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@Azerbaijan, Government

Names:

conventional long form:

Azerbaijani Republic

conventional short form:

Azerbaijan

local long form:

Azarbaycan Respublikasi

local short form:

none

former:

Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

Digraph:

Type:

republic

Capital:

Baku (Baky)

Administrative divisions:

1 autonomous republic (avtomnaya respublika); Nakhichevan

(administrative center at Nakhichevan)

note:

all rayons except for the exclave of Nakhichevan are under direct

republic jurisdiction

Independence:

30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Novruz Bayram, 21–22 March

Constitution:

adopted NA April 1978; writing a new constitution mid-1993

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state:

President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993 after President ELCIBEY

left Baku for Nakhichevan); election last held 3 October 1993 (next to

be held NA); results - Heydar ALIYEV won 97% of vote

head of government:

Prime Minister Surat HUSEYNOV (since 30 June 1993)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers; appointed by the president and confirmed by the

Mejlas

Legislative branch:

unicameral

National Assembly (Milli Mejlis):

elections last held 30 September and 14 October 1990 for the Supreme

Soviet (next expected to be held NA 1994 for the National Assembly);

seats for Supreme Soviet - (360 total) Communists 280, Democratic Bloc

45 (grouping of opposition parties), other 15, vacant 20; note - on 19

May 1992 the Supreme Soviet was prorogued in favor of a Popular

Front-dominated National Council; seats - (50 total) Popular Front 25,

opposition elements 25

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Azerbaijan Popular Front (APF), Ebulfez ELCIBEY, chairman; Musavat

Party, Isa GAMBAR, chairman; National Independence Party, Etibar

MAMEDOV, chairman; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Araz ALIZADE,

chairman; Communist Party, Ramiz AKHMEDOV, chairman; People's Freedom

Party, Yunus OGUZ, chairman; Independent Social Democratic Party, Arif

YUNUSOV and Leila YUNOSOVA, cochairmen; New Azerbaijan Party, Heydar

ALIYEV, chairman; Boz Gurd Party, Iskander HAMIDOV, chairman;

Azerbaijan Democratic Party, Sardar MAMEDOV, chairman; Azerbaijan

Democratic Independence Party, Qabil HUSELNLI, chairman; Islamic Party

of Azerbaijan, Ali Akram, chairman

Other political or pressure groups:

self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh

independence movement

Member of:

BSEC, CCC, CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, ILO,

IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NACC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU,

WHO

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal Ogly PASHAYEV

chancery:

Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

telephone:

(202) 842–0001

FAX:

(202) 842–0004

US diplomatic representation:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Richard KAZLAURICH

embassy:

Hotel Intourist, Baku

mailing address:

use embassy street address

telephone:

7–8922-92–63-06 through 09, extension 441, 442, 446, 447, 448, 450

FAX:

Telex 142110 AMEMB SU

Flag:

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent

and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band

@Azerbaijan, Economy

Overview:

Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or

Georgia, the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the Central

Asian states in its majority Muslim population, high structural

unemployment, and low standard of living. The economy's most prominent

products are oil, cotton, and gas. Production from the Caspian oil and

gas field has been in decline for several years. With foreign

assistance, the oil industry might generate the funds needed to spur

industrial development. However, civil unrest, marked by armed

conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region between Muslim Azeris and

Christian Armenians, makes foreign investors wary. Azerbaijan

accounted for 1.5% to 2% of the capital stock and output of the former

Soviet Union. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the

ex-Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a

market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its

prospects somewhat. Old economic ties and structures have yet to be

replaced. A particularly galling constraint on economic revival is the

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said to consume 25% of Azerbaijan's

economic resources.

National product:

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $15.5 billion (1993 estimate from

the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and

published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as

extrapolated to 1993 using official Azerbaijani statistics, which are

very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990)

National product real growth rate:

−13.3% (1993 est.)

National product per capita:

$2,040 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

20% per month (average 1993); above 50% per month (February 1994)

Unemployment rate:

0.7% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of

underemployed workers (December 1993)

Budget:

revenues:

$NA

expenditures:

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exports:

$355 million to outside the FSU countries (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities:

oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles, cotton (1991)

partners:

mostly CIS and European countries

Imports:

$240 million from outside the FSU countries (c.i.f., 1993)

commodities:

machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs, textiles (1991)

partners:

European countries

External debt:

$NA

Industrial production:

growth rate −7% (1993)

Electricity:

capacity:

6,025,000 kW

production:

22,300 kWh

consumption per capita:

2,990 kWh (1992)

Industries:

petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment;

steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles

iculture:

cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle,

pigs, sheep and goats

Illicit drugs:

illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS

consumption; limited government eradication program; transshipment

point for illicit drugs to Western Europe

Economic aid:

recipient:

wheat from Turkey

Currency:

1 manat = 100 gopik

Exchange rates:

Fiscal year:

calendar year

@Azerbaijan, Communications

Railroads:

2,090 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)

Highways:

total:

36,700 km

paved or graveled:

31,800 km

unpaved:

earth 4,900 km (1990)

Pipelines:

crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural gas 1,240 km

Ports:

inland - Baku (Baky)

Airports:

total:

usable:

with permanent-surface runways:

with runways over 3,659 m:

with runways 2,440–3,659 m:

with runways 1,220–2,439 m:

Telecommunications:

domestic telephone service is of poor quality and inadequate; 710,000

domestic telephone lines [density - 9 lines per 100 persons (1991)],

202,000 persons waiting for telephone installations (January 1991);

connections to other former USSR republics by cable and microwave and

to other countries via the Moscow international gateway switch;

INTELSAT earth station installed in late 1992 in Baku with Turkish

financial assistance with access to 200 countries through Turkey;

since August 1993 an earth station near Baku has provided direct

communications with New York through Russia's Stationar-11 satellite;

a joint venture to establish a cellular telephone system (Bakcel) in

the Baku area is supposed to become operational in 1994; domestic and

Russian TV programs are received locally and Turkish and Iranian TV is

received from an INTELSAT satellite through a receive-only earth

station

@Azerbaijan, Defense Forces

Branches:

Army, Air Force, Navy, Maritime Border Guard, National Guard, Security

Forces (internal and border troops)

Manpower availability:

males age 15–49 1,884,458; fit for military service 1,525,123; reach

military age (18) annually 68,192 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures:

2,848 million rubles, NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of the

military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could

produce misleading results

@The Bahamas, Geography

Location:

Caribbean, in the western North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida

and northwest of Cuba

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones

of the World

Area:

total area:

13,940 sq km

land area:

10,070 sq km

comparative area:

slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

3,542 km

Maritime claims:

continental shelf:

200-m depth or to depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone:

200 nm

territorial sea:

3 nm

International disputes:

none

Climate:

tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

Terrain:

long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Natural resources:

salt, aragonite, timber

Land use:

arable land:

permanent crops:

meadows and pastures:

forest and woodland:

32%

other:

67%

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Environment:

current issues:

natural hazards:

subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive

flood and wind damage

international agreements:

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the

Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

Note:

strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain

@The Bahamas, People

Population:

273,055 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.57% (1994 est.)

Birth rate:

18.86 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate:

5.38 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

33.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population:

71.52 years

male:

67.66 years

female:

75.49 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.88 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Nationality:

noun:

Bahamian(s)

adjective:

Bahamian

Ethnic divisions:

black 85%, white 15%

Religions:

Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of

God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%

Languages:

English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Literacy:

age 15 and over but definition of literacy not available (1963 est.)

total population:

90%

male:

90%

female:

89%

Labor force:

127,400

by occupation:

government 30%, hotels and restaurants 25%, business services 10%,

agriculture 5% (1989)

@The Bahamas, Government

Names:

conventional long form:

Commonwealth of The Bahamas

conventional short form:

The Bahamas

Digraph:

Type:

commonwealth

Capital:

Nassau

Administrative divisions:

21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma,

Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour

Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour,

Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged

Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay

Independence:

10 July 1973 (from UK)

National holiday:

National Day, 10 July (1973)

Constitution:

10 July 1973

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state:

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor

General Sir Clifford DARLING (since 2 January 1992)

head of government:

Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 19 August 1992); Deputy Prime

Minister Orville A. TURNQUEST (since 19 August 1992)

cabinet:

Cabinet; appointed by the governor on the prime minister's

recommendation

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament

Senate:

a 16-member body appointed by the governor general

House of Assembly:

elections last held 19 August 1992 (next to be held by August 1997);

results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) FNM 32, PLP

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Sir Lynden O. PINDLING; Free National

Movement (FNM), Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM;

Member of:

ACP, C, CCC, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,

IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS,

OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Timothy Baswell DONALDSON

chancery:

2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

(202) 319–2660

FAX:

(202) 319–2668

consulate(s) general:

Miami and New York

US diplomatic representation:

chief of mission:

(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lino GUTIERREZ

embassy:

Mosmar Building, Queen Street, Nassau

mailing address:

P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau

telephone:

(809) 322–1181 or 328–2206

FAX:

(809) 328–7838

Flag:

three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine

with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side

@The Bahamas, Economy

Overview:

The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation whose economy is based

primarily on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone provides

about 40% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs about 50,000

people or 40% of the local work force. The economy has slackened in

recent years, as the annual increase in the number of tourists slowed.

Nonetheless, per capita GDP is one of the highest in the region.

National product:

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $4.4 billion (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate:

2% (1991)

National product per capita:

$16,500 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.5% (1991)

Unemployment rate:

5.7% (1992 est.)

Budget:

revenues:

$628.5 million

expenditures:

$574 million, including capital expenditures of $100 million (1992

est.)

Exports:

$310 million (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities:

pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish

partners:

US 51%, UK 7%, Norway 7%, France 6%, Italy 5%

Imports:

$1.2 billion (f.o.b,,1992)

commodities:

foodstuffs, manufactured goods, mineral fuels, crude oil

partners:

US 32%, Japan 17%, Nigeria 12%, Denmark 7%, Norway 6%

External debt:

$1.2 billion (December 1990)

Industrial production:

growth rate 3% (1990); accounts for 15% of GDP

Electricity:

capacity:

424,000 kW

production:

929 million kWh

consumption per capita:

3,599 kWh (1992)

Industries:

tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt

production, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral welded steel pipe

Agriculture:

accounts for 5% of GDP; dominated by small-scale producers; principal

products - citrus fruit, vegetables, poultry; large net importer of

food

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe;

also money-laundering center

Economic aid:

recipient:

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85–89), $1 million; Western

(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970–89), $345

million

Currency:

1 Bahamian dollar (B$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates:

Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1 - 1.00 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

@The Bahamas, Communications

Highways:

total:

2,400 km

paved:

1,350 km

unpaved:

gravel 1,050 km

Ports:

Freeport, Nassau

Merchant marine:

879 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,424,439 GRT/33,330,160 DWT,

bulk 167, cargo 148, chemical tanker 43, combination bulk 8,

combination ore/oil 20, container 48, liquefied gas 18, oil tanker

177, passenger 54, refrigerated cargo 132, roll-on/roll-off cargo 41,

short-sea passenger 16, vehicle carrier 7

note:

a flag of convenience registry

Airports:

total:

usable:

with permanent-surface runways:

with runways over 3,659 m:

with runways 2,440–3,659 m:

with runways 1,220–2,439 m:

Telecommunications:

highly developed; 99,000 telephones in totally automatic system;

tropospheric scatter and submarine cable links to Florida; broadcast

stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic

Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@The Bahamas, Defense Forces

Branches:

Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police

Force

Defense expenditures:

exchange rate conversion - $65 million, 2.7% of GDP (1990)

@Bahrain, Geography

Location:

Middle East, in the central Persian Gulf, between Saudi Arabia and

Qatar

Map references:

Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area:

total area:

620 sq km

land area:

620 sq km

comparative area:

slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

161 km

Maritime claims:

contiguous zone:

24 nm

continental shelf:

not specified

territorial sea:

12 nm

International disputes:

territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands; maritime

boundary with Qatar

Climate:

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Terrain:

mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Natural resources:

oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish

Land use:

arable land:

permanent crops:

meadows and pastures:

forest and woodland:

other:

90%

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:

current issues:

desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land,

periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to

coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills

and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and

distribution stations; no surface water resources; groundwater and sea

water are the only sources for all water needs

natural hazards:

periods of drought, dust storms

international agreements:

party to - Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection;

signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Note:

close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location

in Persian Gulf through which much of Western world's petroleum must

transit to reach open ocean

@Bahrain, People

Population: 585,683 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.96% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 26.59 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 3.83 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 6.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 19 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.51 years male: 71.1 years female: 76.05 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.96 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini Ethnic divisions: Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%, other 6% Religions: Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30% Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 77% male: 82% female: 69% Labor force: 140,000 by occupation: industry and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 3% (1982) note: 42% of labor force is Bahraini

@Bahrain, Government

Names:

conventional long form:

State of Bahrain

conventional short form:

Bahrain

local long form:

Dawlat al Bahrayn

local short form:

Al Bahrayn

Digraph:

Type:

traditional monarchy

Capital:

Manama

Administrative divisions:

12 districts (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al

Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash

Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa'wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd

Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Mintaqat Juzur Hawar, Sitrah

Independence:

15 August 1971 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 16 December (1961)

Constitution:

26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973

Legal system:

based on Islamic law and English common law

Suffrage:

none

Executive branch:

chief of state:

Amir ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent

HAMAD bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (son of the Amir, born 28 January

1950)

head of government:

Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970)

cabinet:

Cabinet

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and

legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory

Council established 16 December 1992

Judicial branch:

High Civil Appeals Court

Political parties and leaders:

political parties prohibited; several small, clandestine leftist and

Islamic fundamentalist groups are active

Member of:

ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDB,

ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC,

ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,

UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Mohammad ABD al-GHAFFAR

chancery:

3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

(202) 342–0741 or 342–0742

consulate(s) general:

New York

US diplomatic representation:

chief of mission:

(vacant); Charge d'Affaires David S. ROBINS

embassy:

Road No. 3119 (next to Alahli Sports Club), Zinj District, Manama

mailing address:

FPO AE 09834–5100; P.O. Box 26431, Manama

telephone:

[973] 273–300

FAX:

(973) 272–594

Flag:

red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side

@Bahrain, Economy

Overview:

Petroleum production and processing account for about 80% of export

receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. Economic

conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since

1985, for example, during and following the Gulf crisis of 1990–91.

Bahrain with its highly developed communication and transport

facilities is home to numerous multinational firms with business in

the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made

from imported crude. Prospects for 1994 are good, with private

enterprise the main driving force, e.g., in banking and construction.

National product:

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $6.8 billion (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate:

4% (1993 est.)

National product per capita:

$12,000 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8%-10% (1989)

Budget:

revenues:

$1.2 billion

expenditures:

$1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)

Exports:

$3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products 80%, aluminum 7%

partners:

Japan 13%, UAE 12%, India 10%, Pakistan 8%, Singapore 6% (1991)

Imports:

$3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities:

nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%

partners:

Saudi Arabia 42%, US 14%, UK 7%, Japan 5%, Germany 4% (1991)

External debt:

$2.6 billion (1993)

Industrial production:

growth rate 3.8% (1988); accounts for 44% of GDP

Electricity:

capacity:

1,600,000 kW

production:

4.7 billion kWh

consumption per capita:

8,500 kWh (1992)

Industries:

petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore

banking, ship repairing

Agriculture:

including fishing, accounts for less than 2% of GDP; not

self-sufficient in food production; heavily subsidized sector produces

fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, shrimp, fish

Economic aid:

recipient:

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70–79), $24 million; Western

(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970–89), $45

million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979–89), $9.8 billion

Currency:

1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils

Exchange rates:

Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

@Bahrain, Communications

Highways:

total:

paved:

bituminous 200 km

unpaved:

Pipelines:

crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km

Ports:

Mina' Salman, Manama, Sitrah

Merchant marine:

6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 101,844 GRT/143,997 DWT, bulk 1,

cargo 4, container 1

Airports:

total:

usable:

with permanent-surface runways:

with runways over 3,659 m:

with runways 2,440–3,659 m:

with runways 1,220–2,439 m:

Telecommunications:

modern system; good domestic services; 98,000 telephones (1 for every

6 persons); excellent international connections; tropospheric scatter

to Qatar, UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable

to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic

Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT; broadcast stations

- 2 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV

@Bahrain, Defense Forces

Branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, Police Force

Manpower availability:

males age 15–49 198,414; fit for military service 109,431; reach

military age (15) annually 5,093 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures:

exchange rate conversion - $245 million, 6% of GDP (1993)

@Baker Island

Header

Affiliation: (territory of the US)

@Baker Island, Geography

Location:

Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, just north of the

Equator, 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii

and Australia

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total area:

1.4 sq km

land area:

1.4 sq km

comparative area:

about 2.3 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

4.8 km

Maritime claims:

contiguous zone:

12 nm

continental shelf:

200-m depth or to depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone:

200 nm

territorial sea:

12 nm

International disputes:

none

mate:

equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

rain:

low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef

ural resources:

guano (deposits worked until 1891)

Land use:

arable land:

permanent crops:

meadows and pastures:

forest and woodland:

other:

100%

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Environment:

current issues:

lacks fresh water

natural hazards:

international agreements:

Note:

treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses,

prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting,

roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine

wildlife

@Baker Island, People

Population:

uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in 1942 after

Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US

military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public

entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to

scientists and educators; a cemetery and cemetery ruins are located

near the middle of the west coast

@Baker Island, Government

Names:

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Baker Island

Digraph:

Type:

unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and

Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the

National Wildlife Refuge system

Capital:

none; administered from Washington, DC

@Baker Island, Economy

Overview: no economic activity

@Baker Island, Communications

Ports:

none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along the middle

of the west coast

Airports:

1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m

Note:

there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

@Baker Island, Defense Forces

defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

@Bangladesh, Geography

Location:

Southern Asia, at the head of the Bay of Bengal, almost completely

surrounded by India

Map references:

Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area:

total area:

144,000 sq km

land area:

133,910 sq km

comparative area:

slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Land boundaries:

total 4,246 km, Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

Coastline:

580 km

Maritime claims:

contiguous zone:

18 nm

continental shelf:

up to outer limits of continental margin

exclusive economic zone:

200 nm

territorial sea:

12 nm

International disputes:

a portion of the boundary with India is in dispute; water-sharing

problems with upstream riparian India over the Ganges

Climate:

tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer

(March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)

Terrain:

mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Natural resources:

natural gas, arable land, timber

Land use:

arable land:

67%

permanent crops:

meadows and pastures:

forest and woodland:

16%

other:

11%

Irrigated land:

27,380 sq km (1989)

Environment:

current issues:

many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate

flood-prone land; limited access to potable water; water-borne

diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of fishing areas

results from the use of commercial pesticides; intermittent water

shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central

parts of the country; soil degradation; deforestation; severe

overpopulation

natural hazards:

vulnerable to droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely

flooded during the summer monsoon season

international agreements:

party to - Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous

Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not

ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

@Bangladesh, People

Population: 125,149,469 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.33% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 35.02 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 11.68 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 106.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.08 years male: 55.35 years female: 54.8 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.47 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Bangladeshi(s) adjective: Bangladesh Ethnic divisions: Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, tribals less than 1 million Religions: Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, Buddhist, Christian, other Languages: Bangla (official), English Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 35% male: 47% female: 22% Labor force: 50.1 million by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 21%, industry and mining 14% (1989) note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman (1991)

@Bangladesh, Government

Names:

conventional long form:

People's Republic of Bangladesh

conventional short form:

Bangladesh

former:

East Pakistan

Digraph:

Type:

republic

Capital:

Dhaka

Administrative divisions:

64 districts (zillagulo, singular - zilla); Bagerhat, Bandarban,

Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Bogra, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, Chapai

Nawabganj, Chattagram, Chuadanga, Comilla, Cox's Bazar, Dhaka,

Dinajpur, Faridpur, Feni, Gaibandha, Gazipur, Gopalganj, Habiganj,

Jaipurhat, Jamalpur, Jessore, Jhalakati, Jhenaidah, Khagrachari,

Khulna, Kishorganj, Kurigram, Kushtia, Laksmipur, Lalmonirhat,

Madaripur, Magura, Manikganj, Meherpur, Moulavibazar, Munshiganj,

Mymensingh, Naogaon, Narail, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Nator, Netrakona,

Nilphamari, Noakhali, Pabna, Panchagar, Parbattya Chattagram,

Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Rajbari, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Satkhira,

Shariyatpur, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Tangail,

Thakurgaon

Independence:

16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 March (1971)

Constitution:

4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup

of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state:

President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991); election last

held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October 1996); results -

Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary vote

head of government:

Prime Minister Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN (since 20 March 1991)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch:

unicameral

National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad):

elections last held 27 February 1991 (next to be held NA February

1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (330 total, 300

elected and 30 seats reserved for women) BNP 168, AL 93, JP 35, JI 20,

BCP 5, National Awami Party (Muzaffar) 1, Workers Party 1, JSD 1,

Ganotantri Party 1, Islami Oikya Jote 1, NDP 1, independents 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN; Awami League

(AL), Sheikh Hasina WAJED; Jatiyo Party (JP), Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD

(in jail); Jamaat-E-Islami (JI), Ali KHAN; Bangladesh Communist Party

(BCP), Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK; National Awami Party (Muzaffar); Workers

Party, leader NA; Jatiyo Samajtantik Dal (JSD), Serajul ALAM KHAN;

Ganotantri Party, leader NA; Islami Oikya Jote, leader NA; National

Democratic Party (NDP), leader NA; Muslim League, Khan A. SABUR;

Democratic League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; Democratic League,

Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; United People's Party, Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed

Member of:

AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,

IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO,

ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,

UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNOMOZ, UNOMUR, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WCL,

WHO, WFTU, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Abul AHSAN

chancery:

2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone:

(202) 342–8372 through 8376

consulate(s) general:

New York

US diplomatic representation:

chief of mission:

Ambassador David MERRILL

embassy:

Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka

mailing address:

G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1212

telephone:

[880] (2) 884700–22

FAX:

[880] (2) 883–744

Flag:

green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center;

green is the traditional color of Islam

@Bangladesh, Economy

Overview:

Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and

least developed nations. Its economy is overwhelmingly agricultural,

with the cultivation of rice the single most important activity in the

economy. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and

floods, government interference with the economy, a rapidly growing

labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, a low level of

industrialization, failure to fully exploit energy resources (natural

gas), and inefficient and inadequate power supplies. Excellent rice

crops and expansion of the export garment industry helped growth in

FY92 and FY93. Policy reforms intended to reduce government regulation

of private industry and promote public-sector efficiency have been

announced but are being implemented only slowly.

National product:

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $122 billion (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate:

4.3% (FY93)

National product per capita:

$1,000 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.4% (FY93)

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Budget:

revenues:

$2.5 billion

expenditures:

$3.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92)

Exports:

$2.1 billion (FY93)

commodities:

garments, jute and jute goods, leather, shrimp

partners:

US 33%, Western Europe 39% (Germany 8.4%, Italy 6%) (FY92 est.)

Imports:

$3.5 billion (FY93)

commodities:

capital goods, petroleum, food, textiles

partners:

Hong Kong 7.5%, Singapore 7.4%, China 7.4%, Japan 7.1% (FY92 est.)

External debt:

$13.5 billion (June 1993)

Industrial production:

growth rate 6.9% (FY93 est.); accounts for 9.4% of GDP

Electricity:

capacity:

2,400,000 kW

production:

9 billion kWh

consumption per capita:

75 kWh (1992)

Industries:

jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing, steel,

fertilizer

Agriculture:

accounts for 33% of GDP, 65% of employment, and one-fifth of exports;

world's largest exporter of jute; commercial products - jute, rice,

wheat, tea, sugarcane, potatoes, beef, milk, poultry; shortages

include wheat, vegetable oils, cotton

Illicit drugs:

transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries

Economic aid:

recipient:

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70–89), $3.4 billion; Western

(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980–89),

$11.65 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979–89), $6.52 million; Communist

countries (1970–89), $1.5 billion

Currency:

1 taka (Tk) = 100 poiska

Exchange rates:

taka (Tk) per US$1 - 40.064 (January 1994), 39.567 (1993), 38.951

(1992), 36.596 (1991), 34.569 (1990), 32.270 (1989)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

@Bangladesh, Communications

Railroads:

2,892 km total (1986); 1,914 km 1.000 meter gauge, 978 km 1.676 meter

broad gauge

Highways:

total:

7,240 km

paved:

3,840 km

unpaved:

3,400 km (1985)

Inland waterways:

5,150–8,046 km navigable waterways (includes 2,575–3,058 km main cargo

routes)

Pipelines:

natural gas 1,220 km

Ports:

Chittagong, Chalna

Merchant marine:

41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 312,172 GRT/458,131 DWT, bulk 3,

cargo 33, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3

Airports:

total:

usable:

with permanent-surface runways:

with runways over 3,659 m:

with runways 2,440–3,659 m:

with runways 1,220–2,439 m:

Telecommunications:

adequate international radio communications and landline service; poor

domestic telephone service; 241.250 telephones - only one telephone

for each 522 persons; fair broadcast service; broadcast stations - 9

AM, 6 FM, 11 TV; 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT satellite earth stations

@Bangladesh, Defense Forces

Branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force

paramilitary forces:

Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Defense

Parties, National Cadet Corps

Manpower availability:

males age 15–49 31,955,948; fit for military service 18,967,602

Defense expenditures:

exchange rate conversion - $355 million, 1.5% of GDP (FY92/93)

@Barbados, Geography

Location:

Caribbean, in the extreme eastern Caribbean Sea, about 375 km

northeast of Venezuela

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones

of the World

Area:

total area:

430 sq km

land area:

430 sq km

comparative area:

slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

97 km

Maritime claims:

exclusive economic zone:

200 nm

territorial sea:

12 nm

International disputes:

none

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Terrain:

relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Natural resources:

petroleum, fishing, natural gas

Land use:

arable land:

77%

permanent crops:

meadows and pastures:

forest and woodland:

other:

14%

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Environment:

current issues:

pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil

erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of

aquifers

natural hazards:

subject to hurricanes (especially June to October); periodic

landslides

international agreements:

party to - Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection;

signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity

Note:

easternmost Caribbean island

@Barbados, People

Population:

255,827 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.21% (1994 est.)

Birth rate:

15.63 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate:

8.4 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate:

−5.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population:

73.83 years

male:

71.11 years

female:

76.76 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.78 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Nationality:

noun:

Barbadian(s)

adjective:

Barbadian

Ethnic divisions:

African 80%, European 4%, other 16%

Religions:

Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other

12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, unknown 3%, other 9% (1980)

Languages:

English

Literacy:

age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

total population:

99%

male:

99%

female:

99%

Labor force:

120,900 (1991)

by occupation:

services and government 37%, commerce 22%, manufacturing and

construction 22%, transportation, storage, communications, and

financial institutions 9%, agriculture 8%, utilities 2% (1985 est.)

@Barbados, Government

Names:

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Barbados

Digraph:

Type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Bridgetown

Administrative divisions:

11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James,

Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter,

Saint Philip, Saint Thomas

note:

the new city of Bridgetown may be given parish status

Independence:

30 November 1966 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

Constitution:

30 November 1966

Legal system:

English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state:

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor

General Dame Nita BARROW (since 6 June 1990)

head of government:

Prime Minister Lloyd Erskine SANDIFORD (since 2 June 1987); Deputy

Prime Minister Philip Marlowe GREAVES (since 2 June 1987)

cabinet:

Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime

minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament

Senate:

consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governor general

House of Assembly:

election last held 22 January 1991 (next to be held by January 1996);

results - DLP 49.8%; seats - (28 total) DLP 18, BLP 10

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Judicature

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Labor Party (DLP), Erskine SANDIFORD; Barbados Labor Party

(BLP), Owen ARTHUR; National Democratic Party (NDP), Richie HAYNES

Other political or pressure groups:

Barbados Workers Union, Leroy TROTMAN; People's Progressive Movement,

Eric SEALY; Workers' Party of Barbados, Dr. George BELLE; Clement

Payne Labor Union, David COMMISSIONG

Member of:

ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,

IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO

(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD,

UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Dr. Rudi Valentine WEBSTER

chancery:

2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

(202) 939–9200 through 9202

consulate(s) general:

New York

consulate(s):

Los Angeles

US diplomatic representation:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Jeanette W. HYDE

embassy:

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown

mailing address:

P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055

telephone:

(809) 436–4950

FAX:

(809) 429–5246

Flag:

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and blue with

the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident

head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial

coat of arms contained a complete trident)

@Barbados, Economy

Overview:

A per capita income of $8,700 gives Barbados one of the highest

standards of living of all the small island states of the eastern

Caribbean. Historically, the economy was based on the cultivation of

sugar cane and related activities. In recent years, however, the

economy has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. The tourist

industry is now a major employer of the labor force and a primary

source of foreign exchange. The economy slowed in 1990–92 as

Bridgetown's difficulty in financing its deficits caused it to exert

control over domestic demands

National product:

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.2 billion (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate:

−3% (1992)

National product per capita:

$8,700 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.1% (1992)

Unemployment rate:

23% (1992)

Budget:

revenues:

$547 million

expenditures:

$620 million, including capital expenditures of $60 million (FY92–93)

Exports:

$158 million (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities:

sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals,

electrical components, clothing

partners:

US 13%, UK 13%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Windward Islands 7.8%

Imports:

$465 million (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities:

machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel,

electrical components

partners:

US 33%, UK 11%, Trinidad and Tobago 11%, Japan 5%

External debt:

$652 million (1991 est.)

Industrial production:

growth rate −1.3% (1991); accounts for 10% of GDP

Electricity:

capacity:

152,100 kW

production:

540 million kWh

consumption per capita:

2,118 kWh (1992)

Industries:

tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export,

petroleum

Agriculture:

accounts for 6% of GDP; major cash crop is sugarcane; other crops -

vegetables, cotton; not self-sufficient in food

Economic aid:

recipient:

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70–89), $15 million; Western

(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970–89), $171

million

Currency:

1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates:

Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1 - 2.0113 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

@Barbados, Communications

Highways:

total:

1,570 km

paved:

1,475 km

unpaved:

gravel, earth 95 km

Ports:

Bridgetown

Merchant marine:

2 oil tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,466 GRT/76,219 DWT

Airports:

total:

usable:

with permanent-surface runways:

with runways over 3,659 m:

with runways 2,440–3,659 m:

with runways 1,220–2,439 m:

Telecommunications:

island wide automatic telephone system with 89,000 telephones;

tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad and Saint Lucia; broadcast

stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 2 (1 is pay) TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

earth station

@Barbados, Defense Forces

Branches:

Royal Barbados Defense Force, including the Ground Forces and Coast

Guard, Royal Barbados Police Force

Manpower availability:

males age 15–49 70,751; fit for military service 49,330

Defense expenditures:

exchange rate conversion - $10 million, 0.7% of GDP (1989)

@Bassas da India

Header Affiliation: (possession of France)

@Bassas da India, Geography

Location: Southern Africa, in the southern Mozambique Channel about halfway between Madagascar and Mozambique Map references: Africa Area: total area: NA km2 land area: NA km2 comparative area: NA Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 35.2 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claimed by Madagascar Climate: tropical Terrain: a volcanic rock 2.4 meters high Natural resources: none Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all rock) Irrigated land: 0 sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones international agreements: NA Note: navigational hazard since it is usually under water during high tide

@Bassas da India, People

Population: uninhabited

@Bassas da India, Government

Names:

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Bassas da India

Digraph:

Type:

French possession administered by a Commissioner of the Republic,

resident in Reunion

Capital:

none; administered by France from Reunion

Independence:

none (possession of France)

@Bassas da India, Economy

Overview: no economic activity

@Bassas da India, Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

@Bassas da India, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of France

@Belarus, Geography

Location:

Eastern Europe, between Poland and Russia

Map references:

Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, Europe,

Standard Time Zones of the World

Area:

total area:

207,600 sq km

land area:

207,600 sq km

comparative area:

slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries:

total 3,098 km, Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 605 km, Russia

959 km, Ukraine 891 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none; landlocked

International disputes:

none

Climate:

cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental

and maritime

Terrain:

generally flat and contains much marshland

Natural resources:

forest land, peat deposits

Land use:

arable land:

29%

permanent crops:

meadows and pastures:

15%

forest and woodland:

other:

55%

Irrigated land:

1,490 sq km (1990)

Environment:

current issues:

soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of Belarus

contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at

Chornobyl'

natural hazards:

international agreements:

party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air

Pollution-Sulphur, Biodiversity, Environmental Modification, Marine

Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate

Change, Law of the Sea

Note:

landlocked

@Belarus, People

Population:

10,404,862 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.32% (1994 est.)

Birth rate:

13.12 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate:

11.16 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

18.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population:

70.88 years

male:

66.2 years

female:

75.79 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.88 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Nationality:

noun:

Belarusian(s)

adjective:

Belarusian

Ethnic divisions:

Byelorussian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.9%, other

1.9%

Religions:

Eastern Orthodox, other

Languages:

Byelorussian, Russian, other

Literacy:

age 9–49 can read and write (1979)

total population:

100%

male:

100%

female:

100%

Labor force:

4.887 million

by occupation:

industry and construction 40%, agriculture and forestry 21%, other 39%

(1992)

@Belarus, Government

Names:

conventional long form:

Republic of Belarus

conventional short form:

Belarus

local long form:

Respublika Byelarus'

local short form:

none

former:

Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic

Digraph:

Type:

republic

Capital:

Minsk

Administrative divisions:

6 voblastsi (singular - voblasts') and one municipality* (harady,

singular - horad); Brestskaya (Brest), Homyel'skaya (Homyel'), Horad

Minsk*, Hrodzyenskaya (Hrodna), Mahilyowskaya (Mahilyow), Minskaya,

Vitsyebskaya (Vitsyebsk)

note:

the administrative centers of the voblastsi are included in

parentheses

Independence:

25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 July (1990)

Constitution:

adopted 15 March 1994; replaces constitution of April 1978

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state:

President-elect Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (elected 10 July 1994, but not

yet inaugurated) election held June 24 and 10 July 1994 (next to be

held NA); Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 80%, Vyacheslav KEBICH 14%

head of government:

Prime Minister Vyacheslav F. KEBICH (since NA April 1990; offered his

resignation on the election of LUCHASHENKO), First Deputy Prime

Minister Mikhail MYASNIKOVICH (since NA 1991)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers

note:

first presidential elections took place in June-July 1994

Legislative branch:

unicameral

Supreme Soviet:

elections last held 4 April 1990 (next to be held NA); results -

Communists 87%; seats - (360 total) number of seats by party NA; note

- 50 seats are for public bodies; the Communist Party obtained an

overwhelming majority

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), Zenon PAZNYAK, chairman; United

Democratic Party of Belarus (UDPB), Aleksandr DOBROVOLSKIY, chairman;

Social Democratic Party of Belarus (SDBP), Mikhail TKACHEV, chairman;

Belarus Workers Union, Mikhail SOBOL, Chairman; Belarus Peasants

Party; Party of People's Unity, Gennadiy KARPENKO; Movement for

Democracy, Social Progress, and Justice (DSPS; includes the Communist

Party), Viktor CHIKIN, chairman

Member of:

CBSS (observer), CE (guest), CEI (participating), CIS, CSCE, ECE,

IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IFC, ILO, IMF, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory

user), IOC, ITU, NACC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,

WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Sergey Nikolayevich MARTYNOV

chancery:

1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone:

(202) 986–1604

FAX:

(202) 986–1805)

US diplomatic representation:

chief of mission:

(vacant); Charge d'Affaires George KROL

embassy:

Starovilenskaya #46, Minsk

mailing address:

use embassy street address

telephone:

7–0172-34–65-37

Flag:

three horizontal bands of white (top), red, and white

@Belarus, Economy Overview: Belarus ranks among the most developed of the former Soviet states, with a relatively modern - by Soviet standards - and diverse machine building sector and a robust agriculture sector. It also serves as a transport link for Russian oil exports to the Baltic states and Eastern and Western Europe. The breakup of the Soviet Union and its command economy has resulted in a sharp economic contraction as traditional trade ties have collapsed. At the same time, the Belarusian Government has lagged behind most other former Soviet states in economic reform; privatization has barely begun; the agriculture sector remains highly subsidized; the state retains control over many prices; and the system of state orders and distribution persists. Meanwhile, the national bank continues to pour credits into inefficient enterprises, fueling inflation and weakening incentives to improve performance. The government is pinning its hopes on reintegration with the Russian economy, but such a path would only partially restore traditional trade ties. Until economic reform is embraced, Belarus will continue in its economic morass. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $61 billion (1993 estimate from the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as extrapolated to 1993 using official Belarusian statistics, which are very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990) National product real growth rate: −9% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $5,890 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% per month (1993) Unemployment rate: 1.4% officially registered unemployed (December 1993); large numbers of underemployed workers Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $710 million to outside of the FSU countries (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria Imports: $743 million from outside the FSU countries (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: fuel, industrial raw materials, textiles, sugar partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate −11% (1993); accounts for about 40% of GDP (1992) Electricity: capacity: 8,025,000 kW production: 37.6 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,626 kWh (1992) Industries: employ about 40% of labor force and produce a wide variety of products including (in percent share of total output of former Soviet Union): tractors (12%); metal-cutting machine tools (11%); off-highway dump trucks up to 110-metric-ton load capacity (100%); wheel-type earthmovers for construction and mining (100%); eight-wheel-drive, high-flotation trucks with cargo capacity of 25 metric tons for use in tundra and roadless areas (100%); equipment for animal husbandry and livestock feeding (25%); motorcycles (21.3%); television sets (11%); chemical fibers (28%); fertilizer (18%); linen fabric (11%); wool fabric (7%); radios; refrigerators; and other consumer goods Agriculture: accounts for almost 25% of GDP and 5.7% of total agricultural output of former Soviet Union; employs 21% of the labor force; in 1988 produced the following (in percent of total Soviet production): grain (3.6%), potatoes (12.2%), vegetables (3.0%), meat (6.0%), milk (7.0%); net exporter of meat, milk, eggs, flour, potatoes Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis; mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe Economic aid: $NA Currency: Belarusian rubel note: the government signed a framework agreement with Russia for a monetary union in January 1994, but a schedule and mechanism for merging the two monetary systems and replacing Belarusian rubels with Russian rubles have not been worked out Exchange rates: NA Fiscal year: calendar year

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