988).

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RELIGIONS: The official religion is Islam with 51% of the population Shiite Muslims while 34% are Sunni Muslims. Some Christian and Jewish communities do exist, although they are definitely minorities.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Arabic which is spoken in its Gulf dialect. English is also widely understood and taught in secondary schools.

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EDUCATION: Aged 10 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 27.2%, some reading/writing skills 26.3%, primary 24.9%, secondary 13.3%, higher 8.3% (1981). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 77.4% (1990).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: During 1861 to 1971 the islands were under British protection. In 1971 Bahrain became fully independent and in 1968 as well as 1979 Iran pressed its longstanding claim over Bahrain. In 1981 Bahrain became threatened by Iran's claims of sovereignty over the islands through a failed coup which was believed to be linked to Iran and resulted in 73 arrests. In the same year and in response, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar joined with Bahrain to form the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). In 1990 Bahrain expanded its military bases following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and Britain's defense secretary, Tom King, announced that three British minesweepers as well as a squadron of Tornado fighter jets would be based in Bahrain as a form of self-defense. In Aug. 1991 a territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands flared when gunboats exchanged fire. On June 20, 1992 Bahrain became the first Arab Gulf nation to urge better relations with Iraq since the end to the Gulf War. On July 3, 1992 the Hawar Islands dispute between Qatar and Bahrain entered a new phase, with Qatar rejecting Bahrain's demand for a joint petition to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and continuing with its own unilateral bid to recover the islands. In July 1992, Crown Prince Sheik Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifah announced his desire to establish closer ties with Iran. Following the death of the Shiite divine Grand Ayatollah Abolqassemm al-Khoei on August 8, 1992 there were massive processions for five days. On Dec. 16, 1992 the emir announced the establishment of a consultative council to allow greater citizen participation in the country affairs. On Jan. 16, 1993 the council met for the first time, following which the emir granted an amnesty to eight political prisoners and pardons to eleven exiles in an attempt at healing the rift between the Sunni and Shiite Muslims. In April 1993 Bahrain asserted its claim to the Hawar Islands by announcing a territorial waters claim of 12 nautical miles and its right to exercise its sovereignty over the area.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Dinar (BD) which is divided into 1000 Fils.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $4,283,000,000 (1993). National Debt; USD $1,810,000,000 (1991). Imports; BD 1,559,000,000 (1992). Exports; BD 1,285,000,000 (1992). Tourism Receipts; USD $177,000,000 (1992). Balance of Trade; BD 33,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 226,400 or 44.6% of total population (1991). Unemployed; 6.3% (1991).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the USA, the UAE, Japan, India, Canada, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Crude Oil, Dates, Eggs, Fish, Livestock, Lucerne, Vegetables.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Air Conditioning, Aluminum Smelting and Refining, Crude Oil Production and Refining, Flour Milling, Fish Processing, Natural Gas, Oil Well Equipment, Petrochemicals, Plastics, Ship Building and Repairs.

MAIN EXPORTS: Crude Oil, Fish, Petroleum Products.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; nil. Roads; length 2,614 km (1,624 mi) (1988). Vehicles; cars 90,000 (1989), trucks and buses 8,000 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 87 (1990), deadweight tonnage 49,371 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 1,549,000,000 (963,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 44,300,000 (30,341,000 short ton-mi) (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 3 with a total circulation of 43,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 320,000 (1994). Television; receivers 270,000 (1994). Telephones; units 124,000 (1993).

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MILITARY: 10,700 (1995) total active duty personnel with 79.4% army, 6.5% navy and 14.1% air force while military expenditure accounts for 5.5% (1994) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Barbados.

2009-10-29T05:53:00.002-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Barbados
CAPITAL: Bridgetown
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Monarchy
AREA: 430 Sq Km (166 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 272,000

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands, lying east of the windward group of islands. It is of a triangular shape and ringed by a coral reef. The island is of coral and limestone formation, and is comparatively flat with a series of tablelands that rise from the west coast to a ridge in the center with Mt. Hillaby the country's highest point at 340 m (984 feet). Although there are no rivers, valleys temporarily fill with water during heavy rainfall and water courses as well as underground channels do exist. Major Cities (pop. est.); Bridgetown 6,000, Speightstown 3,500 (1990). Land Use; forested 12%, pastures 5%, agricultural-cultivated 36%, other 47% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Barbados has a tropical maritime climate with temperatures tempered by the NE trade winds particularly during the dry season. The dry season is relatively cool and occurs between December to May. The wet season between June and December, is hotter with higher humidity and greater rainfall. Average annual precipitation varies from around 1,000 mm (39 inches) in the coastal areas to 2,280 mm (90 inches) in the central ridge area. Average temperature ranges for Bridgetown are from 21 to 28 degrees Celsius (70 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit) in February to 23 to 30 degrees Celsius (73 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit) in June or September.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are Black African descendants who account for 80% of the population. Other ethnic minorities include Whites who only account for 4% of the population while Mulattoes, who are of mixed African and White descent account for 16% and East Indians account for only .4%.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 600 persons per sq km (1,554 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 44.7% urban, 55.3% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 47.7% male, 52.3% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 71.9 years male, 76.9 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 25% under 15, 29% 15 to 29, 20% 30 to 44, 11% 45 to 59, 15% 60 and over (1989). Birth Rate; 16.8 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 8.6 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 8.2 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 10.9 per 1,000 live births (1990).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with around 70% of the population Anglican and Protestant. The remainder belong to a number of Moravian Methodist Churches and the Roman Catholic Church.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is English, although there are various dialects and the vocabulary contains a number of barbarianisms.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 0.8%, primary 63.5%, secondary 32.3%, higher 3.3% (1980). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 180,000 or 98.0% (1985).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In 1951 universal adult suffrage was introduced and in 1954 a full ministerial system of government was established. In 1958 Barbados joined the West Indies Federation, however, the federation collapsed in 1962 due to a failure to reach an agreement with other neighboring islands and the East Caribbean Federation. In 1965 Barbados decided to seek independence on its own and became the fourth British Caribbean dependency to gain independence in 1966. From 1961 to 1976 Barbados took a leading role in establishing the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM). Barbados helped to form the Eastern Caribbean Security Alliance in 1982 and in 1983 took part in a US-led invasion of Grenada. In Jan. 1991 Prime Minister Erskine Sandiford of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) was re-elected after general elections for another 5 year term. In April 1991 the government introduced austerity measures which included a 1.5% stabilization tax on gross income failed to control the government's fiscal deficits and led to considerable unrest. Also during the year, tourism, sugar production and construction activity declined. Following the government's agreement with the International Monetary Fund in mid-1991 for $60 million in funding to stabilize foreign reserves the economy remained depressed. In April 1992 Harold Blackman resigned from the Finance Ministry and launched a scathing attack on the DLP leadership. In Sept. 1992 the Bardabos Mutual Life Assurance company took over local assets of the scandal-ridden Bank of Credit and Commerce International. During 1993 economic woes continued for the fourth continuous year while in May 1993 the government announced that "cruise tourism" which continued to do well would be further enhanced by a $3 million extension of the Bridgetown cruise terminal. In August 1993, the government, labor and business reached an agreement on a two-year income and pricing policy which froze pay increases and restrained price increases until April 1995. Also during 1993, sugar production dropped to a 62-year low.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Dollar (BDS) divided into 100 Cents.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $1,620,000,0000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $346,500,000 (1993). Imports; BDS $1,234,814,000 (1994). Exports; BDS $363,036,000 (1994). Tourism Receipts; USD $502,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; BDS -$689,300,000 (1993). Economically Active Population; 129,000 or 48.8% of total population (1994). Unemployed; 21.9% (1994).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the USA, the UK, Canada and other CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market) countries.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Bananas, Fish, Goats, Limestone, Natural Gas, Onions, Pigs, Poultry, Shellfish, Sheep, Sugar Cane, Vegetables.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Cement, Clothing, Electrical Parts, Molasses, Pharmaceuticals, Processed Foods, Rum, Sugar Refining, Textiles, Tourism.

MAIN EXPORTS: Cement, Clothing, Electrical Parts, Medical Supplies, Molasses, Rum, Sugar.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; nil. Roads; length 1,573 km (977 mi) (1989). Vehicles; cars 38,711 (1989), trucks and buses 8,627 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 35 (1990), deadweight tonnage 7,781 (1990). Air Transport; N/A.

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 2 with a total circulation of 41,405 (1994). Radio; receivers 224,000 (1994). Television; receivers 69,350 (1994). Telephones; units 110,960 (1992).

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MILITARY: 154 (1989) total active duty personnel with 100% coast guard while military expenditure accounts for 0.6% (1992) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Belarus.

2009-10-29T05:53:00.001-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Belarus
CAPITAL: Minsk
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Unitary Multiparty Republic
AREA: 207,600 Sq Km (80,200 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 10,452,500

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LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY: Belarus is a former republic of the USSR. It is bound by Poland and Lithuania to the west, Russia to the northeast and east, Ukraine to the south and Latvia to the northwest. The country occupies the western extremities of the East European Plain within the basins of the Dnieper, Zapadnaia Dvina and Neman Rivers. The country's terrain is characterized by the alternation of elevated flat and depressed areas, which are swampy and occupied by lakes in various regions. The southeast region is occupied by alluvial as well as glacial plains and as a whole, the terrain is the result of anthropogenic continental glaciation. The principal rivers are the Western Dvina, Bevezina, Dnepr, Pripyat (Pripet), Neman, Bug and the Sozh. Major Cities (pop. est.); Minsk 1,671,000, Homel 517,000, Vitebsk 373,000, Mahilyou 364,000, Hrodno 291,000 (1992). Land Use; forested 34%, pastures 15%, agricultural-cultivated 30%, other 21% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Belarus has a moderately continental climate that is influenced by the Baltic Sea and Atlantic Ocean. The summers are warm and winters are cold while the average annual precipitation ranges 546 mm (21.5 inches) to 693 mm (27.3 inches). Average temperature ranges are from 17.5 degrees Celsius (63.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in July to -7 degrees Celsius (20 degrees Fahrenheit) in January.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Belarussians who account for 78% of the population while 13% are Russians and 3% are Ukrainians. Other ethnic minorities include Jews, Tartars and Lithuanians.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 50 persons per sq km (129 persons per sq mi) (1993). Urban-Rural; 67.6% urban, 32.4% rural (1992). Sex Distribution; 47.0% male, 53.0% female (1992). Life Expectancy at Birth; 66.3 years male, 75.6 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 23% under 15, 22% 15 to 29, 21% 30 to 44, 18% 45 to 59, 11% 60 to 74, 5% 75 and over (1989). Birth Rate; 12.9 per 1,000 (1992). Death Rate; 11.2 per 1,000 (1992). Increase Rate; 1.7 per 1,000 (1992). Infant Mortality Rate; 12.1 per 1,000 live births (1992).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Orthodox Christians with a Roman Catholic minority.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Belarussian while Russian is also widely spoken and each ethnic minority also has its own language.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: primary or no formal schooling 23.0%, incomplete secondary 16.8%, completed secondary 49.4%, higher 10.8% (1989). Literacy; N/A.

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: On Aug. 25, 1991 Belarus declared its independence, although prior to independence its history was closely tied with that of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). In Mar. 1953 Yosef Stalin died and was succeeded by Georgy Malenkov who was in turn forced to relinquish the party leadership to Nikita Khrushchev after a little over one week in power. In 1955 the Warsaw pact, militarily aligned the Soviet Union with other communist countries and in Nov. 1956 the Soviet Red Army invaded Hungary to quell uprisings. In 1957 three communist ministers unsuccessfully attempted to depose Khrushchev which resulted in their expulsion from the central committee. In 1962 under Khrushchev's rule the USSR was involved in the Cuban Missile crisis and in the same year relations with China were broken off as a result of ideological differences. In Oct. 1964 Khrushchev was forced to retire and was succeeded by Leonid Brezhnev. In Aug. 1968 the Warsaw Pact forces led by the Red Army invaded Czechoslovakia to halt their Prague Spring reforms. In 1977 Breshnev was elected President. In Nov. 1982 Brezhnev died and was succeeded by Yuri Andropov, the former head of the KGB. Andropov introduced limited economic reforms and established an anti-corruption program. In Feb 1984 Andropov died and was succeeded by Konstantin Chernenko who in turn died on Mar. 10, 1985. On Mar. 11, 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev was elected as Chernenko's successor and Gorbachev embarked on a program which restructured the USSR's relations with the West. Gorbachev also established Glasnost (openness) as well as Perestroika (restructuring and reform). In Apr. 1986 a meltdown in the reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power station in Ukraine sent radioactive fallout across northern Europe. In Dec. 1987 the USSR and USA signed the Treaty on Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF). In Feb. 1988 a dispute erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh which resulted in mass demonstrations and strikes in the two republics. In Dec. 1988 an earthquake in Armenia killed some 50,000 people. In Apr. 1989 troops violently repressed demonstrations in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. In Dec. 1989 the Lithuanian Parliament adopted multiparty politics. In Jan. 1990 Gorbachev visited Lithuania and was met by some 250,000 pro-independence demonstrators. In Feb. 1990 some 18 people were killed in riots over housing discrimination in Tajikistan. In May 1990 Boris Yeltsin was elected President of the Russian Federation and on Nov. 1, 1990 launched a 500 day plan to give the Russian Republic a free market economy. In June 1990 Nakhichevan an Azerbaijani enclave bordering Iran declared its intention for a unification with Iran while a civil war was escalating between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In the same month around 150 people were killed during ethnic clashes in Kyrgyzstan. In Jan 1991 another 15 people were killed as the Red Army seized a television station in Lithuania while in Latvia the Soviet Black Berets killed 5 people in an attack on the ministry building. In the same month troops were being deployed in Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Moldova. In Mar. 1991 pro-Yeltsin demonstrators held a mass rally. On Aug. 18, 1991 as Gorbachev was vacationing in the Crimea, the Politburo hard liners attempted a coup to remove Gorbachev from power through the declaration of a State of Emergency under the control of a State Committee. Almost immediately republic leaders declared the emergency committee illegal as well as unconstitutional and began to barricade their parliaments as troops and tanks were deployed throughout the republics. By Aug. 20 senior officers had refused to order their troops to use force against the civilians and on Aug. 21, 1991 the coup collapsed as troops were ordered to return to their barracks. Immediately following the unsuccessful coup many republics suspended or purged the communist party and on Sept. 5, 1991 after 3 days of debate the 74 years of centralized communist control came to an end. In Jan. 1992 Belarus became a founding member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The Belarus leadership which consisted solely of former communists decided not to adopt a presidential form of government so that the Supreme Soviet, headed by Stanislau Shushkevich became the organ of state power. Throughout 1992, the leadership remained divided on the issue of Belarus' policy within the CIS. Prime Minister Vyacheslau Kebich favored a confederation of of equal states and the emergence of a successor state to the Soviet Union while Shushkevich favored the CIS as a purely transitional arrangement with the establishment of closer ties to Europe. In May 1992 Belarus introduced its own rouble bank notes which became the sole legal tender in November. In June 1992, Poland and Belarus recognized each other's borders and settled their differences. In July 1992, after a joint session of the Russian and Belarus governments in Moscow, military and economic agreements were signed that involved a "high-level of real integration" of the two states. Immediately afterwards, Shushkevich contradicted his prime minister by declaring the agreements were contrary to CIS and Belarus law. Also during 1992, industrial production fell by 14% while the GDP was expected to fall by 16%. Belarus had also announced its intention to become nuclear free with the last tactical nuclear warhead leaving Belarus territory in May with all long-range nuclear weapons to be transferred to Russian over the next 7 years. In February 1993, Belarus voted to adhere to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and ratified the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) with some 80 intercontinental missiles to by transferred to Russia by the end of 1994. During 1993 there were further economic woes for Belarus with market reforms curtailed by the Supreme Soviet. Further economic problems also caused periodical halts to energy supplies for which Belarus is reliant on Russia for 90% of its energy imports. Political life was dominated by the continuing conflict between Prime Minister Kebich and Supreme Soviet Chairman Shushkevich over the question of joint military and economic unions with Russia. In September 1993, the Belarus parliament with the support of powerful reactionary grouping, the Belarus Faction, agreed to enter an economic union with Russia and in November to form a monetary union, both against the protest of Shushkevich and the Belarussian Popular Front. Also during 1993, there were growing concerns over the 1986 Chernobyl-Ukrainian atomic power plant disaster with the number of thyroid cancers among children rising dramatically as a result of nearly 40% of the country's territory being contaminated by radioactive fallout.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Rouble (R) (also known as the Zaichik) divided into 100 Kopecks.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $29,306,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $1,489,400,000 (1994). Imports; USD $3,038,000,000 (1994). Exports; USD $3,680,000,000 (1994). Tourism Receipts; N/A. Balance of Trade; USD $ -542,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 4,826,000 or 46.9% of total population (1993). Unemployed; 7.5% (1992).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partner is the CIS.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Buckwheat, Chalk, Chloride, Clay, Limestone, Peat, Potassium, Quartz Sand, Rye, Sodium Chloride, Sugar Beets, Timber, Tobacco, Wheat.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Bicycles, Clothing, Farm Machinery, Fertilizers, Food Processing, Furniture, Glass, Motorcycles, Motors, Oil Refining, Paper, Potash Processing, Prefabricated Houses, Radios, Textiles, Tools, Wine Making, Wood Processing.

MAIN EXPORTS: Farm Machinery, Fertilizers, Glass, Machine Tools, Synthetic Fibers, Textiles.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 5,587 km (3,472 mi) (1990), passenger-km 16,525,000,000 (10,268,000,000 passenger-mi) (1989), cargo ton-km 81,734,000,000 (55,980,000,000 short ton-mi) (1989). Roads; length 48,100 km (29,888 mi) (1990). Vehicles; cars 498,700 (1988). Merchant Marine; N/A. Air Transport; passenger-km 5,754,000,000 (3,575,000,000 passenger-mi) (1989), cargo ton-km 49,000,000 (34,000,000 short ton-mi) (1989).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 10 with a total circulation of 1,899,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 3,185,000 (1993). Television; receivers 2,775,000 (1993). Telephones; units 1,814,400 (1993).

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MILITARY: 98,400 (1995) total active duty personnel with 51.3% army, 0.0% navy and 27.4% air force while military expenditure accounts for 1.8% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Belgium.

2009-10-29T05:52:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Belgium
CAPITAL: Brussels
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Monarchy
AREA: 30,540 Sq Km (11,792 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 10,145,600

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Belgium is located in North West Europe. It is bound by the Netherlands to the north, France to the south, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast and the North Sea to the northwest. The country's topography is that of a great fertile low lying plain which constitutes the north and west. South of central Belgium the terrain consists of rolling undulating hills and valleys which rise gradually to the east. Further south and to the east the hills give way to the mountainous Ardennes forests. The principal river in the southern Wallonia region is the Meuse with its tributaries the Semois, Sambre and Ourthe while the Scheldt with its tributaries is the principal river for the northern Flanders region. Major Cities (pop. est.); Brussels 136,000, Antwerp 473,000, Ghent 231,000, Charleroi 208,000, Liege 199,000 (1991). Land Use; forested 21%, pastures 21%, agricultural-cultivated 24%, other 34% (1992).

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CLIMATE: Belgium has a cool and temperate climate with strong maritime influences. The lowland areas are characterized by changing winds, summer thunderstorms with drizzle and an overcast sky. The northwest area is characterized by a mild climate with fog. The interior experiences more extreme summers while winters in the upland regions are colder and have greater frost and rain. Average annual precipitation varies from 510 to 760 mm (20 to 30 inches) to 1,200 mm (47 inches) in the hills of the south. Average temperature ranges in Brussels are from -1 to 4 degrees Celsius (30 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 12 to 23 degrees Celsius (54 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit) in July.

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PEOPLE: Originally the people of Belgium were of Celtic origin, although most were wiped out during the Christian era. Belgium is now comprised of Celtic, Roman, German, French, Dutch, Spanish and Austrian descendants. Today Belgium is divided linguistically with two main groups (1.) the Dutch speakers called Flemings and (2.) the French speakers called Walloons. Other ethnic minorities include immigrants from Italy, Morocco, Turkey, Spain, Algeria, Portugal and Zaire.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 327 persons per sq km (847 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 96.5% urban, 3.5% rural (1989). Sex Distribution; 48.9% male, 51.1% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 70.0 years male, 76.8 years female (1982). Age Breakdown; 18% under 15, 23% 15 to 29, 22% 30 to 44, 17% 45 to 59, 14% 60 to 74, 6% 75 and over (1989). Birth Rate; 12.2 per 1,000 (1989). Death Rate; 10.8 per 1,000 (1989). Increase Rate; 1.4 per 1,000 (1989). Infant Mortality Rate; 8.6 per 1,000 live births (1989).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with 90% of the population Roman Catholic. The principal religious minority are Sunni Muslims which account for 1.1% of the population. Other minorities include Jews, Protestants and Orthodox Christians which are found in scattered communities.

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LANGUAGES: The official languages are Flemish (Dutch), French and German. With approximately 56% of the population speaking Dutch while 32% speak French and 1% speak German. Various dialects are spoken by the Flemish and Walloons, although it is less common in public or formal situations and is more common in rural areas and informal situations.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: less than secondary 64.4%, lower secondary 16.0%, upper secondary 10.0%, vocational 3.7%, higher 5.9% (1977). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over virtually 100% (1988).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: The unity of Belgium was threatened by the conflict over state subsidization of Roman Catholic private schools during the 1950's. In 1951 a national referendum showed that most Belgians favored the return of King Leopold III, however, disorder escalated upon the Kings return from exile which forced him to abdicate in favor of his son Prince Baudouin. In 1960 Belgium granted Belgian Congo now Zaire independence which resulted in some further economic hardship. New laws established a definitive linguistic frontier causing universities to split into separate Dutch and French speaking institutions and in 1971 the constitution was revised to prepare the way for autonomy. An agreement was finally reached in 1980 for autonomy for Flanders and Walloons and further amendments were finally introduced that widened the financial and legislative powers of the regions. In 1990 a crisis was narrowly avoided because King Baudouin refused to approve a bill which would legalize abortions, although it had been approved by both houses of Parliament. In 1991 there were further disputes between the French Socialists and the Flemish Social Christian coalition over the third stage of state reforms that included direct elections for the regional assemblies, the right of regions to conclude international agreements such as arms sales and more delineated functions for the Senate and the House of Representatives. After a long awaited contract to upgrade telephone system was submitted to the government a dispute over regional radio and television taxes erupted between the factions and ultimately resulted in the collapse of the government. However, Prime Minister Martens' resignation overturned by the King so that the essential legislation could be enacted and the situation in Zaire involving Belgian troops could be dealt with. Immigration also became an increasingly important political issue with the government approving a bill granting automatic citizenship to third-generation immigrants. In Nov. 1991 elections resulted in a swing to the far right and far left with the Flemish Liberals unable to form a government. On Dec. 19, 1991 the King requested the French Social Christians, led by Melchior Wathelet, to begin negotiations. Also during 1991, King Baudouin celebrated his 60th birthday and his 40 years as head of state while a constitutional change to allow women to accede to the throne was also agreed to by all parties. In 1992 the Social Christian and Socialist coalition remained in government, although Jean-Luc Dehaene was appointed as the new prime minister in March. During 1992 the two major objectives, namely the reform of state structures and a budget deficit reduction in line with the Maastricht Treaty requirements, resulted in a political deadlock. In Sept. 1992, the Dehaene called a meeting of top coalition politicians to end the stalemate. An agreement was found that would establish Belgium as a truly federal state with parliamentary elections held every four years and regional assembly elections held every five years while the powers of the Senate were to be curtailed. In 1993 some 289 days after the so-called "St Michael's" agreements between the Social Christian and Socialist coalition parties, the two houses of Parliament with the support of the Green and Volksunie parties approved the constitution changes that would turn Belgium into a federal state. In Mar. 1993 Prime Minister Dehaene tendered his resignation which the King refused to accept after a budgetary crisis within the government. A solution was reached by the coalition parties on measures to reduce the deficit which included the privatization of a number of public companies. During 1993 the number of unemployed and bankruptcies increased dramatically while compulsory military service was also abolished. Also in 1993 the death of King Boudouin resulted in the accession of his younger brother Albert II to the throne on August 9, 1993.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Euro divided into 100 cents.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $213,435,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $250,900,000,000 (1995). Imports; BF 3,791,874,000,000 (1993). Exports; BF 4,158,382,000,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; USD $4,071,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; BF 65,200,000 (1992). Economically Active Population; 4,088,600 or 40.6% of total population (1992). Unemployed; 7.7% (1992).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are Luxembourg, Germany, France, the Netherlands, the UK, Italy and the USA.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Barley, Coal, Flax, Hay, Livestock, Oats, Potatoes, Sugar Beets, Timber, Vegetables, Wheat.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Cement, Chemicals, Coal Mining, Diamond Cutting, Food Processing, Glass, Iron and Steel, Light and Heavy Engineering, Paper Goods, Petroleum Refining, Textiles.

MAIN EXPORTS: Chemicals, Cut Diamonds, Foodstuffs, Iron and Steel, Machinery, Motor Vehicles, Petroleum Products, Textile Products.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 3,568 km (2,217 mi) (1989), passenger-km 6,396,000,000 (3,974,000,000 passenger-mi) (1989), cargo ton-km 8,052,000,000 (5,515,000,000 short ton-mi) (1989). Roads; length 128,345 km (79,750 mi) (1988). Vehicles; cars 3,864,159 (1990), trucks and buses 358,885 (1990). Merchant Marine; vessels 330 (1990), deadweight tonnage 3,116,308 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 6,756,000,000 (4,198,000,000 passenger-mi) (1989), cargo ton-km 686,196,000 (469,976,000 short ton-mi) (1989).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 46 with a total circulation of 3,186,700 (1994). Radio; receivers 7,640,000 (1994). Television; receivers 4,200,000 (1994). Telephones; units 4,395,700 (1993).

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MILITARY: 63,000 (1992) total active duty personnel with 76.2% army, 4.6% navy and 19.2% air force while military expenditure accounts for 1.8% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Belize.

2009-10-29T05:47:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Belize
CAPITAL: Belmopan
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Monarchy
AREA: 22,963 Sq Km (8,866 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 225,300

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Belize is located on the eastern coast of Central America. It is bound by the Caribbean Sea to the east, Mexico to the north and northwest and Guatemala to the west and southwest. The coastline is fringed by cays as well as the world's second longest barrier reef while the coastal plain is flat and swampy, although the inland terrain rises gradually below the peaks of the Maya Mountains. The country is more fertile inland and also has Savannah, pine and tropical forests. Belize is drained by seventeen rivers with the Belize River dissecting the country from west to east. Major Cities (pop. est); Belize City 48,000, Orange Walk 12,000, San Ignacio/Santa Elena 10,000, Corozal 8,000, Belmopan 4,000 (1993). Land Use; forested 92%, pastures 2%, agricultural-cultivated 3%, other 3% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Belize has a subtropical climate that is uniformly hot and humid, although it is tempered by the trade winds. The dry season is from February to March with another brief spell during August, while the hurricane season which often causes severe damage is from July to October. Average annual precipitation varies from 1,270 mm (50 inches) in the north to more than 3,810 mm (100 inches) in the south. Average temperature ranges in Belize City are from 19 to 27 degrees Celsius (66 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 24 to 31 degrees Celsius (75 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit) in August.

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PEOPLE: Belize is sparsely populated with 50% of the population living in six main urban areas while around 23% live in the former capital of Belize City. The population is of mixed racial descent with Creoles predominantly Black Africans accounting for approximately 40% of the population while Mestizos who are of mixed European and AmerIndian descent account for 33%. Another 20% of the population are comprised from Arab, Mayan and other AmerIndian ethnic groups. The remainder includes Europeans, Spanish, East Indians, Lebanese and Chinese.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 8 persons per sq km (22 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 51.6% urban, 48.4% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 50.7% male, 49.3% female (1987). Life Expectancy at Birth; 67.0 years male, 72.0 years female (1989). Age Breakdown; 45% under 15, 28% 15 to 29, 12% 30 to 44, 8% 45 to 59, 5% 60 to 74, 2% 75 and over (1987). Birth Rate; 36.0 per 1,000 (1989). Death Rate; 6.0 per 1,000 (1989). Increase Rate; 30.0 per 1,000 (1989). Infant Mortality Rate; 36.0 per 1,000 live births (1989).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with around 60% of the population Roman Catholic while the remaining 40% are from the Anglican or other Protestant Churches.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is English which is spoken by nearly the entire population. Spanish is the native tongue of nearly 40% of the population and is spoken by 20% of the population as a second language while the AmerIndian tribes still speak their original native languages.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 10.7%, primary 75.3%, secondary 11.7%, higher 2.3% (1980). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 99,000 or 93.0% (1991).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: From 1954 to 1960 there was an increase in the number of elected members of the legislative council. In 1960 the leader of the majority party was allowed to become the country's first Minister. The constitution affirmed the loyalty of the people of Belize to the British Crown and their desire to advance toward self-government within the Commonwealth. In 1962 Guatemala pressed its claims to annex Belize, however, this was not supported by the people of Belize. Guatemala recommended steps to foster economic cooperation between Belize and Guatemala, although Guatemala broke diplomatic relations with Britain to protest the grant of further autonomy to Belize in 1963. In 1964 the British controlled Executive Council was replaced by a cabinet headed by a Prime Minister and Belize became internally self-governing. On June 1, 1978 the country's name was officially changed from British Honduras to Belize. Further progress towards independence was delayed by the fear that Guatemala would invade Belize once the British withdrew from the country. In 1981 Britain, Guatemala and Belize reached an understanding, while plans were being made towards independence. On Sept. 21 1981 Belize gained independence within the Commonwealth. In 1982 a split in the governing party developed with George Price being accused of allying too closely with the left wing governments of Cuba and Nicaragua and not the USA. In Dec. 1984, Price lost his seat and the opposition, under Manuel Esquivel who became Prime Minister, were elected. In Sept. 1989 general elections resulted in the return of George Price as Prime Minister, who had promised to reverse his party's previous policy of "Savage Economic Liberalism". On Aug. 7, 1991 Belize and Mexico established a joint commission to help control drug trafficking. On Sept. 5, 1991 Guatemala recognized Belize as a sovereign nation and peacefully abandoned its long-standing territorial claims. On Sept. 10 the two countries established diplomatic relations and in Oct. 1991 Prime Minister Price visited Guatemala. Also during 1991, Belize was admitted to the Organization of American States (OAS) while the economy also strengthened with growth in tourism and production with sugar and banana exports also increasing. In Feb. 1992 expelled and resigned members of the United Democratic Party (UDP) formed the National Alliance for Belizean Rights (NABR). During 1992 the Belize government allowed 100 Haitian refugees to stay in resettlement areas while the economy in the tourism, construction, transport and communications sectors also grew. In May 1993, the UK announced that the British garrison staffed for 45 years would be withdrawn due to the improved relations between Guatemala and Belize. Early elections called by the PUP for June 30, 1993 resulted in the UDP being elected to government with Manuel Esquivel as Prime Minister. After Esquivel's appointment as Prime Minister he asked for the resignation of governor-general Dame Minita Gordon, a moved that resulted in PUP objection.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Dollar (BZD) divided into 100 Cents.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $499,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $180,300,000 (1994). Imports; BZD $561,600,000 (1993). Exports; BZD $263,100,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; USD $73,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; BZD -$170,600,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 66,060 or 33.1% of total population (1993). Unemployed; 30.8% (1994).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the USA, Canada, the UK and other CACM (Central American Common Market) countries.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Bananas, Citrus Fruits, Coconuts, Corn, Fish, Maize, Rice, Sugar Cane, Timber.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Brewing, Clothing, Fishing, Footwear, Forestry, Soft Drink Bottling, Sugar Refining, Textiles.

MAIN EXPORTS: Bananas, Citrus Fruits, Clothing, Fish Products, Molasses, Sugar, Timber.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; nil. Roads; length 3,000 km (1,864 mi) (1985). Vehicles; cars 1,352 (1989), trucks and buses 2,328 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 3 (1990), deadweight tonnage 305 (1990). Air Transport; N/A.

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; nil, Weekly Newspapers; 4 (1994). Radio; receivers 106,000 (1994). Television; receivers 27,048 (1994). Telephones; units 28,600 (1993).

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MILITARY: 950 (1994) total active duty personnel with 94.7% army, 3.7% navy and 1.6% air force while military expenditure accounts for 2.6% (1990) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Benin.

2009-10-29T05:46:00.002-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Benin
CAPITAL: Porto Novo (Official) and Cotonou (Economic and Political)
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Multiparty Republic
AREA: 112,622 Sq Km (43,484 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 6,107,200

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Benin is located in West Africa. It is bound by Niger to the north, Burkina Faso to the northwest, Nigeria to the east, Togo to the west and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. The country has four natural topographical regions. (1.) A coastal belt which has four lagoons, the Cotonou, Ouidah, Grand Popo and Porto Novo while further north the land rises steeply to a savannah plateau. (2.) The Lama which is a wide marshy depression. (3.) The Atakora Mountains in the northwest and (4.) the eastern plains of Borgu and Kandi which slope to the Niger basin. The country is covered with dense vegetation and has many major rivers which includes the Niger which forms part of the northeastern border with Niger, the Queme which is the longest river, the Mono which forms the border with Togo and the Couffo. Other long rivers which are subject to flooding are the Mekrou, Alibory, Sota and Pandjari. Major Cities (pop. est.); Cotonou 533,000, Porto Novo 178,000, Djougou 132,000, Abomey Calavi 126,000, Parakou 107,000 (1992). Land Use; forested 31%, pastures 4%, agricultural-cultivated 17%, other 48% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Benin has a tropical climate with three climatic zones. (1.) The northern zone which has two seasons the wet season from July to September and the dry season which is hot with very low humidity. (2.) The central zone which has two wet seasons, a long one between March and June and a short one between October and mid November as well as a long dry season between November and March. (3.) The coastal zone to the south which has a steady temperature with rainfall occurring throughout the year especially during the Guinean Monsoon between May to October. The prevailing wind is the Saharan Harmattan, a hot dry dust laden wind that blows from the northeast and occurs between December to March. Average annual precipitation varies between 960 mm (38 inches) in the north and 1,340 mm (53 inches) in the south. Average annual temperature ranges in Cotonou are from 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit) in August to 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit) in May.

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PEOPLE: Around 99% of the population are Black Africans of 42 ethnic groups. The four largest which constitute 54% of the population are the Fon, the Adja, the Bariba and the Yoruba. The 42 groups can be divided into five broad cluster groups (1.) the Voltaic, (2.) the Sudanese, (3.) the Fulani, (4.) the Ewe and (5.) the Yoruba. There is also a small European community, of which the French constitute the largest group.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 42 persons per sq km (110 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 19.0% urban, 81.0% rural (1985). Sex Distribution; 49.4% male, 50.6% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 44.4 years male, 47.6 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 47% under 15, 26% 15 to 29, 14% 30 to 44, 8% 45 to 59, 4% 60 to 74, 1% 75 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 49.2 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 19.3 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 29.9 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 110.0 per 1,000 live births (1990).

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RELIGION: Around 61% of the population follow local native tribal beliefs, 23% are Christians mostly located in the south and predominantly Roman Catholic while 15% are Muslims. Most of the Muslims are accounted for by the Fulani, Bariba and Dendi tribes.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is French, although many of the local tribal languages are important with 47% of the population speaking Fon, 12% Adja, 10% Bariba, 9% Yoruba, 5% Somba and 5% Aizo.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 89.2%, primary 8.3%, secondary 2.2%, higher 0.3% (1979). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 23.4% (1990).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: Social unrest and political rivalries have led to frequent changes in Benin's government since the country's independence on Aug. 1, 1960 after long French rule. Military leaders overthrew the government several times during the 1960's and 1970's. In May 1970 a civilian government was formed and headed by a three man presidential council. During Oct. 1973 the military led by Maj. Mathieu Kerekou again took control of the country. The government then embarked on a nationalization program and took control of Benin's most important businesses, industries, banks and industrial firms. In 1975 Pres. Kerekou founded the People's Revolutionary Party of Benin, the country's only legal party. In Dec. 1975 the country's name was also officially changed from Dahomey to the People's Republic of Benin. After a failed coup attempt in Jan. 1977 by French mercenaries relations with France virtually broke down, however, in 1978 France resumed aid payments to Benin. In 1981 three former Presidents were released from prison. Since 1980 the government has embarked on an economic liberalization program to encourage foreign investment and on Mar. 28, 1988 the military attempted to seize power again which resulted in the arrest of 150 officers. In Feb. 1990 approval was given to shift power away from the President, to legalize opposition parties, to change the country's official name, to remove the old guard cabinet and to appoint a new cabinet. In the same year former dissident Nicephore Soglo was elected as Prime Minister. In March 1991 the country's first free elections in 30 years were held and Kerekou was succeeded by Prime Minister Soglo as President on April 4, 1991. During Apr. 1991 further unrest and strikes by students in protest to poor living conditions as well as the non-payment of grants, resulted in clashes with security police. In May 1992 some 5,000 government workers demanded better working conditions, higher wages, the right to strike and greater freedom of the press. Also in May there was a failed coup attempt while on July 4, 1992 the government quelled a mutiny led by a former member of Pres. Kerekou's guard at the Kaba Camp in Natitingou without force. During 1992 Mohammed Cisse a former minister of the state was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for misappropriation of funds while state privatization continued at a slower rate than expected due to an overall weakness in the world economy. In Feb. 1993 Pope John Paul II visited Benin to meet with religious and voodoo leaders while in the same month the International Voodoo Art and Culture Festival opened in Ouidah. In April 1993 clashes between muslims and voodoo followers resulted in 2 deaths and 24 injuries. In July 1993 Pres. Soglo, officially above politics, announced he was joining the Renaissance Party of Benin and in October he lost his majority in the government. However, two weeks later 11 groups rallied behind the President to form the African Assembly for Progress and Solidarity. Also during 1993 increasing hostilities between the press and the government developed with the publisher of Le Soleil being jailed for libel against the President's wife.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the CFA Franc (Communaute Financiere Africaine-CFAF) divided into 100 Centimes.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $2,182,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $1,409,000,000 (1993). Imports; CFAF 203,200,000,000 (1994). Exports; CFAF 167,100,000,000 (1994). Tourism Receipts; USD $38,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; CFAF -36,100,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 2,195,000 or 46.0% of total population (1991). Unemployed; N/A.

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are France, other EU countries, Nigeria, China, Japan and the USA.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Beans, Cassava, Coffee, Cotton, Ground Nuts, Maize, Palm Products, Sorghum, Yams.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Beverages, Cement, Cotton, Ginning, Palm Kernels, Palm Oil, Oil Processing, Textiles.

MAIN EXPORTS: Cashew Nuts, Cocoa, Cotton, Palm Oil, Palm Kernels, Sea Products.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 635 km (395 mi) (1989), passenger-km 137,600,000 (85,501,000 passenger-mi) (1985), cargo ton-km 176,800,000 (121,090,000 short ton-mi) (1985). Roads; length 7,445 km (4,626 mi) (1986). Vehicles; cars 22,000 (1989), trucks and buses 12,000 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 13 (1990), deadweight tonnage 4,610 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 208,567,000 (129,597,000 passenger-mi) (1988), cargo ton-km 35,223,000 (24,124,000 short ton-mi) (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 1 with a circulation of 12,000 (1990). Radio; receivers 400,000 (1994). Television; receivers 20,000 (1994). Telephones; units 20,410 (1993).

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MILITARY: 4,300 (1995) total active duty personnel with 93.8% army, 3.1% navy and 3.1% air force while military expenditure accounts for 1.3% (1992) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Bhutan.

2009-10-29T05:46:00.001-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Bhutan
CAPITAL: Thimphu
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Monarchy
AREA: 46,620 Sq Km (18,000 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 1,756,000

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Bhutan is a landlocked country located in the East Himalayan Mountains of Central Asia. It is bound by the Tibetan region of China to the north as well as India to the south, east and west. The country is almost entirely mountainous except for the southern Duars Plain that extends to India from the foothills of the Himalayas. The country is nearly divided equally into two by the Black Mountain Range with the land running down through the densely forested ridges and fertile, densely populated valleys to the low foothills that meet the Duars Plain. Permanent snowfields and glaciers are found high in the Himalayas. Major Cities (pop. est.); Thimphu 30,000, Phuntsholing 10,000 (1993). Land Use; forested 66%, pastures 6%, agricultural-cultivated 3%, other 25% (1993).

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CLIMATE: The densely populated valleys of Bhutan have a temperate climate, while the country as a whole has three climatic zones. (1.) The Duars Plain has a subtropical climate characterized by high humidity and heavy rainfall. (2.) The central belt of flat valleys is characterized by cool winters and hot summers with moderate rainfall while (3.) the high valleys have cold winters and cool summers. Average annual precipitation varies from 1,020 to 1,520 mm (40 to 60 inches) and over 5,000 metres (16,400 feet) the land is permanently covered with snow and glaciers. Average temperature ranges in Thimphu are from 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 17 degrees Celsius (63 degrees Fahrenheit) in July.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Bhote who are also known as the Sharchops and account for around 50% of the population. They are believed to be the earliest inhabitants and are mainly located in the eastern regions. The Ngalops who account for 15% to 20% of the population are of Tibetan origins and the Nepalese account for 25%. The principal ethnic minorities are made up of the Gurung, Rai and Limbu groups and the smaller minorities include the Lepcha immigrants from Sikkim as well as the Santals and Paharias from India.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 31 persons per sq km (81 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 13.1% urban, 86.9% rural (1985). Sex Distribution; 51.0% male, 49.0% female (1988). Life Expectancy at Birth; 49.2 years male, 47.8 years female (1989). Age Breakdown; 40% under 15, 26% 15 to 29, 17% 30 to 44, 11% 45 to 59, 5% 60 to 74, 1% 75 and over (1988). Birth Rate; 38.3 per 1,000 (1989). Death Rate; 16.4 per 1,000 (1989). Increase Rate; 21.9 per 1,000 (1989). Infant Mortality Rate; 127.0 per 1,000 live births (1989).

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RELIGIONS: The official religion is Lamaism, which is a Tibetan form of Buddhism of the Mahayana branch. Most Bhotes are Lamaists and Lamaism accounts for around 75% of the population while the remaining 25% following a form of Buddhist influenced Hinduism.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Dzongkha which is a Tibetan dialect mostly spoken by Bhotes. Additionally three other languages are also spoken (1.) Bumthangkha in the central region, (2.) Sharchopkha in the eastern region and (3.) Nepalese in the southern region. Many educated Bhutanese are, in addition to their native language, also fluent in Hindu and English.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: N/A. Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 124,000 or 18.0% (1977).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In 1949 the Indo-Bhutan Treaty signed by India recognized Bhutan's internal autonomy, although it contained provisions for accepting India's guidance regarding foreign affairs. In 1972 King Jigme Singye Wangchuk was crowned and remains closely allied with India. However, Bhutan has attempted to assert its autonomy in foreign policy matters by conducting annual talks with China over border issues since 1984 as well as establishing direct diplomatic contact with several countries. In 1971 Bhutan joined the UN and appointed a permanent representative in 1985. In 1989 the King imposed a code of conduct called Driglam Manzha to ensure the preservation and promotion of national unity due to fears over the growth rate of the ethnic Nepalese living along the Indian border as well as the immigration of peasants from Nepal and India. In Sept. 1990 thousands of ethnic Nepalese took to the streets in protest and several were killed as a result of clashes with the security forces. Subsequently, a security cordon has been established along the Indian border to halt the free flow of militants returning from India. During 1991 there were noises of a "pro-democracy movement" by the people against the absolute monarchy of Bhutan while the government claimed the campaign was being led by Nepalese immigrants that it referred to as "anti-national terrorists". Also during 1991 some 50,000 Bhutanese of Nepalese origin fled the country to the neighboring states of India, while some dissident Nepalese groups formed a "liberation organization" with several members being arrested. In 1992 Bhutan suffered a near disastrous revolt, after three years of trying to overcome a growing pro-democracy movement, when some 70,000 Nepalese civil servants, soldiers and policemen as well as a number of top politicians fled the country causing a near vacuum in some areas of the government. In 1993 the government was still unable to resolve the uprising by its Nepalese minority who claimed that 53% of Bhutans residents were Nepalese while the government claimed that less than one-third were resident and the remainder were illegal aliens. In April 1993 a meeting between the Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and King Wangchuk to discuss the refugee situation ended in failure, although in July further discussions were held into setting up a joint committee to determine the refugees' citizenship.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Ngultrum (Nu) divided into 100 Chetrums.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $253,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $83,300,000 (1993). Imports; Nu 3,064,100,000 (1993). Exports; Nu 2.097,900,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; USD $3,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; Nu -966,200,000 (1993). Economically Active Population; 348,000 or 53.4% of total population (1984). Unemployed; 6.5% (1984).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partner is India.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Apples, Barley, Cardamom, Coal, Corn, Dolomite, Maize, Millet, Oranges, Potatoes, Rice, Timber, Wheat, Yaks.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Cement, Distilling, Food Processing, Forestry, Handicrafts, Matches, Mining, Wood Milling.

MAIN EXPORTS: Alcoholic Beverages, Coal, Dolomite, Fruit, Handicrafts, Postage Stamps, Potatoes, Rice, Rosin, Sawn Timber, Talc Powder.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; nil. Roads; length 2,500 km (1,553 mi) (1990). Vehicles; cars 2,590 (1988), trucks and buses 1,367 (1988). Merchant Marine; nil. Air Transport; passenger-km 4,381,000 (2,722,000 passenger-mi) (1986), cargo ton-km N/A.

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COMMUNICATIONS: Weekly Newspapers; total of 1 with a circulation of 10,500 (1989). Radio; receivers 23,000 (1994). Television; receivers 200 (1983). Telephones; units 3,800 (1993).

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MILITARY: 7,000 (1993) total active duty personnel with 100% army.

Bolivia.

2009-10-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Bolivia
CAPITAL: Sucre (Judicial) La Paz (Administrative)
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Unitary Multiparty Republic
AREA: 1,098,579 Sq KM (424,164 Sq ML)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 9,110,400

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Bolivia is a landlocked country in the heart of South America. It is bound by Brazil to the north and east, Peru to the northwest, Chile to the southwest, Argentina to the south and Paraguay to the southeast. The country can be divided into three topographical zones, (1.) the Altiplano, which is a high plateau that crosses the country from the northwest to the southeast and splits the Andes into two mountain chains or cordilleras. The plateau cradles the highest navigable lake in the world called Lake Titicaca. (2.) The Yungas which are made up of sharply tilted mountain valleys that separate the higher plateau from the lowland plains. (3.) The Llanos which is the lowland plain in the southern region and is also a highly developed agricultural region, in addition to having Bolivia's major deposits of oil, natural gas and iron ore. To the northeast of the Llanos region, the plains form part of the Amazon River Basin containing tropical forests and dense vegetation mixed with open savannah. Several rivers including the Beni, the Itonomas and the Paraguay flow from the Andes to meet the Guapore which follows the frontier with Brazil. Major Cities (pop. est.); La Paz 711,000, Santa Cruz 695,000, El Alto 404,000, Cochabamba 404,000, Oruro 183,000 (1992). Land Use; forested 54%, pastures 24%, agricultural-cultivated 2%, other 20% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Bolivia has a tropical climate, although the difference in altitude produces a variety of different climatic conditions. Generally, both temperature and rainfall increase from west to east. The Altiplano is inhospitable for most of the year while the Yungas has a semitropical climate and the Llanos becomes drier to the south. The wet season is from December to January and because of the country's seasonal variations both floods and droughts are common. The prevailing winds include the rain bearing winds from the Amazon Basin and the Surazos which is a dust laden wind that blow across the plains. Average temperature ranges in La Paz are from 1 to 17 degrees Celsius (34 to 63 degrees Fahrenheit) in July to 6 to 19 degrees Celsius (43 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit) in November.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the AmerIndians who account for around 42% of the population, of which 25% are Quechua and 17% are Aymara. In addition, 32% of the population are Mestizos who are of mixed AmerIndian and Spanish descent while 15% are Whites mainly Spanish and 2% are Black Africans.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 7 persons per sq km (18 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 51.1% urban, 48.9% rural (1989). Sex Distribution; 49.3% male, 50.7% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 51.0 years male, 55.0 years female (1987). Age Breakdown; 41% under 15, 26% 15 to 29, 17% 30 to 44, 10% 45 to 59, 5% 60 to 74, 1% 75 and over (1988). Birth Rate; 43.0 per 1,000 (1987). Death Rate; 14.0 per 1,000 (1987). Increase Rate; 29.0 per 1,000 (1987). Infant Mortality Rate; 102.0 per 1,000 live births (1988).

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RELIGIONS: The official religion is Roman Catholicism which accounts for 93% of the population while around 2.6% are Baha'i.

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LANGUAGES: The official languages are Spanish, Aymara and Quechua, although only 36% of the population speak Spanish as their native tongue. The principal AmerIndian languages are Quechua, Aymara and Guarani

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 25.6%, some primary 23.2%, primary 23.5%, some secondary 7.0%, secondary 13.5%, higher 6.2%, unspecified 1.0% (1988). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 77.5% (1990).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: Great political disorder followed Bolivia's defeat in the Chaco War with Paraguay from 1932 to 1935. From 1935 to 1952 Bolivia had 10 presidents as one political leader after the other seized control of the government. Tin miners formed unions and held strikes for better working conditions and the miners supported a political party called National Revolutionary Movement (MNR) which backed their demands. In 1952 the MNR overthrew the military rulers in power. During the 1960's military uprisings forced a return to military rule in 1964. The government changed hands repeatedly after revolts by rival military officers. The military government violated civil rights and permitted no opposition to their rule while they imprisoned their enemies. In the mid 1960's Ernesto "Che" Guevara a communist leader from Cuba tried to stir up a revolt in Bolivia and was subsequently shot dead in 1967. Numerous further military coups took place over the next 13 years. In 1980 an election was held for civilian government, however, before the new leader could be inaugurated the military, led by Gen. Luis Garcia Meza, again took control of the government. In 1982 the military removed Meza and allowed the return of civilian government under Siles Suazo. The 1980's saw many problems for Bolivia. Major debt, increases in inflation, droughts and floods which caused severe food shortages as well as workers repeatedly going on strike formed the basis of their problems. In 1985 elections were won by Paz Estonssoro until 1989 when Jaime Paz Zamora was elected by the Congress as President of a coalition government. In 1990 the main thrust of economic policy was to increase investment in the private sector and many investment projects were approved, mainly for mining. In Feb. 1991 relations with the US soured when Col. Faustino Rico Toro, a former commander of military intelligence during the Meza regime, was appointed as head of the anti-narcotics police. In March 1991, Rico Toro, Police Chief Felipe Carvajal and Interior Minister Guillermo Capobianco resigned after US newspapers accused them of involvement in the cocaine trade. In Apr. 1991 a new mining law was approved which allowed local firms to establish joint ventures with foreign companies. In Aug. 1991 Pres. Zamora reshuffled his cabinet replacing 8 of the 17 ministers and the government embarked on a program of privatization of state owned enterprises. In Dec. 1991 municipal elections were announced as the "cleanest on record". Also during 1991 the US sent 56 military advisors to train two Bolivian Army battalions to support the anti-narcotics police which provoked fierce protest from the political, labor and church organizations. On Jan. 2, 1992 a national strike led by the Confederation of Bolivian Workers protested the government's privatization program, although the government continued with its plan with most interest shown in the energy sector. On Jan. 24, 1992 Pres. Paz and Peruvian Pres. Alberto Fujimori signed an agreement granting Bolivia access to the Pacific while in return Bolivia promised to help Peru gain access to the Atlantic through Brazil via Puerto Suarez. During 1992 relations with the US again soured as a result of rumors that US soldiers were building a secret Drug Enforcement Agency base in the Beni district while the joint US-Bolivian operations to eradicate 7,000 ha (17,290 ac) of coca crops resulted in the destruction of only 1,000 ha by May 1992. On Mar. 1, 1993 members of the Bolivian Labor Federation began a hunger strike and general strike aimed at wage increases. In April 1993, Gen. Luis Garcia Meza who as dictator in 1980 had been associated with drug trafficking was sentenced to 30 years in jail. In June 1993 presidential elections were won by Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada of the NRM, although his party fell short of the number of seat required for an absolute majority in the Congress. In 1993 the cocaine trade continued to be a major contributor to the economy, although joint US-Bolivian operations announced some success in limiting the cultivation and illegal export of coca paste and cocaine. Also during 1993, Pres. Sanchez de Lozada announced a plan for capitalization by selling a 49% stake in state enterprises, rather than privatization.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Boliviano (Bs) divided into 100 Centavos.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $5,472,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $3,687,000,000 (1993). Imports; USD $1,205,900,000 (1993). Exports; USD $754,500,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; USD $115,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; USD $ - 89,300,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 2,530,409 or 33.6% of total population (1992). Unemployed; 2.5% (1992).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are Argentina, Brazil, the USA, the UK and Japan.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Alpacas, Antimony, Barley, Bismuth, Cassava, Coffee, Copper, Cotton, Gold, Iron Ore, Lead, Llamas, Maize,, Natural Gas, Oil, Potatoes, Quinol, Rice, Silver, Sugar Beets, Sugar Cane, Sulfur, Tin, Tungsten, Zinc.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Cement, Food Processing, Handicrafts, Mining and Smelting, Oil and Gas Production, Plastics, Textiles.

MAIN EXPORTS: Antimony, Coffee, Lead, Natural Gas, Petroleum, Silver, Tin, Tungsten, Zinc.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 3,652 km (2,269 mi) (1989), passenger-km 381,600,000 (237,115,000 passenger-mi) (1989), cargo ton-km 512,600,000 (351,080,000 short ton-mi) (1989). Roads; length 40,987 km (25,468 mi) (1984). Vehicles; cars 83,741 (1988), trucks and buses 150,898 (1988). Merchant Marine; vessels 1 (1990), deadweight tonnage 15,765 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 1,280,000,000 (795,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 31,968,000 (21,895,000 short ton-mi) (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 16 with a total circulation of 390,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 4,250,000 (1994). Television; receivers 775,000 (1992). Telephones; units 234,400 (1993).

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MILITARY: 33,500 (1994) total active duty personnel with 74.6% army, 13.4% navy and 12.0% air force while military expenditure accounts for 2.4% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Bosnia-Herzegovina.

2009-10-29T05:44:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina
CAPITAL: Sarajevo
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Unitary Multiparty Republic
AREA: 51,129 Sq Km (19,741 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 4,620,300

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LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY: Bosnia-Herzegovina is a republic of the former socialist Yugoslavia. It is bound by Croatia to the north, northwest and west, Serbia and Montenegro to the northeast, east and southeast as well as the Adriatic Sea to the south. The country consists of two historical provinces. (1.) Bosnia which lies in the Sava River Valley and (2.) Herzegovina which occupies the Neretva River Basin and the upper reaches of the Drina River. Around 90% of the land area is mountainous, mostly in the north while the low lying areas that form the southern extremities of the Danubian Plain extend along the Sara River. Further south lie low mountains with fertile intermontaine valleys that give way to the Dinaric Alps. Around 40% of the land area is wooded, of which 60% is oak and beech while the remainder are conifers such as fir and pine. Major Cities (pop. est.); Sarajevo 415,600, Banja Luka 142,600, Zenica 96,200 (1991). Land Use; forested 39%, pastures 20%, agricultural-cultivated 18%, other 23% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Bosnia-Herzegovina's climate is different for each province. (1.) Herzegovina and the southern area has a modified Mediterranean climate with an average annual precipitation of 600 to 800 mm (24 to 31.5 inches) while (2.) the central and northern area of Bosnia has a modified Pannoian or Alpine climate with an average annual precipitation of 1,500 to 2,500 mm (59 to 98 inches). Average temperature ranges in Sarajevo are from -.5 degrees Celsius (31 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 19.6 degrees Celsius (67 degrees Fahrenheit) in July.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Slav Muslims who account for 43.8% of the population while 31% are Serbs, 17% are Croats and the remainder are others.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 87 persons per sq km (224 persons per sq mi) (1993). Urban-Rural; 36.2% urban, 63.8% rural (1981). Sex Distribution; 49.7% male, 50.3% female (1981). Life Expectancy at Birth; 68.0 years male, 73.0 years female (1981). Age Breakdown; 28% under 15, 29% 15 to 29, 19% 30 to 44, 16% 45 to 59, 6% 60 to 74, 2% 75 and over (1981). Birth Rate; 14.1 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 6.4 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 7.7 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 15.2 per 1,000 live births (1990).

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RELIGIONS: The majority of Croats are Roman Catholic while the Serbs are Orthodox Christians. Whereas, the Slav Muslims are Muslims. In addition, there are also religious minorities of Protestants, Greek or Uniate Catholics and a small number of Jews.

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LANGUAGES: Each ethnic group has its own language or dialect with the national language Serbo-Croatian. The religious differences between the ethnic groups accounts for the two alphabets that are used. (1.) A Latin alphabet which is used by the Croats. (2.) A Cyrillic alphabet which is used by the Serbs. Serbo-Croatian is basically the same language with some minor differences reflecting religious and cultural characteristics. German is also widely understood.

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EDUCATION: Aged 15 or over and having attained: less than primary education 49.5%, primary 24.2%, secondary 21.7%, higher 4.3% (1981). Literacy; literate population aged 10 or over 2,962,400 or 85.5% (1981).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: Prior to independence Bosnia-Herzegovina's history was closely tied with that of the Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia. On Nov. 19, 1945 the Anti-Fascist National Liberation Council (AVNOJ), which was a provisional government with Josip Broz also known as Marshal Tito as Prime Minister, abolished the monarchy and established the Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia which consisted of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia with its semiautonomous provinces. In Jan. 1946 a new constitution modeled around the Soviet Union was established and opposition parties abolished. The government then embarked on a nationalization program of industry and collectivized agricultural farms. In 1948 Yugoslavia was expelled from the Cominform or Communist International for refusing to become subordinate to the Soviet parent party and economic embargoes were imposed against Yugoslavia by the Soviet bloc countries. In 1953 Tito inaugurated a new constitution in which he became President and a modified version of socialism was implemented. In 1955 and 1956 Pres. Tito held negotiations with the Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev over sovereignty and the independence of the two nations socialist systems. In 1961 Yugoslavia became a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement. In 1963 a constitution was established which made Tito president for life and in 1974 a new constitution was adopted which gave the republics limited veto powers over federal decisions. In the 1970's Croatian nationalism escalated which led to mass demonstrations in Yugoslavia as well as terrorist attacks on overseas Yugoslav targets. On May 4, 1980 Pres. Tito died and was succeeded by a collective leadership system that Tito himself established prior to his death in the hope of averting internal dissension. In May 1981 there were uprisings by the Albanian ethnic population of Kosovo which again resurfaced in 1988 and 1989. In 1987 Slobodan Milosevic was elected President and in 1988 he began moves to restrict the Serbian provinces' autonomy. In 1989 as democratic change began to sweep through Eastern Europe, tensions between the major ethnic groups combined with their individual nationalist aspirations began to escalate. In Sept. 1989 legislation was approved which allowed Slovenia the right to accede from the federation. In Jan. 1990 the communist party surrendered its monopoly on power and announced the development of a multiparty system of government for the federation. During the 1990 free elections the communists only retained power in the republics of Serbia and Montenegro. In early 1991 racial tensions, due to the country's complex ethnic patchwork, began to escalate into violence between the Croat police and Serbs as the country slowly drifted into civil war. In Mar. 1991 the leaders of the six republics began negotiations on the country's future, although they resulted in nothing more than a stalemate. On June 25, 1991 Slovenia and Croatia declared their independence with Slovenia opting for complete secession. On Feb. 29 and Mar. 1, 1992 a referendum resulted in 63% of the Bosnian population voting for independence from Yugoslavia, although most Serbs boycotted the vote. On Mar. 3, 1992 the Serb forces began shelling of Bosanski Brod in northern Bosnia with fighting spreading to all parts of the republic by the middle of that month. On March 27, 1992 the Serb leaders proclaimed the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, declaring it to be part of Yugoslavia. On April 6, 1992 the EU recognized the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by the US on the 7th while Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the UN on May 22, 1992. The Yugoslav army who fought along side with the Bosnian Serbs instigated the so-called "ethnic cleansing policy" directly mainly at the Muslim and Croat population causing thousands to flee into Croatia. This policy also included massacres, rapes and imprisonment in brutal internment camps likened to that of the WWII Nazi regime. On July 3, 1992 the mostly Croat area of western Herzegovina proclaimed itself as an autonomous region under the name of Herzeg-Bosna, which prompted international criticism that Croatia also wanted the partition of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a result of the Yugoslav involvement in the conflict the UN imposed trade sanctions on Greater Serbia and Montenegro while a peace conference on Aug. 26-27, 1992 failed to achieve a ceasefire. On Sept. 14, 1992 the UN authorized the deployment of addition UN peacekeeping troops. By Dec. 1992, the Serb forces were in control of some 90% of the republic with Croat forces controlling a smaller area. Also during 1992, as a result of the continuing conflict the Bosnian capital Sarajevo with its mostly Muslim population had been under siege for around eight months and faced severe food shortages, disease and cold winters. On Feb. 2, 1993 a joint EU-UN initiative named Lord Owen and Cyrus Vance as chief negotiators. The Owen-Vance plan proposed dividing the republic into 10 autonomous provinces based largely along ethnic lines with the Serbs getting around 46% of the territory, the Muslims 30% and the Croats 24%. Although the Bosnian Croats accepted the plan, the Muslim government didn't and the Bosnian Serbs agree subject to ratification of their parliament, which refused to do so. On June 4, 1993 the UN established 6 "safe areas" for the Muslims in mostly eastern and central Bosnia while on June 18, 1992 the UN dispatch some 7,600 soldiers to protect the areas. Meanwhile, the Bosnian Muslim government forces began an offensive against Croat forces in central Bosnia and make some considerable headway while the Bosnian Serbs continued to besiege Sarajevo from the hillsides. In Sept. 1993 Lord Owen and Thorvald Stoltenberg led another round of negotiations on the British warship "Invincible", although they broke down after the Muslims rejected the plan of a three republic union. Further initiatives also broke down while internal division within Bosnian Serbs ranks also beginning to appear. In Dec. 1993, further proposed cease-fires also failed with the conflict continuing.

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CURRENCY: The de facto currency is the Dinar (D) divided into 100 Paras.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $10,667,000,000 (1990). Public Debt; N/A. Imports; D 21,130,000,000 (1990). Exports; D 23,271,000,000 (1990). Tourism Receipts; N/A. Balance of Trade; D 2,141,000,000 (1990). Economically Active Population; 992,000 or 22.7% of total population (1991). Unemployed; N/A.

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its traditional trading partners were the former USSR, other former East European communist countries and members of the Non-Aligned Movement.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Apples, Bauxite, Brown Coal, Chromite, Copper, Corn, Grapes, Iron Ore, Lead, Lignite, Livestock, Mercury, Pears, Plums, Salt, Silver, Sugar Beets, Timber, Tobacco, Walnuts, Wheat, Zinc.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Chemical Refining, Fertilizers, Lumbering, Mining, Hydroelectric Power, Petroleum Refining, Wood Processing.

MAIN EXPORTS: Agricultural Produce, Chemicals, Electric Power, Fertilizers, Iron Ore, Timber.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 1,039 km (646 mi) (1990), passenger-km N/A., cargo ton-km N/A. Roads; length 21,268 km (13,215 mi) (1991). Vehicles; cars 438,080 (1990), trucks and buses 50,578 (1990). Merchant Marine; N/A. Air Transport; N/A.

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 2 with a total circulation of 518,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 733,000 (1990). Television; receivers 629,000 (1990). Telephones; units 600,000 (1993).

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MILITARY: 92,000 (1995) total active duty personnel with 100% army while military expenditure accounts for N/A. of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Botswana.

2009-10-29T05:43:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Botswana
CAPITAL: Gaborone
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Multiparty Republic
AREA: 600,372 Sq Km (231,805 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 1,693,500

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Botswana is a landlocked country located in South Africa. It is bound by the Republic of South Africa to the south and southeast, Namibia to the west, Zambia to the north and Zimbabwe to the northeast. The country is a sand filled undulating plateau with an average altitude of 1,000 metres (3,280 feet) while south of the plateau the terrain consists of hilly bush and grasslands. The Kalahari Desert which is a sandy tract covered with thorn bush and grass, lies to the west of the plateau and in the extreme northwest lie the Makarikari Salt Pans as well as the Okavango Swamps which are a great inland delta while forests and dense bush surround the swamps. Around 50% of the delta is perennially flooded and the rest is seasonally flooded. The principal river is the Okavango which flows into and forms the Okavango Swamps. Major Cities (pop. est.); Gaborone 134,000, Francistown 65,000, Selebi-Pikwe 40,000 (1991). Land Use; forested 47%, pastures 45%, agricultural-cultivated 1%, other 7% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Botswana has a subtropical climate, although the northern regions of the country lie within the tropics. Winters are cool with frost common in the desert and the prevailing dry winds come from the Atlantic Ocean while the winds also bring sand storms from the Kalahari. The summer season is from September to April with rain in the north and east falling almost totally between October to April. The country often suffers long periods of drought. Average annual precipitation in Francistown is 450 mm (18 inches) with average temperature ranges from 5 to 23 degrees Celsius (41 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit) in July to 18 to 31 degrees Celsius (64 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit) in December or January.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Tswana who account for 76% of the population and are divided into eight sub tribes, the Bakgatla, Bakwena, Bamalete, Bamangwato, Bangwaketsi, Batawana, Batalokwa and Barolong. There are also small minorities of Kalanga, Herero and Bushman also known as Sarwa who combined constitute around 5% of the population while Europeans only represent about 1%.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 2.3 persons per sq km (6 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 21.6% urban, 78.4% rural (1991). Sex Distribution; 47.7% male, 52.3% female (1987). Life Expectancy at Birth; 52.7 years male, 59.3 years female (1989). Age Breakdown; 48% under 15, 26% 15 to 29, 13% 30 to 44, 7% 45 to 59, 4% 60 to 74, 2% 75 and over (1987). Birth Rate; 47.3 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 11.7 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 35.6 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 67.0 per 1,000 live births (1990).

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RELIGIONS: Around 49% of the population are Christians with the remainder following native local tribal beliefs with some combined Christian elements.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is English, although Setswana or Tswana is the national language.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 54.7%, some primary 31.0%, primary 9.4%, some secondary 3.1%, secondary 1.3%, higher 0.5% (1981). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 486,500 or 73.6% (1990).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In 1959 a constitutional committee of the Joint Advisory Council was set up giving Black Africans more influence and the ability to formulate proposals for the creation of a legislative council and other changes. In 1960 these changes were accepted by Britain. During the 1960's the Republic of South Africa asked Britain several times to transfer the protectorate to South Africa, although Britain refused. The country's first general elections were held in 1965 and on September 30, 1966 Botswana was proclaimed an independent republic within the Commonwealth. From 1972 to 1975 there were significant strikes among miners and in 1976 Botswana adopted its own currency the Pula. In 1984 tensions rose with South Africa believing Botswana was providing bases for African National Congress (ANC) political and military activity. In 1986 the South African military invaded Gaborone killing 13 people. Relations between Botswana and South Africa have improved with the present dismantling of apartheid and in Nov. 1990 Pres. Quett Masire announced the seventh development plan (1991-1997) which called for a greater role of private enterprise. In Dec. 1990 the government reached an agreement with a US firm to establish a diamond cutting and polishing plant in Botswana while the Sua Pan soda ash project was completed in early 1991. During 1991 Botswana implemented a favorable investment code that attracted foreign investment, particularly from South Africa while the government also sought to diversify its economy from the traditional mainstay of diamond exports. On Jan. 14, 1992 some 250 US troops arrived in Gabarone to initiate a two-week training exercise with the 4,500-strong Botswana Defense Force. In March 1992, a scandal developed after the vice president and minister of local government and lands, Peter Mmusi as well as the minister of agriculture, Daniel Kwelagobe resigned after it was found that Mmusi had used his authority to ensure that Kwelagobe land that the local authority wished to use for other purposes. Festus Mogae succeeded Mmusi as vice president while the opposition parties reacted to the scandal by calling for early elections. In 1992 Botswana recorded its first budget deficit since 1982 which resulted in the government not implementing its promised public-sector wage increases. In 1993 human rights abuse allegations were made against the personnel of the Botswana Wildlife and National Parks Department over their handling of the Masarwa, a small nomadic group of the Kalahari. Since the mid-1980's they had been forcible relocated to "Remote Area Settlements" as a part of a plan to counteract the impact of drought conditions. Also during 1993, the economy again suffered a downturn in principal due to a drop in demand for export because of the worldwide recession.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Pula (P) divided into 100 Thebe.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $3,631,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $537,500,000 (1992). Imports; P 3,970,062,000 (1992). Exports; P 3,674,991,000 (1992). Tourism Receipts; USD $79,000,000 (1991). Balance of Trade; P 526,700,000 (1993). Economically Active Population; 443,455 or 33.4% of total population (1991). Unemployed; 13.9% (1991).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its major trading partners are the USA, the UK, other EU countries and other African countries.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Asbestos, Beans, Cattle, Coal, Copper, Diamonds, Gold, Gypsum, Maize, Manganese, Meat Processing, Millet, Nickel, Salt, Sheep, Sorghum, Talc.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Cattle Rearing, Meat Processing, Mining, Tourism.

MAIN EXPORTS: Beef, Copper, Diamonds, Hides and Skins, Nickel.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 714 km (444 mi) (1989), passenger-km 257,000,000 (160,000,000 passenger-mi) (1987), cargo ton-km 769,900 (527,305 short ton-mi) (1987). Roads; length 15,000 km (9,321 mi) (1989). Vehicles; cars 17,000 (1989), trucks and buses 28,000 (1989). Merchant Marine; nil. Air Transport; passenger-km 62,555,000 (38,870,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 3,074,000 (2,105,000 short ton-mi) (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 2 with a circulation of 49,700 (1993). Radio; receivers 1,400,000 (1994). Television; receivers 13,800 (1994). Telephones; units 43,500 (1993).

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MILITARY: 7,500 (1994) total active duty personnel with 93.3% army, 0.0% navy and 6.7% air force while military expenditure accounts for 5.9% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Brazil.

2009-10-29T05:42:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Federative Republic of Brazil
CAPITAL: Brasilia
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Multiparty Federal Republic
AREA: 8,511,965 Sq Km (3,286,488 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 175,891,100

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Brazil is located in East Central South America and occupies nearly 50% of the South American Continent. It is bound by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana to the north, Colombia to the northwest, Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay to the west, Argentina to the southwest, Uruguay to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Brazil can be divided into four topographical zones. (1.) The densely forested northern lowlands which cover around 50% of the country's interior and contains the Amazon River Basin. (2.) The semiarid scrub lands of the northeast. (3.) The rugged hills and mountains mixed with rolling plains, to the central west and south (4.) The narrow coastal belt which contains 30% of the country's population. Approximately 50% of the land area is covered by forests with the largest forest in the world located in the Amazon River Basin. The country has eight river systems which carry around 20% of the world's running water, of which the most important are the Amazon, Sao Francisco, Paraguay, Parana and Uruguay. Major Cities (pop. est.); Sao Paulo 9,394,000, Rio de Janeiro 5,474,000, Salvador 2,070,000, Belo Horizonte 1,530,000, Brasilia 1,493,000, Recife 1,297,000 (1991). Land Use; forested 58%, pastures 22%, agricultural-cultivated 6%, other 14% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Brazil has a tropical and subtropical climate characterized by high temperatures and moderate to heavy rainfall. The geography of the country divides it into four climatic regions, (1.) the Amazon basin which has no dry season and is typically tropical. (2.) The Brazilian Plateau which has a more distinct wet and dry season, and is susceptible to prolonged drought. (3.) The coastal belt which has a hot tropical climate and (4.) a region further south that has a seasonal temperate climate. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year and the nationwide average annual precipitation varies between 1,010 mm (40 inches) and 2,030 mm (80 inches). Average temperature ranges in Rio de Janeiro are from 17 to 24 degrees Celsius (63 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit) in July to 23 to 29 degrees Celsius (73 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit) in February.

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PEOPLE: The Brazilians are composed of the following groups. The indigenous AmerIndians who account for .1% of the population, of which the major tribes are the Tupi, Ge, Garib, Arawak and Nambicuara. The Whites who account for 53%, of which the Portuguese represent 15%, Italians 11%, Spanish 10% and Germans 3%. The Mulattoes who are of mixed European and Black African descent account for 22%, the Mestizos who are of mixed AmerIndian and White descent account for 12% while 11% of the population are Black Africans. Japanese immigrants also account for just under 1%.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 18 persons per sq km (47 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 75.0% urban, 25.0% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 49.9% male, 50.1% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 62.3 years male, 67.6 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 35% under 15, 28% 15 to 29, 19% 30 to 44, 10% 45 to 59, 6% 60 to 74, 2% 75 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 28.6 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 7.9 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 20.7 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 63.2 per 1,000 live births (1990).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with 88% of the population Roman Catholic making it the largest Roman Catholic nation in the world. The remainder are Protestants, Spiritualists, Voodooists and Buddhists with a small Jewish minority.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Portuguese which is nearly spoken by all Brazilians except the AmerIndians whose main languages are Tupi, Ge, Garib, Arawak and Nambicuara. English and French are spoken as second languages.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 32.9%, some primary 50.3%, primary 4.9%, secondary 6.9%, higher 5.0% (1980). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 74,047,843 or 81.1% (1988).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: The abortive uprising in Nov. 1935 resulted in the end of democracy with the establishment of a fascist model new state in Dec. 1937 headed by Getulio Vargas as dictator. In 1951 Vargas was elected President again after military rule from 1945 to 1951. In 1954 military officers again took control of the government and Vargas committed suicide in Aug. 1954. In 1955 Juscelino Kubitschek became President and built the new capital, Brasilia, in the hope that the new city would develop Brazil's interior. In 1960 the government moved from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia, while the project funded by borrowed money crippled the economy. In 1961 Janio da Silva Quadros became President. He believed that Brazil had to trade with all nations and worked to increase trade with communist countries such as Cuba. Pres. Joao Goulart succeeded him after 7 months, when military leaders feared that Silva would open the doors for a communist take over. In 1964 troops forced Goulart out of office and Gen. Castel Branco took over. Branco was given many powers by the military including the right to suspend the rights of citizens and he was succeeded by three other Generals until 1978. During the late 1960's and early 1970s Brazil's economy flourished after the military banned political as well as trade union activities. In 1974 the chief problem was the high cost of oil on the world market and in 1975 Brazil began a program to reduce oil imports by substituting them with alcohol fuels. In 1979 Gen. Joao Figueiredo became President and was challenged by high inflation rates, labor unrest, union strikes and as a result he allowed other political parties to form. In 1985 military rule ended and a civilian President was elected. In 1986 Brazilians elected a new congress as well as a state legislature and governors in the first nationwide general election following the end of military rule. In March 1990 Fernando Collor was inaugurated President and introduced the "Collor I" plan in an attempt to stabilize the economy. In Jan. 1991, the government was forced to introduce a second stabilizing plan "Collor II" while in Feb. 1991 the government placed a hold on wage increases as well as an indefinite freeze on prices to combat inflation which was running at 1800%. In 1991 the president's standing was undermined by a series of corruption scandals involving various family members including his wife, Rosanne while his efforts to change provisions in the 1988 constitution collectively known as the "emendao" were blocked for months. The emendao was seen as crucial to achieving long-term public sector accounts improvements and in the control of inflation. In Nov. 1991, Pres. Collor announced that 94,000 sq km (36,280 sq mi) of Amazon rain forest would be reserved for the Yanomamo Indians, despite strong opposition from the military and mining sector. In May 1992, a scandal known as "Collorgate" developed as a result of allegations from Pres. Collor's younger brother, Pedro, that Collor was involved in or knew of a million dollar corruption scheme by Paulo Cesar Farias, Collor's campaign treasurer. In Aug. 1992, the Congress found that it had enough evidence from a report inquiry to merit impeachment proceedings against the President which took place on Sept. 29, 1992. On Oct. 2, 1992 the then vice president, Itamar Franco, took control of the presidency while on Nov. 12, 1992 the attorney general's office began instigating criminal proceedings against Collor. On Dec. 29, 1992 the Senate impeachment trial against Collor which resulted in Franco being sworn in as President and Collor being banned from public office for eight years. Under Franco the Economy Ministry established by Collor was decentralized and adopted a more consultative role with the Congress in an attempt to pass several constitution-economic measures that had been blocked under Collor's presidency. In Dec. 1992, Franco suspended the privatization program for three months and in the same month the nation was shocked to learn that a popular television star, Daniela Perez, was murdered by her co-star, Guilherme de Padua. Also during 1992, the Brazilian economy remained largely in recession with inflation running well above 20% per month while the external sector and trade position continued to improve significantly. In early 1993, Pres. Franco further fused cross-party support in the Congress for legislative measures needed to overcome the fiscal crisis of the country. In late Jan. 1993, Congress approved a package of partial tax reforms and the modernization-of-ports bill. On April 21, 1993 a national plebiscite on the form and system of government took place with some 66% of voters electing to keep the presidential system while 85% voted to keep the republican from of government. In 1993 violent incidents continued to affect life with three military policemen arrested and charged with the killing of several homeless boys in Rio de Janeiro in July 1993. In Aug. 1993, 33 policemen were arrested for the murder of 21 people in a Rio shantytown while in the same month illegal Brazilian miners reportedly killed 73 members of the Yanomamo Indian tribe. In 1993 the economy had begun to recover with industrial output increasing in late 1992 helped by lower interest rates while the external accounts position continued to be positive.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Real (R) divided into 100 Centavos.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $471,978,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $86,650,000,000 (1993). Imports; USD $25,711,000,000 (1993). Exports; USD $38,783,000,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; USD $1,449,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; USD $10,391,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 64,467,981 or 43.8% of total population (1990). Unemployed; 6.0% (1994).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its major trading partners are the USA, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Argentina, the former USSR and Italy.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Asbestos, Bananas, Bauxite, Beryllium, Cassava, Cereals, Chromium, Coffee, Coal, Cocoa, Cotton, Crude Oil, Diamonds, Fish, Gold, Graphite, Iron Ore, Manganese, Natural Gas, Nickel, Oranges, Phosphates, Quartz Crystal, Rice, Rubber, Salt, Silver, Soya Beans, Sugar, Timber, Tin, Titanium, Tobacco, Tungsten, Zinc.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Cement, Chemicals, Consumer Goods, Fertilizers, Food Processing, Iron and Steel, Lumber, Machinery, Mining, Motor Vehicles, Oil and Mineral Refining, Paper, Rubber Processing, Ship Building, Textiles, Wood Pulp.

MAIN EXPORTS: Animal Foodstuffs, Chemicals, Cocoa, Coffee, Iron Ore, Iron and Steel, Machinery, Motor Vehicles, Non-Ferrous Metals, Oranges, Soya Beans and Oil, Sugar.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 29,833 km (18,537 mi) (1987), passenger-km 15,264,000,000 (9,485,000,000 passenger-mi) (1987), cargo ton-km 109,421,000,000 (74,942,000,000 short ton-mi) (1987). Roads; length 1,663,987 km (1,033,953 mi) (1989). Vehicles; cars 14,995,837 (1988), trucks and buses 1,609,764 (1988). Merchant Marine; vessels 691 (1990), deadweight tonnage 10,004,910 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 17,844,000,000 (11,088,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 2,414,000,000 (1,653,000,000 short ton-mi) (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 373 with a total circulation of 8,500,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 55,000,000 (1994). Television; receivers 30,000,000 (1994). Telephones; units 11,752,831 (1993).

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MILITARY: 295,000 (1995) total active duty personnel with 66.0% army, 17.0% navy and 17.0% air force while military expenditure accounts for 1.3% (1991) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Brunei.

2009-10-29T05:40:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Sultanate of Brunei
CAPITAL: Bandar Seri Begawan
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Absolute Monarchy
AREA: 5,765 Sq Km (2,226 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 318,000

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Brunei is located on the northwest coast of the island of Borneo in South East Asia. It is bound by the South China Sea to the north and the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the west and south. The country is divided into two separate enclaves by Sarawak with the main part to the west containing the Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Belait districts while the east contains the Temburong district. The terrain in the western enclave consists of hilly lowlands and the eastern enclave contains a wide coastal plain that rises to the mountain regions of Sarawak. Equatorial rain forests which are very dense in some places cover 75% of the land area and mangrove swamps as well as sandy beaches lie along the coastal plains. Major Cities (pop. est.); Bandar Seri Begawan 46,000, Kuala Belait 21,200, Seria 21,000, Tutong 13,000 (1991). Land Use; forested 86%, pastures 1%, agricultural-cultivated 1%, other 12% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Brunei has a tropical climate with constant high humidity of approximately 80% all year round. Between November and December rainfall is at its heaviest during the NE Monsoon season called the Landas while most of the rainfall occurs in southern thunderstorms. Uniform temperature ranges are between 27 to 32 degrees Celsius (81 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit) with the average annual precipitation varying from 2,400 mm (95 inches) in the lowlands areas to 4,000 mm (158 inches) in the interior.

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PEOPLE: Brunei can be described as a Malay nation with Malays accounting for 69% of the population while the Chinese constitute around 18%. Other minorities include Indians and indigenous groups such as Ibans, Dusans and other minor tribal groups. Europeans make up a small part of the population, although most of these are temporary workers of the British, American, Dutch and Australian origin.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 46 persons per sq km (119 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 63.6% urban, 36.4% rural (1982). Sex Distribution; 51.7% male, 48.3% female (1989). Life Expectancy at Birth; 72.6 years male, 76.4 years female (1989). Age Breakdown; 37% under 15, 33% 15 to 29, 18% 30 to 44, 7% 45 to 59, 3% 60 to 74, 2% 75 and over (1986). Birth Rate; 27.6 per 1,000 (1989). Death Rate; 3.3 per 1,000 (1989). Increase Rate; 24.3 per 1,000 (1989). Infant Mortality Rate; 9.0 per 1,000 live births (1989).

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RELIGIONS: The official religion is Islam with around 67% of the population Muslim. The remainder are religious minorities, of which 12% are Buddhists, 9% are Christians and 12% follow local native tribal beliefs.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Malay, although English is widely spoken for commerce purposes. Dialects of the indigenous non-Malay people are also spoken in the interior.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 32.1%, primary 28.3%, secondary 30.1%, higher 9.4% (1981). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 121,281 or 85.1% (1986).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: After the Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945 the British civil administration was restored. In 1959 the Sultanate's first written constitution was adopted and in 1962 political unrest led the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien to abolish political parties and suspend the 1959 constitution while his rule of decree continued into the 1980's. In 1963 Brunei decided against joining Malaysia in a federation and in 1967 the Sultan abdicated in favor of his son Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. In 1971 Great Britain granted full internal self government to Brunei. The British government continued to be responsible for Brunei's foreign relations and defense until the country gained complete independence on Jan. 1, 1984. In 1985 two political parties were formed with the agreement of the authorities, however, in 1988 one of the parties was suspended and no elections have been held since the declaration of a State of Emergency. During 1990 the last dissidents from the British crushed revolt in 1962 were released from detention. In 1991 a ban on the sale of alcohol came into effect and in Feb. 1991 the Muslim sect, al-Arqam was banned while Christian activities were also monitored more closely. In April 1991, there were several visits from foreign dignitaries from Japan, China and Singapore to establish further economic, diplomatic or defense ties. In Aug. 1991, the Foreign Minister Prince Mohamad Bolkiah announced that Brunei would accept several visits from US warships but would not permit the construction of US base facilities while in Sept. 1991, Singapore's Defense Minister announced that his country would provide training facilities for Brunei's armed forces. In late 1991, the Sultanate established diplomatic ties with China while in Feb. 1992, the Sultanate established diplomatic relations with Vietnam. In July 1992, a Brunei delegation arrived in Hanoi to discuss trade agreements on shipping and telecommunications. In Sept. 1992, Brunei joined the Non-Aligned Movement. On Oct. 5, 1992 Brunei celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Sultan's accession to the throne, the biggest event since the country's independence in 1984. In 1993 Brunei established further diplomatic ties with Asian countries such as Laos in July and Myanmar in September while the country also sent 12 policemen to join peacekeeping forces in Cambodia, the first such time that Brunei had ventured into international peacekeeping. Also during 1993, Japan and Brunei renewed their expiring 20-year agreement to supply Japan with their entire liquefied natural gas output and Brunei and Malaysia agreed to establish a joint border committee to discuss boundary disputes involving the Limbang salient, Sarawak, and offshore economic zones.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Dollar (BD) divided into 100 Cents (Sen).

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $4,001,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; nil. Imports; BD $2,280,700,000 (1992). Exports; BD $3,630,200,000 (1992). Tourism Receipts; USD $35,000,000 (1990). Balance of Trade; BD $1,946,000,000 (1992). Economically Active Population; 111,955 or 43.0% of total population (1991). Unemployed; 4.7% (1991).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are Japan, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea and other ASEAN countries.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Bananas, Cassava, Coffee, Fish, Oil and Natural Gas, Rice, Timber.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Production and Refining of Oil and Natural Gas.

MAIN EXPORTS: Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refined Petroleum Products.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 19 km (12 mi) privately owned (1990). Roads; length 2,199 km (1,366 mi) (1988). Vehicles; cars 99,997 (1989), trucks and buses 17,512 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 42 (1990), deadweight tonnage 348,783 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 448,000,000 (303,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 9,857,000 (6,751,000 short ton-mi) (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 1 with a total circulation of 30,000 (1993). Radio; receivers 60,000 (1994). Television; receivers 70,000 (1994). Telephones; units 55,200 (1993).

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MILITARY: 4,900 (1995) total active duty personnel with 79.6% army, 14.39% navy and 6.1% air force while military expenditure accounts for 8.4% (1990) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Bulgaria.

2009-10-29T05:34:00.002-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Bulgaria
CAPITAL: Sofia
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Unitary Multiparty Republic
AREA: 110,912 Sq Km (42,823 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 8,427,000

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Bulgaria is located on the Balkan Peninsula of South East Europe. It is bound by Romania to the north, Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro (Serbia Rep.) to the west, Turkey to the southeast, Greece to the south and the Black Sea to the east. The country is divided into three topographical zones all of which lie parallel east to west of each other. (1.) The Danubian Tablelands in the north, (2.) the Stara Planina or the Balkan Mountains in the center and (3.) the Thracian Plains as well as the Rhodope and Pirin Mountains in the south and southwest. The principal rivers are the Maritsa, Iskur, Yantra and Struma which flow either north or south. Major Cities (pop. est.); Sofia 1,114,000, Plovdiv 345,000, Varna 307,000, Burgas 198,000, Ruse 170,000 (1993). Land Use; forested 35%, pastures 17%, agricultural-cultivated 39%, other 9% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Bulgaria has a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. In the south the climate is Mediterranean with winters that are milder and moister. On the coastal fringes of the Black Sea winters are slightly warmer but the northeast winds from Russia blow cold air causing cold spells. Average annual precipitation is 630 mm (25 inches) and average temperature ranges in Sofia are from -4 to 2 degrees Celsius (25 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 16 to 27 degrees Celsius (61 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit) in July.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Bulgarians who are of Slavic descent and account for approximately 85% of the population. The principal ethnic minority are the Turks who account for 8.5% of the population, followed by Gypsies and Macedonians who account for 2.6% and 2.5% of the population respectively.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 81 persons per sq km (210 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 67.6% urban, 32.4% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 49.4% male, 50.6% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 68.2 years male, 74.4 years female (1986). Age Breakdown; 20% under 15, 21% 15 to 29, 21% 30 to 44, 18% 45 to 59, 15% 60 to 74, 5% 75 and over (1991). Birth Rate; 10.5 per 1,000 (1992). Death Rate; 12.7 per 1,000 (1992). Increase Rate; -2.2 per 1,000 (1992). Infant Mortality Rate; 15.9 per 1,000 live births (1992).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with 85% of the population Eastern Orthodox while 1% are Roman Catholic and 13% are Muslims.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Bulgarian which is also the national language, although Turkish is also spoken by the ethnic minorities.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: N/A. Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 95.5% (1980).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: After World War II the communists did not completely control Bulgaria's new government, so they immediately took steps to strengthen their power. They removed noncommunists from the government who were then executed or sent to labor camps. In 1946 the monarchy was abolished and by the end of 1947 nationalization of private enterprise was complete. In Nov. 1946 Georgi Dimitrov, communist leader, became head of government and Bulgaria adopted a constitution modeled on that of the Soviet Union. In 1949 Dimitrov died and in 1950 Vulko Cherenkov came to power, industrialization rose while the country's living standards decreased. In 1954 Todor Zhivkov became the party head and in 1962 Zhivkov became head of state and based his rule on sharing power between the national and local governments in a de-Stalinization program. During the 1960's the country suffered and some members of government began to restore the Soviet influence in Bulgaria. In 1965 Zhivkov survived an attempted military coup. During the 1970's and 1980's Bulgaria worked to improve relations with other Balkan countries, it established limited trade and cultural ties with Western nations and continued to support the Soviet Union. In Jan. 1988 a party conference approved multi-candidacy for elections, although they placed emphasis on the need for a socialist form of self government. In 1989 massive demonstrations took place in the Turkish districts and the government opened the borders with Turkey. On Dec. 7, 1989 encouraged by a chain reaction of collapsing communist regimes throughout Europe, the opposition united in an umbrella organization called the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF). On April 3, 1990 the National Assembly approved free multiparty elections and deleted references to socialism as well as communism from the constitution. After student strikes in November, Andrei Lukanov resigned as Prime Minister and a neutral judge was appointed. On Jan. 8, 1991 the two leading trade unions and government officials sign an six-month agreement to maintain social peace. In Feb. 1991 the National Assembly passed a law that decollectivized agriculture and allowed to privatization of small business. In June 1991, the banking system was reformed and the Bulgarian National Bank was made independent from the government. In July 1991 a new constitution was adopted and in Oct. 1991 parliamentary elections were won by Filip Dimitrov of the UDF. Also during 1991 there were tensions of Turkish minorities over education in their own language. In Jan. 1992 Zhelyu Zhelev backed by the UDF defeated the socialist-sponsored Velko Valkanov in presidential elections. On April 9, 1992 the Restitution Act was enacted and restored property to the former owners or their descendants that was nationalized by the Communists between 1947 and 1962. In July 1992, the former premier Andrei Lukanov was arrested on charges of peculation while later in the year Todor Zhivkov and Georgy Atanasov were sentenced for 7 and 10 years respectively for similar offenses. In 1992 an economic reforms program that included price liberalization, pay restraints and a bill to privatized state enterprises caused concern amongst the tow main trade unions and ultimately resulted in strikes by oil refinery, medical and transport workers for wage increases. Also during 1992, the Turkish areas were also economically hit hard with ramifications throughout the Turkish party, Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), causing a vote of no-confidence to be passed by the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the resignation of Dimitriov. A MRF nominated non-Turk, Lyuben Berov, was named as Dimitrov's successor. In 1993 the UDF consistently accused Prime Minister Berov's government of backtracking reforms and wishing to restore socialism, and demanded fresh elections. In June 1993, the UDF deputy Edvin Sugarev went on a hunger strike in an effort to force Pres. Zhelev's resignation while by the end of the month the Vice President Blaga Dimitrova resigned claiming that some form of dictatorship was imminent. On Sept. 17, 1993 the National Assembly annulled the controversial 1992 census results for two southwest areas that allegedly had exaggerated numbers of Turkish residents, with opposition from the MRF. In Dec. 1993, some 20,000 miners staged a prolonged strike to protest more anticipated layoffs due to mine closures. After 26 days the government agreed to back pay and to reinstate the laid off workers.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Lev (plural; Leva) divided into 100 Stotinki.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $9,812,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $11,923,000,000 (1991). Imports; Leva 234,120,000,000 (1994). Exports; Leva 225,468,000,000 (1994). Tourism Receipts; USD $307,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; Leva -8,652,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 3,646,342 or 43.2% of total population (1994). Unemployed; 13.4% (1994).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its traditional trade has been with the former USSR, although its main western trade partners include Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Austria, France and Italy.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Apples, Barley, Cattle, Coal, Copper, Grapes, Lead, Lignite, Limestone, Maize, Manganese, Oil and Natural Gas, Pigs, Poultry, Sheep, Sunflower Seeds, Tobacco, Timber, Uranium, Wheat, Zinc.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Brewing and Distilling, Cement, Chemicals, Coke, Fertilizers, Forestry, Iron and Steel, Leather Goods, Machinery, Oil and Gas Refining, Textiles, Tobacco Processing, Wine.

MAIN EXPORTS: Chemicals, Cigarettes, Fruit, Machinery, Meat, Tobacco, Transport Equipment, Vegetables, Wines and Spirits.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 4,300 km (2,672 mi) (1990), passenger-km 7,793,000,000 (4,842,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 14,132,000,000 (9,679,000,000 short ton-mi) (1990). Roads; length 36,922 km (22,942 mi) (1990). Vehicles; cars 1,234,006 (1989), trucks and buses 163,965 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 200 (1990), deadweight tonnage 1,953,557 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 3,758,900,000 (2,335,671,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 45,101,100,000 (30,889,743,000 short ton-mi) (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 46 with a total circulation of 1,464,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 3,920,000 (1994). Television; receivers 3,127,000 (1994). Telephones; units 2,300,100 (1993).

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MILITARY: 101,900 (1995) total active duty personnel with 75.9% army, 2.9% navy and 21.2% air force while military expenditure accounts for 6.0% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Burkina Faso.

2009-10-29T05:34:00.001-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Burkina Faso
CAPITAL: Ouagadougou
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Multiparty Republic
AREA: 274,200 Sq Km (105,869 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 11,621,700

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Burkina is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is bound by Mali to the north and west, Niger to the northeast and east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south and the Ivory Coast to the southwest. The territory is a vast plateau that slopes southward and contains three voltas which are slow meandering rivers. They are (1.) the Black Volta, (2.) the White Volta and (3.) the Red Volta. The other main river is the Niger and one of the few permanent lakes in West Africa, Lake Bama, is situated on the White Volta. Wooded savannas are located to the south and in the north the plains dry out into a semidesert terrain. Major Cities (pop. est.); Ouagadougou 442,000, Bobo-Dioulasso 229,000, Koudougou 52,000 Ouahigouya 39,000 (1985). Land Use; forested 50%, pastures 22%, agricultural-cultivated 13%, other 15% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Burkina has a tropical climate which is hot all year round and has two alternating seasons, (1.) a dry season between November and May and a (2.) wet season between June and October with violent storms in August. A dry dust laden wind called the Harmattan blows from the Sahara Desert in the northeast between March to May. Average annual precipitation in Ouagadougou is 894 mm (35 inches) and the average temperature ranges are from 16 to 33 degrees Celsius (61 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 26 to 39 degrees Celsius (79 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit) in April.

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PEOPLE: Burkina has over fifty tribes with the principal ethnic group the Mossi who account for approximately 48% of the population. Other dominant tribes include the Fulani Nomads who account for around 8%, the Gourma or Gurma for around 5%, the Lobi-Dagari for around 7%, the Mande for around 9%, the Bobo for around 7%, the Senoufo for around 5% and the Gourounsi for around 5%. Some resident Europeans exist, although they amount to only 2,500 and are mainly French.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 34 persons per sq km (87 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 8.6% urban, 91.4% rural (1988). Sex Distribution; 48.1% male, 51.9% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 45.6 years male, 48.9 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 49% under 15, 24% 15 to 29, 13% 30 to 44, 8% 45 to 59, 5% 60 to 74, 1% 75 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 47.1 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 18.4 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 28.7 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 137.0 per 1,000 live births (1985).

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RELIGIONS: Around 45% of the population follow local native tribal beliefs. The remainder are Muslims which account for around 43% and Christians mainly Roman Catholics for around 12%.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is French, although around 60% of the population speak local languages of the Sudanic group which include More, Dioula and Gourmantche.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: N/A. Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 18.2% (1990).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In 1958 Burkina Faso, then called Upper Volta, became a self-governing state within the French Community. In 1959 Upper Volta joined Dahomey (Benin), the Ivory Coast and Niger in the Council of the Entente, a group formed to solve the regions economic and social problems. On Aug. 5, 1960 Upper Volta became an independent republic with Maurice Yameogo as President. In 1966 the people were unhappy with Yameogo's rule and this led to several strikes by trade union workers. In the same year the army led by Lt. Col.. Sangoule Lamizana seized control of the government. On June 14, 1970 a new constitution and an elected legislature was established, returning the country to civilian rule and in 1971 the government appointed Gerard Ouedraogo as the civilian President. In 1974 Lamizana again regained control of the government, suspending the constitution and dissolving the legislature. In 1977 a new constitution was adopted which restored civilian rule and in 1978 Lamizana was elected President. In 1980 a military coup led by Col. Saye Zerbo took control of the government and again suspended the constitution. In 1982 a coup of junior officers led by Capt. Thomas Sankara overthrew Zerbo's government to form a new government. In Aug. 1984 the country's name was officially changed from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso. In 1987 Sankara was assassinated after resentment towards his anti-corruption as well as his authoritarian drive and he was replaced by Blaise Compaore. In 1990 Pres. Compaore agreed to new presidential elections which were scheduled for Dec. 1991 with legislative elections scheduled for Jan. 1992. In June 1991 political parties were legalized after a national referendum and in Dec. 1991 Compaore was re-elected as President, although only around 25% of the voters went to the polls as a result of opposition party boycotts. Also in Dec, 1991 just after the elections Clement Oumarou Ouedraogo, an opponent of Compaore, was murdered while Tall Moctar, another opposition politician was attacked and wounded. In Jan. 1992, Pres. Compaore agreed after hard negotiations by the leaders of 42 opposition parties to convene a National Reconciliation Forum. On Feb. 11, 1992 three former heads of state and 380 delegates attended the three-week forum while legislative elections were delayed until May 24, 1992. The Organization for Popular Democracy-Labor Movement won the majority of seats with Youssouf Ouedraogo being elected prime minister. In April 1992, Pres. Compaore attended an international conference on Liberia at Geneva, in an attempt to improve his international image. In 1993 the government implemented a Structural Adjustment Program which resulted in both foreign economic aid and protests by students and trade unions due to hardships caused by the program. In June 1993, Pres. Compaore unsuccessfully attempted to mediate in talks between Togo's president and the opposition coalition in an attempt to resolve their political crisis. Also during 1993 progress was made in negotiations between Burkina Faso and the Ivory Coast to delineate their common border.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the CFA Franc (Communaute Financiere Africaine-CFAF) divided into 100 Centimes.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $2,928,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $1,093,000,000 (1993). Imports; CFAF 182,200,000,000 (1993). Exports; CFAF 76,500,000,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; USD $8,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; CFAF -104,600,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 4,836,000 or 49.1% of total population (1991). Unemployed; 0.9% (1991).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the USA, France, the Ivory Coast, Germany, Japan and the Netherlands.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Antimony, Bauxite, Bottling, Copper, Cotton, Gold, Ground Nuts, Lead, Livestock, Maize, Manganese, Marble, Millet, Mining, Nickel, Rice, Sesame, Shea, Sorghum.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Brewing and Bottling, Food Processing, Mining, Textiles, Tyre Manufacture.

MAIN EXPORTS: Cotton, Ground Nuts, Hides and Skins, Livestock, Rubber Tyres, Sesame, Shea, Nut Products.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 495 km (308 mi) (1989), passenger-km 679,790,000 (422,402,000 passenger-mi) (1984), cargo ton-km 469,675,000 (321,680,000 short ton-mi) (1984). Roads; length 13,134 km (8,161 mi) (1991). Vehicles; cars 11,000 (1989), trucks and buses 13,000 (1991). Merchant Marine; nil. Air Transport; passenger-km 208,567,000 (129,597,000 passenger-mi) (1988), cargo ton-km N/A.

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 4 with a total circulation of 17,000 (1994). Radio; receivers 225,000 (1994). Television; receivers 45,500 (1994). Telephones; units 21,900 (1993).

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MILITARY: 5,800 (1995) total active duty personnel with 96.6% army, 0.0% navy and 3.4% air force while military expenditure accounts for 2.2% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Burundi.

2009-10-29T05:32:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Burundi
CAPITAL: Bujumbura
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Unitary Multiparty Republic with Transitional Government
AREA: 27,837 Sq Km (10,747 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 6,840,900

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Burundi is a landlocked country in the center of Africa. It is bound by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, Lake Tanganyika to the southwest and Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) to the west. Burundi is a high rolling country that is part of the Great African Plateau while it forms the divide between the Nile and the Zaire River Basins and has three natural regions. (1.) The Rift Valley also known as the Imbo which is a narrow plain along the western border with Zaire. (2.) The eastern zone known as Kumoso which consists of the central and eastern plateaux and the savannas of the eastern border. (3.) The central mountain region which is a series of ridges that lie north to south. The Ruzizi is the most important river which flows into the Zaire River Basin and all other rivers and tributaries are connected to the Zaire and Nile River Basins. Major Cities (pop. est.); Bujumbura 236,000, Gitega 21,000, Ngozi 15,000 (1990). Land Use; forested 3%, pastures 36%, agricultural-cultivated 53%, other 8% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Burundi has an equatorial climate that is uncomfortably hot but varies with altitude and season. There are two wet seasons alternating with two dry seasons. The dry seasons are between June to August and January to February with the long wet season between March to May and the short one between September to December. Rainfall is irregular falling mainly in the northwest with violent rainstorms common at higher altitudes. Average annual precipitation in Bujumbura is 850 mm (33 inches) and the average temperature is 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit). The upper elevations of the Kumoso are generally cool with temperatures below 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit).

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Hutu who account for 82% of the population with the Tutsi also known as the Watutsi or Batutsi accounting for 14%. The Twa, a pygmoid group account for 1% with Europeans and Asians accounting for the remaining 2% of the population.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 216 persons per sq km (560 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 7.5% urban, 92.5% rural (1986). Sex Distribution; 48.5% male, 51.5% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 50.0 years male, 54.0 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 45% under 15, 27% 15 to 29, 16% 30 to 44, 7% 45 to 59, 4% 60 to 74, 1% 75 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 47.0 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 15.0 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 32.0 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 111.0 per 1,000 live births (1990).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians which account for 86% of the population, of which around 78% are Roman Catholic and there is also a Protestant minority. Around 14% of the population follow local native tribal beliefs and 1% are Muslims represented by the Asian groups.

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LANGUAGES: The official languages are Rundi and French, although Swahili is also widely spoken throughout the country. Only 3% of the population can read or write French.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: N/A. Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 50.0% (1990).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: After World War II the former German colony of Ruanda-Urundi was made a trust territory under Belgian administration by the UN. In 1959 it was split into Rwanda and Urundi. In Sept. 1961 Prince Louis Rwagasore became Prime Minister but was assassinated two months later. In the same year Urundi voted to become the independent Kingdom of Burundi and on July 1, 1962 it gained independence with the Tutsi controlling the country. After Burundi's independence, ill feeling between the Hutu and Tutsi led to almost continued unrest. Between 1962 and 1965 two more Prime Ministers were assassinated and in 1966 a military coup led by Michel Micombero overthrew the monarchy and Burundi became a republic. In 1972 an unsuccessful revolt by the Hutu against the Tutsi resulted in 100,000 deaths, most of which were Hutu as well as the death of King Mwami Ntare V. In 1976 Col. Jean-Baptiste Bagaza ousted Micombero and became President. In 1981 voters approved a new constitution which provided for a National Assembly and in 1982 an assembly was elected. Under Pres. Bagaza relations between Burundi's government and its influential Roman Catholic church deteriorated. Discontentment within the army led to the overthrow of Bagaza in 1987 and Pierre Buyoya succeeded Bagaza. He began working for greater religious freedom, although ethnic fighting flared up resulting in an estimated 5,000 further deaths during 1988. In Feb. 1991 Pres. Buyoya signed a decree which established the Charter of National Unity as a result of a national referendum and on Feb 12, 1991 reshuffled the Council of Ministers in an attempt to mend the ethnic differences resulting in the appointment of 12 Hutu members to the Council including the Prime Minister, Adrien Sibomana. On Nov. 23, 1991 while Pres. Buyoya was on a visit to France some 270 people were killed in simultaneous attacks by rebels that continued for several days in some of the regional provinces. By Jan. 1992 the death toll was estimated to be some 550 with 10,000 mainly Hutu refugees. On Jan. 4, 1992 the Presidents of Burundi, Rwanda and Zaire agreed to reactivate permanent security commissions while on Mar. 9, 1992 a referendum on a draft constitution resulted in overwhelming support for changes that included multiparty politics. In Mar. 1992, some 30 soldiers thought to be in pay of ex-Pres. Bagaza unsuccessfully attempted a coup and in April former hard line Tutsi minister Cyprien Mbonimpa was arrested for his alleged involvement in the plot. On Apr. 17, 1993 Pres. Buyoya signed a decree setting June as the date for Burundi's first democratic multiparty elections. The elections resulted in Melchoir Ndadaye of the Democratic Front being elected as President, the first Hutu to become head of state, although demonstrations followed by disgruntled Tutsi. On June 29, 1993 legislative elections resulted in a Tutsi woman, Sylvie Kinigi, being appointed Prime Minister of a carefully balanced government. On Oct. 21, 1993 a Tutsi inspired attempted coup resulted in the death of Pres. Ndadaye while Kinigi sought refuge in the French embassy. Waves of ethnic violence followed the attempted coup with thousands of Hutu and Tutsi being killed and whole villages being burnt to the ground while some 800,000 refugees had fled.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Franc (FBu) divided into 100 Centimes.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $1,102,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $999,000,000 (1993). Imports; FBu 56,467,600,000 (1994). Exports; FBu 26,499,300,000 (1994). Tourism Receipts; USD $3,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; FBu -22,603,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 2,779,777 or 52.9% of total population (1991). Unemployed; N/A.

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Kenya, Japan, the UK, the USA and the Netherlands.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Bananas, Beans, Cassava, Cobalt, Coffee, Coconuts, Columbium, Copper, Maize, Nickel, Peat, Phosphates, Platinum, Sweet Potatoes, Tantalum, Tea, Timber, Tin, Tungsten, Uranium, Vanadium.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Beverages, Blankets, Fishing, Forestry, Shoes, Soaps.

MAIN EXPORTS: Beer, Cigarettes, Coffee, Cotton, Soft Drink, Tea.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; nil. Roads; length 6,300 km (3,915 mi) (1991). Vehicles; cars 11,791 (1989), trucks and buses 9,798 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 1 (1979), deadweight tonnage N/A. Air Transport; N/A.

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 1 with a circulation of 20,000 (1994). Radio; receivers 300,000 (1994). Television; receivers 4,500 (1994). Telephones; units 15,600 (1993).

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MILITARY: 12,600 (1995) total active duty personnel with 99.2% army, 0.0% navy and 0.8% air force while military expenditure accounts for 2.4% (1991) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Cambodia.

2009-10-29T05:31:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Cambodia
CAPITAL: Phnom Penh
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Monarchy
AREA: 181,035 Sq Km (69,898 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 10,766,700

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Cambodia is located in the southwestern section of the Indo-Chinese Peninsula in South East Asia. It is bound by Thailand to the northwest and west, Laos to the north and northeast, Vietnam to the east and southeast and the Gulf of Thailand to the south. About 75% of central Cambodia is a level basin that is bordered by the Mekong River and the Tonle Sap lake. Behind and to the southwest of the basin the Cardamom and Dangrek Ranges are located, with the latter a prominent escarpment that runs along the Thai border to the north. The coastline has a small plain fronted by numerous offshore islands. Major Cities (pop. est.); Phnom Penh 564,000, Batdambang 45,000, Kampong Cham 33,000, Pursat 16,000 (1987). Land Use; forested 66%, pastures 11%, agricultural-cultivated 14%, other 9% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Cambodia has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons. (1.) The wet or monsoon season that lasts from May to October and (2.) the dry season that lasts from November to April while humidity is high throughout the year. In Phnom Penh average monthly precipitation is highest in October at 257 mm (10 inches) and lowest in January with 7 mm (.3 inches). The average annual temperature for Phnom Penh is 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit) all year.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Khmer who account for around 94% of the population while 3% are Chinese and 2.3% are Cham-Malays. The remainder are a combination of small ethnic minorities such as Thai, Lao, Kola and Vietnamese.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 50 persons per sq km (129 persons per sq mi) (1992). Urban-Rural; 12.0% urban, 88.0% rural (1989). Sex Distribution; 47.0% male, 53.0% female (1989). Life Expectancy at Birth; 46.5 years male, 49.4 years female (1989). Age Breakdown; 32% under 15, 33% 15 to 29, 20% 30 to 44, 10% 45 to 59, 4% 60 to 74, 1% 75 and over (1989). Birth Rate; 41.8 per 1,000 (1989). Death Rate; 16.9 per 1,000 (1989). Increase Rate; 24.9 per 1,000 (1989). Infant Mortality Rate; 131.0 per 1,000 live births (1988).

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RELIGIONS: The constitution of 1981 was amended in 1989 resulting in Buddhism being recognized as the national religion. Around 95% of the population are Theravada Buddhists, 2% are Muslims with the remainder small minorities of Mahayana Buddhists and Roman Catholics.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Khmer which is spoken by the entire native population, although a little French and Chinese is also spoken.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: N/A. Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 48.0% (1980).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: After World War II and Japan's surrender, French rule returned to Cambodia. On Nov. 9, 1954 Cambodia gained complete independence from France and in 1955 Prince Sihanouk abdicated while still retaining his position as head of state. In 1960 Sihanouk's neutralist regime faced external pressure from the Vietnam War. However, he attempted to maintain neutrality by allowing the establishment of Vietcong sanctuaries as well as the US bombing of these bases. In 1970 Sihanouk was ousted and replaced by a promilitary regime of Gen. Lon Nol. In Oct. 1970 Lon Nol abolished the monarchy and renamed the country the Khmer Republic. In response Sihanouk formed an alliance with his former communist enemies the Khmer Rouge and set up a government in exile located in Beijing. In 1973 heavy US bombing narrowly averted a coup attempt by the Khmer Rouge. However, in Apr. 1975 the Khmer Rouge entered Phnom Penh and took power. Under the new regime the country was renamed Democratic Kampuchea and the government embarked on a planned social and economic experiment which resulted in the deaths of many hundreds of thousands of people due to brutal treatment, ill health and disease. Tensions between Cambodia and Vietnam mounted over the next 3 years leading to heavy border fighting. In Dec. 1978 a Vietnamese invasion ousted Pol Pot's Khmer regime and a new pro-Hanoi government was installed. The country was renamed the People's Republic of Kampuchea. In the period from 1970 to 1978 guerrilla warfare and upheavals caused millions of Cambodians to die. During the late 1980's, as a result of reapproachment between the Soviet Union and China, attempts were made towards a peaceful settlement in Cambodia. In 1989 Vietnam announced that all troops would be withdrawn, which only increased the fighting among the internal factions. In Aug. 1990 the UN agreed on a political settlement based principally on an Australian initiative which the 3 resistance groups and Hun Sen government accepted. It allowed for a 12 member Supreme National Council (SNC) with 6 members from the Hun Sen government and two each from the Khmer Rouge, the Khmer People's National Liberation Front and the Sihanouk faction. Although, it was not until June 1991 when the prospect for peace improved when all four factions who had raised objections to the previous proposal accepted Sihanouk as SNC chairman and the future head of state. Additionally, all parties agreed to an immediate and unconditional cease-fire and in Sept. 1991 agreed to an electoral system. On Oct. 23, 1991 a peace treaty was signed in Paris with elections planned for 1993. In Jan. 1992 the UN appointed Yasushi Akashi as head of the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) and in Mar. 1993 deployed some 16,000 peace-keeping troops to oversee the cease-fire. However, the Khmer Rouge faction refused to cooperate with UNTAC launched guerrilla operations in northern central Cambodia and continued to derail the process through fighting after cease-fires were brokered in April and May. In June 1992 when the UN began regrouping some 200,000 Cambodian troops in advance of demobilizing 70% of them the Khmer Rouge refused to join claiming that the UN had not verified that all Vietnamese troops had left while they also demanded that the Phnom Penh government be dismantled. In Dec. 1992 the UN embargoed the Khmer-held areas which resulted in the Khmer taking a number of UN hostages. Also during 1992 the SNC agreed on freedom of the press and the freedom to form parties while a number of prisoners were also released in line with the peace accord. In Jan. 1993 political and ethnic violence increased while the Jan. 31 deadline for the Khmer Rouge to participate in the elections was ignored. Before the months leading to the elections some 200 people were killed, mostly ethnic Vietnamese by the Khmer Rouge while some workers of opposition parties were also killed by government forces. By the end of April 1993 some 370,000 refugees were back in the country from Thailand with around 4.7 million registering to vote and 20 parties signing up. In late May 1993, some 4.2 million cast their votes of the six mainly peaceful days of the election with Prince Sihanouk forming a coalition government in early June 1993, although it was dissolved by Sihanouk a day later due to internal party conflict. On June 14, 1993 the National Assembly met and agreed to give Sihanouk "full and special powers" as head of state, although in early July a new coalition government formed with Norodom Ranariddh and Han Sen as prime ministers. Also in July the Khmer Rouge continued attacks against UNTAC forces and after talks agreed to join a united national army with their officials joining the government, although the US warned it would cut of aid if this occurred. On Sept. 21, 1993 the National Assembly ratified constitutional changes that restored the monarchy and in Nov. 1993 the UNTAC was disbanded. In Aug. and Dec. 1993 the government forces launched successful offenses against the Khmer with the US also announcing a $10 million aid program over the next five years.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the New Riel which is divided into 100 Sen.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $1,580,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $239,400,000 (1993). Imports; USD $668,000,000 (1994). Exports; USD $458,000,000 (1994). Tourism Receipts; N/A. Balance of Trade; USD -$230,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 3,964,000 or 43.1% of total population (1992). Unemployed; N/A.

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are Vietnam, the former USSR and other former European communist countries.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Bananas, Bauxite, Cotton, Fish, Gemstones, Iron Ore, Jute, Livestock, Maize, Manganese, Pepper, Phosphates, Rice, Rubber, Sugar Palms, Timber, Tobacco.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Cement, Cigarette Production, Fishing, Forestry, Rubber Production, Textiles, Wood Products.

MAIN EXPORTS: Dried Fish, Pepper, Rice, Rubber, Wood, Vegetables.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 649 km (403 mi) (1988), passenger-km 54,000,000 (34,000,000 passenger-mi) (1981), cargo ton-km 10,000,000 (7,000,000 short ton-mi) (1981). Roads; length 14,800 km (9,196 mi) (1989). Vehicles; cars 4,000 (1988), trucks and buses 7,100 (1988). Merchant Marine; vessels 3 (1990), deadweight tonnage 3,839 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 42,000,000 (26,000,000 passenger-mi) (1977), cargo ton-km 400,000 (274,000 short ton-mi) (1977).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 1 (1991). Radio; receivers 860,000 (1994). Television; receivers 70,000 (1994). Telephones; units 5,900 (1993).

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MILITARY: 88,500 (1994) total active duty personnel with 40.7% army, 2.3% navy and 0.6% air force while military expenditure accounts for N/A of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Cameroon.

2009-10-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Cameroon
CAPITAL: Yaounde
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Unitary Multiparty Republic
AREA: 457,439 Sq Km (183,568 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 15,863,900

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Cameroon is located in Central West Africa. It is bound by Equatorial Guinea to the southwest, Gabon to the south, Congo to the southeast, the Central African Republic to the east, Chad to the northeast, Nigeria to the northwest and the Gulf of Guinea to the west. The country can be divided into four topographical zones. (1.) A low coastal plain in the south which has equatorial rain forests and swamp lands along its edges. (2.) A savannah covered plateau in its center which is known as Adamaoua Plateau. (3.) A mountainous area in the west which is covered in forests and has an active volcano called Mount Cameroon. (4.) A rolling sub arid savannah in the north. The northern zone is drained by the Logone and Chari Rivers which flow into the Lake Chad Basin. The other principal rivers are the Wouri, Sanaga, Dibamba and Nyong all of which flow into the Gulf of Guinea. Major Cities (pop. est.); Douala 810,000, Yaounde 649,000, Garoua 142,000, Maroua 123,000 (1987). Land Use; forested 77%, pastures 4%, agricultural-cultivated 15%, other 4% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Cameroon has a tropical climate which varies from equatorial in the south to sahelian in the north. The sahelian climate in the north has a wet season between April and September while the rest of the year is dry. Average annual precipitation for this region is between 1,000 and 1,750 mm (39 to 69 inches). The equatorial south has two wet seasons and two dry seasons with one wet season between March and June and the great wet season between August and November while one dry season is between June and August and the great dry season is between November to March. Average temperature ranges in Yaounde are from 18 to 29 degrees Celsius (64 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit) with an average annual precipitation of 4,030 mm (159 inches).

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PEOPLE: Cameroon's ethnic composition is diverse with approximately 200 ethnic groups. The principal ethnic groups consist of the Cameroon Highlanders who account for 31% of the population, the Equatorial Bantu for 19%, the Kirdi for 11%, the Fulani for 10%, the Northwestern Bantu for 8% and the Nigritic for 7%. Ethnic aliens include African tribal groups such as the Hausa, Ibo, Ewe, and Europeans which include French, German, American, British, Canadian, Greeks, Syrians, Cypriots and Lebanese.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 26 persons per sq km (68 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 42.4% urban, 57.6% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 49.9% male, 50.1% female (1991). Life Expectancy at Birth; 51.0 years male, 54.0 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 46% under 15, 24% 15 to 29, 15% 30 to 44, 9% 45 to 59, 6% 60 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 47.5 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 14.9 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 32.6 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 94.0 per 1,000 live births (1990).

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RELIGIONS: Around 25% of the population follow local native tribal beliefs while Christians account for 53% and 22% are Muslims.

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LANGUAGES: The official languages are French and English with French being the dominant. However, some 80 major African languages are spoken by the diverse ethnic tribal groups.

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EDUCATION: Aged 15 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 51.1%, primary 41.7%, secondary 5.9%, higher 0.5% (1976). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 54.1% (1990).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: On Jan. 1, 1960 French Cameroon became the independent Republic of Cameroon with a presidential system of government and on June 1, 1961 British Cameroon was divided into the North and South. The northern part of British Cameroon joined with Nigeria, while the southern part joined the independent Republic of Cameroon and from then until 1972 Cameroon operated as a federation of two states East and West Cameroon. In May 1972 Cameroon adopted a new constitution that eliminated the two separate states and Cameroon was declared the United Republic of Cameroon. In 1982 Ahmadou Ahidjo resigned after 22 years as President and was replaced by Paul Biya. In 1983 Ahidjo fled to France after leading an unsuccessful coup attempt against Biya due to the fact that Ahidjo was a Muslim from the north and Biya a Christian from the south. In 1984 the Biya government crushed a coup attempt by Muslim officers from the north which resulted in the execution of around fifty officers. Later the head of state gained control over the military by delegating the Defense Ministry to his office. In 1986 some political prisoners were released and in 1987 Biya carried out economic reforms which included the reform of the public sector. In 1990 there were numerous demonstrations as well as strikes by lawyers, teachers and students in protest for democratic reforms. The protests resulted in the deaths of six marchers which forced Biya to endorse multi-partyism. In July 1990 a national conference called for the legalization of opposition parties, human rights legislation and freedom of the press. By the close of 1990 nearly all political prisoners were released. In 1991 some 25 opposition parties were legalized, although Pres. Biya refused to allow a national conference or new elections. In May 1991 after mass civil disobedience the military took control of seven provinces. In Sept. 1991 Pres. Biya suspended all political parties and closed five newspapers which resulted in a coalition of opposition leaders embarking on an international mission to convince the US, Canada and EU to withdraw support for the governing regime. Also during 1991 there were continued border clashes with Nigeria over a long-standing dispute. On Mar. 1, 1992 the RDPC won the first multiparty elections in 32 years while Pres. Biya was narrowly reelected in presidential elections held on Oct. 11, 1992, with his nearest rival John Fru Ndi being placed under house arrest immediately after the elections. Following the elections there were accusations of fraud and some violent demonstrations while the US suspended $14 million of aid. On Nov. 27, 1992 Pres. Biya reshuffled the cabinet and reappointed Simon Achidi Achu, who had become the country's first Anglophone prime minister in April 1992. In Mar. 1993 antigovernment protesters were arrested in three cities while demonstrations considered potentially violent were banned by the government. In June 1993, unpaid civil servants demonstrated while in the same month Pres. Biya government outmaneuvered their political opponents by convening a Grand National Debate on Constitutional Reform rather than opposition demands from John Fru Ndi's SDF for a Sovereign National Conference. On Aug. 10, 1993 a joint Cameroon-Nigeria border commission met in an attempt to resolve long-standing border conflicts. Also during 1993 the economic condition remained in crisis despite government curtailed budgets and civil service salary cuts.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the CFA Franc (Communiate Financiere Africaine-CFAF) divided into 100 Centimes.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $9,663,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $5,683,000,000 (1993). Imports; CFAF 650,610,000,000 (1991). Exports; CFAF 788,300,000,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; USD $47,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; CFAF 249,700,000,000 (1993). Economically Active Population; 4,740,000 or 40.0% of total population (1991). Unemployed; N/A.

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are France, the USA, Germany, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands and the former USSR.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Bauxite, Cassava, Cocoa, Coffee, Cotton, Ground Nuts, Gold, Iron Ore, Livestock, Maize, Millet, Oil and Natural Gas, Palm Oil, Plantains, Rubber, Sorghum, Sweet Potatoes, Timber, Tin, Yams.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Aluminum Smelting, Beverages, Food Processing, Forestry, Mining, Shoes, Textiles, Tourism.

MAIN EXPORTS: Aluminum, Cocoa, Coffee, Cotton, Petroleum, Rubber, Timber.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 1,104 km (686 mi) (1988), passenger-km 469,600,000 (291,796,000 passenger-mi) (1988), cargo ton-km 595,500,000 (407,858,000 short ton-mi) (1988). Roads; length 52,214 km (32,444 mi) (1987). Vehicles; cars 78,272 (1987), trucks and buses 43,868 (1987). Merchant Marine; vessels 43 (1990), deadweight tonnage 38,602 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 580,000,000 (360,000,000 passenger-mi) (1985), cargo ton-km 111,000,000 (76,000,000 short ton-mi) (1985).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 2 with a circulation of 35,000 (1994. Radio; receivers 1,500,000 (1994). Television; receivers 15,000 (1994). Telephones; units 57,200 (1993).

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MILITARY: 14,600 (1995) total active duty personnel with 89.0% army, 8.9% navy and 2.1% air force while military expenditure accounts for 2.1% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Canada.

2009-10-29T05:29:00.002-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Canada
CAPITAL: Ottawa
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Federal Multiparty Parliamentary State with Sovereign Monarchy
AREA: 9,976,139 Sq Km (3,851,809 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 30,532,900

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Canada is located on the North American Continent and occupies nearly all of it north of the United States except for Alaska to the west and a few small French islands. Topographically, Canada is divided into five regions. (1.) The Atlantic provinces which consist of rounded hills and rolling plains as well as rugged coasts. (2.) The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence lowlands which consist of fertile low lying plains and constitute the heartland of the population. (3.) The Canadian Shield which is an area of Precambrian rock with moss covered, frozen subsoil and treeless plains in the north as well as thick forests to the south. The Canadian Shield extends beyond the US border in two areas, the head of Lake Superior and in the Adirondack Mountains while as a whole it accounts for almost 50% of the land area. The shield is often described as a huge saucer centered on the Hudson and James Bays while it has an average elevation of less than 610 metres (2,000 feet). (4.) The interior plains which are unforested in the south and forested in the north with large deposits of oil and potash. (5.) The Cordillera region which is the western strip of folded and faulted mountains and plateaux. The country's highest point is Mount Logan at 5,951 metres (19,525 feet) which is located in the Yukon Territory while the average elevation for the Western Cordillera region is over 4,500 metres (14,765 feet). The Arctic Archipelago is located on a submerged plateau while a deeply submerged continental shelf runs along the entire west coast of the Arctic Archipelago from Banks Island to Greenland. The largest islands are those in the Arctic Archipelago, extending from St. James Bay to Ellesmere while on the western coast they are Vancouver and Queen Charlotte Islands, as well as Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton, the Grand Manan and Campobello Islands and Anticosti Island on the eastern coast. The country's chief rivers include the Yukon and Mackenzie in the west, the North Saskatchewan, South Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan and the Athabasca Rivers in central Canada as well as the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers in the east. Major Cities (pop. est.); Toronto 3,893,000, Montreal 3,127,000, Vancouver 1,602,500, Ottawa 921,000, Edmonton 840,000, Calgary 754,000, Winnipeg 652,500, Quebec 645,500, Hamilton 600,000 (1991). Land Use; forested 54%, pastures 3%, agricultural-cultivated 5%, other 38% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Canada has a continental climate which is arctic in the north and maritime near the west coast, while near the US border a narrow strip has a temperate climate with cold winters. The north Canadian coast is permanently icebound except for Hudson Bay which is only frozen for 9 months of the year. The west coast and some inland valleys have mild winters and mild summers with rainfall occurring throughout the year. On the Atlantic coast the winter temperatures are warmer than those of the interior, but summer temperatures are lower. Much of the southern interior of Canada has high summer temperatures and long cold winters. Average temperature ranges in Ottawa are from -15 to -6 degrees Celsius (5 to 21 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 15 to 26 degrees Celsius (59 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit) in July.

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PEOPLE: The population consists of either Anglo-Canadian or French-Canadian descendants with 34% of the population of British origin, 26% of French origin and 26% of other European origin. The indigenous AmerIndian and Inuit groups represent only 1.5% of the population. The Canadian AmerIndians are distinguished into 7 cultural groups which are the Algonkin tribes, the Agricultural tribes of the eastern woodlands, the Plains tribes, the Pacific Coast tribes, the Western Cordillera tribes, the Basin tribes of the Yukon and Mackenzie Rivers, and the Eskimo tribes.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 3 persons per sq km (7 persons per sq mi) (1993). Urban-Rural; 76.6% urban, 23.4% rural (1991). Sex Distribution; 49.3% male, 50.7% female (1991). Life Expectancy at Birth; 74.0 years male, 80.6 years female (1991). Age Breakdown; 21% under 15, 23% 15 to 29, 25% 30 to 44, 15% 45 to 59, 11% 60 to 74, 5% 75 and over (1991). Birth Rate; 15.2 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 7.2 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 8.0 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 6.8 per 1,000 live births (1990).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with 45% of the population Roman Catholic while 36% are either Anglican or of the United Church.

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LANGUAGES: The official languages are English and French, although 61% of the population speak English as their native language while 24% speak French. The remainder have a native tongue other than French or English.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: less than and complete primary education 20.6%, secondary 35.0%, post secondary/vocational 25.1%, university 19.3% (1986). Literacy; literate population aged 14 or over 16,185,000 or 95.6% (1975).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In 1945 Canada joined the UN and in 1949 Canada founded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with the USA. In 1958 the Progressive Party won the largest majority in the House of Commons in Canadian history. In 1959 the St. Lawrence Seaway, a joint US-Canadian project was opened and in 1962 the Trans-Canadian Highway, the country's first ocean to ocean road was complete. In 1965 a new official flag flew for the first time. In 1967 Canadians celebrated the 100th anniversary of confederation with Expo '67 and a resurgence in French nationalism occurred after the visit by French Pres. Charles de Gaulle. This resulted in the formation of the Quebec Party which demanded complete separation from the federation. In 1969 The official Languages Act was put in place which required Federal facilities in Canada to provide service in both French and English if 10% of the people in a particular area speak either language. In Oct. 1970 militant separatists in Quebec kidnapped a provincial government official, who was murdered, as well as a British diplomat who was later liberated. In 1977 Quebec's Bill 101 declared French the official language of Quebec requiring governments, schools and businesses to use French. In 1980 voters in Quebec rejected a proposal to give provincial leaders the authority to negotiate with the federal government for independence. In 1982 a Constitutional Act ended British control over amendments to Canada's constitution and the Act also included a new Bill of Rights. In 1984 the Progressive Conservative Party with Brian Mulroney as leader won general elections. In 1987 the government tentatively agreed to a far reaching constitutional amendment at Meech Lake. On June 3, 1987 the Meech Lake Accord was finally approved which provided Quebec with the status of a "distinct society" and the right to preserve and promote that status. On Nov. 21, 1989 Prime Minister Mulroney took office and the US/Canadian free-trade agreement which he had negotiated came into effect in Jan. 1989. In 1990 the national debate again shifted back to the Meech Lake Accord and the refusal of two of the ten provinces to ratify the pact resulted in its failure. As a result there was a new impetus for Quebec's secession and they refused to sign the new 1982 Constitution until certain safeguards were put in place. In 1988 Quebec's Supreme Court ruled that the province's law banning English-language signs was unconstitutional, however, Quebec passed a new law outlawing those signs. In response some other nearby provinces declared themselves as exclusively English-speaking. In June 1990 an attempt to secure unanimous approval among the provinces for constitutional changes outline in the "Meech Lake" accord failed. In Feb. 1991 Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa issued an ultimatum to the rest of Canada to draw up a new constitution giving Quebec greater powers by the end of 1992 or Quebec will vote on secession. In April 1991 the government announced it was prepared to allocate $355 million over the next 5 years to settle native land claims while in June the AmerIndians chose a new leader with the election of Ovide Mercedi, a Cree lawyer from Manitoba, as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. In June 1991 a report from a 12-member commission, called the "Citizens' Forum on Canada's Future", found that many Canadians believed Quebec should not be given powers that would result in citizenship differentiation and that many also had reservations about bilingualism as official policy. Also in June 1991 Canada decided to join NAFTA and began talks with the US and Mexico. On Sept. 24, 1991 Prime Minister Mulroney's government put forward constitutional proposals to a special Senate-House of Commons committee that also considered other provinces desires while Quebec had made it clear it was intending to hold a referendum on the constitutional revisions in Oct. 1992. The proposals included shared citizenship and diversity, responsive institutions for a modern Canada and preparing for a more prosperous future while public opinion in both Ottawa and Quebec were mixed and cautious. On Mar. 12, 1992 a new round of constitutional talks with the federal government began with objective to reach a "multilateral consensus" on reform amongst the provinces, territories and native groups. On June 10, 1992 a long-term dispute with France of fishing zones around the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon was settled by an international panel that allowed the French fisherman to access some 2,537 sq mi of their claimed 13,703 sq mi. On Aug. 4, 1992 the premiers of the provinces met with Mulroney with encouraging results and a series of sessions held over the following days. On Aug. 11, 1992 the US, Canada and Mexico reached an agreement on the NAFTA Treaty that would establish a free-trade zone of some 364 million people, although it still required ratification of the three countries' governments. On Aug. 22, 1992 approval for a final package of changes was announced with all government and native groups agreeing that a national referendum on the proposals was needed. The new proposals in the accord included the reduction in the number of Senate representatives from 104 to 62 while the number of seats in the House of Commons was to be increased by 42 to a total of 337 while the inherent right to self-government for the aboriginal peoples was recognized along with Quebec's position of a "distinct society". On Oct. 26, 1992 the proposals were decisively turned down by Canadians in the national referendum while although political leaders believed that an opportunity was lost most agreed that a no vote was preferable to a split between Canada and the Quebec province. Also during 1992 Canada sent 1,200 peace-keeping troops to Yugoslavia in March with another 1,200 assigned to assist later while 750 troops were sent to Somalia to help in relief operations there. On Feb. 24 1993 Prime Minister Mulroney announced his retirement with a bilingual woman, Kim Campbell, elected as his successor. On June 25, 1993 Campbell was sworn in as Canada's first female prime minister while national elections held on Oct. 25, 1993 resulted in the election of Jean Chretien of the Liberal Party as the country's new prime minister. Prime Minister Chretien was sworn in on Nov. 4, 1993 while Campbell stepped down as Progressive Conservatives party leader on Dec. 13, 1993. In 1993 Canada's international image as a leading peace-keeper was stained after 4 Canadian soldiers on the peace-keeping mission in Somalia were charge with torture and negligence and two with second-degree murder after 4 civilians were killed. By the end of 1993 Canada had spent some $1 billion on peace-keeping activities in Yugoslavia. Also during 1993 interest rates as a result of the economic recession had dropped to a twenty year low.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Dollar (Can) divided into 100 Cents.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $574,936,000,000 (1993). National Debt; Can $443,278,000,000 (1991). Imports; Can $169,316,000,000 (1993). Exports; Can $181,026,000,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; USD $5,897,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; Can $19,300,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 14,056,000 or 48.30% of total population (1994). Unemployed; 11.1% (1994).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the USA, the EU and Japan.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Asbestos, Cereals, Coal, Cobalt, Copper, Dairy Products, Fish, Fruit and Vegetables, Gold, Gypsum, Iron Ore, Lead, linseed, Livestock, Nickel, Oil and Natural Gas, Potash, Rape seed, Salt, Silver, Sulfur, Timber, Titanium, Tobacco, Uranium, Zinc.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Aluminum, Cement, Chemicals, Fertilizers, Food Processing, Forestry, Hydroelectricity, Iron and Steel Engineering, Mining, Oil and Gas Refining, Paper and other Timber Products, Telecommunications, Transport Equipment.

MAIN EXPORTS: Cereals, Chemicals, Coal, Crude Oil, Foodstuffs, Machinery, Metal Ores, Motor Vehicles, Natural Gas, Paper, Petroleum Products, Timber, Wood Pulp.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 86,880 km (53,985 mi) (1990), passenger-km 1,166,000,000 (725,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 239,404,000,000 (163,968,000,000 short ton-mi) (1990). Roads; length 849,404 km (527,795 mi) (1991). Vehicles; cars 13,061,000 (1991), trucks and buses 3,744,012 (1991). Merchant Marine; vessels 1,185 (1992), deadweight tonnage 2,896,830 (1992). Air Transport; passenger-km 57,873,000,000 (35,961,000,000 passenger-mi) (1991), cargo ton-km 1,391,200,000 (952,833,000 short ton-mi) (1991).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 108 with a total circulation of 5,500,000 (1993). Radio; receivers 26,878,000 (1994). Television; receivers 17,400,000 (1994). Telephones; units 16,470,900 (1993).

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MILITARY: 70,500 (1995) total active duty personnel with 28.8% army, 14.2% navy, 24.3% air force and 32.7% not identified while military expenditure accounts for 2.0% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Cape Verde.

2009-10-29T05:29:00.001-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Cape Verde
CAPITAL: Praia
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Multiparty Republic
AREA: 4,033 Sq Km (1,557 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 437,500

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Cape Verde is an island group or archipelago of ten islands and five islets located in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa. The archipelago is divided into two groups (1.) the Barlayento or windward islands in the north and (2.) the Sotavento or leeward islands in the south. The islands are of volcanic origin and except for the Boa Vista, Maio and Sal are mountainous with rugged cliffs and steep ravines. The coastal plains are semidesert with fine sandy beaches while the mountains are covered by thin forests. Major Cities (pop. est.); Praia 61,700, Mindelo 47,100, Sao Filipe 5,600 (1990). Land Use; forested 1%, pastures 6%, agricultural-cultivated 11%, other 82% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Cape Verde has a tropical climate with two seasons. A cool dry season from December to June and a warm season between July and November. Rainfall is low and unreliable with most of it occurring during August and September. The islands suffer from severe shortages of water and rainfall which cause catastrophic and prolonged droughts periodically. Tropical heat and high humidity prevail throughout the year and the conditions are uncomfortable except when fanned by the northeast sea breezes. Average temperature ranges in Praia are from 19 to 25 degrees Celsius (66 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit) in February or March to 24 to 29 degrees Celsius (75 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit) in October.

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PEOPLE: Around 71% of the population are Creoles of mixed Black African and Portuguese descent while the remainder are almost all Black Africans with a small number of Whites.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 85 persons per sq km (219 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 29.7% urban, 70.3% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 48.0% male, 52.0% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 60.0 years male, 64.0 years female (1992). Age Breakdown; 45% under 15, 31% 15 to 29, 10% 30 to 44, 7% 45 to 59, 7% 60 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 48.0 per 1,000 (1992). Death Rate; 10.0 per 1,000 (1992). Increase Rate; 38.0 per 1,000 (1992). Infant Mortality Rate; 61.0 per 1,000 live births (1992).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with the Creoles and the majority of the Black Africans of the Roman Catholic faith which accounts for around 98% of the population.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Portuguese, although the national language is a Portuguese Creole known as Crioulo.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling or incomplete primary 84.2%, primary 12.4%, secondary 1.7%, higher 0.5%, not specified 1.2% (1980). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 73,500 or 47.4% (1985).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: Cape Verde became a Portuguese overseas province in June 1951 and its people assumed a greater role in the government. During the mid 1950's the African Party for the independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) fought to overthrow the Portuguese rule in both Cape Verde and Portuguese Guinea (Guinea-Bissau). Following the April 1974 coup in Portugal a transitional government administered the islands until independence was granted on July 5, 1975. Additionally, Portuguese Guinea gained independence in 1974 and during the later part of the 1970's the two nations held discussions about uniting under one government. However, relations were soured by the Nov. 1980 coup in Guinea-Bissau and disagreements between the two countries ended the discussions. In June 1982 reconciliation talks were held and in 1988 the two countries signed a cooperation agreement. In Jan. 1986 Pres. Aristides Pereira was reelected. In Jan. 1988 social tensions increased when laws decriminalizing abortion were passed. In March 1990 the ruling party announced that the constitution would be amended allowing for multiparty elections. In Sept. 1990 the constitutional amendments allowing multi-partyism were passed. On Jan. 13, 1991 the country's first national multiparty election resulted in the defeat of the ruling African Party for the independence of Cape Verde (PAIC) by the Movement for Democracy (MPD) led by Carlos Veiga. 1991 Pres. Pereira was defeated in presidential elections by Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro who was sworn in as President on Mar. 22, 1991. On Dec. 15, 1991 the country's local multiparty elections were held with the ruling MPD winning 10 out of the 14 councils while the PAIC won three. In 1992 the government under Prime Minister Viega initiated a program of privatization of existing state enterprises and that the state bank would be split into a conventional central bank and a commercial bank with each to be funded by local and foreign capital. In Jan. 1993 Prime Minister Viega announced the privatization of a number of industries would be carried out over the next four years and an economic reform program would be drafted for immediate implementation. In Aug. 1993 there were reports of an attempted coup, although it was officially denied.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Escudo (CVEsc) divided into 100 Centavos.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $347,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $148,000,000 (1993). Imports; CVEsc 12,387,000,000 (1993). Exports; CVEsc 312,200,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; N/A. Balance of Trade; CVEsc -12,075,000,000 (1993). Economically Active Population; 120,565 or 35.3% of total population (1990). Unemployed; 25.8% (1990).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are Portugal, Spain, France and the Netherlands.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Bananas, Basalt, Beans, Coffee, Kaolin, Livestock, Maize, Pozzuolana, Salt, Sugar, Sweet Potatoes, Yams.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Canning, Cement, Fishing, Food Processing.

MAIN EXPORTS: Bananas, Coffee, Fish, Salt.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; nil. Roads; length 5,615 km (3,489 mi) (1987). Vehicles; cars 13,027 (1988), trucks and buses 4,356 (1988). Merchant Marine; vessels 40 (1990), deadweight tonnage 29,730 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 122,959,000 (76,403,000 passenger-mi) (1987), cargo ton-km 2,345,000 (1,606,000 short ton-mi) (1987).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; nil. Radio; receivers 57,000 (1994). Television; receivers 5,000 (1987). Telephones; units 15,000 (1994).

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MILITARY: 1,100 (1994) total active duty personnel with 90.9% army, 0.0% navy and 9.1% air force while military expenditure accounts for 1.0% (1992) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Cayman Islands.

2009-10-29T05:28:00.002-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Cayman Islands
CAPITAL: George Town
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: British Dependent Territory
AREA: 260 Sq Km (100 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 27,000

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LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY: The Cayman Islands which consist of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are located in the Caribbean Sea. The islands are a part of the Cayman Ridge that extends west from Cuba and both Grand Cayman and Little Cayman are flat with little surface drainage. Cayman Brac has a central limestone plateau which rises easterly to an elevation of 42 metres (138 feet). All the islands lie within the hurricane belt and are ringed by coral reefs.

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CLIMATE: The Cayman Islands has a tropical maritime climate with warm rainy summers from May to October and cool relatively dry winters from November to April. Average annual precipitation is 1,420 mm (56 inches) while the hurricane season is from July to November. Average temperature ranges are from 24 to 32 degrees Celsius (75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit) in May through to October and from 16 to 24 degrees Celsius (61 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit) during the rest of the year.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are of mixed descent and account for around 60% of the population, while 35% of the population is under 18 years of age.

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with denominations of the Uniting Church, Anglican, Baptist and Roman Catholic Churches represented.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is English.

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1990: The Cayman Islands were under the administration of Jamaica, until Jamaica gained its independence in 1962. The islands then became a British dependency with a Governor as the islands' administrator. Under the 1959 constitution the territory is a member of the Commonwealth and there are no formal political parties, although independent candidates often join together to form teams. In 1991 a constitutional review recommended that the posts of chief minister and leader of the opposition be established. Subsequently, McKeeva Bush a member of the Legislative Council formed the Progressive Democratic Party, the first political party established since the 1960's.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Dollar divided into 100 Cents.

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the UK, the USA, Jamaica and Costa Rica.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Cattle, Poultry, Vegetables.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Construction, Handicrafts, Jewelry, Offshore Financial Services, Oil Transshipment.

MAIN EXPORTS: Fish and Turtle Products.

Central African Republic.

2009-10-29T05:28:00.001-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Central African Republic
CAPITAL: Bangui
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Multiparty Republic
AREA: 622,984 Sq Km (240,535 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 3,518,400

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: The Central African Republic is a landlocked country located in Central Africa. It is bound by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) and Congo to the south and Cameroon to the west. The country consists of a plateau between the Chad and Congo River Basins while the Bongo Massif in the northeast, the Yade Massif in the northwest and the Fertit Hills are the most prominent features of the landscape. The vegetation varies from tropical rain forests in the extreme southwest to semi-desert in the northeastern tip of the country while most of the land area is wooded. The country is drained by two river systems, the Chari River flowing north into the Chad River Basin and the Ubangi River flowing south into the Congo River Basin. Major Cities (pop. est.); Bangui 451,700, Bambari 41,900, Bouar 39,700, Berberati 38,600, Bossangoa 31,500 (1988). Land Use; forested 75%, pastures 5%, agricultural-cultivated 3%, other 17% (1993).

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CLIMATE: The Central African Republic has a tropical climate, although in the western highlands the conditions can be quite cool. There are two alternating wet seasons, one from May to June and the other from October to November as well as two dry seasons, one from November to May and the other from June to October. In the north the average annual precipitation varies between 875 and 1,000 mm (34 and 39 inches) to between 1,500 and 2,000 mm (59 to 79 inches) in the south. In summer the country is subject to the Harmattan, a hot dry dust laden wind that blows from the Sahara Desert. Average annual temperature ranges in Bangui are from 21 to 29 degrees Celsius (70 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit) in July or August to 21 to 34 degrees Celsius (70 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit) in February.

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PEOPLE: The Central African Republic has over 80 ethnic groups, of which the major ethnic group are the Baya who account for 34% of the population followed by the Banda who account for 25%, the Sara for 7%, the Nabandi for 11%, the Azande for 10% and the Mbaka for 5%. A small European community also exists, of which the majority are French or Portuguese descendants.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 5 persons per sq km (12 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 33.2% urban, 66.8% rural (1987). Sex Distribution; 48.4% male, 51.6% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 46.0 years male, 51.0 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 45% under 15, 25% 15 to 29, 15% 30 to 44, 9% 45 to 59, 5% 60 to 74, 1% 75 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 45.5 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 17.8 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 27.7 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 132.0 per 1,000 live births (1990).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians which account for 83% of the population, of which 33% are Roman Catholic and 50% are Protestant. Around 12% of the population follow local native tribal beliefs and 3% are Muslims.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is French and Sangho or Sango, which is used for commerce and intertribal communication.

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EDUCATION: Aged 15 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 73.5%, primary 22.8%, lower secondary 3.0%, upper secondary 0.6%, higher 0.1% (1975). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 37.7% (1990).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: During 1946 Oubangui-Chari became an overseas territory of France. In Dec. 1958 the country was granted internal self-government, although it was still in the French Community and the country's name was changed to the Central African Republic (CAR). On Aug. 13, 1960 CAR gained complete independence with David Dacko as its first President. In 1966 Col. Jean Bedel Bokassa, Dacko's cousin, seized power. In Dec. 1977 Bokassa made himself Emperor and his rule was extravagant as well as brutal with Amnesty International revealing he had participated in the massacre of 80 school children. The country's name was changed to the Central African Empire. In Sept. 1979 Bokassa was ousted by a coup that was supported by French paratroopers and resulted in the restoration of the republic. In 1981 the country's name was changed back to CAR and in the same year the military led by Gen. Andre Kolingba overthrew Dacko once more, taking control of the government. The new military government banned all political parties and in 1986 Bokassa returned to CAR from exile in France. In 1987 Bokassa was convicted of embezzlement and being an accomplice to several murders. He was sentenced to death, although his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. On July 31, 1987 the first legislative elections were held. In May 1989 diplomatic relations were broken off with Sudan after they refused airspace for a trip to Israel, although relations were restored again in mid-1990. In July 1990 a decree gave the nations 10,000 pygmies full citizenship. In Apr. 1991 Pres. Kolingba was forced as a result of political unrest to announce moves towards a multiparty democracy. In June 1991 there were violent clashes between students and police which resulted in further demonstrations and violence as well as the mass arrest of senior trade union leaders. In Aug. 1991 three opposition parties were legalized in an attempt to counter the growing unrest while six others were recognized. In Sept. 1991, Pres. Kolingba announced an amnesty which resulted in the release from prison of the trade union detainees. In 1992 Pres. Kolingba resisted demands for a National Conference to be convened, instead authorizing only broad "national debate". In July 1992 the EU agreed to a further CFAC 35 billion three-year aid program. On Aug. 1, 1992 the debate officially convened, although it was boycotted by apposition parties, the Roman Catholic church and trade union officials. On the same day, the leader of the opposition Alliance for Democracy and Progress, Jean-Claude Congugo, was killed in violent clashes between pro-democracy protesters and security forces in Bangui. On Aug. 3, 1992 anti-government leaders declared the day a "dead cities day" shutting down the capital in response to Congugo death. On Nov. 29, 1992 Pres. Kolingba announced that legislative and presidential elections would be held in Feb. 1993. On Aug. 22, 1993 Pres. Kolingbe was defeated by his former prime minister Ange-Felix Patasse in presidential elections. Following the electional defeat, Kolingbe attempted to invalidate the results by announcing laws changing both the electoral code and the membership to the Supreme Court, however, following opposition protests and France's decision to immediately withdraw aid Pres. Kolingbe withdrew his decrees. On Sept. 1, 1993 the 12th anniversary of Kolingbe's rule, he decreed a total amnesty for all prisoners, which was widely seen as a retaliative move for his electoral defeat. During 1993 economic woes continued while the government virtually ceased as unpaid civil servants went on prolonged strikes. Students and army members also held various protests during the year.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the CFA Franc (Communaute Financiere Africaine-CFAF) divided into 100 Centimes.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $1,267,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $797,200,000 (1993). Imports; CFAF 76,100,000,000 (1994). Exports; CFAF 85,300,000,000 (1994). Tourism Receipts; USD $8,000,000 (1991). Balance of Trade; CFAF 9,300,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 1,450,000 or 45.7% of total population (1992). Unemployed; 7.5% (1988).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are France, Germany, the USA, the UK, Israel, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Bananas, Cassava, Coffee, Cotton, Diamonds, Gold, Ground Nuts, Livestock, Maize, Millet, Plantains, Sweet Potatoes, Timber, Uranium.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Beverages, Footwear, Forestry, Mining, Soaps, Textiles.

MAIN EXPORTS: Coffee, Cotton, Diamonds, Gold, Timber.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; nil. Roads; length 22,500 km (13,981 mi) (1989). Vehicles; cars 10,782 (1989), trucks and buses 8,051 (1989). Merchant Marine; nil. Air Transport; passenger-km 344,698,000 (214,185,000 passenger-mi) (1988), cargo ton-km 35,223,000 (24,124,000 short ton-mi) (1988).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 1 with a circulation of 2,000 (1990). Radio; receivers 180,000 (1994). Television; receivers 7,500 (1994). Telephones; units 6,800 (1993).

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MILITARY: 2,650 (1995) total active duty personnel with 94.3% army, 0.0% navy and 5.7% air force while military expenditure accounts for 2.1% (1992) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Chad.

2009-10-29T05:27:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Chad
CAPITAL: N'Djamena
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Republic with Transitional Regime
AREA: 1,284,640 Sq Km (496,002 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 7,068,300

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Chad is a landlocked country located in North Central Africa. It is bounded by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest and Niger to the West. The country is mostly an arid, semi-desert plateau on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Its prominent feature is the broad shallow basin of Lake Chad in the south and southwest part of the country, from there the land rises gradually to plateaux in the south while to the north of the basin the land rises to the Ennedi Plateau and the volcanic Tibesti Ranges. For the most part the country's vegetation is generally desert scrub or steppe. The Logone and Chari are the only permanent rivers that drain into Lake Chad in the southwest with most other rivers only seasonal flowing. Major Cities (pop. est.); N'Djamena 529,600, Moundou 281,500, Sarh 198,100, Abeche 187,800 (1993). Land Use; forested 26%, pastures 36%, agricultural-cultivated 2%, other 36% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Chad has three climatic zones, (1.) a subtropical zone within the equatorial rain belt to the south with a wet season from May to November and a dry season from September to April. (2.) A Sahelian zone in the central region which has a longer dry season and a brief wet season between June to September. (3.) The Saharan zone in the northern region which has a true desert climate with hot and arid conditions and is almost entirely rainless. Average annual precipitation in N'Djamena is 744 mm (29 inches) and the average temperature ranges are from 14 to 35 degrees Celsius (57 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit) in December to 23 to 42 degrees Celsius (73 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit) in August.

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PEOPLE: Some 200 ethnic groups compose Chad's population with Arab and Arabized groups in the north and the Pagan or Kirdi in the south. The Sara, Bagirmi and Kreish account for around 31% of the population while the Sudanic Arabs account for 26%, the Teda or Tubu for 7% and the Mbun for 6.5%. The remainder are of various tribal minority groups.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 5 persons per sq km (12 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 23.9% urban, 76.1% rural (1986). Sex Distribution; 49.3% male, 50.7% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 43.9 years male, 47.1 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 43% under 15, 26% 15 to 29, 16% 30 to 44, 9% 45 to 59, 5% 60 to 74, 1% 75 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 42.3 per 1,000 (1988). Death Rate; 19.0 per 1,000 (1988). Increase Rate; 23.3 per 1,000 (1988). Infant Mortality Rate; 157.0 per 1,000 live births (1988).

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RELIGIONS: Around 44% of the population follow Muslim beliefs, mainly the northern and central tribes while 23% of the population follow local native tribal beliefs. Christianity represents 33% of the population, of which 21% are Roman Catholic and 12% are Protestant.

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LANGUAGES: The official languages are Arabic and French, however, less than 5% of the population understand or speak French. Arabic is widely used in the north and central regions with Sara widely spoken to the south.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: N/A. Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 29.8% (1990).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: After World War II thousands were sent to work on the railways in, what is now, Congo and never returned. In 1960 Chad gained independence and in 1962 the government headed by Francois Tombalbaye purged all their rivals and established a single party state. In 1966 a group of northerners mostly Muslims formed a rebel organization called the Chad National Liberation Front (CNLF). During the mid 1960's civil war broke out between the CNLF and the government troops. In 1971 the CNLF began to receive military supplies from Libya while the Libyan President had hopes to make Chad part of Libya. In 1973 Libyan forces occupied a region called the Aozou Strip along Chad's northern border. In 1975 Pres. Tombalbaye was assassinated by the military who overthrew the government. Gen. Malloum, a Sara and head of the Army became President of the new military regime. In 1978 the fighting continued until the rebels, with French support, captured almost half the Chadian army. In 1982 Habre, the former Defense Minister, became Prime Minister and requested the Libyan troops to withdraw. In 1986 the French sent troops to remove the Libyan troops from the occupied northern part of Chad and forced them from Chad except the Aozou Strip. The two countries then agreed to sign a truce. In Nov. 1988 a reconciliation between the government and opposition factions resulted in many of the rebel leaders being incorporated into the government. In Apr. 1989 Habre survived an attempted military coup and in Nov. 1990 forces led by Gen. Idriss Deby entered the capital when Habre and his government were in Cameroon and virtually unopposed took control. He promised multiparty elections and on Mar. 4, 1991 appointed Jean Alingue Bawoyeu prime minister. On Mar. 18, 1991 two former opposition groups, the Chadian People's Revolution and the Original National Front for the Liberation of Chad, agreed to join Pres. Deby's Patriotic Salvation Movement. In May 1991, former President Goukouni Oueddei returned to discuss a multiparty system of government scheduled for 1992. On Sept. 5, 1991 Chad signed an security agreement with Libya to improve bilateral cooperation. In Sept. 1991 dozens of people were killed in an army mutiny by troops loyal to Habre in northern Chad. On Jan. 3, 1992 France deployed 450 troops into Chad to assist in putting down conflict in eastern Chad by the Movement for Development and Democracy (MDD). In Feb. 1992 an attempted coup against Pres. Deby resulted in the death of 12 people and the repatriation of 4 French aid workers after the government claimed that French residents were involved. In May 1992 five political parties were officially recognized in preparation for multiparty elections while in June 1992 there was another attempted coup, which resulted in Col. Abbas Koty fleeing the country. On June 24, 1992 the government and the MDD signed an agreement to end hostilities, although on Oct. 30, 1992 fighting again broke out. On Jan. 15, 1993 the National Conference was officially opened by Pres. Deby, however four days later the conference was suspended. At the end of the month there was an attempted coup on behalf of a former president, Hissene Habre, while Pres. Deby was out of the country. In Feb. 1993 the National Conference reconvened with 40 opposition parties, 20 organizations and 6 rebel groups intending to make declarations, although the MDD continued their armed conflict in the Lake Chad region. In Mar. 1993 some 15,000 civilians from southern Chad fled to the Central African Republic following massacres by government troops. In April 1993 the National Conference adopted a transitional charter and elected Fidele Moungar as the prime minister, although Delwa Kassire Koumakoye replaced Moungar as prime minister in Oct. 1993 after a vote of no confidence. Also in October the government foiled another coup attempt which resulted in the death of Col. Koty.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the CFA Franc (Communaute Financiere Africaine-CFAF) divided into 100 Centimes.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $1,248,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $704,600,000 (1993). Imports; CFAF 102,820,000,000 (1994). Exports; CFAF 86,870,000,000 (1994). Tourism Receipts; USD $23,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; CFAF -4,826,000,000 (1993). Economically Active Population; 2,719,497 or 43.3% of total population (1993). Unemployed; N/A.

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are France, Nigeria and Cameroon.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Cassava, Cattle, Cotton, Dates, Fish, Gum Arabic, Millet, Peanuts, Rice, Salt, Sorghum, Sweet Potatoes, Yams.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Brewing, Fishing, Food Processing, Mining, Textiles.

MAIN EXPORTS: Cattle, Cotton, Meat, Processed Fish.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; nil. Roads; length 40,000 km (24,855 mi) (1983). Vehicles; cars 8,000 (1989), trucks and buses 6,000 (1989). Merchant Marine; nil. Air Transport; passenger-km 232,329,000 (144,363,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 17,694,000 (12,119,000 short ton-mi) (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 1 with a circulation of 2,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 1,310,000 (1994). Television; receivers 5,000 (1987). Telephones; units 4,600 (1993).

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MILITARY: 25,350 (1995) total active duty personnel with 98.6% army, 0.0% navy and 1.4% air force while military expenditure accounts for 2.7% (1992) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Chile.

2009-10-29T05:26:00.002-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Chile
CAPITAL: Santiago
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Multiparty Republic
AREA: 756,945 Sq Km (292,258 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 14,995,500

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Chile is located on the extreme southwestern coast of South America. It is bound by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Argentina to the east, Bolivia to the northeast and Peru to the northwest. The country can be divided into three longitudinal and six latitudinal regions. The three longitudinal regions are the (1.) Andean Cordillera on the east and (2.) the low coastal ranges of the west. (3.) The central valleys which begin below the northern Atacama Desert and have deep alluvial soils as well as extensive natural irrigation which makes it one of the most fertile regions of Chile. The six are latitudinal regions are (1.) the Great North, (2.) the Andean Fringe, a transitional zone of short transverse valleys, (3.) Central Chile north of the Bio-Bio River, (4.) South Central Chile between the Bio-Bio River and the Gulf of Reloncari, (5.) the Archipelagic Chile in the far south which is dominated by fjords and (6.) the Patagonian Chile which is an undulating plain at the tip of the continent. Chile is vulnerable to earthquakes, tidal waves, volcanic eruptions, floods, avalanches and landslides due to its location in an area of geological instability. Around 30 rivers flow from the Andes and include the Loa, Huasco, Coquimbo, Limari, Mapocho, Maule, Maipo and Bio-Bio. Major Cities (pop. est.); Greater Santiago 4,628,300, Vina del Mar 319,400, Concepcion 318,100, Valparaiso 301,700, Talcahuano 257,800 (1993). Land Use; forested 22%, pastures 18%, agricultural-cultivated 6%, other 54% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Chile has a variety of climatic conditions ranging from subtropical to temperate and near polar due to its great lengths. Chile can be divided into three climatic zones, (1.) the north which includes the Atacama Desert which is characterized by arid and dry conditions. (2.) The central region of Chile which has a Mediterranean climate with mild wet winters and long dry summers and (3.) the south which is cold and wet with prevailing winds of gale intensity. Rainfall increases from almost nothing in the Atacama Desert in the north to 5,080 mm (200 inches) in the south. Average annual temperature ranges in Santiago are from 3 to 14 degrees Celsius (37 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit) in July to 12 to 29 degrees Celsius (54 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit) in January.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Mestizos who account for 90% of the population and are of mixed European and AmerIndian descent. Whites account for 2% of the population while AmerIndians mostly Mapuche or Araucanians account for 6% and the remainder include small but almost extinct tribal groups.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 18 persons per sq km (46 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 80.8% urban, 19.2% rural (1988). Sex Distribution; 49.4% male, 50.6% female (1989). Life Expectancy at Birth; 68.1 years male, 75.1 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 31% under 15, 29% 15 to 29, 20% 30 to 44, 12% 45 to 59, 6% 60 to 74, 2% 75 and over (1989). Birth Rate; 23.3 per 1,000 (1988). Death Rate; 5.8 per 1,000 (1988). Increase Rate; 17.5 per 1,000 (1988). Infant Mortality Rate; 18.9 per 1,000 live births (1988).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with 80% of the population Roman Catholic while 6% belong to various Protestant Churches and the remainder are atheists.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Spanish which is spoken by almost the entire population except a few of the AmerIndians. The Mapuche speak the Araucan language which has seven dialects.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 9.4%, primary 56.6%, secondary 26.9%, higher 7.1% (1982). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 93.4% (1990).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In 1970 Salvador Allende of the Popular Unity Party (UP) won elections and became President. Allende's intention was to make Chile a socialist state and his government embarked on a nationalization program taking over the ownership of mines, banks and industries. By mid 1972 a US embargo, spiraling inflation and internal sabotage of the economy led to strikes becoming commonplace. This persuaded the divided government to incorporate some military officials into the cabinet. On Sept. 11, 1973 military leaders overthrew the government and formed a Junta which ended Chile's 46 year era of constitutional rule. Pres. Allendes was killed during a massive raid by the military on the Presidential Palace. Following the coup thousands were imprisoned, executed or exiled. As a result Chile suffered serious social, economic as well as political problems while Chile's military government continued to violate people's civil rights. In 1981 a new constitution was adopted that guaranteed a gradual return to democracy with elections to be held in 1989. The government permitted the return of exiles and prepared for the Dec. 1989 elections. In Dec. 1989, the 71 year old Patricio Aylwin Azocar, leader of the 17 member Coalition for Democracy, took office as President ending Chile's military rule since 1973. The former military President Gen. Augusto Pinochet Ugarte remained as the Commander of the Army. In Apr. 1990 the President set up a Commission for Truth and Reconciliation to investigate the claims involving the disappearance and execution of political prisoners between 1973 and 1978. In Feb. 1991 the commission released a report which concluded the military secret police, an illegal organization, under the 1973-90 dictatorship carried out a "systematic policy of extermination". In April 1991 Jaime Guzman, a right-wing senator and collaborator of army chief Gen. Pinochett, was murdered in a revenge attack for the atrocities committed by Pinchott's secret police. In Sept. 1991 the former secret police chief and his former chief of operations were arrested for the murder in the US in 1976 of an exiled foreign minister, Orlando Letelier. Also during 1991 the armed forces came under further scrutiny over allegations of corruption under the military regime of Gen. Augusto Pinochet which included the La Cutufa, an illegal investment and loan scheme and there were signs by way of strike and protests during the year that the labor movement was disillusioned with the government and its economic policies. In May 1992 former president Augusto Pinochet underwent heart surgery and reassumed his role as army head by the end of the month. In 1992 Pres. Aylwin proposed constitution reforms to reduce the autonomy they had conferred on themselves prior to handing over the government to civilians in 1990. On June 28, 1992 the ruling Coalition of Parties for Democracy won municipal elections with 53% of the vote which Pres. Aylwin claimed gave him a mandate to proceed with his constitutional reforms, although the right-wing warned it would allow him to force the country into constitutional change while it controlled the Senate. Also during 1992 the government had loosened exchange controls on the Peso which resulted in the stock exchange trading volumes doubling while irregularities in share transactions where employees were encouraged to trade them for ownership rights in investment societies highlighted the need for legislation to protect the rights of employees compelled to take shares in lieu of pay. On Nov. 10, 1992 retired Gen. Manuel Contreras and Col. Pedro Espinoza were formally charged with the 1976 murder of Orlando Letelier. In July 1993 a bill that attempted to speed up the cases of some 200 active human rights abuses by the military was rejected by the Chamber of Deputies with left-wing opposition to secret trials with witness anonymity. On Sept. 11, 1993 a national holiday was declared to commemorate 20 years since Gen. Pinochet's military coup which overthrew Salvador Allende Gossens' socialist alliance, although thousands of human rights abuse protesters clashed with police with 2 being killed and some 100 injured. In Nov. 1993 the military secret police heads on trial for Orlando Letelier's murder were sentenced to prison, the first time the courts had sentenced senior army officials for human rights abuses. On Dec. 11, 1993 Eduardo Frei the son of the 1964-70 president and ruling Concertacion center-left coalition candidate decisively won presidential elections, although the Concertacion coalition couldn't gain control of the Congress in parliamentary elections as result of not gaining a sufficient majority to outweigh the right-wing as the constitution also allowed Gen. Pinochet to appoint 9 non-elected senators.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Peso (P).

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $42,454,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $16,031,000 (1993). Imports; USD $11,125,400,000 (1993). Exports; USD $9,416,200,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; USD $824,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; USD $660,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 5,219,300 or 38.6% of total population (1993). Unemployed; 4.6% (1993).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the USA, the UK, Venezuela, Japan, Brazil, Germany, Spain, France and Argentina.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Beans, Coal, Copper, Fish, Fruit, Grapes, Iron, Lead, Livestock, Maize, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nitrates, Oil, Onions, Precious Metals, Potatoes, Rice, Sugar Beets, Timber, Wheat, Zinc.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Cement, Ceramics, Fishing, Food Processing, Forestry, Glass, Metal Manufacturing, Mineral Refining, Steel Cellulose and Wood Pulp.

MAIN EXPORTS: Copper, Fish Meal, Fruit, Iron Ore, Nitrates, Paper and Wood Pulp, Processed Fish, Wine.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 6,888 km (4,280 mi) (1988), passenger-km 1,056,000,000 (656,000,000 passenger-mi) (1989), cargo ton-km 2,952,000,000 (2,022,000,000 short ton-mi) (1989). Roads; length 79,233 km (49,233 mi) (1987). Vehicles; cars 690,000 (1989), trucks and buses 300,000 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 365 (1990), deadweight tonnage 883,376 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 2,980,000,000 (1,852,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 689,844,000 (472,474,000 short ton-mi) (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 33 with a total circulation of 887,200 (1994). Radio; receivers 4,400,000 (1994). Television; receivers 2,000,000 (1994). Telephones; units 1,520,300 (1993).

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MILITARY: 93,000 (1994) total active duty personnel with 58.1% army, 26.9% navy and 15.0% air force while military expenditure accounts for 2.4% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

China.

2009-10-29T05:26:00.001-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: People's Republic of China
CAPITAL: Beijing (Peking)
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Single Party Socialist Republic
AREA: 9,596,961 Sq Km (3,705,408 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 1,275,631,000

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: China is located in Central and East Asia. It is bound by Mongolia, Russia and Kazakhstan to the north, North Korea, the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea to the east, the South China Sea, the Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bhutan and Nepal to the south as well as India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to the west. Over 66% of China is upland hill, mountains and plateaux while the highest mountains and plateaux are found to the west. To the north and east of the Tibetan Plateau the land decreases to the desert or semidesert areas of Sinkiang and Inner Mongolia. To the northeast the broad fertile Manchurian Plains are separated from North Korea by the densely forested uplands of Changpai Shan. East of the Tibetan Plateau and south of Inner Mongolia is the Sichuan Basin which is drained by the Yangtze River that flows east across the southern plains to the East China Sea. The southern plains along the east coast of China have rich, fertile soils and are protected from the north winds. Both Hong Kong and Macau are enclosed on the southeast coast. Major Cities (pop. est.); Shanghai 7,496,500, Beijing 5,769,600, Tientsen 4,574,700, Shen-yang 3,603,700, Wu-han 3,284,200, Canton 2,914,300, Harbin 2,443,400 (1990). Land Use; forested 14%, pastures 43%, agricultural-cultivated 10%, other 33% (1992).

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CLIMATE: China has a varied climate that can be divided into seven climatic zones. (1.) North East China which has cold winters that are influenced by strong northerly continental winds while summers are warm and humid with unreliable rainfall. (2.) Central China which has warm humid summers with the coastal regions occasionally subject to cyclones and typhoons. (3.) South China where summers are hot and humid with heavy rainfalls between April to September. (4.) South West China which is mountainous with the summer temperatures moderated by altitude, while the wet winters are mild with little rain. (5.) The Tibetan region which is a high plateau where winters are severe with frequent light snow and frost, while summers are warm during the day but drop to extremes at night. Rainfall is also heaviest in summer. (6.) The western interior zone which has an arid desert climate with cold winters and rainfall is distributed evenly throughout the year. (7.) Inner Mongolia which comprises the mountain ranges and semi-desert lowlands has an extreme continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. Rainfall is vast while strong winds in winter and spring make the temperatures even colder. Average temperature ranges in Shanghai are from 1 to 8 degrees Celsius (34 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 23 to 32 degrees Celsius (73 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit) in July or August.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Han Chinese who account for 92% of the population. The remaining 8% include Chuang, Hui, Uigur, Yi, Miao, Mangchu, Tibetans, Mongols, Ruyi and Koreans. Also other numerous lesser nationalities account for 67 Million, of which there are 55 ethnic groups.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 120 persons per sq km (311 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 26.2% urban, 73.8% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 51.6% male, 48.4% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 68.4 years male, 71.4 years female (1989). Age Breakdown; 28% under 15, 31% 15 to 29, 20% 30 to 44, 12% 45 to 59, 7% 60 to 74, 2% 75 and over (1989). Birth Rate; 21.0 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 6.3 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 14.7 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 32.0 per 1,000 live births (1988).

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RELIGIONS: Although officially an atheist state, the most important religious beliefs include Confucianism which accounts for 20% of the population while Taoism accounts for 2%, Buddhism for 6% with around 2% of the population Muslim and 1% Christian.

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LANGUAGES: The official and national language is Putonghua or Mandarin which is based on the Beijing dialect with other principal dialects including Cantonese or Yue, Shanghainese or Wu, Fuzhou, Hokkien and Hakka as well as minority languages such as Tibetan and Mongolian.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling or incomplete primary 44.5%, complete primary 32.7%, lower secondary 16.1%, upper secondary 5.6%, higher 1.1% (1982). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 609,283,011 or 72.6% (1982).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In Jan. 1949 Chinese communists took control of Beijing and established the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1, 1949. In 1950 the army entered Tibet and completed its reannexation by 1951. On Feb. 14, 1951 China signed a 30 year Treaty of Friendship with the USSR and in 1953 China began its first 5 year plan for economic development. In 1958 the Communists launched the Great Leap Forward which severely weakened China's economy and resulted in widespread famine, disease and unrest. In the 1960's the friendly relations between China and the USSR ended. In 1959 a Tibetan uprising led to the flight of the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers to India. In 1962 Chinese troops fought a border war with India after occupying disputed territories. From 1966 to 1969 the Cultural Revolution disrupted education, government and daily life. In 1972 US President Richard Nixon visited China. In 1979 China and US established normal diplomatic relations. In 1984 the Communist Party began economic reforms. In April 1989 Chinese students began demanding increased freedom of speech and pro democracy demonstrations took place in a number of cities as well as Tiananmen Square. The government invoked Martial Law with the demonstrators ignoring the decree while the demonstrations intensified. The Chinese leaders believed that the uprising was a dangerous mixture of turmoil and rebellion, and on June 4, 1989 troops took control of Central Beijing including Tiananmen Square by force, killing and injuring hundreds of unarmed civilians. In Jan. 1990 Martial Law was lifted and in early 1991 more than 30 people were prosecuted and imprisoned on charges of incitement and subversion. In March 1991 Jiang Zemin (Chiang Tse-min) and Lu Peng (Li P'eng) reiterated to the National People's Congress, the country's commitment to the Dengist policies of reform and opening to the outside world. In July 1991 a speech by General Secretary Jiang Zemin marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) reiterated China's commitment to building socialism with Chinese characteristics. In the summer of 1992 massive floods in eastern and southern China inundated some 20 million ha (50 million ac) of cultivated land and claimed around 20,000 lives. A nationwide relief campaign was established and for the first time China solicited relief contributions from foreign countries. The floods further enhanced plans to proceed with water controls measures such as the controversial Three Gorges project on the upper Yangtze River. In 1992 and after the disintegration of socialism throughout Eastern Europe and the USSR, China initiated the implementation of a socialist market economy and restored diplomatic relations with Vietnam, Japan and Western Europe while relations with the US worsened. In Jan. 1992 during an inspection tour of southern China, Deng urged the acceleration of China's market-orientated economic reforms and strongly defended his policy of opening to the world while in March his announcements were officially translated in policy during the CPC's Central Committee. In 1992 the CPC continued their campaign against political dissent, with Chinese courts publicly pronouncing sentences on dozens of pro-democracy activists for various "counterrevolutionary activities" while Amnesty International and Asia Watch denounced the continued systematic abuse of political prisoners. The CPC's aversion to political liberalization was further evident when Chris Patten, Hong Kong's new governor, further democratized the colony's Legislative Council which drew harsh denunciations from CPC officials with Beijing threatening to cancel the 1984 Sino-British agreement over the transfer of sovereignty in 1997 in which the maintenance of Hong Kong's distinct way of life was guaranteed. In Aug. 1992 a mass riot erupted in Shenzhen (Shen-chen) where a million people queued to buy stocks on the booming local exchange, which resulted in police using tear gas to disperse the rioters while a fever of capitalism continued to grip everyone from corrupt high officials to ordinary workers. Also during 1992 China intensified its interactions with the rest of the world in order to accelerate its domestic economic development while it also improved its strategic and diplomatic position in Asia. In Mar. 1993 Li Peng announced to the National People's Congress (NPC) a plan to restructure the State Council by cutting government staff by 25% over a three-year period and also reducing the number of ministries and commissions from 86 to 59. In May 1993 there were demonstrations Lhasa, Tibet by thousands of anti-Chinese, pro-democracy protesters which were silenced in a show of Chinese force. In Sept. 1993 China was unsuccessful in its bid to host the 2000 Olympics principally as a result of its human rights record. In Nov. 1993 a diplomatic initiative by the new US President Bill Clinton to reverse a downward spiral in Sino-American relation resulted in the meeting with Jiang Zemin, who was seen as the main putative successor to Deng, to discuss the continued renewal of China's most-favored-nation status which depended on an improvement of its poor human rights record. As a result, well-known political prisoners were treated as a valuable commodity to be released in carefully planned quantities throughout 1993 to satisfy the Western demands for visible progress in human rights. Also in 1993 there was jostling for political position among the central party and government officials while ongoing devolution of power from the center to the provinces as a result of China's continuing economic and social transformations. At the end of 1993 the CPC unveiled an economic reform program aimed at accelerating China into a socialist market economy without threatening the local and central CPC elite.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Yuan (Y) divided into 10 Jiao and 100 Fen.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $581,109,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $70,024,000,000 (1993). Imports; USD $103,950,000,000 (1993). Exports; USD $91,763,000,000 (1993). Tourism Receipts; USD $7,323,000,000 (1994). Balance of Trade; Y 126,800,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 584,569,200 or 54.7% of total population (1987). Unemployed; 2.0% (1987).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the USA, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Canada, Australia and Singapore.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Aluminum, Antimony, Asbestos, Bauxite, Coal, Copper, Cotton, Fish, Iron Ore, Jute and Hemp, Lead, Livestock, Manganese, Mercury, Oil and Natural Gas, Phosphate Rock, Rice, Salt, Soya Beans, Sugar Beets, Sulfur, Tea, Timber, Tin Ore, Tobacco, Uranium, Wheat, Zinc.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Cement, Fertilizers, Iron and Steel, Light Industry, Machinery, Mining, Ornaments, Petroleum Refining, Products, Textiles, Vehicles.

MAIN EXPORTS: Chemicals, Clothing, Crude Oil, Coal, Foodstuffs, Machinery, Minerals, Petroleum Products, Textiles Yarns and Fabrics.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 66,918 km (41,581 mi) (1990), passenger-km 261,600,000,000 (162,551,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 1,059,300,000,000 (725,515,000,000 short ton-mi) (1990). Roads; length 1,014,342 km (630,283 mi) (1990). Vehicles; cars and buses 1,464,297 (1989), trucks 3,463,735 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 1,948 (1990), deadweight tonnage 20,749,954 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 21,800,000,000 (13,546,000,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 800,000,000 (547,920,000 short ton-mi) (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 74 with a total circulation of 39,597,000 (1988). Radio; receivers 206,000,000 (1994). Television; receivers 227,880,000 (1994). Telephones; units 18,888,200 (1992).

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MILITARY: 2,930,000 (1994) total active duty personnel with 75.1% army, 8.9% navy and 16.0% air force while military expenditure accounts for 2.7% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Colombia.

2009-10-29T05:25:00.000-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Colombia
CAPITAL: Bogota
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Unitary Multiparty Republic
AREA: 1,138,914 Sq Km (439,735 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 38,324,400

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Colombia is located on the northwestern corner of the South American continent. It is bound by Panama and the Caribbean Sea to the northwest, Venezuela to the northeast, Brazil to the southeast, Ecuador and Peru to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The country is divided into four topographical regions. (1.) The central highlands which consist of the Cordillera Occidental, the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Oriental Ranges as well as a massive plateau called the Sabana de Bogota. (2.) The Atlantic lowlands which consist of the plains north of the highlands, although they are connected to them through the Cauca and Magdalena River Valleys, and the isolated mountain systems called the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta as well as the semiarid Gujaira Peninsula. (3.) The Pacific lowlands which consist of a lowland area called the Serrania de Baudo as well as jungles and swamps. (4.) Eastern Colombia which is east of the Andes and comprises the vast Llanos or plains in the northern area as well as the Selvas or jungle forests in the south. The country drains in three directions by rivers that flow into the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Major Cities (pop. est.); Bogota 5,237,600, Medellin 1,621,400, Cali 1,718,900, Barranquilla 1,064,300, Cartagena 745,700 (1995). Land Use; forested 48%, pastures 39%, agricultural-cultivated 5%, other 8% (1993).

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CLIMATE: Colombia has a tropical climate on the coast and a temperate climate on the plateaux. Colombia can be divided into three climatic zones depending on altitude. (1.) Below 915 metres (300 feet) which is a hot zone and comprises 90% of the land area. Average temperature ranges are from 23.8 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit) to 26.6 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit) (2.) Between 915 metres (3,000 feet) and 1,980 metres (6,500 feet) which is the temperate zone and comprises only 8% of the land area. Average temperature ranges are from 18.3 degrees Celsius (65 degrees Fahrenheit) to 23.9 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit). (3.) Over 1,980 metres (6,500 feet) is the cool zone comprising the plateaux and terraces of the Colombian Andes. Average temperate ranges are from 12.7 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit) to -17 degrees Celsius (1.4 degrees Fahrenheit). In general, there are two main seasons, (1.) the wet season from March to May and September to November with (2.) the dry season from December to February and June to August, except in the northern plains where there is only one long wet season from May to October. Average temperature ranges in Bogota are from 10 to 18 degrees Celsius (50 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit) in July to 9 to 20 degrees Celsius (48 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit) in February.

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PEOPLE: The principal ethnic majority are the Mestizos who account for around 58% of the population and are of mixed White and AmerIndian descent. The Whites or Spanish account for 20% of the population while the Mulattoes, who are of mixed Black African and White descent, constitute 14% of the population. Black Africans account for around 4% while 1% are AmerIndians. There are an estimated 60 Indian tribes scattered throughout the country and the principal ethnic aliens include Jews, Germans, Lebanese, East Indians and Americans.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 29 persons per sq km (76 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 67.2% urban, 32.8% rural (1985). Sex Distribution; 49.6% male, 50.4% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 64.0 years male, 68.0 years female (1989). Age Breakdown; 36% under 15, 30% 15 to 29, 19% 30 to 44, 9% 45 to 59, 5% 60 to 74, 1% 75 and over (1990). Birth Rate; 27.9 per 1,000 (1988). Death Rate; 7.4 per 1,000 (1988). Increase Rate; 20.5 per 1,000 (1988). Infant Mortality Rate; 37.0 per 1,000 live births (1990).

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RELIGIONS: Mostly Christians with over 95% of the population Roman Catholic while 1% are Protestant.

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LANGUAGES: The official language is Spanish and Colombian Spanish is said to be the purest in Latin America while AmerIndian languages are also spoken by some of the ethnic minorities.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 15.3%, primary 50.1%, secondary 25.4%, higher 6.8%, unspecified 2.8% (1985). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 86.7% (1990).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In 1946 continuing disputes between Colombia's two major political parties reached a climax. Riots in the center of Bogota left many dead as fighting spread to the countryside and continued until 1956. This period from 1946 to 1956 was called La Violencia (the Violence) when at least 200,000 Colombians were killed. In 1953 the military led by Gustavo Rojas Pinilla overthrew Pres. Laureano Gomez, although the coup was only partially successful in stopping the spiraling violence. In 1957 the Liberal and Conservative parties formed a coalition and from 1958 to 1974 they shared all political offices while the leaders alternated as the nation's President every four years until 1974. The coalition restored the people's confidence in the government and as a result the economy improved. In the late 1970's left wing guerrilla groups caused major national disruptions until 1988 when the April 19 Movement declared a ceasefire in response to a peace plan proposed by Pres. Virgilio Barco Vargas. Since that time the societies threat has come from right wing paramilitary death groups who murder anyone trying to oppose the cocaine drug cartels. These squads are believed to be responsible for thousands of deaths each year since the early 1980's. In Aug. 1989 the assassination of a politician provoked the President to declare war on the drug cartels and in Feb. 1990 the Presidents of Bolivia, Colombia and Peru agreed to co-operate in the fight against drug trafficking. In April a third political candidate was assassinated and in May 1990 Cesar Gaviria Trujilo, an outspoken foe of the drug cartels, was elected President. In late 1990 a Presidential decree allowed traffickers to plea bargain if they surrendered so they could be tried in Colombian courts, otherwise, they would face extradition to the US. In Mar. 1991 the Popular Liberation Army (EPL) demobilized, renamed itself Hope, Peace and Liberty and was officially recognized as a political party while in May 1991 the indigenous Quintin Lame group also gave up its arms, although the FARC and ELN acting jointly at times continued their armed offensive campaigns. In June 1991 Pablo Escobar leader of the Medellin cartel and a bloody campaign of terror, surrendered. In July 1991 the State of Emergency imposed since 1984 was lifted and an elected constitutional assembly completed a new constitution after 5 months of deliberation. On October 27, 1991 the ruling Partido Liberal won election and gained a majority in both houses of Congress. In Mar. 1992 peace talks with guerrilla organization held in Mexico collapsed after news that a former minister, Argelino Duran Quintero, held as a hostage died. In April 1992, a state of emergency was declared due to a serious energy crisis resulting from a shortage of Hydroelectric power due to the effects of the El Nino while in the same month Americas Watch described the Colombian human rights situation as "appalling". In May 1992 some of the fiercest fighting erupted with guerrilla groups that resulted in the deaths of around 40 guerrillas and 20 soldiers. On July 22, 1992 Pablo Escobar while awaiting trial at a high security prison escaped fearing extradition to the US with six people being killed during the escape while the government turned down his offer to surrender again under "certain conditions". On Nov. 8, 1992 a state of emergency was declared to combat the increased violence from guerrilla groups and drug traffickers. On Jan. 1, 1993 the government announced a 25% increase in the minimum workers wage while economic activity was steady and boosted by new oil production in the Llanoa foothills. In Feb. 1993 the state of emergency imposed in Nov. 1991 was renewed and again in May for another 90 days. In Mar. 1993 the government offered to renew talks with the guerrillas on the condition they agreed to a unilateral cease-fire, which was rejected. On Dec. 2, 1993 escapee Pablo Escobar and a bodyguard were shot dead while fleeing from a roof of a house where hundreds of police and soldiers had trapped them. However, Escobar's rival Cali cartel had increased its illegal drug activities with an estimation that it controlled 80% of all drugs smuggled into the US.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Peso (P) divided into 100 Centavos.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $50,119,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $12,861,000,000 (1993). Imports; USD $6,485,200,000 (1992 est.). Exports; USD $7,263,200,000 (1992 est.). Tourism Receipts; USD $705,000,000 (1992). Balance of Trade; USD $ -2,640,700,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 9,558,000 or 34.3% of total population (1985). Unemployed; 4.3% (1985).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the USA, Germany, Venezuela, Japan, France, Ecuador and the UK.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Bananas, Cassava, Cattle, Coal, Coffee, Copper, Cut Flowers, Emeralds, Gold, Iron Ore, Maize, Nickel, Oil and Natural Gas, Platinum, Potatoes, Rice, Silver, Sugar, Sorghum, Soya Beans, Timber.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Beverages, Cement, Chemicals, Food Processing, Iron and Steel, Mining, Oil Refining, Paper, Plastic Resins and Manufactures, Textiles and Clothing, Tourism.

MAIN EXPORTS: Cement, Chemicals, Coal and Coke, Coffee, Cotton, Cut Flowers, Emeralds, Fruit and Vegetables, Fuel Oil, Ferronickel, Machinery, Plastic Resins and Manufactures, Pharmaceuticals, Printed Matter, Sugar, Textiles and Clothing.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; route length 3,236 km (2,011 mi) (1990), passenger-km 141,357,000 (87,835,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 390,744,000 (267,621,000 short ton-mi) (1990). Roads; length 106,218 km (66,001 mi) (1986). Vehicles; cars 936,000 (1989), trucks and buses 364,000 (1989). Merchant Marine; vessels 103 (1990), deadweight tonnage 540,790 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 3,935,160,000 (2,445,194,000 passenger-mi) (1990), cargo ton-km 672,149,000 (460,355,000 short ton-mi) (1990).

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; total of 45 with a total circulation of 1,910,020 (1994). Radio; receivers 5,400,000 (1994). Television; receivers 5,500,000 (1994). Telephones; units 3,827,900 (1993).

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MILITARY: 146,400 (1994) total active duty personnel with 82.6% army, 12.4% navy and 5.0% air force while military expenditure accounts for 2.6% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).

Comoros.

2009-10-29T05:24:00.002-07:00

OFFICIAL NAME: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
CAPITAL: Moroni
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Federal Islamic Republic
AREA: 1,862 Sq Km (719 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION 631,800

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LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY: Comoros is located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel between Mozambique and Madagascar. It is a group of three islands, Grande Comore, Anjouan, Moheli and several islets. The Comoros Islands are volcanic in origin and Grande Comore has an active volcano known as Mount Kartala while 50% of that island is a desert lava field. Anjouan and Moheli have a black basalt relief with a wide fertile valley. Anjouan has a natural harbor at Mutsamudu and all the islands have lush vegetation. Major Cities (pop. est.); Moroni 24,000, Mutsamudu 15,000, Domoni 8,000, Fomboni 5,600 (1990). Land Use; forested 18%, pastures 7%, agricultural-cultivated 45%, other 30% (1993).

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CLIMATE: The Comoros has a tropical climate with a dry season from May to October and a wet season from November to April. In the wet season heavy rain and strong winds prevail from the northerly Indian Monsoon while in the dry season the continental winds prevail from the southeast. Average annual precipitation varies from 1,100 mm (33 inches) to 5,500 mm (217 inches) depending on the location. Average temperature ranges in Moroni are from 19 to 27 degrees Celsius (66 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit) in August to 24 to 31 degrees Celsius (75 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit) in March.

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PEOPLE: The islands have a mixed population of different ethnic groups. The principal ethnic group are the Antalaotra while there are other groups such as the Casre, Makoa, Oimapasaha and Sakalava. All the inhabitants are descendants of immigrants from Africa, Arabia, Indonesia, Madagascar, India, China and Malaysia.

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DEMOGRAPHIC/VITAL STATISTICS: Density; 257 persons per sq km (666 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 27.6% urban, 72.4% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 50.0% male, 50.0% female (1989). Life Expectancy at Birth; 54.0 years male, 58.0 years female (1989). Age Breakdown; 46% under 15, 28% 15 to 29, 13% 30 to 44, 8% 45 to 59, 4% 60 to 74, 1% 75 and over (1989). Birth Rate; 47.0 per 1,000 (1989). Death Rate; 13.0 per 1,000 (1989). Increase Rate; 34.0 per 1,000 (1989). Infant Mortality Rate; 91.0 per 1,000 live births (1989).

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RELIGIONS: The official religion is Islam with 99% of the population Sunni Muslims while Christians represent less than 1% of the population.

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LANGUAGES: The official languages are French and Arabic, although the national language is Comorian, a hybrid language related to Swahili with a mixture of Arabic words.

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EDUCATION: Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 56.7%, Koranic education 8.3%, primary 3.6%, secondary 2.0%, higher 0.2%, unspecified 29.2% (1980). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 82,053 or 46.3% (1980).

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MODERN HISTORY - WWII TO 1993: In Dec. 1961 France granted Comoros internal self government and in 1974 Anjouan, Grande Comore and Moheli voted for complete independence. Mayotte a neighboring island voted to remain under French protection. France recognized the independence of the three islands but continued to rule Mayotte as a overseas territory, after another referendum in 1976. In 1975 Comoros joined the UN while several Comoran governments held power for short periods after independence was declared. In 1978 voters approved a new constitution that established an Islamic republic headed by a President. In the same year the former head of state Ahmed Abdallah was restored to power after a French mercenary coup overthrew Ali Soilih who was the leader of the coup that ousted Abdallah 3 years earlier. French relations were reestablished, party politics were banned and the government reshuffled in 1980. In Sept. 1984 as the sole candidate, Abdallah was returned to office taking over as the head of state after modifying the constitution and removing the Prime Minister's office. In Nov. 1989 Abdallah was assassinated which resulted in the return of a democracy in Mar. 1990 when Said Mohammed Djohar was elected as President. On Aug. 3, 1991 there was an unsuccessful coup attempt by Hassan Halidi, the son of the Supreme Court's president, after the Supreme Court invoked an article of the constitution and proclaimed that Pres. Djohar was unfit to rule, although Pres. Djohar with the backing of the army and France returned to resume power. Halidi was subsequently placed under house arrest. On Nov. 19, 1991 the Comoran Union of Progress (Udzima) withdrew its support for Pres. Djohar alleging he had witch-hunt following the coup attempt. On Jan. 6, 1992 Pres. Djohar appointed an new coalition government following the signing of a national reconciliation pact that recognized his presidency, although Udzima was not represented in the government. On April 8, 1992 the National Conference agreed on a new constitution and electoral schedule with a referendum on the constitution set for May 24, 1992 while on May 8, 1992 Pres. Djohar announced a new transitional coalition government that strengthened his son-in-law, Mohamed Said Abdallah Mchangama, position within it. On June 7, 1992 the referendum resulted in support for the new constitution and on July 10, 1992 due to a breakdown in relations the transitional government was dissolved. On Sept. 26, 1992 there was a failed coup attempt by junior officers while Pres. Djohar was out of the country. In Nov. 1992 the country's first multiparty elections were the results in two areas were canceled after being marred by violence. On Jan. 1, 1993 as a result of a stalemate in the Federal Assembly Pres. Djohar appointed Ibrahim Adberamane Halidi as prime minister. On April 25, 1993 the death sentence was imposed on 9 people who had taken part in the coup attempt of Sept. 1992, although the sentences were latter commuted to prison terms. In May 1993 following a vote of no confidence Pres. Djohar appointed Said Ali Mohamed as prime minister who formed a new government. In June 1993, another political crisis resulted when Djohar dissolved the Federal Assembly and appointed a new interim prime minister. In Dec. 1993 elections were held amid rule changes, irregularities and violence.

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CURRENCY: The official currency is the Franc (CF) into 100 Centimes.

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ECONOMY: Gross National Product; USD $272,000,000 (1993). Public Debt; USD $169,400,000 (1993). Imports; CF 21,900,000,000 (1994). Exports; CF 4,700,000,000 (1994). Tourism Receipts; USD $15,700,000 (1994). Balance of Trade; CF -17,200,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 126,500 or 28.3% of total population (1991). Unemployed; 75.0% (1994).

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MAIN TRADING PARTNERS: Its main trading partners are the USA, France, Madagascar, Kenya, Italy, Germany and Tanzania.

MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Bananas, Cassava, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coconuts, Maize, Rice, Sweet Potatoes, Timber, Vanilla, Yams.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, Fishing, Food Processing, Forestry, Oil Extraction, Sugar Refining.

MAIN EXPORTS: Cloves, Coconuts, Copra, Perfumed Oils, Vanilla.

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TRANSPORT: Railroads; nil. Roads; length 750 km (466 mi) (1987). Vehicles; cars 3,600 (1983), trucks and buses 2,000 (1983). Merchant Marine; vessels 6 (1990), deadweight tonnage 3,480 (1990). Air Transport; N/A.

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COMMUNICATIONS: Daily Newspapers; nil. Weekly Newspapers; 2 (1992). Radio; receivers 61,000 (1994). Television; N/A. Telephones; units 4,510 (1994).

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MILITARY: Around 520 (1995) total active duty personnel with 100% army while military expenditure accounts for N/A of the Gross National Product (GNP).