Читать книгу The 1994 CIA World Factbook - United States. Central Intelligence Agency - Страница 17

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@Chile, Communications

Railroads:

7,766 km total; 3,974 km 1.676-meter gauge, 150 km 1.435-meter

standard gauge, 3,642 km 1.000-meter gauge; 1,865 km 1.676-meter gauge

and 80 km 1.000-meter gauge electrified

Highways:

total:

79,993 km

paved:

10,984 km

unpaved:

gravel or earth 68,615 km (1990)

Inland waterways:

725 km

Pipelines:

crude oil 755 km; petroleum products 785 km; natural gas 320 km

Ports:

Antofagasta, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Valparaiso, San

Antonio, Talcahuano, Arica

Merchant marine:

31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 449,253 GRT/755,821 DWT, bulk

10, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, combination ore/oil 3, liquefied gas

tanker 3, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3

note:

in addition, 1 naval tanker and 1 military transport are sometimes

used commercially

Airports:

total:

392

usable:

349

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 telephone system based on extensive microwave radio relay

facilities; 768,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 159 AM, no FM,

131 TV, 11 shortwave; satellite ground stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean

INTELSAT and 3 domestic

@Chile, Defense Forces

Branches:

Army of the Nation, National Navy (including Naval Air, Coast Guard,

and Marines), Air Force of the Nation, Carabineros of Chile (National

Police), Investigative Police

Manpower availability:

males age 15–49 3,705,321; fit for military service 2,759,130; reach

military age (19) annually 120,512 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures:

exchange rate conversion - $1 billion, 3.4% of GDP (1991 est.)

@China

Header Affiliation: (also see separate Taiwan entry)

@China, Geography

Location:

Eastern Asia, between India and Mongolia

Map references:

Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area:

total area:

9,596,960 sq km

land area:

9,326,410 sq km

comparative area:

slightly larger than the US

Land boundaries:

total 22,143.34 km, Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km,

Hong Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea

1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 km, Mongolia

4,673 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605

km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km

Coastline:

14,500 km

Maritime claims:

continental shelf:

claim to shallow areas of East China Sea and Yellow Sea

territorial sea:

12 nm

International disputes:

boundary with India; bilateral negotiations are under way to resolve

disputed sections of the boundary with Russia; boundary with

Tajikistan in dispute; a short section of the boundary with North

Korea is indefinite; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly

Islands with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly

Brunei; maritime boundary dispute with Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin;

Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan;

claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu

Tai), as does Taiwan

Climate:

extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north

Terrain:

mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and

hills in east

Natural resources:

coal, iron ore, petroleum, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony,

manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc,

uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)

Land use:

arable land:

10%

permanent crops:

meadows and pastures:

31%

forest and woodland:

14%

other:

45%

Irrigated land:

478,220 sq km (1991 - Chinese statistic)

Environment:

current issues:

air pollution from the overwhelming use of coal as a fuel, produces

acid rain which is damaging forests; water pollution from industrial

effluents; many people do not have access to safe drinking water; less

than 10% of sewage receives treatment; deforestation; estimated loss

of one-third of agricultural land since 1957 to soil erosion and

economic development; desertification

natural hazards:

frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern

coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes

international agreements:

party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered

Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone

Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Whaling; signed,

but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

Note:

world's third-largest country (after Russia and Canada)

@China, People

Population:

1,190,431,106 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.08% (1994 est.)

Birth rate:

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

Death rate:

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

Net migration rate:

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

Infant mortality rate:

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

Life expectancy at birth:

total population:

67.91 years

male:

66.93 years

female:

68.99 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.84 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Nationality:

noun:

Chinese (singular and plural)

adjective:

Chinese

Ethnic divisions:

Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu,

Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1%

Religions:

Daoism (Taoism), Buddhism, Muslim 2%-3%, Christian 1% (est.)

note:

officially atheist, but traditionally pragmatic and eclectic

Languages:

Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing

dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan

(Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages

(see Ethnic divisions entry)

Literacy:

age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

total population:

78%

male:

87%

female:

68%

Labor force:

567.4 million

by occupation:

agriculture and forestry 60%, industry and commerce 25%, construction

and mining 5%, social services 5%, other 5% (1990 est.)

@China, Government

Names:

conventional long form:

People's Republic of China

conventional short form:

China

local long form:

Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo

local short form:

Zhong Guo

Abbreviation:

PRC

Digraph:

Type:

Communist state

Capital:

Beijing

Administrative divisions:

23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions*

(zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 3 municipalities** (shi, singular

and plural); Anhui, Beijing Shi**, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi*,

Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu,

Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol*, Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi,

Shandong, Shanghai Shi**, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin Shi**, Xinjiang*,

Xizang* (Tibet), Yunnan, Zhejiang

note:

China considers Taiwan its 23rd province

Independence:

221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty 221 BC; Qing or

Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12 February 1912; People's

Republic established 1 October 1949)

National holiday:

National Day, 1 October (1949)

Constitution:

most recent promulgated 4 December 1982

Legal system:

a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law;

rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legal codes

in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are being made to

improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state:

President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993); Vice President RONG Yiren

(since 27 March 1993); election last held 27 March 1993 (next to be

held NA 1998); results - JIANG Zemin was nominally elected by the

Eighth National People's Congress

chief of state and head of government (de facto):

DENG Xiaoping (since NA 1977)

head of government:

Premier LI Peng (Acting Premier since 24 November 1987, Premier since

9 April 1988) Vice Premier ZHU Rongji (since 8 April 1991); Vice

Premier ZOU Jiahua (since 8 April 1991); Vice Premier QIAN Qichen

(since 29 March 1993); Vice Premier LI Lanqing (29 March 1993)

cabinet:

State Council; containing 28 ministers and 8 state commissions and

appointed by the National People's Congress (March 1993)

Legislative branch:

unicameral

National People's Congress:

(Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui) elections last held March 1993 (next

to be held March 1998); results - CCP is the only party but there are

also independents; seats - (2,977 total) (elected at county or xian

level)

Judicial branch:

Supreme People's Court

Political parties and leaders:

Chinese Communist Party (CCP), JIANG Zemin, general secretary of the

Central Committee (since 24 June 1989); eight registered small parties

controlled by CCP

Other political or pressure groups:

such meaningful opposition as exists consists of loose coalitions,

usually within the party and government organization, that vary by

issue

Member of:

AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,

IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU,

LORCS, MINURSO, NAM (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,

UNIKOM, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UNTSO, UN Trusteeship Council,

UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission:

Ambassador LI Daoyu

chancery:

2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

(202) 328–2500 through 2502

consulate(s) general:

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation:

chief of mission:

Ambassador J. Stapleton ROY

embassy:

Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, Beijing

mailing address:

100600, PSC 461, Box 50, Beijing or FPO AP 96521–0002

telephone:

[86] (1) 532–3831

FAX:

[86] (1) 532–3178

consulate(s) general:

Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang

Flag:

red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow

five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of

the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner

@China, Economy

Overview: Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been trying to move the economy from the sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more productive and flexible economy with market elements, but still within the framework of monolithic Communist control. To this end the authorities switched to a system of household responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a strong surge in production, particularly in agriculture in the early 1980s. Industry also has posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment and modern production methods have helped spur production of both domestic and export goods. Aggregate output has more than doubled since 1978. On the darker side, the leadership has often experienced in its hybrid system the worst results of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude, corruption) and of capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation). Beijing thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals. In 1992–93 annual growth of GDP has accelerated, particularly in the coastal areas - to more than 10% annually according to official claims. In late 1993 China's leadership approved additional reforms aimed at giving more play to market-oriented institutions and at strengthening the center's control over the financial system. Popular resistance, changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres have weakened China's population control program, which is essential to the nation's long-term economic viability. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $2.61 trillion (1993 estimate based on a 1990 figure from the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as extrapolated by use of official Chinese growth statistics for 1992 and 1993) National product real growth rate: 13.4% (1993) National product per capita: $2,200 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 17.6% (December 1993 over December 1992) Unemployment rate: 2.3% in urban areas (1992); substantial underemployment Budget: deficit $15.6 billion (1993) Exports: $92 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: textiles, garments, footwear, toys, crude oil partners: Hong Kong, US, Japan, Germany, South Korea, Russia (1993) Imports: $104 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: rolled steel, motor vehicles, textile machinery, oil products partners: Japan, Taiwan, US, Hong Kong, Germany, South Korea (1993) External debt: $80 billion (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 20.8% (1992) Electricity: capacity: 158,690,000 kW production: 740 billion kWh consumption per capita: 630 kWh (1992) Industries: iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers, consumer durables, food processing Agriculture: accounts for 26% of GNP; among the world's largest producers of rice, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, and pork; commercial crops include cotton, other fibers, and oilseeds; produces variety of livestock products; basically self-sufficient in food; fish catch of 13.35 million metric tons (including fresh water and pond raised) (1991) Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium; bulk of production is in Yunnan Province; transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle Economic aid: donor: to less developed countries (1970–89) $7 billion recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70–87), $220.7 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970–87), $13.5 billion Currency: 1 yuan (Y) = 10 jiao Exchange rates: yuan (Y) per US$1 - 8.7000 (January 1994), 5.7620 (1993), 5.5146 (1992), 5.3234 (1991), 4.7832 (1990), 3.7651 (1989) note: beginning 1 January 1994, the People's Bank of China quotes the midpoint rate against the US dollar based on the previous day's prevailing rate in the interbank foreign exchange market Fiscal year: calendar year

@China, Communications

Railroads:

total about 64,000 km; 54,000 km of common carrier lines, of which

53,400 km are 1.435-meter gauge (standard) and 600 km are 1.000-meter

gauge (narrow); 11,200 km of standard gauge common carrier route are

double tracked and 6,900 km are electrified (1990); an additional

10,000 km of varying gauges (0.762 to 1.067-meter) are dedicated

industrial lines

Highways:

total:

1.029 million km

paved:

170,000 km

unpaved:

gravel/improved earth 648,000 km; unimproved earth 211,000 km (1990)

Inland waterways:

138,600 km; about 109,800 km navigable

Pipelines:

crude oil 9,700 km; petroleum products 1,100 km; natural gas 6,200 km

(1990)

Ports:

Dalian, Guangzhou, Huangpu, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Xingang,

Zhanjiang, Ningbo, Xiamen, Tanggu, Shantou

Merchant marine:

1,541 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,884,756 GRT/22,475,985

DWT, barge carrier 1, bulk 285, cargo 819, chemical tanker 13,

combination bulk 9, container 85, liquefied gas 4, multifunction/barge

carrier 1, oil tanker 192, passenger 24, passenger-cargo 25,

refrigerated cargo 17, roll-on/roll-off cargo 21, short-sea passenger

43, vehicle carrier 2

note:

China beneficially owns an additional 227 ships (1,000 GRT or over)

totaling approximately 6,187,117 DWT that operate under Panamanian,

British, Hong Kong, Maltese, Liberian, Vanuatu, Cypriot, Saint

Vincent, Bahamian, and Romanian registry

Airports:

total:

330

usable:

330

with permanent-surface runways:

260

with runways over 3,659 m:

fewer than 10

with runways 2,440–3,659 m:

with runways 1,220–2,439 m:

200

Telecommunications:

domestic and international services are increasingly available for

private use; unevenly distributed internal system serves principal

cities, industrial centers, and most townships; 11,000,000 telephones

(December 1989); broadcast stations - 274 AM, unknown FM, 202 (2,050

repeaters) TV; more than 215 million radio receivers; 75 million TVs;

satellite earth stations - 4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean

INTELSAT, 1 INMARSAT, and 55 domestic

@China, Defense Forces

Branches:

People's Liberation Army (PLA), PLA Navy (including Marines), PLA Air

Force, Second Artillery Corps (the strategic missle force), People's

Armed Police (internal security troops, nominally subordinate to

Ministry of Public Security, but included by the Chinese as part of

the "armed forces" and considered to be an adjunct to the PLA in war

time)

Manpower availability:

males age 15–49 347,458,052; fit for military service 192,546,413;

reach military age (18) annually 10,256,181 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures:

defense budget - 52.04 billion yuan, NA% of GDP (1994 est.); note -

conversion of the defense budget into US dollars using the current

exchange rate could produce misleading results

@Christmas Island

Header Affiliation: (territory of Australia)

@Christmas Island, Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, between Australia and Indonesia Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total area: 135 sq km land area: 135 sq km comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 138.9 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau Natural resources: phosphate Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: almost completely surrounded by a reef international agreements: NA Note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

@Christmas Island, People

Population:

973 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate:

−9% (1994 est.)

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Net migration rate:

Infant mortality rate:

Life expectancy at birth:

total population:

male:

female:

Total fertility rate:

Nationality:

noun:

Christmas Islander(s)

adjective:

Christmas Island

Ethnic divisions:

Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous

population

Religions:

Buddhist 36.1%, Muslim 25.4%, Christian 17.7% (Roman Catholic 8.2%,

Church of England 3.2%, Presbyterian 0.9%, Uniting Church 0.4%,

Methodist 0.2%, Baptist 0.1%, and other 4.7%), none 12.7%, unknown

4.6%, other 3.5% (1981)

Languages:

English

Literacy:

total population:

NA%

male:

NA%

female:

NA%

Labor force:

by occupation:

all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas

Island, Ltd.

@Christmas Island, Government

Names: conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island Digraph: KT Type: territory of Australia Capital: The Settlement Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia) Independence: none (territory of Australia) National holiday: NA Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958 Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of Australia Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Administrator M. J. GRIMES (since NA) cabinet: Advisory Council Legislative branch: none Judicial branch: none Political parties and leaders: none Member of: none Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia) US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia) Flag: the flag of Australia is used

@Christmas Island, Economy

Overview:

Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but

in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine as no

longer economically viable. Plans have been under way to reopen the

mine and also to build a casino and hotel to develop tourism.

National product:

GDP $NA

National product real growth rate:

NA%

National product per capita:

$NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA%

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Budget:

revenues:

$NA

expenditures:

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exports:

$NA

commodities:

phosphate

partners:

Australia, NZ

Imports:

$NA

commodities:

consumer goods

partners:

principally Australia

External debt:

$NA

Industrial production:

growth rate NA%

Electricity:

capacity:

11,000 kW

production:

30 million kWh

consumption per capita:

17,800 kWh (1990)

Industries:

phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Agriculture:

Economic aid:

none

Currency:

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704,

(1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

@Christmas Island, Communications

Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA Ports: Flying Fish Cove Airports: total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440–3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220–2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 TV

@Christmas Island, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

@Clipperton Island

Header Affiliation: (possession of France)

@Clipperton Island, Geography

Location: Middle America, in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico Map references: World Area: total area: 7 sq km land area: 7 sq km comparative area: about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 11.1 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claimed by Mexico Climate: tropical Terrain: coral atoll Natural resources: none Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all coral) Irrigated land: 0 sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA Note: reef about 8 km in circumference

@Clipperton Island, People

Population: uninhabited

@Clipperton Island, Government

Names:

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Clipperton Island

local long form:

none

local short form:

Ile Clipperton

former:

sometimes called Ile de la Passion

Digraph:

Type:

French possession administered by France from French Polynesia by High

Commissioner of the Republic

Capital:

none; administered by France from French Polynesia

Independence:

none (possession of France)

@Clipperton Island, Economy

Overview:

The only economic activity is a tuna fishing station.

@Clipperton Island, Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

@Clipperton Island, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of France

@Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Header Affiliation: (territory of Australia)

@Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, 1,070 km southwest of Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total area: 14 sq km land area: 14 sq km comparative area: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 2.6 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: none Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of the year; moderate rain fall Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA Note: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation

@Cocos (Keeling) Islands, People

Population:

598 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.98% (1994 est.)

Nationality:

noun:

Cocos Islander(s)

adjective:

Cocos Islander

Ethnic divisions:

West Island:

Europeans

Home Island:

Cocos Malays

Religions:

Sunni Muslims

Languages:

English

Literacy:

total population:

NA%

male:

NA%

female:

NA%

Labor force:

@Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Government

Names: conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Digraph: CK Type: territory of Australia Capital: West Island Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia) Independence: none (territory of Australia) National holiday: NA Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws Suffrage: NA Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Administrator B. CUNNINGHAM (since NA) cabinet: Islands Council; Chairman of the Islands Council Haji WAHIN bin Bynie (since NA) Legislative branch: unicameral Islands Council Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: NA Member of: none Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia) US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia) Flag: the flag of Australia is used

@Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Economy

Overview:

Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Copra

and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local gardens

and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and

most other necessities must be imported from Australia.

National product:

GDP $NA

National product real growth rate:

NA%

National product per capita:

$NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA%

Budget:

revenues:

$NA

expenditures:

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exports:

$NA

commodities:

copra

partners:

Australia

Imports:

$NA

commodities:

foodstuffs

partners:

Australia

External debt:

$NA

Industrial production:

growth rate NA%

Electricity:

capacity:

1,000 kW

production:

2 million kWh

consumption per capita:

2,980 kWh (1990)

Industries:

copra products

Agriculture:

gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Economic aid:

none

Currency:

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704

(1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

@Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Communications

Highways:

total:

paved:

unpaved:

Ports:

none; lagoon anchorage only

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:

250 radios (1985); linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile

communications via satellite with Australia; broadcast stations - 1

AM, no FM, no TV

@Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

@Colombia, Geography

Location:

Northern South America, between Panama and Venezuela

Map references:

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

of the World

Area:

total area:

1,138,910 sq km

land area:

1,038,700 sq km

comparative area:

slightly less than three times the size of Montana

note:

includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla

Bank

Land boundaries:

total 7,408 km, Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru

2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km

Coastline:

3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)

Maritime claims:

continental shelf:

not specified

exclusive economic zone:

200 nm

territorial sea:

12 nm

International disputes:

maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela;

territorial dispute with Nicaragua over Archipelago de San Andres y

Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank

Climate:

tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

Terrain:

flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains,

eastern lowland plains

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds

Land use:

arable land:

permanent crops:

meadows and pastures:

29%

forest and woodland:

49%

other:

16%

Irrigated land:

5,150 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:

current issues:

deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides

natural hazards:

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; periodic droughts

international agreements:

party to - Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Marine Life

Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship

Pollution, Tropical Timber; signed, but not ratified -

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change,

Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Note:

only South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific

Ocean and Caribbean Sea

@Colombia, People

Population: 35,577,556 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.77% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 22.64 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 4.75 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: −0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 28.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.1 years male: 69.33 years female: 74.95 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.47 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Colombian(s) adjective: Colombian Ethnic divisions: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Indian 3%, Indian 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 95% Languages: Spanish Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 87% male: 88% female: 86% Labor force: 12 million (1990) by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)

@Colombia, Government

Names:

conventional long form:

Republic of Colombia

conventional short form:

Colombia

local long form:

Republica de Colombia

local short form:

Colombia

Digraph:

Type:

republic; executive branch dominates government structure

Capital:

Bogota

Administrative divisions:

32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital

district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico,

Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar,

Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira,

Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio,

Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle

del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

Independence:

20 July 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Constitution:

5 July 1991

Legal system:

based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures

was enacted in 1992–93; judicial review of executive and legislative

acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state and head of government:

President Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo (since 7 August 1990);

President-designate Juan Manuel SANTOS (since NA 1993); election last

held 27 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - Cesar GAVIRIA

Trujillo (Liberal Party) 47%, Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado (National Salvation

Movement) 24%, Antonio NAVARRO Wolff (AD/M-19) 13%, Rodrigo LLOREDA

(Conservative Party) 12%

note:

a new government will be inaugurated on 7 August 1994; the

presidential election of 29 May 1994 resulted in no candidate

receiving more than 50% of the total vote and a run-off election to

select a president from the two leading candidates was held on 19 June

1994; results - Ernesto SAMPER Pizano (Liberal Party) 50.4%, Andres

PASTRANA Arango (Conservative Party) 48.6%, blank votes 1%; Humberto

de la CALLE was elected vice president; electing a vice president is a

new proceedure that replaces the traditional appointment of

president-designates by newly elected presidents

cabinet:

Cabinet

Legislative branch:

bicameral Congress (Congreso)

Senate (Senado):

elections last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998);

preliminary results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (102 total)

Liberal Party 59, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF) 31, other

House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes):

elections last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998);

preliminary results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (161 total)

Liberal Party 89, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF) 53,

AD/M-19 2, other 17

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justical), Constitutional

Court, Council of State

Political parties and leaders:

Liberal Party (PL), Ernesto SAMPER Pizano, president; Conservative

Party (PC), Misael PASTRANA Borrero; National Salvation Movement

(MSN), Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado; New Democratic Force (NDF), Andres

PASTRANA Arango; Democratic Alliance M-19 (AD/M-19) is a coalition of

small leftist parties and dissident liberals and conservatives;

Patriotic Union (UP) is a legal political party formed by

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and Colombian Communist

Party (PCC), Carlos ROMERO

Other political or pressure groups:

three insurgent groups are active in Colombia - Revolutionary Armed

Forces of Colombia (FARC), Manuel MARULANDA and Alfonso CANO; National

Liberation Army (ELN), Manuel PEREZ; and dissidents of the recently

demobilized People's Liberation Army (EPL), Francisco CARABALLO;

Francisco CARABALLO was captured by the government in June 1994

Member of:

AG, CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA,

IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,

INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS,

ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPROFOR,

UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Gabriel SILVA

chancery:

2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

(202) 387–8338

FAX:

(202) 232–8643

consulate(s) general:

Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York,

San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Washington

consulate(s):

Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Tampa

US diplomatic representation:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Morris D. BUSBY

embassy:

Calle 38, No. 8–61, Bogota

mailing address:

Apartado Aereo 3831, Bogota or APO AA 34038

telephone:

[57] (1) 320–1300

FAX:

[57] (1) 288–5687

consulate(s):

Barranquilla

Flag:

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red;

similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the

Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

@Colombia, Economy

Overview:

Colombia's economic growth has recovered steadily since 1991 as

President GAVIRIA'S sweeping economic reform measures have taken hold.

Market reforms have included trade and investment liberalization,

labor and tax overhauls and bureaucratic streamlining, among other

things. Furthermore, conservative fiscal and monetary policies have

helped to steadily reduce inflation to 23% and unemployment to about

7% in 1993. The rapid development of oil, coal, and other

nontraditional industries has helped offset the decline in coffee

prices. A major oil find in 1993 in eastern Colombia may provide an

extra $3 billion annually to the economy by 1997. Increased foreign

investment and even greater domestic activity have been hampered,

however, by a troublesome rural insurgency, a decrepit energy and

transportation infrastructure, and drug-related violence. Agriculture

also has encountered problems in adjusting to fewer subsidies, greater

competition, and the collapse of the international coffee agreement,

which has kept world coffee prices at near-record lows in 1991–93.

Business construction was a leading sector in 1993. The substantial

trade deficit in 1993 was the result of a strong peso that inhibited

exports and a liberalized government policy that spurred imports.

National product:

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $192 billion (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate:

5.1% (1993 est.)

National product per capita:

$5,500 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

22.6% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.9% (1993 est.)

Budget:

revenues:

$11 billion

expenditures:

$12 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (1993

est.)

Exports:

$6.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities:

petroleum, coffee, coal, bananas, fresh cut flowers

partners:

US 39%, EC 25.7%, Japan 2.9%, Venezuela 8.5% (1992)

Imports:

$6.7 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)

commodities:

industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods,

chemicals, paper products

partners:

US 36%, EC 18%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 6.5%, Japan 8.7% (1992)

External debt:

$17 billion (1992)

Industrial production:

growth rate 2% (1993 est.); accounts for 21% of GDP

Electricity:

capacity:

10,193,000 kW

production:

36 billion kWh

consumption per capita:

1,050 kWh (1992)

Industries:

textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages,

chemicals, metal products, cement; mining - gold, coal, emeralds,

iron, nickel, silver, salt

Agriculture:

growth rate 2.7% (1993 est.) accounts for 21% of GDP; crops make up

two-thirds and livestock one-third of agricultural output; climate and

soils permit a wide variety of crops, such as coffee, rice, tobacco,

corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseeds, vegetables; forest products

and shrimp farming are becoming more important

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of coca, opium, and cannabis; about 37,100 hectares

of coca under cultivation; the world's largest processor of coca

derivatives into cocaine in 1992; supplier of cocaine to the US and

other international drug markets

Economic aid:

recipient:

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70–89), $1.6 billion; Western

(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970–89), $3.3

billion; Communist countries (1970–89), $399 million

Currency:

1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates:

Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 921.20 (January 1994), 863.06

(1993), 759.28 (1992), 633.05 (1991), 502.26 (1990), 382.57 (1989)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

@Colombia, Communications

Railroads:

3,386 km; 3,236 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track (2,611 km in use),

150 km 1.435-meter gauge

Highways:

total:

128,717 km (1989)

paved:

10,330 km

unpaved:

gravel/earth 118,387 km

Inland waterways:

14,300 km, navigable by river boats

Pipelines:

crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural gas 830 km;

natural gas liquids 125 km

Ports:

Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Covenas, San Andres, Santa

Marta, Tumaco

Merchant marine:

27 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 211,777 GRT/335,763 DWT, bulk 7,

cargo 11, container 6, oil tanker 3

Airports:

total:

1,369

usable:

1,156

with permanent-surface runways:

with runways over 3,659 m:

with runways 2,440–2,659 m:

with runways 1,220–2,439 m:

205

Telecommunications:

nationwide radio relay system; 1,890,000 telephones; broadcast

stations - 413 AM, no FM, 33 TV, 28 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean

INTELSAT earth stations and 11 domestic satellite earth stations

@Colombia, Defense Forces

Branches:

Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, including Marines),

Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia

Nacional)

Manpower availability:

males age 15–49 9,639,080; fit for military service 6,507,935; reach

military age (18) annually 354,944 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures:

exchange rate conversion - $1.2 billion (1992 est.)

@Comoros, Geography

Location: Southeastern Africa, in the extreme northern Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 2,170 sq km land area: 2,170 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 340 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claims French-administered Mayotte Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills Natural resources: negligible Land use: arable land: 35% permanent crops: 8% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 16% other: 34% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: soil degradation and erosion; deforestation natural hazards: cyclones possible during rainy season international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

@Comoros, People

Population: 530,136 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 3.55% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 46.48 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 10.95 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 79.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.81 years male: 55.63 years female: 60.06 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.79 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran Ethnic divisions: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava Religions: Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14% Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 48% male: 56% female: 40% Labor force: 140,000 (1982) by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3% note: 51% of population of working age (1985)

@Comoros, Government

Names:

conventional long form:

Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros

conventional short form:

Comoros

local long form:

Republique Federale Islamique des Comores

local short form:

Comores

Digraph:

Type:

independent republic

Capital:

Moroni

Administrative divisions:

three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli

(Mwali)

note:

there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and

Mutsamudu

Independence:

6 July 1975 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

Constitution:

7 June 1992

Legal system:

French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state::

President Said Mohamed DJOHAR (since 11 March 1990); election last

held 11 March 1990 (next to be held March 1996); results - Said

Mohamed DJOHAR (UDZIMA) 55%, Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (UNDC) 45%

head of government::

Prime Minister Mohamed Abdou MADI (since 6 January 1994) appointed by

President DJOHAR 6 January 1994 (DJOHAR has appointed 14 prime

ministers in the last three years)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch:

unicameral

Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale):

elections last held 12–20 December 1993 (next to be held by NA January

1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (42 total)

Ruling Coalition: RDR 15, UNDC 5, MWANGAZA 2; Opposition: UDZIMA 8,

other smaller parties 10; 2 seats remained unfilled

note:

opposition is boycotting the National Assembly until the government

promises to investigate fraud in the last election

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders:

over 20 political parties are currently active, the most important of

which are; Comoran Union for Progress (UDZIMA), Omar TAMOU; Islands'

Fraternity and Unity Party (CHUMA), Said Ali KEMAL; Comoran Party for

Democracy and Progress (PCDP), Ali MROUDJAE; Realizing Freedom's

Capability (UWEZO), Mouazair ABDALLAH; Democratic Front of the Comoros

(FDR), Moustapha CHELKH; Dialogue Proposition Action (DPA/MWANGAZA),

Said MCHAWGAMA; Rally for Change and Democracy (RACHADE), Hassan

HACHIM; Union for Democracy and Decentralization (UNDC), Mohamed Taki

Halidi IBRAHAM; Rally for Democracy and Renewal (RDR); Comoran Popular

Front (FPC), Mohamed HASSANALI, Mohamed El Arif OUKACHA, Abdou

MOUSTAKIM (Secretary General)

Member of:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,

ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,

UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Amini Ali MOUMIN

chancery:

(temporary) at the Comoran Permanent Mission to the UN, 336 East 45th

Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017

telephone:

(212) 972–8010

FAX:

(212) 983–4712

US diplomatic representation:

none; post closed in September 1993

Flag:

green with a white crescent placed diagonally (closed side of the

crescent points to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag); there are

four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of

the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional

symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of

the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (which is a

territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by the Comoros)

@Comoros, Economy

Overview:

One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of several

islands that have poor transportation links, a young and rapidly

increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational

level of the labor force contributes to a low level of economic

activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants

and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and

forestry, is the leading sector of the economy. It contributes 40% to

GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports.

The country is not self-sufficient in food production, and rice, the

main staple, accounts for 90% of imports. During 1982–86 the

industrial sector grew at an annual average rate of 5.3%, but its

contribution to GDP is small. Despite major investment in the tourist

industry, which accounts for about 25% of GDP, growth has stagnated

since 1983. A sluggish growth rate of 1.5% during 1985–90 has led to

large budget deficits, declining incomes, and balance-of-payments

difficulties. Estimates for 1992 show a moderate increase in the

growth rate based on increased exports, tourism, and government

investment outlays.

National product:

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $360 million (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate:

5% (1992 est.)

National product per capita:

$700 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate:

over 15.9% (1989)

Budget:

revenues:

$96 million

expenditures:

$88 million, including capital expenditures of $33 million (1991 est.)

Exports:

$21 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities:

vanilla, cloves, perfume oil, copra, ylang-ylang

partners:

US 53%, France 41%, Africa 4%, FRG 2% (1988)

Imports:

$60 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities:

rice and other foodstuffs, cement, petroleum products, consumer goods

partners:

Europe 62% (France 22%), Africa 5%, Pakistan, China (1988)

External debt:

$160 million (1992 est.)

Industrial production:

growth rate −6.5% (1989 est.); accounts for 10% of GDP

Electricity:

capacity:

16,000 kW

production:

25 million kWh

consumption per capita:

50 kWh (1991)

Industries:

perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction

materials, soft drinks

Agriculture:

accounts for 40% of GDP; most of population works in subsistence

agriculture and fishing; plantations produce cash crops for export -

vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra; principal food crops -

coconuts, bananas, cassava; world's leading producer of essence of

ylang-ylang (for perfumes) and second-largest producer of vanilla;

large net food importer

Economic aid:

recipient:

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY80–89), $10 million; Western

(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970–89), $435

million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979–89), $22 million; Communist

countries (1970–89), $18 million

Currency:

1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates:

Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 444.03 (January 1994), 254.57 (1993),

264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989)

note:

beginning 12 January 1994, the Comoran franc was devalued to 75 per

French franc from 50 per French franc at which it had been fixed since

1948

Fiscal year:

calendar year

@Comoros, Communications

Highways:

total:

750 km

paved:

bituminous 210 km

unpaved:

crushed stone, gravel 540 km

Ports:

Mutsamudu, Moroni

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:

sparse system of radio relay and high-frequency radio communication

stations for interisland and external communications to Madagascar and

Reunion; over 1,800 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, no TV

@Comoros, Defense Forces

Branches:

Comoran Defense Force (FDC)

Manpower availability:

males age 15–49 112,918; fit for military service 67,522

Defense expenditures:

$NA, NA% of GDP

@Congo, Geography

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Gabon and

Zaire

Map references:

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area:

total area:

342,000 sq km

land area:

341,500 sq km

comparative area:

slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries:

total 5,504 km, Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African

Republic 467 km, Gabon 1,903 km, Zaire 2,410 km

Coastline:

169 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea:

200 nm

International disputes:

long segment of boundary with Zaire along the Congo River is

indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been made)

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October);

constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating

climate astride the Equator

Terrain:

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Natural resources:

petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates,

natural gas

Land use:

arable land:

permanent crops:

meadows and pastures:

29%

forest and woodland:

62%

other:

Irrigated land:

40 sq km (1989)

Environment:

current issues:

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping

of raw sewage; deforestation

natural hazards:

international agreements:

party to - Endangered Species, Tropical Timber; signed, but not

ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer

Protection

Note:

about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, or

along the railroad between them

@Congo, People

Population: 2,446,902 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.38% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 40.27 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 16.49 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 111 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.56 years male: 45.76 years female: 49.41 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.3 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo Ethnic divisions: south: Kongo 48% north: Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12% center: Teke 17%, Europeans 8,500 (mostly French) Religions: Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2% Languages: French (official), African languages (Lingala and Kikongo are the most widely used) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 57% male: 70% female: 44% Labor force: 79,100 wage earners by occupation: agriculture 75%, commerce, industry, and government 25% note: 51% of population of working age; 40% of population economically active (1985)

@Congo, Government

Names:

conventional long form:

Republic of the Congo

conventional short form:

Congo

local long form:

Republique Populaire du Congo

local short form:

Congo

former:

Congo/Brazzaville

Digraph:

Type:

republic

Capital:

Brazzaville

Administrative divisions:

9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza,

Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux,

Pool, Sangha

Independence:

15 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)

Constitution:

new constitution approved by referendum March 1992

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and customary law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state:

President Pascal LISSOUBA (since August 1992); election last held 2–16

August 1992 (next to be held August 1997); results - President Pascal

LISSOUBA won with 61% of the vote

head of government:

Prime Minister Jacques Joachim YHOMBI-OPANGO (since 23 June 1993)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers; named by the president

Legislative branch:

bicameral

National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale):

election last held 3 October 1993; results - percentage vote by party

NA; seats - (125 total) UPADS 64, URD/PCT 58, others 3

Senate:

election last held 26 July 1992 (next to be held July 1998); results -

percentage vote by party NA; seats - (60 total) UPADS 23, MCDDI 14,

RDD 8, RDPS 5, PCT 2, others 8

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders:

Congolese Labor Party (PCT), Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president;

Pan-African Union for Social Development (UPADS), Pascal LISSOUBA,

leader; Association for Democracy and Development (RDD) - Joachim

Yhombi OPANGO, president; Congolese Movement for Democracy and

Integral Development (MCDDI), Bernard KOLELAS, leader; Association for

Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS), Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA,

president; Union of Democratic Forces (UFD), David Charles GANAO,

leader; Union for Development and Social Progress (UDPS), Jean-Michael

BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader

note:

Congo has many political parties of which these are among the most

important

Other political or pressure groups:

Union of Congolese Socialist Youth (UJSC); Congolese Trade Union

Congress (CSC); Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women (URFC); General

Union of Congolese Pupils and Students (UGEEC)

Member of:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD,

ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,

LORCS, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,

WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US:

chief of mission:

Ambassador Pierre Damien BOUSSOUKOU-BOUMBA

chancery:

4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011

telephone:

(202) 726–5500 or 5501

US diplomatic representation:

chief of mission:

Ambassador William RAMSEY

embassy:

Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville

mailing address:

B. P. 1015, Brazzaville

telephone:

(242) 83–20-70

FAX:

[242] 83–63-38

Flag:

red, divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band;

the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is

red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

@Congo, Economy

Overview:

Congo's economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts,

an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a

government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. A reform

program, supported by the IMF and World Bank, ran into difficulties in

1990–91 because of problems in changing to a democratic political

regime and a heavy debt-servicing burden. Oil has supplanted forestry

as the mainstay of the economy, providing about two-thirds of

government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s rapidly rising oil

revenues enabled Congo to finance large-scale development projects

with growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa.

Subsequently, growth has slowed to an average of roughly 1.5%

annually, only half the population growth rate. Political turmoil and

misguided government investment have derailed economic reform programs