Chapter V (4)

Telephone system: 12,000 public telephones; extensive modern
system but many families do not have telephones; despite extensive
use of microwave radio relay, the telephone system frequently
grounds out during rainstorms, even in Buenos Aires
domestic: microwave radio relay and a domestic satellite system with
40 earth stations serve the trunk network
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 260 (including 10 inactive
stations), FM NA (probably more than 1,000, mostly unlicensed),
shortwave 6 (1998 est.)

Radios: 22.3 million (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 42 (in addition, there are 444
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 7.165 million (1991 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 37,830 km
broad gauge: 23,992 km 1.676-m gauge (167 km electrified)
standard gauge: 2,765 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 11,073 km 1.000-m gauge (26 km electrified)

Highways:
total: 208,350 km
paved: 47,550 km (including 567 km of expressways)
unpaved: 160,800 km (1998 est.)

Waterways: 11,000 km navigable

Pipelines: crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km;
natural gas 9,918 km

Ports and harbors: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro
Rivadavia, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata,
Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario, Santa Fe, Ushuaia

Merchant marine:
total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 233,856 GRT/363,335 DWT
ships by type: cargo 10, container 1, oil tanker 13, railcar carrier
1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea
passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 1,374 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 141
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 58
914 to 1,523 m: 45
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1,233
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 67
914 to 1,523 m: 621
under 914 m: 541 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic
(includes Naval Aviation, Marines, and Coast Guard), Argentine Air
Force, National Gendarmerie, National Aeronautical Police Force

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 9,169,681 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,435,551 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 343,038 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $4.6 billion (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: short section of the southwestern
boundary with Chile is indefinite--process to resolve boundary issues
is underway; claims UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas); claims UK-administered South Georgia and the South
Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica

Illicit drugs: increasing use as a transshipment country for
cocaine headed for Europe and the US; increasing money-laundering
center

======================================================================

@Armenia -------

Introduction

Background: Armenia was one of the 15 successor republics to the
USSR in December 1991. Its leaders remain preoccupied by the long
conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Although
a cease-fire has been in effect since May 1994, the sides have not
made substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. In January
1998, differences between President TER-PETROSSIAN and members of
his cabinet over the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process came to a head.
With the prime minister, defense minister, and security minister
arrayed against him, an isolated TER-PETROSSIAN resigned the
presidency on 3 February 1998. Prime Minister Robert KOCHARIAN was
elected president in March 1998. Concerns about Armenia's economic
performance have continued since 1997 with a slowdown in growth and
the serious impact of the 1998 financial crisis in Russia.

Geography

Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:
total: 29,800 sq km
land: 28,400 sq km
water: 1,400 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:
total: 1,254 km
border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan
exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Terrain: Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land;
fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point: Aragats Lerr 4,095 m

Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum,
zinc, alumina

Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 15%
other: 41% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 2,870 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

Environment--current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals
such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with
Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for
firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the
draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a
source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of
Metsamor nuclear power plant without adequate (IAEA-recommended)
safety and backup systems

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography--note: landlocked

People

Population: 3,409,234 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 25% (male 442,117; female 425,561)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,100,334; female 1,148,595)
65 years and over: 9% (male 122,170; female 170,457) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.38% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 13.53 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 9.03 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -8.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 41.12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.56 years
male: 62.21 years
female: 71.13 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian

Ethnic groups: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly
Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989)
note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from
Armenia

Religions: Armenian Orthodox 94%

Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1989 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Armenia
conventional short form: Armenia
local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
local short form: Hayastan
former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic

Data code: AM

Government type: republic

Capital: Yerevan

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (marzer, singular--marz)
and 1 city* (k'aghak'ner, singular--k'aghak'); Aragatsotn, Ararat,
Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush,
Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan*

Independence: 28 May 1918-2 December 1920 (First Armenian
Republic); 23 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Referendum Day, 21 September

Constitution: adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Armen DARBINYAN (since 10 April
1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
special election last held 30 March 1998 (next election to be held
March 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Robert KOCHARIAN elected president; percent of
vote--Robert KOCHARIAN 59%, Karen DEMIRCHYAN 41%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or
Azgayin Zhoghov (190 seats; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 July 1995 (next to be held in the spring of
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Republican Bloc 159 (ANM 63, DLP-Hanrapetutyun Bloc 6,
Republic Party 4, CDU 3, Intellectual Armenia 3, Social Democratic
Party 2, independents 78), SWM 8, ACP 7, NDU 5, NSDU 3, DLP 1, ARF
1, other 4, vacant 2; note--seats by party change frequently

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders: Armenian National Movement or ANM

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest),
CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rouben R. SHUGARIAN
chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael LEMMON
embassy: 18 General Bagramian Avenue, Yerevan
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-7020

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
blue, and gold

Economy

Economy--overview: Under the old Soviet central planning system,
Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine
tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in
exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of the
USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale
agriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the
Soviet area. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more
investment and updated technology. The privatization of industry has
been at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by the
current administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral
deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with
Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of
Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic
system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic
decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian
Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic program
that has resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-98. Armenia also
managed to slash inflation and to privatize most small- and
medium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armenia
suffered in recent years have been largely offset by the energy
supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. The Russian
financial crisis generated concerns about Armenia's economic
performance in 1998. Although inflation dropped to 10% and GDP grew
about 6%, the industrial sector remained moribund. Much of Armenia's
population remains heavily dependent on remittances from relatives
abroad, and remittances from Russia fell off sharply in 1998.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$9.2 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,700 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 35%
industry: 30%
services: 35% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: 50% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1.6 million (1997)

Labor force--by occupation: manufacturing, mining, and
construction 25%, agriculture 38%, services 37%

Unemployment rate: 20% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $322 million
expenditures: $424 million, including capital expenditures of $80
million (1998 est.)

Industries: much of industry is shut down; metal-cutting machine
tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted
wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, washing machines, chemicals,
trucks, watches, instruments, microelectronics

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 7.6 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 46.05%
hydro: 26.32%
nuclear: 27.63%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 7.6 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: fruit (especially grapes), vegetables;
livestock

Exports: $230 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport
equipment, electrical equipment, scrap metal

Exports--partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia

Imports: $840 million (c.i.f., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: grain, other foods, fuel, other energy

Imports--partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, US, EU

Debt--external: $820 million (of which $75 million to Russia)
(1997 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $245.5 million (1995)

Currency: 1 dram = 100 luma

Exchange rates: dram per US$1--535.62 (January 1999), 504.92
(1998), 490.85 (1997), 414.04 (1996), 405.91 (1995), 288.65 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 730,000 (1998 est.)

Telephone system: the Ministry of Communications oversees the
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications; the national operator is
Armentel; the Greek Telecoms Company owns 90% of Armentel and will
provide a $60 million eight-year loan; Armenia has about 4,000
Internet users on one satellite channel
domestic: local--350,000 telephones are located in Yerevan; a
fiber-optic loop provides digital service to 80,000 of Yerevan's
customers; GSM cellular is available in Yerevan, as is paging;
intercity--the former Soviet system provides service to 380,000
numbers mostly governmental
international: Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe line
through Iran; additional international service is available by
microwave, land line, and satellite through the Moscow switch; 1
INTELSAT earth station

Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, programs are
received by relay from Russia; 100% of the population receive
Armenian and Russian TV programs) (1997)

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways:
total: 825 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
lines
broad gauge: 825 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)

Highways:
total: 8,580 km
paved: 8,580 km
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: NA km

Pipelines: natural gas 900 km (1991)

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: 11 (1996 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1996 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Air Force and Air Defense Aviation, Air
Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 922,124 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 732,495 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 32,052 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $72.1 million (1999)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4% (1999)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the
Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding,
separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; traditional
demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic
consumption; increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit
drugs--mostly opium and hashish--to Western Europe and the US via
Iran, Central Asia, and Russia

======================================================================

@Aruba -----

Geography

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of
Venezuela

Geographic coordinates: 12 30 N, 69 58 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 193 sq km
land: 193 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 68.5 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m

Natural resources: NEGL; white sandy beaches

Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 89% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

People

Population: 68,675 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 7,724; female 7,106)
15-64 years: 69% (male 22,723; female 24,747)
65 years and over: 9% (male 2,623; female 3,752) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.55% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 13.28 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.48 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 7.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.04 years
male: 73.33 years
female: 80.94 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban

Ethnic groups: mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%

Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim,
Confucian, Jewish

Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese,
Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish

Literacy: NA

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba

Data code: AA

Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full
autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from
the Netherlands Antilles

Government type: parliamentary

Capital: Oranjestad

Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands)

Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; in
1990, Aruba requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation
of the agreement to automatically give independence to the island in
1996)

National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March

Constitution: 1 January 1986

Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English
common law influence

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands
(since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo
KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29
July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Glenbert F. CROES
cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for
a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime
minister elected by the Staten for a four-year term; election last
held 12 July 1997 (next to be held by December 2001)
election results: inconclusive; no party won majority in December
1997 parliamentary elections; no new government formed as of May 1998

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats;
members elected by direct popular vote and serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held by NA
December 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--AVP
10, MEP 9, OLA 2

Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges are
appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party or MEP

International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO
(associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the
Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General James L. WILLIAMS
embassy: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao

Flag description: blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow
stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star
outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner

Economy

Economy--overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy,
although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also
important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last
decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities.
Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985
level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in
1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings,
has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and less than
1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job
vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.5 billion (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 6% (1997)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,000 (1997 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1997)

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: most employment is in the tourist
industry (1996)

Unemployment rate: 0.6% (1996 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $345.3 million
expenditures: $378.5 million, including capital expenditures of $107
million (1997 est.)

Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 470 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 470 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: aloes; livestock; fish

Exports: $1.73 billion (including oil reexports)(1997)

Exports--commodities: mostly refined petroleum products

Exports--partners: US 64%, EU

Imports: $2.12 billion (1997)

Imports--commodities: food, consumer goods, manufactures,
petroleum products, crude oil for refining and reexport

Imports--partners: US 55.5%, Netherlands 12.3%, Japan 3.5%

Debt--external: $285 million (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: $26 million (1995); note?the Netherlands
provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996

Currency: 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1--1.7900 (fixed rate
since 1986)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 22,922 (1993 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: more than adequate
international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands
Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: 19,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 300 km
paved: 130 km
unpaved: 170 km
note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large
tracts of the interior

Ports and harbors: Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,366 GRT/1,595 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of
the Netherlands

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: drug-money-laundering center and transit point for
narcotics bound for the US and Europe; added to the US list of major
drug producing or drug transit countries in December 1996

======================================================================

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands ---------------------------

Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean,
northwest of Australia

Geographic coordinates: 12 14 S, 123 05 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 5 sq km
land: 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and
Cartier Island

Area--comparative: about eight times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 74.1 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical

Terrain: low with sand and coral

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all grass and sand)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose
maritime hazards

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established
in August 1983

People

Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are only seasonal caretakers

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Data code: AT

Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and
Territories

Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of
Australia)

Flag description: the flag of Australia is used

Economy

Economy--overview: no economic activity

Transportation

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Australia;
periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian
Air Force

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

======================================================================

@Atlantic Ocean --------------

Geography

Location: body of water between Africa, Europe, Antarctica, and
the Western Hemisphere

Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 W

Map references: World

Area:
total: 82.217 million sq km
note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,
Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea,
North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other
tributary water bodies

Area--comparative: slightly less than nine times the size of the
US; second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the Pacific
Ocean, but larger than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean)

Coastline: 111,866 km

Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of
Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea;
hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent
from August to November

Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea,
Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise
warm-water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern
Atlantic, counterclockwise warm-water gyre in the southern Atlantic;
the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged
north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m
highest point: in the Milwaukee Deep at sea level 0 m

Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals
(seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits,
polymetallic nodules, precious stones

Natural hazards: icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait,
and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have
been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands;
icebergs from Antarctica occur in the extreme southern Atlantic
Ocean; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern
Atlantic from October to May and extreme southern Atlantic from May
to October; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to
September

Environment--current issues: endangered marine species include the
manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is
hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to
international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US,
southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean
Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North
Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea,
North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea

Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography--note: major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait
of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic
straits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona
Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator
divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South
Atlantic Ocean

Government

Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard
for hydrographic codes--see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic
Data Codes appendix

Economy

Economy--overview: The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's
most heavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern
and Western Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the
exploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, the dredging of
aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and
natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).

Communications

Telephone system:
international: numerous submarine cables with most between
continental Europe and the UK, between North America and the UK, and
in the Mediterranean; numerous direct links across Atlantic via
satellite networks

Transportation

Ports and harbors: Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp
(Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca
(Morocco), Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal),
Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas
(Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal),
London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal
(Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran
(Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Rio de
Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Saint Petersburg
(Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)

Transportation--note: Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two
important waterways

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: some maritime disputes (see littoral
states)

======================================================================

@Australia ---------

Introduction

Background: Australia became a British commonwealth in 1901.
Blessed by rich natural resources, the country enjoyed rapid gains
in herding, agriculture, and manufacturing and made a major
contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. Australia
subsequently developed its minerals, metals, and fossil fuel
markets, all of which have become key Australian exports. Long-term
concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone
layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially
the Great Barrier Reef. Sydney will host the 2000 summer Olympics.

Geography

Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the
South Pacific Ocean

Geographic coordinates: 27 00 S, 133 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 7,686,850 sq km
land: 7,617,930 sq km
water: 68,920 sq km
note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than the US

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 25,760 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: 12 nm

Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east;
tropical in north

Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in
southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciusko 2,229 m

Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver,
uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds,
natural gas, petroleum

Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 54%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 21% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 21,070 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts

Environment--current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing,
industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices;
soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water;
desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the
natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great
Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the
world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a
tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification

Geography--note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest
country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern
coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the
Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer

People

Population: 18,783,551 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 2,023,569; female 1,926,901)
15-64 years: 66% (male 6,317,045; female 6,172,735)
65 years and over: 13% (male 1,022,485; female 1,320,816) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.9% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 13.21 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.14 years
male: 77.22 years
female: 83.23 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Australian(s)
adjective: Australian

Ethnic groups: Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%

Religions: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian
24.3%, non-Christian 11%

Languages: English, native languages

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1980 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia

Data code: AS

Government type: democratic, federal-state system recognizing the
British monarch as sovereign

Capital: Canberra

Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian
Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*,
Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island,
Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and
McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island

Independence: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

National holiday: Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir William DEANE (since 16 February
1996)
head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11
March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister Timothy Andrew FISCHER (since 11
March 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet selected from among the members of Federal
Parliament by the governor general on the advice of the prime
minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a
three-year term

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the
Senate (76 seats--12 from each of the six states and two from each of
the two territories; one-half of the members elected every three
years by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (148 seats; members elected by popular vote on the
basis of proportional representation to serve three-year terms; no
state can have fewer than five representatives)
elections: Senate--last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held by
October 2001); House of Representatives--last held 3 October 1998
(next to be held by October 2001)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Liberal-National 35, Labor 29, Australian Democrats 9, Greens
1, One Nation 1, independent 1; House of Representatives--percent of
vote by party--NA; seats by party--Liberal-National 80, Labor 67,
independent 1

Judicial branch: High Court, the Chief Justice and six other
justices are appointed by the governor general

Political parties and leaders:

Political pressure groups and leaders: Australian Democratic
Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and
Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)

International organization participation: ANZUS, APEC, AsDB,
Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM
(guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andrew Sharp PEACOCK
chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and
San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Genta Hawkins HOLMES
embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital
Territory 2600
mailing address: APO AP 96549
consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney

Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower
hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the
Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed
star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars

Economy

Economy--overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style
capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP at the level of the four
dominant West European economies. Rich in natural resources,
Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals,
metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for 57% of the value
of total exports, so that a downturn in world commodity prices can
have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for
increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in
international markets continues to be severe. Australia has suffered
from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD
countries in the early 1990s, but the economy has expanded at
reasonably steady rates in recent years. Canberra's emphasis on
reforms is a key factor behind the economy's resilience to the
regional crisis and its stronger than expected growth rate that
reached 4.5% last year. After a slow start in 1998, exports
rebounded in the second half of the year because of a sharp currency
depreciation and a redirection of sales to Europe, North America,
and Latin America.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$393.9 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$21,200 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 31%
services: 65% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 24.8% (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1998)

Labor force: 9.2 million (December 1997)

Labor force--by occupation: services 73%, industry 22%,
agriculture 5% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 8.1% (1998)

Budget:
revenues: $90.73 billion
expenditures: $89.04 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY98/99 est.)

Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food
processing, chemicals, steel

Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (1995)

Electricity--production: 166.683 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 91.14%
hydro: 8.84%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.02% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 166.683 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle,
sheep, poultry

Exports: $56 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore,
wheat, machinery and transport equipment

Exports--partners: Japan 20%, ASEAN 16%, EU 10%, South Korea 9%,
US 9%, NZ 8%, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China (1997)

Imports: $61 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers
and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude
oil and petroleum products

Imports--partners: EU 25%, US 23%, Japan 13%, China, NZ (1997)

Debt--external: $156 billion (June 1997)

Economic aid--donor: ODA, $1.43 billion (FY97/98)

Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.56 (February
1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995),
1.3668 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June

Communications

Telephones: 8.7 million (1987 est.)

Telephone system: excellent domestic and international service
domestic: domestic satellite system
international: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea,
and Indonesia; satellite earth stations--10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean
and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1
(Australia's only shortwave station, Radio Australia, broadcasts to
the world in seven languages, using 23 frequencies) (1998)

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 104 (64 of these stations are
government-owned and 40 are commercial) (1997)

Televisions: 9.2 million (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 38,563 km (2,914 km electrified)
broad gauge: 6,083 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge: 16,752 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 15,728 km 1.067-m gauge
dual gauge: 172 km NA gauges

Highways:
total: 913,000 km
paved: 353,331 km (including 13,630 km of expressways)
unpaved: 559,669 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft

Pipelines: crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural
gas 5,600 km

Ports and harbors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport
(Tasmania), Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceston
(Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville

Merchant marine:
total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,767,387 GRT/2,426,710
DWT
ships by type: bulk 29, cargo 3, chemical tanker 4, container 4,
liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 8, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 4 (1998 est.)

Airports: 408 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 262
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 112
914 to 1,523 m: 120
under 914 m: 8 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 146
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 114
under 914 m: 13 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal
Australian Air Force

Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 4,882,693 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,212,272 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 130,570 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $6.9 billion (FY97/98)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY97/98)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: territorial claim in Antarctica
(Australian Antarctic Territory)

Illicit drugs: Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of
licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over
areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw
concentrate

======================================================================

@Austria -------

Introduction

Background: Once the center of power for the large
Austro-Hungarian empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic
after its defeat in World War I. After the annexation to Nazi
Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allied
powers, Austria's 1955 State Treaty declared the country
"permanently neutral" as a condition of the Soviet military
withdrawal. The Soviet collapse relieved the external pressure to
remain unaligned, but neutrality had evolved into a part of Austrian
cultural identity, which has led to an ongoing public debate over
whether Vienna legitimately can remain outside of European security
structures. A wealthy country, Austria joined the European Union in
1995 and, like many EU members, is adjusting to the new European
currency and struggling with high unemployment.

Geography

Location: Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Geographic coordinates: 47 20 N, 13 20 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 83,858 sq km
land: 82,738 sq km
water: 1,120 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries:
total: 2,562 km
border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366
km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330
km, Switzerland 164 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with
frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with
occasional showers

Terrain: in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the
eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
highest point: Grossglockner 3,797 m

Natural resources: iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal,
lignite, copper, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 20% (1996 est.)

Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: some forest degradation caused by air
and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of
agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by
coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from
trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol

Geography--note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads
of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and
valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on
eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low
temperatures elsewhere

People

Population: 8,139,299 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 702,261; female 666,310)
15-64 years: 68% (male 2,792,484; female 2,713,397)
65 years and over: 15% (male 478,071; female 786,776) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.09% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 9.62 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 10.04 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.48 years
male: 74.31 years
female: 80.82 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.37 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Austrian(s)
adjective: Austrian

Ethnic groups: German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other
0.1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant 5%, other 17%

Languages: German

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1974 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form: Austria
local long form: Republik Oesterreich
local short form: Oesterreich

Data code: AU

Government type: federal republic

Capital: Vienna

Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslaender,
singular--bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich,
Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien

Independence: 1156 (from Bavaria)

National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955)

Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)

Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial
review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate
administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential
elections

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992)
head of government: Chancellor Viktor KLIMA (since 28 January 1997);
Vice Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (since 22 April 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice
of the chancellor
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
presidential election last held 19 April 1998 (next to be held in
the spring of 2004); chancellor chosen by the president from the
majority party in the National Council; vice chancellor chosen by
the president on the advice of the chancellor
election results: Thomas KLESTIL reelected president; percent of
vote--Thomas KLESTIL 63%, Gertraud KNOLL 14%, Heide SCHMIDT 11%,
Richard LUGNER 10%, Karl NOWAK 2%

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or
Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (64
members; members represent each of the states on the basis of
population, but with each state having at least three
representatives; members serve a four- or six-year term) and the
National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by
direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: National Council--last held 17 December 1995 (next to be
held in the fall of 1999)
election results: National Council--percent of vote by party--SPOe
38.3%, OeVP 28.3%, FPOe 22.1%, LF 5.3%, Greens 4.6%, other 1.4%;
seats by party--SPOe 71, OeVP 53, FPOe 40, LF 10, Greens 9

Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof;
Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court
or Verfassungsgerichtshof

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party of Austria
caucus floor leader and Alexander VAN DER BELLEN, party spokesman];

Political pressure groups and leaders: Federal Chamber of Trade
and Commerce; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist)
or OeGB; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or
OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers; OeVP-oriented League
of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including
its chief lay organization, Catholic Action

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,
UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Helmut TUERK
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Walt HALL
embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and red

Economy

Economy--overview: Austria has a well-developed market economy
with a high standard of living. As a member of the European Monetary
Union (EMU), Austria's economy is closely integrated with other EU
member countries, especially with Germany. Austria's membership in
the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by
Austria's access to the single European market. Through
privatization efforts, the 1996-98 budget consolidation programs,
and austerity measures, Austria brought its total public sector
deficit down to 2.5% of GDP in 1997 and public debt--at 66% of GDP in
1997--more or less in line with the 60% of GDP required by the EU's
Maastricht criteria. Cuts mainly affect the civil service and
Austria's generous social system, the two major causes of the
government deficit. To meet increased competition from both EU and
Central European countries, Austria will need to emphasize
knowledge-based sectors of the economy and deregulate the service
sector, particularly telecommunications and energy. The strong GDP
growth of 1998 is expected to dwindle back to 2.3% in 1999, and
observers caution that this projection may be revised downwards in
view of the Asian and Brazilian crises and Germany's lower growth
projection.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$184.5 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 2.9% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,700 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 30.8%
services: 67.8% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1998)

Labor force: 3.7 million (1998)

Labor force--by occupation: services 67.7%, industry and crafts
29%, agriculture and forestry 0.7% (salaried employees, 1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 7% (1999 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $50.4 billion
expenditures: $55.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)

Industries: construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food,
chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard,
communications equipment, tourism (1997)

Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 52.15 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 34.4%
hydro: 65.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1997)

Electricity--consumption: 56.1 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--exports: 9.8 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--imports: 9 billion kWh (1997)

Agriculture--products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit;
dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber

Exports: $62.5 billion (1998)

Exports--commodities: vehicles, machinery and equipment, paper and
paperboard, metal goods, iron and steel, telecommunication
equipment, textiles, medical and pharmaceutical products (1997)

Exports--partners: EU 62% (Germany 35.1%, Italy 8.3%), Central and
Eastern Europe 17.6% (Hungary 4.9%), Japan 1.3%, US 3.7% (1997)

Imports: $65.8 billion (1998)

Imports--commodities: vehicles, machinery and equipment, apparel,
metal goods, oil and oil products, office and data-processing
machinery, medical and pharmaceutical products, telecommunication
equipment, textiles (1997)

Imports--partners: EU 68.9% (Germany 41.7%, Italy 8%), Central and
Eastern Europe 11% (Hungary 3.1%), Asia 7.1% (Japan 2.2%), US 5.4%
(1997)

Debt--external: $24.33 billion (1997)

Economic aid--donor: ODA, $513 million (1997); of which, bilateral
$298 million, multilateral $215 million

Currency: 1 Austrian schilling (AS) = 100 groschen

Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (AS) per US$1--11.86 (January
1999), 12.379 (1998), 12.204 (1997), 10.587 (1996), 10.081 (1995),
11.422 (1994)
note: on 9 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 13.7603 Austrian shillings per euro; the euro will replace
the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in
2002

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 3.47 million (1986 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: highly developed and efficient
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean) and 2 Eutelsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 61 (several hundred
repeaters), shortwave 1 (Austria's single shortwave station, Radio
Austria International, transmits its programs to the world in six
languages using 12 frequencies and six communication satellite
relays) (1998)

Radios: 70% of all households had radiosaccoding to the 1993
census

Television broadcast stations: 51 (in addition, there are 920
repeaters) (1998)

Televisions: 2,418,584 (1984 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 5,849 km (there is also 594 km of private tracks)
standard gauge: 5,470 km 1.435-m gauge (3,418 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 379 km 1.000-m and 0.760-m gauge (84 km electrified)
(1997)

Highways: 129,061 km
paved: 129,061 km (including 1,613 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 358 km (1997)

Pipelines: crude oil 777 km; natural gas 840 km (1997)

Ports and harbors: Linz, Vienna, Enns, Krems

Merchant marine:
total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 67,066 GRT/95,693 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 18, combination bulk 2, container 1
(1998 est.)

Airports: 55 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 12 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 33
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 29 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army (includes Flying Division)

Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,091,902 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,735,469 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 48,872 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.8 billion (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.82% (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and
South American cocaine destined for Western Europe

======================================================================

@Azerbaijan ----------

Introduction

Background: In 1806, Azerbaijan, a region of Turkic Muslim
people, was conquered by the Russians. In 1918, Azerbaijan declared
independence from Russia, but was incorporated into the Soviet Union
in 1920. It again declared its independence in 1991, following the
collapse of the USSR. The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia
over the Nagorno-Karabakh region is still unresolved after 10 years
and Baku has yet to settle disputes with its neighbors over oil
rights in the Caspian Sea. During the war, Karabakh Armenians
declared independence and seized almost 20% of the country's
territory, creating some 750,000 Azerbaijani refugees in the
process. Both sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated
cease-fire in place since May 1994.

Geography

Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between
Iran and Russia

Geographic coordinates: 40 30 N, 47 30 E

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:
total: 86,600 sq km
land: 86,100 sq km
water: 500 sq km
note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the
Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by
Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries:
total: 2,013 km
border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia
(with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran
(with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan
exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: dry, semiarid steppe

Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much
of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north,
Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron
Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous
metals, alumina

Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 11%
other: 41% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 10,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: droughts; some lowland areas threatened by
rising levels of the Caspian Sea

Environment--current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron
Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the
Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world
because of severe air, water, and soil pollution; soil pollution
results from the use of DDT as a pesticide and also from toxic
defoliants used in the production of cotton

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity

Geography--note: landlocked

People

Population: 7,908,224 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 1,292,018; female 1,240,745)
15-64 years: 61% (male 2,361,792; female 2,496,721)
65 years and over: 7% (male 202,755; female 314,193) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.63% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 21.58 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 9.5 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -5.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 82.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.08 years
male: 58.76 years
female: 67.63 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.67 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani

Ethnic groups: Azeri 90%, Dagestani Peoples 3.2%, Russian 2.5%,
Armenian 2%, other 2.3% (1998 est.)
note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh
region

Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox
2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan;
percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower

Languages: Azeri 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995
est.)