Chapter XI: Front Matter (11)

Overview: The Greek Cypriot economy is small, diversified, and prosperous. Industry contributes 14% to GDP and employs 29% of the labor force, while the service sector contributes 53% to GDP and employs 57% of the labor force. An average 6.8% rise in real GDP between 1986 and 1990 was temporarily checked in 1991, because of the adverse effects of the Gulf war on tourism. After surging 8.5% in 1992, growth slowed to 2.0% in 1993 - its lowest level in two decades - because of the decline in tourist arrivals associated with the recession in Western Europe, Cyprus' main trading partner, and the loss in export competitiveness due to a sharp rise in unit labor costs. Real GDP is likely to have picked up in 1994, and inflation is estimated to have risen to between 5% and 6%. The Turkish Cypriot economy has less than one-third the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have hesitated to invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on agriculture, which employs one-quarter of the work force. Moreover, because the Turkish lira is legal tender, the Turkish Cypriot economy has suffered the same high inflation as mainland Turkey. The small, vulnerable economy is estimated to have experienced a sharp drop in growth during 1994 because of the severe economic crisis affecting the mainland. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to nearly every sector; financial support has risen in value to about one-third of Turkish Cypriot GDP.

National product: Greek area: GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.3 billion (1994 est.) Turkish area: GDP - purchasing power parity - $510 million (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: Greek area: 5% (1994 est.) Turkish area: -4% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: Greek area: $12,500 (1994 est.) Turkish area: $3,500 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): Greek area: 4.8% (1993) Turkish area: 63.4% (1992)

Unemployment rate: Greek area: 2.3% (1993) Turkish area: 1.2% (1992)

Budget: revenues: Greek area - $1.8 billion Turkish area - $285 million expenditures: Greek area - $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $400 million Turkish area - $377 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million (1995 est.)

Exports: $868 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes partners: UK 18%, Greece 9%, Lebanon 14%, Germany 6%

Imports: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery partners: UK 13%, Japan 9%, Italy 10%, Germany 8%, US 8%

External debt: $2.4 billion (1993)

Industrial production: growth rate 0.1% (1993); accounts for 14% of GDP

Electricity: capacity: 550,000 kW production: 2.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,903 kWh (1993)

Industries: food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood products

Agriculture: contributes 6% to GDP and employs 25% of labor force in the south; major crops - potatoes, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, citrus fruits; vegetables and fruit provide 25% of export revenues

Illicit drugs: transit point for heroin via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey

Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $292 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $250 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $62 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $24 million

Currency: 1 Cypriot pound (#C) = 100 cents; 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus

Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds per $US1 - 0.4725 (January 1995), 0.4915 (1994), 0.4970 (1993), 0.4502 (1992), 0.4615 (1991), 0.4572 (1990); Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 37,444.1 (December 1994), 29,608.7 (1994), 10,984.6 (1993), 6,872.4 (1992), 4,171.8 (1991), 2,608.6 (1990)

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Cyprus:Transportation

Railroads: 0 km

Highways: Greek area: *** No data for this item *** total: 10,448 km paved: 5,694 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 4,754 km (1992) Turkish area: *** No data for this item *** total: 6,116 km paved: 5,278 km unpaved: 838 km

Ports: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos Bay

Merchant marine: total: 1,446 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,911,818 GRT/39,549,216 DWT ships by type: bulk 473, cargo 530, chemical tanker 28, combination bulk 55, combination ore/oil 24, container 92, liquefied gas tanker 3, multifunction large-load carrier 5, oil tanker 120, passenger 5, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 58, roll-on/roll-off cargo 33, short-sea passenger 14, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 2 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 48 countries among which are ships of Greece 705, Germany 174, Russia 56, Netherlands 45, Japan 27, Belgium 25, UK 21, Spain 17, Switzerland 14, Hong Kong 13

Airports: total: 15 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 4 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

@Cyprus:Communications

Telephone system: 210,000 telephones; excellent in both the area controlled by the Cypriot Government (Greek area), and in the Turkish-Cypriot administered area; largely open-wire and microwave radio relay local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay international: international service by tropospheric scatter, 3 submarine cables, and 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 EUTELSAT earth station

Radio: Greek sector: NA broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 8, shortwave 0 radios: NA Turkish sector: NA broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: Greek sector: NA broadcast stations: 1 (repeaters 34) televisions: NA Turkish sector: NA broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA

@Cyprus:Defense Forces

Branches: Greek area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements), Greek Cypriot Police Turkish area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 188,231; males fit for military service 129,397; males reach military age (18) annually 5,467 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $457 million, 5.6% of GDP (1995)

________________________________________________________________________

CZECH REPUBLIC

@Czech Republic:Geography

Location: Central Europe, southeast of Germany

Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe

Area: total area: 78,703 sq km land area: 78,645 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries: total 1,880 km, Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km, Slovakia 214 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none; landlocked

International disputes: Liechtenstein claims restitution for l,600 square kilometers of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918; Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II versus the Czech Republic claims that restitution does not preceed before February 1948 when the Communists seized power; unresolved property issues with Slovakia over redistribution of property of the former Czechoslovak federal government

Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Terrain: two main regions: Bohemia in the west, consisting of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; and Moravia in the east, consisting of very hilly country

Natural resources: hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite

Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment: current issues: air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia centered around Zeplica and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

Note: landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe

@Czech Republic:People

Population: 10,432,774 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (female 981,918; male 1,030,003) 15-64 years: 68% (female 3,529,411; male 3,530,112) 65 years and over: 13% (female 848,599; male 512,731) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.26% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 13.46 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 10.85 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.54 years male: 69.87 years female: 77.41 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Czech(s) adjective: Czech note: 300,000 Slovaks declared themselves Czech citizens in 1994

Ethnic divisions: Czech 94.4%, Slovak 3%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%, Gypsy 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 1%

Religions: atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%

Languages: Czech, Slovak

Literacy: can read and write total population: 99%

Labor force: 5.389 million by occupation: industry 37.9%, agriculture 8.1%, construction 8.8%, communications and other 45.2% (1990)

@Czech Republic:Government

Names: conventional long form: Czech Republic conventional short form: Czech Republic local long form: Ceska Republika local short form: Cechy

Digraph: EZ

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Prague

Administrative divisions: 8 regions (kraje, kraj - singular); Jihocesky, Jihomoravsky, Praha, Severocesky, Severomoravsky, Stredocesky, Vychodocesky, Zapadocesky

Independence: 1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)

National holiday: National Liberation Day, 9 May; Founding of the Republic, 28 October

Constitution: ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993

Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Vaclav HAVEL (since 26 January 1993); election last held 26 January 1993 (next to be held NA January 1998); results - Vaclav HAVEL elected by the National Council head of government: Prime Minister Vaclav KLAUS (since NA June 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers Ivan KOCARNIK, Josef LUX, Jan KALVODA (since NA June 1992) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral National Council (Narodni rada) Senate: elections not yet held; seats (81 total) Chamber of Deputies: elections last held 5-6 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA given breakup and realignment of all parliamentary opposition parties since 1992; seats - (200 total) governing coalition: ODS 65, KDS 10, ODA 16, KDU-CSL 15, opposition: CSSD 18, LB 25, KSCM 10, LSU 9, LSNS 5, CMSS 9, SPR-RSC 6, independents 12

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders: governing coalition: Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Vaclav KLAUS, chairman; Christian Democratic Party (KDS), Ivan PILIP, chairman; Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), Jan KALVODA, chairman; Christian Democratic Union/Czech People's Party (KDU-CSL), Josef LUX, chairman opposition: Czech Social Democrats (CSSD - left opposition), Milos ZEMAN, chairman; Left Bloc (LB - left opposition), Marie STIBOROVA, chairman; Communist Party (KSCM - left opposition), Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman; Liberal Social Union (LSU - left opposition), Frantisek TRNKA, chairman; Liberal National Social Party (LSNS - center party), Pavel HIRS, chairman; Bohemian-Moravian Center Party (CMSS - center party), Jan KYCER, chairman; Assembly for the Republic (SPR-RSC - right radical) , Miroslav SLADEK, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: Czech-Moravian Chamber of Trade Unions; Civic Movement

Member of: Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NSG, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael ZANTOVSKY chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 363-6315, 6316 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Adrian A. BASORA embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1 mailing address: Unit 1330; APO AE 09213-1330 telephone: [42] (2) 2451-0847 FAX: [42] (2) 2451-1001

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (almost identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia)

@Czech Republic:Economy

Overview: The government of the Czech Republic, using successful stabilization policies to bolster its claims to full membership in the western economic community, has reduced inflation to 10%, kept unemployment at 3%, balanced the budget, run trade surpluses, and reoriented exports to the EU since the breakup of the Czechoslovak federation on 1 January 1993. GDP grew 2% in 1994 after stagnating in 1993 and contracting nearly 20% since 1990. Prague's mass privatization program, including its innovative distribution of ownership shares to Czech citizens via 'coupon vouchers,' has made the most rapid progress in Eastern Europe. When coupon shares are distributed in early 1995, 75%-80% of the economy will be in private hands or partially privatized, according to the Czech government. Privatized companies still face major problems in restructuring; the number of annual bankruptcies quadrupled in 1994. In September 1994, Prague repaid $471 million in IMF loans five years ahead of schedule, making the Czech Republic the first East European country to pay off all IMF debts. Despite these outlays, hard-currency reserves in the banking system totaled more than $8.5 billion in October. Standard & Poor's boosted the Republic's credit rating to BBB+ in mid-1994 - up from a BBB rating that was already two steps higher than Hungary's and one step above Greece's rating. Prague forecasts a balanced budget, at least 3% GDP growth, 5% unemployment, and single-digit inflation for 1995. Inflationary pressures - primarily as a result of foreign bank lending to Czech enterprises but perhaps also due to eased currency convertibility controls - are likely to be the most troublesome issues in 1995. Continuing economic recovery in Western Europe should boost Czech exports and production but a substantial increase in prices could erode the Republic's comparative advantage in low wages and exchange rates. Prague already took steps in 1994 to increase control over banking policies to neutralize the impact of foreign inflows on the money supply. Although Czech unemployment is currently the lowest in Central Europe, it will probably increase 1-2 percentage points in 1995 as large state firms go bankrupt or are restructured and service sector growth slows.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $76.5 billion (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: 2.2% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $7,350 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.2% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate: 3.2% (1994 est.)

Budget: revenues: $14 billion expenditures: $13.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)

Exports: $13.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, minerals, metals, agricultural products (January-November 1994) partners: Germany 28.7%, Slovakia 15.5%, Austria 7.9%, Italy 6.4%, France 3.2%, Russia 3.2%, Poland 3.1%, UK 2.9%, Netherlands 2.4%, Hungary 2.2%, US 2.1%, Belgium 1.3% (January-June 1994)

Imports: $13.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, raw materials, agricultural products (January-November 1994) partners: Germany 24.1%, Slovakia 15.6%, Russia 9.8%, Austria 7.6%, Italy 4.9%, France 3.6%, US 3.2%, Netherlands 2.9%, UK 2.8%, Poland 2.7%, Switzerland 2.2%, Belgium 2.0% (January-June 1994)

External debt: $8.7 billion (October 1994)

Industrial production: growth rate 4.9% (January-September 1994)

Electricity: capacity: 14.470,000 kW production: 56.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,842 kWh (1993)

Industries: fuels, ferrous metallurgy, machinery and equipment, coal, motor vehicles, glass, armaments

Agriculture: largely self-sufficient in food production; diversified crop and livestock production, including grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit, hogs, cattle, and poultry; exporter of forest products

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe

Economic aid: donor: 1.4 million annually to IMF beginning in 1994

Currency: 1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru

Exchange rates: koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 27.762 (January 1995), 28.785 (1994), 29.153 (1993), 28.26 (1992), 29.53 (1991), 17.95 (1990) note: values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange rates

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Czech Republic:Transportation

Railroads: total: 9,434 km (include 1.520-m broad, 1.435-m standard, and several narrow gauges) (1988)

Highways: total: 55,890 km (1988) paved: NA unpaved: NA

Inland waterways: NA km; the Elbe (Labe) is the principal river

Pipelines: natural gas 5,400 km

Ports: Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem

Merchant marine: total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 181,646 GRT/282,296 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 9

Airports: total: 116 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 with paved runways under 914 m: 5 with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 10 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 32 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 41

@Czech Republic:Communications

Telephone system: NA telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: NA

Radio: broadcast stations: AM, FM, shortwave radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: NA televisions: NA

@Czech Republic:Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense, Railroad Units

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,753,301; males fit for military service 2,095,661; males reach military age (18) annually 91,177 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: 27 billion koruny, NA% of GNP (1994 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

________________________________________________________________________

DENMARK

@Denmark:Geography

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany

Map references: Europe

Area: total area: 43,070 sq km land area: 42,370 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Massachusetts note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland

Land boundaries: total 68 km, Germany 68 km

Coastline: 3,379 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 4 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

International disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Iceland, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers

Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone

Land use: arable land: 61% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 12% other: 21%

Irrigated land: 4,300 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: air pollution, principally from vehicle emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes natural hazards: flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Note: controls Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in Copenhagen

@Denmark:People

Population: 5,199,437 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (female 430,598; male 451,993) 15-64 years: 68% (female 1,731,531; male 1,780,083) 65 years and over: 15% (female 473,537; male 331,695) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.22% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 12.38 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 11.14 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.11 years male: 73.23 years female: 79.16 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Dane(s) adjective: Danish

Ethnic divisions: Scandinavian, Eskimo, Faroese, German

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 2%, other 7% (1988)

Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect), German (small minority)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) total population: 99%

Labor force: 2,553,900 by occupation: private services 37.1%, government services 30.4%, manufacturing and mining 20%, construction 6.3%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5.6%, electricity/gas/water 0.6% (1991)

@Denmark:Government

Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark conventional short form: Denmark local long form: Kongeriget Danmark local short form: Danmark

Digraph: DA

Type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Copenhagen

Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 1 city* (stad); Arhus, Bornholm, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kbenhavn, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkbing, Roskilde, Snderjylland, Staden Kbenhavn*, Storstrm, Vejle, Vestsjaelland, Viborg note: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Danish realm and self-governing administrative divisions

Independence: 1849 (became a constitutional monarchy)

National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Constitution: 5 June 1953

Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since NA January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the Queen (born 26 May 1968) head of government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since NA January 1993) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Folketing): elections last held 21 September 1994 (next to be held by December 1998); results - Social Democrats 34.6%, Liberals 23.3%, Conservatives 15.0%, Social People's Party 7.3%, Progress Party 6.4%, Radical Liberals 4.6%, Unity Party 3.1%, Center Democrats 2.8%, Christian People's Party 1.8%; seats - (179 total) Social Democrats 63, Liberals 44, Conservatives 28, Social People's Party 13, Progress Party 11, Radical Liberals 8, Unity Party 6, Center Democrats 5, independent 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN; Conservative Party, Hans ENGELL; Liberal Party, Uffe ELLEMANN-JENSEN; Socialist People's Party, Holger K. NIELSEN; Progress Party, Group Chairman Kim BEHNKE and Policy Spokesman Jan Kopke CHRISTENSEN; Center Democratic Party, Mimi Stilling JAKOBSEN; Radical Liberal Party, Marianne JELVED; Christian People's Party, Jann SJURSEN; Common Course, Preben Moller HANSEN; Danish Workers' Party; Unity Party

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G- 9, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Pedersen DYVIG (Knud-Erik TYGESEN is Ambassador Elect for 1995) chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. ELSON embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen O mailing address: APO AE 09716 telephone: [45] (31) 42 31 44 FAX: [45] (35) 43 02 23

Flag: red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that design element of the DANNEBROG (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

@Denmark:Economy

Overview: This thoroughly modern economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is self-sufficient in food production. The new center-left coalition government will concentrate on reducing the persistent high unemployment rate and the budget deficit as well as following the previous government's policies of maintaining low inflation and a current account surplus. In the face of recent international market pressure on the Danish krone, the coalition has also vowed to maintain a stable currency. The coalition hopes to lower marginal income taxes while maintaining overall tax revenues; boost industrial competitiveness through labor market and tax reforms and increased research and development funds; and improve welfare services for the neediest while cutting paperwork and delays. Prime Minister RASMUSSEN's reforms will focus on adapting Denmark to the criteria for European integration by 1999; although Copenhagen has won from the European Union (EU) the right to opt out of the European Monetary Union (EMU) if a national referendum rejects it. Denmark is, in fact, one of the few EU countries likely to fit into the EMU on time. Denmark is weathering the current worldwide slump better than many West European countries. After posting 4.5% real GDP growth in 1994, Copenhagen is predicting a continued strong showing in 1995, with real GDP up by 3.2%. The government expects an upswing in business investment in 1995 to drive economic growth. Although unemployment is high, it remains stable compared to most European countries.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $103 billion (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: 4.5% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $19,860 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate: 12.3% (1994 est.)

Budget: revenues: $56.5 billion expenditures: $64.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)

Exports: $42.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: meat and meat products, dairy products, transport equipment (shipbuilding), fish, chemicals, industrial machinery partners: EC 54.3% (Germany 23.6%, UK 10.1%, France 5.7%), Sweden 10.5%, Norway 5.8%, US 4.9%, Japan 3.6% (1992)

Imports: $37.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: petroleum, machinery and equipment, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, textiles, paper partners: EC 53.4% (Germany 23.1%, UK 8.2%, France 5.6%), Sweden 10.8%, Norway 5.4%, US 5.7%, Japan 4.1% (1992)

External debt: $40.9 billion (1994 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate -2.5% (1993 est.)

Electricity: capacity: 10,030,000 kW production: 32 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,835 kWh (1993)

Industries: food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture, and other wood products, shipbuilding

Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP; principal products - meat, dairy, grain, potatoes, rape, sugar beets, fish

Economic aid: donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $5.9 billion

Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.034 (January 1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990)

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Denmark:Transportation

Railroads: total: 2,838 km (494 km privately owned and operated) standard gauge: 2,838 km 1.435-m gauge (440 km electrified; 760 km double track) (1994)

Highways: total: 71,042 km paved: concrete, asphalt, stone block 71,042 km (696 km of expressways)

Inland waterways: 417 km

Pipelines: crude oil 110 km; petroleum products 578 km; natural gas 700 km

Ports: Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Grenaa, Koge, Odense, Struer

Merchant marine: total: 345 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,005,470 GRT/6,974,750 DWT ships by type: bulk 17, cargo 109, chemical tanker 24, combination bulk 1, container 61, liquefied gas tanker 32, livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 32, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 35, short-sea passenger 11 note: Denmark has created its own internal register, called the Danish International Ship register (DIS); DIS ships do not have to meet Danish manning regulations, and they amount to a flag of convenience within the Danish register

Airports: total: 118 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 13 with paved runways under 914 m: 85 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7

@Denmark:Communications

Telephone system: 4,509,000 telephones; excellent telephone and telegraph services; buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay support trunk network local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay international: 19 submarine coaxial cables; 7 INTELSAT, EUTELSAT, and INMARSAT earth stations

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 50 televisions: NA

@Denmark:Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Home Guard

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,347,774; males fit for military service 1,158,223; males reach military age (20) annually 36,191 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.7 billion, 1.9% of GDP (1994)

________________________________________________________________________

DJIBOUTI

@Djibouti:Geography

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia

Map references: Africa

Area: total area: 22,000 sq km land area: 21,980 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts

Land boundaries: total 508 km, Eritrea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km

Coastline: 314 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: desert; torrid, dry

Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Natural resources: geothermal areas

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 9% forest and woodland: 0% other: 91%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment: current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification natural hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification

Note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; a vast wasteland

@Djibouti:People

Population: 421,320 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (female 90,070; male 90,631) 15-64 years: 55% (female 108,824; male 121,715) 65 years and over: 2% (female 4,900; male 5,180) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.48% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 42.79 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 15.51 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -12.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 108.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.7 years male: 47.83 years female: 51.62 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.15 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian

Ethnic divisions: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%

Religions: Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 48% male: 63% female: 34%

@Djibouti:Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti conventional short form: Djibouti former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas French Somaliland

Digraph: DJ

Type: republic

Capital: Djibouti

Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura

Independence: 27 June 1977 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

Constitution: multiparty constitution approved in referendum 4 September 1992

Legal system: based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law

Suffrage: universal adult at age NA

Executive branch: chief of state: President HASSAN GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June 1977); election last held 7 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1999); results - President Hassan GOULED Aptidon was reelected head of government: Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30 September 1978) cabinet: Council of Ministers; responsible to the president

Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes): elections last held 18 December 1992; results - RPP (the ruling party) dominated; seats - (65 total) RPP 65

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders: ruling party: People's Progress Assembly (RPP), Hassan GOULED Aptidon other parties: Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Mohamed Jama ELABE; Democratic National Party (PND), ADEN Robleh Awaleh

Other political or pressure groups: Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD) and affiliates; Movement for Unity and Democracy (MUD)

Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roble OLHAYE chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270 FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Martin L. CHESHES embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti telephone: [253] 35 39 95 FAX: [253] 35 39 40

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center

@Djibouti:Economy

Overview: The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance (an important supplement to GDP) to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of over 30% continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last six years because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees).

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $500 million (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: -3% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $1,200 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: over 30% (1994 est.)

Budget: revenues: $164 million expenditures: $201 million, including capital expenditures of $16 million (1993 est.)

Exports: $184 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: hides and skins, coffee (in transit) partners: Somalia 48%, Yemen 42%

Imports: $384 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products partners: France, UK, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, South Korea

External debt: $227 million (1993 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1991 est.); accounts for 14% of GDP

Electricity: capacity: 90,000 kW production: 170 million kWh consumption per capita: 398 kWh (1993)

Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy products and mineral-water bottling

Agriculture: mostly fruit and vegetables; herding of goats, sheep, and camels

Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $39 million; Western (non-US) countries, including ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $149 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $35 million

Currency: 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Djibouti:Transportation

Railroads: total: 97 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) narrow gauge: 97 km 1.000-m gauge

Highways: total: 2,900 km paved: 280 km unpaved: improved, unimproved earth 2,620 km (1982)

Ports: Djibouti

Merchant marine: total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT

Airports: total: 13 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 3 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6

@Djibouti:Communications

Telephone system: NA telephones; telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay network international: international connections via submarine cable to Saudi Arabia and by satellite link to other countries; 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) and 1 ARABSAT earth station

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA

@Djibouti:Defense Forces

Branches: Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force), National Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National Police Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 101,385; males fit for military service 59,337 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $26 million, NA% of GDP (1989)

________________________________________________________________________

DOMINICA

@Dominica:Geography

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total area: 750 sq km land area: 750 sq km comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 148 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin

Natural resources: timber

Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 13% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 41% other: 34%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

@Dominica:People

Population: 82,608 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (female 11,665; male 12,130) 15-64 years: 64% (female 25,606; male 26,890) 65 years and over: 7% (female 3,724; male 2,593) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.4% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 18.63 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 5.33 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -9.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.2 years male: 74.35 years female: 80.2 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Ethnic divisions: black, Carib Indians

Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5%

Languages: English (official), French patois

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970) total population: 94% male: 94% female: 94%

Labor force: 25,000 by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28% (1984)

@Dominica:Government

Names: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica conventional short form: Dominica

Digraph: DO

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Roseau

Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter

Independence: 3 November 1978 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Constitution: 3 November 1978

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO (since 25 October 1993) election last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998); results - President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO was elected by the House of Assembly to a five-year term head of government: Prime Minister (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES (since 21 July 1980, elected for a third term 28 May 1990) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly: elections last held 28 May 1990 (next to be held by October 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives) DFP 11, UWP 6, DLP 4

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Brian ALLEYNE; Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Rosie DOUGLAS; United Workers Party (UWP), Edison JAMES

Other political or pressure groups: Dominica Liberation Movement (DLM), a small leftist group

Member of: ACCT, ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: Dominica has no embassy in the US consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation: no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica

Flag: green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

@Dominica:Economy

Overview: The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Principal products include bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, and coconuts. Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline and the lack of an international airport. In 1994 a tropical storm devastated the banana industry.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $200 million (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: 1.6% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $2,260 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)

Budget: revenues: $70 million expenditures: $84 million, including capital expenditures of $26 million (FY90/91 est.)

Exports: $48.3 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges partners: UK 55%, CARICOM countries, Italy, US

Imports: $98.8 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals partners: US 25%, CARICOM, UK, Japan, Canada

External debt: $92.8 million (1992)

Industrial production: growth rate -10% (1994 est.); accounts for 7% of GDP

Electricity: capacity: 7,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 347 kWh (1993)

Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes

Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP; principal crops - bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts; bananas provide the bulk of export earnings; forestry and fisheries potential not exploited

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer

Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $120 million

Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

@Dominica:Transportation

Railroads: 0 km

Highways: total: 750 km paved: 370 km unpaved: gravel or earth 380 km

Ports: Portsmouth, Roseau

Merchant marine: none

Airports: total: 2 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1

@Dominica:Communications

Telephone system: 4,600 telephones; fully automatic network local: NA intercity: NA international: SHF radio and microwave radio relay links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radio links to Saint Lucia

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 1 cable televisions: NA

@Dominica:Defense Forces

Branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard)

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

________________________________________________________________________

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

@Dominican Republic:Geography

Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total area: 48,730 sq km land area: 48,380 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

Land boundaries: total 275 km, Haiti 275 km

Coastline: 1,288 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 6 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall

Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

Land use: arable land: 23% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 43% forest and woodland: 13% other: 14%

Irrigated land: 2,250 sq km (1989)

Environment: current issues: water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation natural hazards: occasional hurricanes (July to October) international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)

@Dominican Republic:People

Population: 7,511,263 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (female 1,288,210; male 1,336,162) 15-64 years: 61% (female 2,246,791; male 2,312,555) 65 years and over: 4% (female 178,388; male 149,157) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.17% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 23.92 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 6.15 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -6.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 49.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.73 years male: 66.57 years female: 70.99 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.72 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Ethnic divisions: white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%

Languages: Spanish

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 83% male: 85% female: 82%

Labor force: 2.3 million to 2.6 million by occupation: agriculture 49%, services 33%, industry 18% (1986)

@Dominican Republic:Government

Names: conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: none

Digraph: DR

Type: republic

Capital: Santo Domingo

Administrative divisions: 29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde

Independence: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

Constitution: 28 November 1966

Legal system: based on French civil codes

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory or married persons regardless of age note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote

Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, sixth elected term began 16 August 1994); Vice President Jacinto PEYNADO (since 16 August 1994) election last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held May 1996); results - Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 42.6%, Juan BOSCH Gavino (PLD) 13.2%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 41.9%, Jacobo MAJLUTA (PRI) 2.3% cabinet: Cabinet; nominated by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) Senate (Senado): elections last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held May 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total) PRSC 15, PLD 1, PRD 14 Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held May 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) PLD 13, PRSC 50, PRD 57

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Political parties and leaders: major parties: Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo; Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), (vacant following retirement of Juan BOSCH Gavino); Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Jose Franciso PENA Gomez; Independent Revolutionary Party (PRI), Jacobo MAJLUTA minor parties: National Veterans and Civilian Party (PNVC), Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic (PLRD), Andres Van Der HORST; Democratic Quisqueyan Party (PQD), Elias WESSIN Chavez; National Progressive Force (FNP), Marino VINICIO Castillo; Popular Christian Party (PPC), Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert; Dominican Communist Party (PCD), Narciso ISA Conde; Dominican Workers' Party (PTD), Ivan RODRIGUEZ; Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union (UPA), Ignacio RODRIGUEZ Chiappini; Alliance for Democracy Party (APD), Maximilano Rabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA; Democratic Union (UD), Fernando ALVAREZ Bogaert note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front (FID); however, they still retain individual party structures

Other political or pressure groups: Collective of Popular Organzations (COP), leader NA

Member of: ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jose del Carmen ARIZA Gomez chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280 FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Donna Jean HRINAK embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, Santo Domingo; APO AA 34041 telephone: [1] (809) 541-2171, 8100 FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437

Flag: a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross

@Dominican Republic:Economy

Overview: The Dominican economy showed some signs of slippage in 1994, although its overall performance in recent years has been relatively strong. After posting an increase of nearly 8% in 1992, GDP growth fell to 3% in 1993 and 1994 as mining output decreased and erosion of real wages caused private consumption to decline. A pre-election boost in government spending in early 1994 led to the first government deficit in four years and bumped inflation up to 14% for the year. Continued dynamism in construction and the services sector, especially tourism, should keep the economy growing in 1995. Tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing for export remain key sectors of the economy. Domestic industry is based on the processing of agricultural products, oil refining, and chemicals.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $24 billion (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: 2.9% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $3,070 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1994)

Unemployment rate: 30% (1994 est.)

Budget: revenues: $1.8 billion expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)

Exports: $585 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa partners: US 52%, EC 23%, Puerto Rico 9%, Asia 7% (1992)

Imports: $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals partners: US 60% (1993)

External debt: $4.3 billion (1994 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 3.4% (1994); accounts for 14% of GDP

Electricity: capacity: 1,450,000 kW production: 5.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 651 kWh (1993)

Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco

Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GDP and employs 49% of labor force; commercial crops - sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, and tobacco; food crops - rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; animal output - cattle, hogs, dairy products, meat, eggs; not self-sufficient in food

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe

Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $575 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $655 million

Currency: 1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1 - 13.258 (January 1995), 13.160 (1994), 12.679 (1993), 12.774 (1992), 12.692 (1991), 8.525 (1990)

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Dominican Republic:Transportation

Railroads: total: 1,655 km (in numerous segments; includes 4 different gauges from 0.558-m narrow gauge to 1.435-m standard gauge)

Highways: total: 12,000 km paved: 5,800 km unpaved: gravel or improved earth 5,600 km; unimproved earth 600 km

Pipelines: crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km

Ports: Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo

Merchant marine: total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT

Airports: total: 36 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5 with paved runways under 914 m: 16 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6

@Dominican Republic:Communications

Telephone system: 190,000 telephones; relatively efficient domestic system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network local: NA intercity: islandwide microwave radio relay network international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Radio: broadcast stations: AM 120, FM 0, shortwave 6 radios: NA

Television: broadcast stations: 18 televisions: NA

@Dominican Republic:Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police

Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,008,597; males fit for military service 1,266,812; males reach military age (18) annually 79,769 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $116 million, 1.4% of GDP (1994)

________________________________________________________________________

ECUADOR

@Ecuador:Geography

Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Map references: South America

Area: total area: 283,560 sq km land area: 276,840 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Nevada note: includes Galapagos Islands

Land boundaries: total 2,010 km, Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

Coastline: 2,237 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands territorial sea: 200 nm

International disputes: three sections of the boundary with Peru are in dispute

Climate: tropical along coast becoming cooler inland

Terrain: coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber

Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 17% forest and woodland: 51% other: 23%

Irrigated land: 5,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Tropical Timber 94

Note: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

@Ecuador:People

Population: 10,890,950 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (female 1,928,977; male 1,990,036) 15-64 years: 60% (female 3,281,575; male 3,230,082) 65 years and over: 4% (female 244,862; male 215,418) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.95% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 25.08 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 5.55 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 37.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.35 years male: 67.83 years female: 72.99 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.97 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality: noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 55%, Indian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%

Languages: Spanish (official), Indian languages (especially Quechua)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 87% male: 90% female: 84%

Labor force: 2.8 million by occupation: agriculture 35%, manufacturing 21%, commerce 16%, services and other activities 28% (1982)

@Ecuador:Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador conventional short form: Ecuador local long form: Republica del Ecuador local short form: Ecuador

Digraph: EC

Type: republic

Capital: Quito