Chapter V (17)

Location:
Middle East, between Iran and Saudi Arabia
Map references:
Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
437,072 km2 land area:
432,162 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Land boundaries:
total 3,631 km, Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 242 km, Saudi Arabia
814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km
Coastline:
58 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to
work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their
eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom
of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; in April 1991
official Iraqi acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 687, which
demands that Iraq accept the inviolability of the boundary set forth in its
1963 agreement with Kuwait, ending earlier claims to Bubiyan and Warbah
Islands or to all of Kuwait; the 20 May 1993 final report of the UN
Iraq/Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission was welcomed by the Security
Council in Resolution 833 of 27 May 1993, which also reaffirmed that the
decisions of the commission on the boundary were final, bringing to a
completion the official demarcation of the Iraq-Kuwait boundary; Iraqi
officials still make public statements claiming Kuwait; periodic disputes
with upstream riparian Syria over Euphrates water rights; potential dispute
over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Climate:
mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers;
northernmost regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold
winters with occasionally heavy snows
Terrain:
mostly broad plains; reedy marshes in southeast; mountains along borders
with Iran and Turkey
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use:
arable land:
12%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
9%
forest and woodland:
3%
other:
75%
Irrigated land:
25,500 km2 (1989 est)

*Iraq, Geography

Environment:
development of Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon agreements
with upstream riparians (Syria, Turkey); air and water pollution; soil
degradation (salinization) and erosion; desertification

*Iraq, People

Population: 19,161,956 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 3.73% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 44.57 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 7.71 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 71.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.96 years male: 64.2 years female: 65.76 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.86 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Iraqi(s) adjective: Iraqi Ethnic divisions: Arab 75-80%, Kurdish 15-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5% Religions: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60-65%, Sunni 32-37%), Christian or other 3% Languages: Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 60% male: 70% female: 49% Labor force: 4.4 million (1989) by occupation: services 48%, agriculture 30%, industry 22% note: severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force was about 1,600,000 (July 1990); since then, it has declined substantially

*Iraq, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Iraq
conventional short form:
Iraq
local long form:
Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
local short form:
Al Iraq
Digraph:
IZ
Type:
republic
Capital:
Baghdad
Administrative divisions:
18 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al
Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil,
Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din,
Wasit
Independence:
3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Constitution:
22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (interim Constitution); new
constitution drafted in 1990 but not adopted
Legal system:
based on Islamic law in special religious courts, civil law system
elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)
Political parties and leaders:
Ba'th Party
Other political or pressure groups:
political parties and activity severely restricted; possibly some opposition
to regime from disaffected members of the regime, Army officers, and Shi'a
religious and Kurdish ethnic dissidents; the Green Party
(government-controlled)
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
National Assembly:
last held on 1 April 1989 (next to be held NA); results - Sunni Arabs 53%,
Shi'a Arabs 30%, Kurds 15%, Christians 2% est.; seats - (250 total) number
of seats by party NA
note:
in northern Iraq, a "Kurdish Assembly" was elected in May 1992 and calls for
Kurdish self-determination within a federated Iraq
Executive branch:
president, vice president, chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council,
vice chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council, prime minister, first
deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani)
Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation

*Iraq, Government

Leaders:
Chief of State:
President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice President Taha Muhyi
al-Din MA'RUF (since 21 April 1974); Vice President Taha Yasin RAMADAN
(since 23 March 1991)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Muhammad Hamza al-ZUBAYDI (since 13 September 1991); Deputy
Prime Minister Tariq 'AZIZ (since NA 1979)
Member of:
ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Iraq has an Interest Section in the Algerian embassy in Washington, DC
chancery:
Iraqi Interests Section, 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 483-7500
FAX:
(202) 462-5066
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); note - operations have been temporarily suspended; a US Interests
Section is located in Poland's embassy in Baghdad
embassy:
Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club), Baghdad
mailing address:
P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, Baghdad
telephone:
[964] (1) 719-6138 or 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green
five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the
phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the
right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was
added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of
Syria that has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a
plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt that has a symbolic
eagle centered in the white band

*Iraq, Economy

Overview:
The Ba'thist regime engages in extensive central planning and management of
industrial production and foreign trade while leaving some small-scale
industry and services and most agriculture to private enterprise. The
economy has been dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally
provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s, financial
problems caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and
damage to oil export facilities by Iran, led the government to implement
austerity measures and to borrow heavily and later reschedule foreign debt
payments. After the end of hostilities in 1988, oil exports gradually
increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged
facilities. Agricultural development remained hampered by labor shortages,
salinization, and dislocations caused by previous land reform and
collectivization programs. The industrial sector, although accorded high
priority by the government, also was under financial constraints. Iraq's
seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic
embargoes, and military action by an international coalition beginning in
January 1991 drastically changed the economic picture. Industrial and
transportation facilities suffered severe damage and have been only
partially restored. Oil exports remain at less than 10% of the previous
level. Shortages of spare parts continue. Living standards deteriorated even
further in 1992 and early 1993; consumer prices at least tripled in 1992.
The UN-sponsored economic embargo has reduced exports and imports and has
contributed to the sharp rise in prices. The government's policies of
supporting large military and internal security forces and of allocating
resources to key supporters of the regime have exacerbated shortages. In
brief, per capita output in early 1993 is far below the 1989-90 level, but
no reliable estimate is available.
National product:
GNP - exchange rate conversion - $35 billion (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
10% (1989 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,940 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
200% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
less than 5% (1989 est.)
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$10.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
crude oil and refined products, fertilizer, sulfur
partners:
US, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, Netherlands, Spain (1990)
Imports:
$6.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
manufactures, food
partners:
Germany, US, Turkey, France, UK (1990)
External debt:
$45 billion (1989 est.), excluding debt of about $35 billion owed to Arab
Gulf states
Industrial production: NA%; manufacturing accounts for 10% of GNP (1989)

*Iraq, Economy

Electricity:
7,300,000 kW available out of 9,902,000 kW capacity due to Gulf war; 12,900
million kWh produced, 700 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
petroleum production and refining, chemicals, textiles, construction
materials, food processing
Agriculture:
accounts for 11% of GNP and 30% of labor force; principal products - wheat,
barley, rice, vegetables, dates, other fruit, cotton, wool; livestock -
cattle, sheep; not self-sufficient in food output
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $3 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $647 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $3.9 billion
Currency:
1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates:
Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1 - 3.2 (fixed official rate since 1982);
black-market rate (April 1993) US$1 = 53.5 Iraqi dinars
Fiscal year:
calendar year

*Iraq, Communications

Railroads:
2,457 km 1.435-meter standard gauge
Highways:
34,700 km total; 17,500 km paved, 5,500 km improved earth, 11,700 km
unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about
130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 meters and is in use; Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft watercraft; Shatt
al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991
because of the Persian Gulf war
Pipelines:
crude oil 4,350 km; petroleum products 725 km; natural gas 1,360 km
Ports:
Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, Al Basrah (closed since 1980)
Merchant marine:
41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 930,780 GRT/1,674,878 DWT; includes 1
passenger, 1 passenger-cargo, 15 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 3
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 19 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker; note - none of the
Iraqi flag merchant fleet was trading internationally as of 1 January 1993
Airports:
total:
114
usable: 99
with permanent-surface runways:
74
with runways over 3,659 m:
9
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
52
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
12
Telecommunications:
reconstitution of damaged telecommunication facilities began after Desert
Storm, most damaged facilities have been rebuilt; the network consists of
coaxial cables and microwave radio relay links; 632,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 16 AM, 1 FM, 13 TV; satellite earth stations - 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Atlantic Ocean GORIZONT
in the Intersputnik system and 1 ARABSAT; coaxial cable and microwave radio
relay to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey, Kuwait line is probably
non-operational

*Iraq, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army and Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard
Force, Internal Security Forces
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 4,235,321; fit for military service 2,379,999; reach
military age (18) annually 211,776 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GNP

*Ireland, Geography

Location:
in the North Atlantic Ocean, across the Irish Sea from Great Britain
Map references:
Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
70,280 km2
land area:
68,890 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total 360 km, UK 360 km
Coastline:
1,448 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Northern Ireland question with the UK; Rockall continental shelf dispute
involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a
boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Climate:
temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool
summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain:
mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low
mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Natural resources:
zinc, lead, natural gas, petroleum, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone,
dolomite, peat, silver
Land use:
arable land:
14%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
71%
forest and woodland:
5%
other:
10%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
deforestation
Note:
strategic location on major air and sea routes between North American and
northern Europe

*Ireland, People

Population: 3,529,566 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.26% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 14.39 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 8.71 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -3.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.38 years male: 72.56 years female: 78.36 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.02 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural) adjective: Irish Ethnic divisions: Celtic, English Religions: Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other 1% (1981) Languages: Irish (Gaelic), spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard, English is the language generally used Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981) total population: 98% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 1.37 million by occupation: services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 28%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 13.5%, energy and mining 1.5% (1992)

*Ireland, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Ireland
Digraph:
EI
Type:
republic
Capital:
Dublin
Administrative divisions:
26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry,
Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath,
Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath,
Wexford, Wicklow
Independence:
6 December 1921 (from UK)
Constitution:
29 December 1937; adopted 1937
Legal system:
based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts;
judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Albert REYNOLDS; Labor
Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland,
Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Desmond
O'MALLEY
note:
Prime Minister REYNOLDS heads a coalition consisting of the Fianna Fail and
the Labor Party
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997); results - Mary
Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%
Senate:
last held on NA February 1992 (next to be held February 1997); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 26,
Fine Gael 16, Labor 9, Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1,
independents 6
House of Representatives:
last held on 25 November 1992 (next to be held by June 1995); results -
Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party 19.3%, Progressive Democrats
4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein 1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%,
independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total) Fianna Fail 68, Fine Gael 45, Labor
Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10, Democratic Left 4, Greens 1,
independents 5
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) consists of an upper house or Senate
(Seanad Eireann) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Dail
Eireann)

*Ireland, Government

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Albert REYNOLDS (since 11 February 1992)
Member of:
Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, COCOM (cooperating country), CSCE, EBRD, EC,
ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA, NSG,
OECD, ONUSAL, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM,
UNPROFRO, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER chancery:
2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 462-3939
consulates general:
Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador William Henry G. FITZGERALD; Ambassador Designate Jean Kennedy
SMITH (17 March 1993)
embassy:
42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
[353] (1) 687122
FAX:
[353] (1) 689946
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar
to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors
reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag
of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and
red

*Ireland, Economy

Overview:
The economy is small and trade dependent. Agriculture, once the most
important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 37% of GDP,
about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor force. Since 1987, real
GDP growth, led by exports, has averaged 4% annually. Over the same period,
inflation has fallen sharply and chronic trade deficits have been
transformed into annual surpluses. Unemployment, at 22.7% remains a serious
problem, however, and job creation is the main focus of government policy.
To ease unemployment, Dublin aggressively courts foreign investors and
recently created a new industrial development agency to aid small indigenous
firms. Government assistance is constrained by Dublin's continuing deficit
reduction measures. After five years of fiscal restraint, total government
debt still exceeds GDP. Growth probably will moderate in 1993 as the heavily
indebted and trade-dependent economy is highly sensitive to changes in
exchange rates and world interest rates. Exports to the UK, Ireland's major
export market, probably will be hurt by the recent appreciation of the Irish
currency against sterling - for the first time since 1979 the value of the
Irish pound exceeds that of its British counterpart.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $42.4 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
2% (1992)
National product per capita:
$12,000 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 22.7% (1992)
Budget:
revenues $16.0 billion; expenditures $16.6 billion, including capital
expenditures of $1.6 billion (1992 est.)
Exports:
$28.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial machinery, live animals,
animal products
partners:
EC 75% (UK 32%, Germany 13%, France 10%), US 9%
Imports:
$23.3 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum and petroleum
products, machinery, textiles, clothing
partners:
EC 66% (UK 41%, Germany 8%, Netherlands 4%), US 15%
External debt:
$15 billion (1990)
Industrial production:
growth rate 8.0% (1992 est.); accounts for 37% of GDP
Electricity:
5,000,000 kW capacity; 14,500 million kWh produced, 4,120 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals,
machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal

*Ireland, Economy

Agriculture:
accounts for 11% of GDP and 13% of the labor force; principal crops -
turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; livestock - meat and dairy
products; 85% self-sufficient in food; food shortages include bread grain,
fruits, vegetables
Economic aid:
donor - ODA commitments (1980-89), $90 million
Currency:
1 Irish pound (#Ir) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
Irish pounds (#Ir) per US$1 - 0.6118 (January 1993), 0.5864 (1992), 0.6190
(1991), 0.6030 (1990), 0.7472 (1989), 0.6553 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

*Ireland, Communications

Railroads:
Irish National Railways (CIE) operates 1,947 km 1.602-meter gauge,
government owned; 485 km double track; 37 km electrified
Highways: 92,294 km total; 87,422 km paved, 4,872 km gravel or crushed stone
Inland waterways:
limited for commercial traffic
Pipelines:
natural gas 225 km
Ports:
Cork, Dublin, Waterford
Merchant marine:
57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 154,647 GRT/186,432 DWT; includes 4
short-sea passenger, 33 cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 4 container, 3 oil
tanker, 3 specialized tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 5 bulk
Airports:
total:
40
usable:
39
with permanent-surface runways:
13
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
6
Telecommunications:
modern system using cable and digital microwave circuits; 900,000
telephones; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 45 FM, 86 TV; 2 coaxial submarine
cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Ireland, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army (including Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police (Garda
Siochana)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 903,536; fit for military service 731,085; reach military
age (17) annually 33,932 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $569 million, 1-2% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Israel, Header

Affiliation:
(also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)
Note:
The Arab territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included
in the data below. As stated in the 1978 Camp David Accords and reaffirmed
by President Bush's post-Gulf crisis peace initiative, the final status of
the West Bank and Gaza Strip, their relationship with their neighbors, and a
peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be negotiated among the
concerned parties. The Camp David Accords further specify that these
negotiations will resolve the location of the respective boundaries. Pending
the completion of this process, it is US policy that the final status of the
West Bank and Gaza Strip has yet to be determined (see West Bank and Gaza
Strip entries). On 25 April 1982, Israel relinquished control of the Sinai
to Egypt. Statistics for the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights are included in
the Syria entry.

*Israel, Geography

Location:
Middle East, bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
Lebanon
Map references:
Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
20,770 km2
land area:
20,330 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total 1,006 km, Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79
km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
Coastline:
273 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
to depth of exploitation
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
separated from Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank by the 1949 Armistice Line;
differences with Jordan over the location of the 1949 Armistice Line that
separates the two countries; West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied
with status to be determined; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli
troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; water-sharing issues with Jordan
Climate:
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Terrain:
Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift
Valley
Natural resources:
copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese,
small amounts of natural gas and crude oil
Land use:
arable land:
17%
permanent crops:
5%
meadows and pastures:
40%
forest and woodland:
6%
other: 32%
Irrigated land:
2,140 km2 (1989)
Environment:
sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; limited arable land and
natural water resources pose serious constraints; deforestation
Note:
there are 175 Jewish settlements in the West Bank, 38 in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 18 in the Gaza Strip, and 14 Israeli-built
Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem

*Israel, People

Population:
4,918,946 (July 1993 est.)
note:
includes 102,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank, 14,000 in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 4,000 in the Gaza Strip, and 134,000 in East
Jerusalem (1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.08% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
20.72 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
6.45 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
16.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
77.77 years
male:
75.72 years
female:
79.93 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.86 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Israeli(s)
adjective:
Israeli
Ethnic divisions:
Jewish 83%, non-Jewish 17% (mostly Arab)
Religions:
Judaism 82%, Islam 14% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian 2%, Druze and other
2%
Languages:
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most
commonly used foreign language
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1983)
total population: 92%
male:
95%
female:
89%
Labor force:
1.4 million (1984 est.)
by occupation:
public services 29.3%, industry, mining, and manufacturing 22.8%, commerce
12.8%, finance and business 9.5%, transport, storage, and communications
6.8%, construction and public works 6.5%, personal and other services 5.8%,
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5.5%, electricity and water 1.0% (1983)

*Israel, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
State of Israel
conventional short form:
Israel
local long form:
Medinat Yisra'el
local short form:
Yisra'el
Digraph:
IS
Type:
republic
Capital:
Jerusalem
note:
Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital in 1950, but the US, like nearly all
other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv
Administrative divisions:
6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem,
Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
Independence:
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Constitution:
no formal constitution; some of the functions of a constitution are filled
by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the basic laws of the parliament
(Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law
Legal system:
mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and, in personal
matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; in December 1985,
Israel informed the UN Secretariat that it would no longer accept compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 14 May 1948 (Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948,
but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May)
Political parties and leaders:
members of the government:
Labor Party, Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN; MERETZ, Minister of Education
Shulamit ALONI; SHAS, Minister of Interior Arieh DERI
opposition parties:
Likud Party, Binyamin NETANYAHU; Tzomet, Rafael EITAN; National Religious
Party, Zevulun HAMMER; United Torah Jewry, Avraham SHAPIRA; Democratic Front
for Peace and Equality (Hadash), Hashim MAHAMID; Moledet, Rehavam ZEEVI;
Arab Democratic Party, Abd al Wahab DARAWSHAH
note:
Israel currently has a coalition government comprising 3 parties that hold
62 seats of the Knesset's 120 seats
Other political or pressure groups:
Gush Emunim, Jewish nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West
Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now, critical of government's West Bank/Gaza
Strip and Lebanon policies
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 24 March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1999); results - Ezer
WEIZMAN elected by Knesset

*Israel, Government

Knesset:
last held June 1992 (next to be held by NA); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (120 total) Labor Party 44, Likud bloc 32, Meretz 12,
Tzomet 8, National Religious Party 6, Shas 6, United Torah Jewry 4,
Democratic Front for Peace and Equality 3, Moledet 3, Arab Democratic Party
2
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, vice prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral parliament (Knesset)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN (since July 1992)
Member of:
AG (observer), CCC, CERN (oberver), EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Itamar RABINOVICH
chancery:
3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 364-5500
consulates general:
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
Philadelphia, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission:
Acting Ambassador William BROWN
embassy:
71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv
mailing address:
APO AE 09830
telephone:
[972] (3) 654338
FAX:
[972] (3) 663449
consulate general:
Jerusalem
Flag:
white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen
David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands
near the top and bottom edges of the flag

*Israel, Economy

Overview:
Israel has a market economy with substantial government participation. It
depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military
equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively
developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years.
Industry employs about 20% of Israeli workers, agriculture 5%, and services
most of the rest. Diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural
products (fruits and vegetables) are leading exports. Israel usually posts
balance-of-payments deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments
from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's $17
billion external debt is owed to the United States, which is its major
source of economic and military aid. To earn needed foreign exchange, Israel
has been targeting high-technology niches in international markets, such as
medical scanning equipment. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former
USSR, which topped 400,000 during the period 1990-92, has increased
unemployment, intensified housing problems, and widened the government
budget deficit. At the same time, a considerable number of the immigrants
bring to the economy valuable scientific and professional expertise.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $57.4 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
6.4% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$12,100 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
11% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues $33.9 billion; expenditures $36.8 billion, including capital
expenditures of $9.3 billion (FY93)
Exports:
$11.8 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
polished diamonds, citrus and other fruits, textiles and clothing, processed
foods, fertilizer and chemical products, military hardware, electronics
partners:
US, EC, Japan, Hong Kong, Switzerland
Imports:
$19.6 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
military equipment, rough diamonds, oil, chemicals, machinery, iron and
steel, cereals, textiles, vehicles, ships, aircraft
partners:
US, EC, Switzerland, Japan, South Africa, Canada, Hong Kong
External debt:
$25 billion of which government debt is $17 billion (December 1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 9.4% (1992 est.); accounts for about 20% of GDP
Electricity:
5,835,000 kW capacity; 21,840 million kWh produced, 4,600 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
food processing, diamond cutting and polishing, textiles, clothing,
chemicals, metal products, military equipment, transport equipment,
electrical equipment, miscellaneous machinery, potash mining,
high-technology electronics, tourism

*Israel, Economy

Agriculture:
accounts for about 3% of GDP; largely self-sufficient in food production,
except for grains; principal products - citrus and other fruits, vegetables,
cotton; livestock products - beef, dairy, poultry
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $18.2 billion; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.8 billion
Currency:
1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 2.8000 (December 1992), 2.4591 (1992),
2.2791 (1991), 2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989), 1.5989 (1988), 1.5946 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year (since 1 January 1992)

*Israel, Communications

Railroads:
600 km 1.435-meter gauge, single track; diesel operated
Highways:
4,750 km; majority is bituminous surfaced
Pipelines:
crude oil 708 km; petroleum products 290 km; natural gas 89 km
Ports:
Ashdod, Haifa
Merchant marine:
35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 678,584 GRT/785,220 DWT; includes 8
cargo, 24 container, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off; note - Israel
also maintains a significant flag of convenience fleet, which is normally at
least as large as the Israeli flag fleet; the Israeli flag of convenience
fleet typically includes all of its oil tankers
Airports:
total:
53
usable:
46
with permanent-surface runways:
28
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
7
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
12
Telecommunications:
most highly developed in the Middle East although not the largest; good
system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; 1,800,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 14 AM, 21 FM, 20 TV; 3 submarine cables; satellite
earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

*Israel, Defense Forces

Branches:
Israel Defense Forces (including ground, naval, and air components)
note:
historically, there have been no separate Israeli military services
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,240,757; females age 15-49 1,218,610; males fit for
military service 1,018,212; females fit for military service 996,089; males
reach military age (18) annually 46,131; females reach military age (18)
annually 44,134 (1993 est.); both sexes are liable for military service
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $12.5 billion, 18% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Italy, Geography

Location:
Southern Europe, a peninsula in the central Mediterranean Sea
Map references:
Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
301,230 km2
land area:
294,020 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Arizona
note:
includes Sardinia and Sicily
Land boundaries:
total 1,899.2 km, Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican City) 3.2
km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 199 km, Switzerland 740 km
Coastline:
4,996 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
small vocal minority in northern Italy seeks the return of parts of
southwestern Slovenia
Climate:
predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Terrain:
mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Natural resources:
mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling natural gas and crude oil
reserves, fish, coal
Land use:
arable land:
32%
permanent crops:
10%
meadows and pastures:
17%
forest and woodland:
22%
other:
19%
Irrigated land:
31,000 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
regional risks include landslides, mudflows, snowslides, earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, flooding, pollution; land sinkage in Venice
Note:
strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea
and air approaches to Western Europe

*Italy, People

Population:
58,018,540 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.2% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
10.65 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
9.66 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
77.43 years
male:
74.22 years
female:
80.85 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.37 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Italian(s)
adjective:
Italian
Ethnic divisions:
Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians
in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south),
Sicilians, Sardinians
Religions:
Roman Catholic 100%
Languages:
Italian, German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly
German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta
region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
97%
male:
98%
female:
96%
Labor force:
23.988 million
by occupation:
services 58%, industry 32.2%, agriculture 9.8% (1988)

*Italy, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Italian Republic
conventional short form:
Italy
local long form:
Repubblica Italiana
local short form:
Italia
former:
Kingdom of Italy
Digraph:
IT
Type:
republic
Capital:
Rome
Administrative divisions:
20 regions (regioni, singular - regione); Abruzzi, Basilicata, Calabria,
Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia,
Marche, Molise, Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto
Adige, Umbria, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto
Independence:
17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed)
Constitution:
1 January 1948
Legal system:
based on civil law system, with ecclesiastical law influence; appeals
treated as trials de novo; judicial review under certain conditions in
Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Republic, 2 June (1946)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party (DC), Fermo Mino MARTINAZZOLI, general secretary;
Rosa Russo JERVOLINO, president; Socialist Party (PSI), Giorgio BENVENUTO,
party secretary; Social Democratic Party (PSDI), Enrico FERRI, party
secretary; Liberal Party (PLI); Democratic Party of the Left (PDS - was
Communist Party, or PCI, until January 1991), Achille OCCHETTO, secretary
general; Italian Social Movement (MSI), Gianfranco FINI, national secretary;
Republican Party (PRI), Giorgio BOGI, political secretary; Lega Nord
(Northern League), Umberto BOSSI, president; Communist Renewal (RC), Sergio
GARAVINI
Other political or pressure groups:
the Roman Catholic Church; three major trade union confederations (CGIL -
formerly Communist dominated, CISL - Christian Democratic, and UIL - Social
Democratic, Socialist, and Republican); Italian manufacturers association
(Confindustria); organized farm groups (Confcoltivatori, Confagricoltura)
Suffrage:
18 years of age, universal (except in senatorial elections, where minimum
age is 25)
Elections:
Senate:
last held 5-6 April 1992 (next to be held by April 1997); results - DC
27.3%, PDS 17.0%, PSI 13.6%, Northern Leagues 8.2%, other 33.9%; seats -
(326 total; 315 elected, 11 appointed senators-for-life) DC 107, PDS 64, PSI
49, Leagues 25, other 70

*Italy, Government

Chamber of Deputies:
last held 5-6 April 1992 (next to be held by April 1997); results - DC
29.7%, PDS 16.1%, PSI 13.6%, Northern Leagues 8.7%, RC 5.6%, MSI 5.4%, PRI
4.4%, PLI 2.8%, PSDI 2.7%, other 11%; seats - (630 total) DC 206, PDS 107,
PSI 92, Northern Leagues 55, RC 35, MSI 34, PRI 27, PLI 17, PSDI 16, other
41
Executive branch:
president, prime minister (president of the Council of Ministers)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Parlamento) consists of an upper chamber or Senate of
the Republic (Senato della Repubblica) and a lower chamber or Chamber of
Deputies (Camera dei Deputati)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (Corte Costituzionale)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Oscar Luigi SCALFARO (since 28 May 1992)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Carlo Azeglio CIAMPI (29 April 1993)
Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), Australia Group, AsDB, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional),
CE, CEI, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-7, G-10,
GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IEA, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer),
LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMOZ, UNTSO, UPU,
WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Boris BIANCHERI CHIAPPORI
chancery:
1601 Fuller Street NW, Washington DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 328-5500
consulates general:
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San
Francisco
consulates:
Detroit, New Orleans, and Newark (New Jersey)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
embassy:
Via Veneto 119/A, 00187, Rome
mailing address:
PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624
telephone:
[39] (6) 46741
FAX:
[39] (6) 488-2672
consulates general:
Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Palermo (Sicily)
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; similar to
the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and
orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors
reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green

*Italy, Economy

Overview:
Since World War II the economy has changed from one based on agriculture
into a ranking industrial economy, with approximately the same total and per
capita output as France and the UK. The country is still divided into a
developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and an
undeveloped agricultural south, dominated by large public enterprises.
Services account for 48% of GDP, industry 35%, agriculture 4%, and public
administration 13%. Most raw materials needed by industry and over 75% of
energy requirements must be imported. After growing at an annual average
rate of 3% in 1983-90, growth slowed to about 1% in 1991 and 1992. In the
second half of 1992, Rome became unsettled by the prospect of not qualifying
to participate in EC plans for economic and monetary union later in the
decade; thus it finally began to address its huge fiscal imbalances. Thanks
to the determination of Prime Minister AMATO, the government adopted a
fairly stringent budget for 1993, abandoned its highly inflationary wage
indexation system, and started to scale back its extremely generous social
welfare programs, including pension and health care benefits. Monetary
officials, who were forced to withdraw the lira from the European monetary
system in September 1992 when it came under extreme pressure in currency
markets, remain committed to bringing the currency back into the grid as
soon as conditions warrant. For the 1990s, Italy faces the problems of
refurbishing a tottering communications system, curbing pollution in major
industrial centers, and adjusting to the new competitive forces accompanying
the ongoing economic integration of the European Community.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.012 trillion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
0.9% (1992)
National product per capita:
$17,500 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.4% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
11% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues $447 billion; expenditures $581 billion, including capital
expenditures of $46 billion (1992 est.)
Exports:
$168.8 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
textiles, wearing apparel, metals, production machinery, motor vehicles,
transportation equipment, chemicals, other
partners:
EC 58.3%, US 6.8%, OPEC 5.1% (1992)
Imports:
$169.7 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
petroleum, industrial machinery, chemicals, metals, food, agricultural
products
partners:
EC 58.8%, OPEC 6.1%, US 5.5% (1992)
External debt:
$42 billion (September 1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate -0.5% (1992 est.); accounts for almost 35% of GDP
Electricity:
58,000,000 kW capacity; 235,000 million kWh produced, 4,060 kWh per capita
(1992)

*Italy, Economy

Industries:
machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor
vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Agriculture:
accounts for about 4% of GDP and about 10% of the work force;
self-sufficient in foods other than meat, dairy products, and cereals;
principal crops - fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets,
soybeans, grain, olives; fish catch of 525,000 metric tons in 1990
Illicit drugs:
increasingly important gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering
the European market
Economic aid:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $25.9 billion
Currency:
1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates:
Italian lire (Lit) per US$1 - 1,482.5 (January 1993), 1,232.4 (1992),
1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

*Italy, Communications

Railroads:
20,011 km total; 16,066 km 1.435-meter government-owned standard gauge
(8,999 km electrified); 3,945 km privately owned - 2,100 km 1.435-meter
standard gauge (1,155 km electrified) and 1,845 km 0.950-meter narrow gauge
(380 km electrified)
Highways:
298,000 km total; autostrada (expressway) 6,000 km, state highways 46,000
km, provincial highways 103,000 km, communal highways 143,000 km; 270,000 km
paved, 23,000 km gravel and crushed stone, 5,000 km earth
Inland waterways:
2,400 km for various types of commercial traffic, although of limited
overall value
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,703 km; petroleum products 2,148 km; natural gas 19,400 km
Ports:
Cagliari (Sardinia), Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Naples, Palermo (Sicily),
Taranto, Trieste, Venice
Merchant marine:
536 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,788,938 GRT/10,128,468 DWT;
includes 15 passenger, 36 short-sea passenger, 87 cargo, 4 refrigerated
cargo, 21 container, 69 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 8 vehicle carrier, 1
multifunction large-load carrier, 138 oil tanker, 34 chemical tanker, 45
liquefied gas, 10 specialized tanker, 9 combination ore/oil, 57 bulk, 2
combination bulk
Airports:
total:
137
usable: 133
with permanent-surface runways:
92
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
36
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
39
Telecommunications:
modern, well-developed, fast; 25,600,000 telephones; fully automated
telephone, telex, and data services; high-capacity cable and microwave radio
relay trunks; broadcast stations - 135 AM, 28 (1,840 repeaters) FM, 83
(1,000 repeaters) TV; international service by 21 submarine cables, 3
satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT with 3 Atlantic Ocean
antennas and 2 Indian Ocean antennas; also participates in INMARSAT and
EUTELSAT systems

*Italy, Defense Forces

Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 14,898,913; fit for military service 12,989,142; reach
military age (18) annually 425,286 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $24.5 billion, 2% of GDP (1992)

*Jamaica, Geography

Location: in the northern Caribbean Sea, about 160 km south of Cuba Map references: Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 10,990 km2 land area: 10,830 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 1,022 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain Natural resources: bauxite, gypsum, limestone Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 6% meadows and pastures: 18% forest and woodland: 28% other: 29% Irrigated land: 350 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: subject to hurricanes (especially July to November); deforestation; water pollution Note: strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal

*Jamaica, People

Population:
2,529,981 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.96% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
22.24 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
5.72 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-6.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
17.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
74.09 years
male:
71.92 years
female:
76.36 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Jamaican(s)
adjective: Jamaican
Ethnic divisions:
African 76.3%, Afro-European 15.1%, East Indian and Afro-East Indian 3%,
white 3.2%, Chinese and Afro-Chinese 1.2%, other 1.2%
Religions:
Protestant 55.9% (Church of God 18.4%, Baptist 10%, Anglican 7.1%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 6.9%, Pentecostal 5.2%, Methodist 3.1%, United Church
2.7%, other 2.5%), Roman Catholic 5%, other, including some spiritual cults
39.1% (1982)
Languages:
English, Creole
Literacy:
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1990)
total population:
98%
male:
98%
female:
99%
Labor force:
1,062,100
by occupation:
services 41%, agriculture 22.5%, industry 19%, unemployed 17.5% (1989)

*Jamaica, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Jamaica
Digraph:
JM
Type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Kingston
Administrative divisions:
14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint
Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint
Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
Independence:
6 August 1962 (from UK)
Constitution:
6 August 1962
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day (first Monday in August)
Political parties and leaders:
People's National Party (PNP) P. J. PATTERSON; Jamaica Labor Party (JLP),
Edward SEAGA
Other political or pressure groups:
Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
House of Representatives:
last held 30 March 1993 (next to be held by February 1998); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total) PNP 52, JLP 8
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
Sir Howard COOKE (since 1 August 1991)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister P. J. PATTERSON (since 30 March 1992)
Member of:
ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-19, G-77, GATT, G-15, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO,
ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Richard BERNAL
chancery:
Suite 355, 1850 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone:
(202) 452-0660

*Jamaica, Government

consulates general:
Miami and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Glen A. HOLDEN
embassy:
Kingston
mailing address:
3rd Floor, Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, Kingston
telephone:
(809) 929-4850 through 4859
FAX:
(809) 926-6743
Flag:
diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and
bottom) and black (hoist side and fly side)

*Jamaica, Economy

Overview:
The economy is based on sugar, bauxite, and tourism. In 1985 it suffered a
setback with the closure of some facilities in the bauxite and alumina
industry, a major source of hard currency earnings. Since 1986 an economic
recovery has been under way. In 1987 conditions began to improve for the
bauxite and alumina industry because of increases in world metal prices. The
recovery has also been supported by growth in the manufacturing and tourism
sectors. In September 1988, Hurricane Gilbert inflicted severe damage on
crops and the electric power system, a sharp but temporary setback to the
economy. By October 1989 the economic recovery from the hurricane was
largely complete, and real growth was up about 3% for 1989. In 1991,
however, growth dropped to 0.2% as a result of the US recession, lower world
bauxite prices, and monetary instability. In 1992, growth was 1.5%,
supported by a recovery in tourism and stabilization of the Jamaican dollar
in the second half of 1992.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.7 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
1.5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,500 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
52% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15.4% (1992)
Budget:
revenues $600 million; expenditures $736 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY91 est.)
Exports:
$1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum
partners:
US 39%, UK 14%, Canada 12%, Netherlands 8%, Norway 7%
Imports:
$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
fuel, other raw materials, construction materials, food, transport
equipment, other machinery and equipment
partners:
US 51%, UK 6%, Venezuela 5%, Canada 5%, Japan 4.5%
External debt:
$4.4 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 2.0% (1990); accounts for almost 25% of GDP
Electricity:
1,127,000 kW capacity; 2,736 million kWh produced, 1,090 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
tourism, bauxite mining, textiles, food processing, light manufactures
Agriculture:
accounts for about 9% of GDP, 22% of work force, and 17% of exports;
commercial crops - sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, potatoes, vegetables;
livestock and livestock products include poultry, goats, milk; not
self-sufficient in grain, meat, and dairy products
Illicit drugs:
illicit cultivation of cannabis; transshipment point for cocaine from
Central and South America to North America; government has an active
cannabis eradication program

*Jamaica, Economy

Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.2 billion; other countries,
ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.6 billion
Currency:
1 Jamaican dollar (J$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1 - 22.173 (September 1992), 12.116 (1991),
7.184 (1990), 5.7446 (1989), 5.4886 (1988), 5.4867 (1987)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

*Jamaica, Communications

Railroads:
294 km, all 1.435-meter standard gauge, single track
Highways:
18,200 km total; 12,600 km paved, 3,200 km gravel, 2,400 km improved earth
Pipelines:
petroleum products 10 km
Ports:
Kingston, Montego Bay, Port Antonio
Merchant marine:
4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,619 GRT/16,302 DWT; includes 1
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 oil tanker, 2 bulk
Airports:
total:
36
usable:
23
with permanent-surface runways:
10
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
fully automatic domestic telephone network; 127,000 telephones; broadcast
stations - 10 AM, 17 FM, 8 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; 3
coaxial submarine cables

*Jamaica, Defense Forces

Branches:
Jamaica Defense Force (including Ground Forces, Coast Guard and Air Wing),
Jamaica Constabulary Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 651,931; fit for military service 461,980 (1993 est.); no
conscription; 26,445 reach minimum volunteer age (18) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $19.3 million, 1% of GDP (FY91/92)

*Jan Mayen, Header

Affiliation:
(territory of Norway)

*Jan Mayen, Geography

Location:
in the North Atlantic Ocean, north of the Arctic Circle about 590 km
north-northeast of Iceland, between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea
Map references:
Arctic Region
Area:
total area:
373 km2
land area:
373 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
124.1 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
10 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
4 nm
International disputes:
Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims between Greenland and Jan
Mayen
Climate:
arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Terrain:
volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers; Beerenberg is the highest peak,
with an elevation of 2,277 meters
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
0 km2
Environment:
barren volcanic island with some moss and grass; volcanic activity resumed
in 1970

*Jan Mayen, People

Population:
no permanent inhabitants; note - there are personnel who man the LORAN C
base and the weather and coastal services radio station

*Jan Mayen, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Jan Mayen
Digraph:
JN
Type:
territory of Norway
Capital:
none; administered from Oslo, Norway, through a governor (sysselmann)
resident in Longyearbyen (Svalbard)
Independence:
none (territory of Norway)

*Jan Mayen, Economy

Overview:
Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources.
Economic activity is limited to providing services for employees of Norway's
radio and meteorological stations located on the island.
Electricity:
15,000 kW capacity; 40 million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita (1992)

*Jan Mayen, Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only Airports: total: 1 useable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 0 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: radio and meteorological station

*Jan Mayen, Defense Forces

Note:
defense is the responsibility of Norway

*Japan, Geography

Location:
Northeast Asia, off the southeast coast of Russia and east of the Korean
peninsula
Map references:
Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
377,835 km2
land area:
374,744 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than California
note:
includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima,
Okinotori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands
(Kazan-retto)
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
29,751 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
3 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and
Eastern and Western channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait
International disputes:
Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan Islands and the Habomai island group
occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia, claimed by
Japan; Liancourt Rocks disputed with South Korea; Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku
Islands) claimed by China and Taiwan
Climate:
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Terrain:
mostly rugged and mountainous
Natural resources:
negligible mineral resources, fish
Land use:
arable land:
13%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
1%
forest and woodland:
67%
other:
18%
Irrigated land:
28,680 km2 (1989)
Environment:
many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences
(mostly tremors) every year; subject to tsunamis
Note:
strategic location in northeast Asia

*Japan, People

Population:
124,711,551 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.32% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
10.31 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
7.17 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
79.18 years
male:
76.35 years
female:
82.15 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.54 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Japanese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Japanese
Ethnic divisions:
Japanese 99.4%, other 0.6% (mostly Korean)
Religions:
Shinto 95.8%, Buddhist 76.3%, Christian 1.4%, other 12%
note:
most Japanese observe both Shinto and Buddhist rites so the percentages add
to more than 100%
Languages:
Japanese
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
total population:
99%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
63.33 million
by occupation:
trade and services 54%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 33%,
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 7%, government 3% (1988)

*Japan, Government