Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Bill SKATE (since 22 July 1997);
Deputy Prime Minister Michael NALI (since 16 December 1997); note-NALI
replaces Deputy Prime Minister Chris HAIVETA (since 7 September 1994)
who Prime Minister SKATE fired on 12 December 1997 for his alleged
role in trying to discredit SKATE
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general
on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general
appointed by the National Executive Council; prime minister and deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general for up to five years
on the basis of majority support in National Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament-sometimes referred
to as the House of Assembly (109 seats-89 elected from open
electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14-28 June 1997 (next to be held NA June 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party-PPP 15%, Pangu Pati 14%, NA
14%, PDM 8%, PNC 6%, PAP 5%, UP 3%, NP 1%, PUP 1%, independents 33%;
seats by party-PPP 16, Pangu Pati 15, NA 15, PDM 9, PNC 7, PAP 5, UP
3, NP 1, PUP 1, independents 37; note-association with political
parties is very fluid
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the
governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council
after consultation with the minister responsible for justice, other
judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission
Political parties and leaders: Bougainville Unity Alliance (BUA),
Samuel AKOITAI; People's Progress Party (PPP), Michael NALI; Papua New
Guinea United Party (Pangu Pati), Chris HAIVETA; National Alliance
(NA), Michael SOMARE; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Iario
LASARO; People's Action Party (PAP), Ted DIRO; United Party (UP),
Rimbiuk PATO; National Party (NP), Paul PORA; People's Unity Party
(PUP), Alfred KAIABE; Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS;
Movement for Greater Autonomy, Stephen POKAWIN; Christian Democratic
Party, Dilu GOMA; Papua New Guinea First Party (includes People's
National Congress or PNC, Bill SKATE, and Christian Country Party,
Avusi TANO) leader NA; People's Resources Awareness Party, leader NA;
Liberal Party, Rabbie SAMAI; People's Solidarity Party, Kala SWOKIM;
Melanesian Labour Party, Paul MONDIA; Black Action Party, Paul WANJIK;
League for National Advancement (LNA), leader NA; United Resource
Party, Masket IANGALIO; Hausman Party, Waim TOKAM; Milne Bay Party,
Simon MUMURIK
International organization participation: ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN
(observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN
chancery: 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20009
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby
telephone: [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675] 321-3423
Flag description: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the
upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered;
the lower triangle is black with five white five-pointed stars of the
Southern Cross constellation centered
@Papua New Guinea:Economy
Economy-overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural
resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain
and the high cost of developing an infrastructure. Agriculture
provides a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population.
Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of
export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid
under World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. In 1995,
Port Moresby reached agreement with the IMF and World Bank on a
structural adjustment program, of which the first phase was
successfully completed in 1996. Droughts caused by the El Nino weather
pattern wreaked havoc on Papua New Guinea's coffee, cocoa, and coconut
production, the mainstays of the agricultural-based economy and major
sources of export earnings. The coffee crop was slashed by up to 50%
in 1997. Moreover, droughts could bite into growth in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$11.6 billion (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.3% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,650 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 26.4%
industry: 41%
services: 32.6% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 11.6% (1996)
Labor force:
total: 1.941 million
by occupation: agriculture 64% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production,
wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil
production; construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 490,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 1.76 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 410 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea,
rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork
Exports:
total value: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, coffee, palm oil, cocoa,
lobster
partners: Australia, Japan, Germany, UK, South Korea
Imports:
total value: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
food, fuels, chemicals
partners: Australia, US, Singapore, Japan, UK
Debt-external: $3.2 billion (1995)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $291 million (1993); $240 million bilateral aid from
Australia (FY96/97 est.); $4.1 million ODA from NZ (FY95/96)
Currency: 1 kina (K) = 100 toea
Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1-0.6299 (November 1997), 0.7588
(1996), 0.7835 (1995), 0.9950 (1994), 1.0221 (1993); note-the
government floated the kina on 10 October 1994
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 63,212 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: services are adequate and being improved; facilities
provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical
radio, and international radio communication services
domestic: mostly radiotelephone
international: submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth
station-1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication
service
Radio broadcast stations: AM 31, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 298,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 10,000 (1992 est.)
@Papua New Guinea:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 19,600 km
paved: 686 km
unpaved: 18,914 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 10,940 km
Ports and harbors: Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
Merchant marine:
total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 32,859 GRT/45,270 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, combination ore/oil
5, container 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1997 est.)
Airports: 495 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 19
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 476
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 59
under 914 m: 404 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1997 est.)
@Papua New Guinea:Military
Military branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Ground,
Naval, and Air Forces, and Special Forces Unit)
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 1,206,458 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 670,510 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $63 million (1997); note-includes
$12 million to cover leftover 1996 expenditures
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA
@Papua New Guinea:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
PARACEL ISLANDS
@Paracel Islands:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the
South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to
the northern Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 16 30 N, 112 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: NA
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 518 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: typhoons
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Paracel Islands:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
@Paracel Islands:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Data code: PF
@Paracel Islands:Economy
Economy-overview: no economic activity
@Paracel Islands:Transportation
Ports and harbors: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and
Duncan Island being expanded
Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Paracel Islands:Military
Military-note: occupied by China
@Paracel Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and
Vietnam
______________________________________________________________________
PARAGUAY
@Paraguay:Geography
Location: Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Geographic coordinates: 23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 406,750 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,920 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions,
becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain: grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran
Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the
river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro San Rafael 850 m
Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 55%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 7% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to
June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Environment-current issues: deforestation (an estimated 2 million
hectares of forest land have been lost from 1958-85); water pollution;
inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many
urban residents
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Geography-note: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and
Brazil
@Paraguay:People
Population: 5,291,020 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 1,061,972; female 1,026,983)
15-64 years: 56% (male 1,483,089; female 1,473,372)
65 years and over: 5% (male 113,298; female 132,306) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.68% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 32.21 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.29 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 37.39 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.23 years
male: 70.27 years
female: 74.29 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.26 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, white plus
Amerindian 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant
denominations
Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.1%
male: 93.5%
female: 90.6% (1995 est.)
@Paraguay:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay
Data code: PA
Government type: republic
National capital: Asuncion
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos,
singular-departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion,
Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion,
Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente
Hayes, San Pedro
Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
Constitution: promulgated 20 June 1992
Legal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes;
judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does
not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993)
and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993);
note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August
1993) and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993);
note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by
popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 9 May 1993 (next
to be held 10 May 1998)
election results: Juan Carlos WASMOSY elected president; percent of
vote-Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%, Domingo LAINO 32.06%, Guillermo
CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the
Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of
Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators-last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held
10 May 1998); Chamber of Deputies-last held 9 May 1993 (next to be
held 10 May 1998)
election results: Chamber of Senators-percent of vote by party-NA;
seats by party - Colorado Party 20, PLRA 17, EN 8; Chamber of
Deputies-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Colorado Party
38, PLRA 33, EN 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia),
judges appointed on the proposal of the Counsel of Magistrates
(Consejo de la Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders: Colorado Party, Luis Maria ARGANA,
president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo LAINO;
National Encounter (EN), Carlos FILIZZOLA; Christian Democratic Party
(PDC), Miguel MONTANER; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Victor
SANCHEZ Villagra; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo Richer
Political pressure groups and leaders: Unitary Workers Central (CUT);
Roman Catholic Church; National Workers Central (CNT); Paraguayan
Workers Confederation (CPT)
International organization participation: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jorge G. Andres PRIETO CONTI
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Maura A. HARTY
embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
FAX: [595] (21) 213-728
Flag description: three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white,
and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in
that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at
the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star
within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all
within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the
seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the
words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA
DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
@Paraguay:Economy
Economy-overview: Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large
informal sector. The informal sector features both reexport of
imported consumer goods (electronics, whiskeys, perfumes, cigarettes,
and office equipment) to neighboring countries as well as the
activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors.
The formal sector is largely oriented toward services. A large
percentage of the population derive their living from agricultural
activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy has grown
an average of about 3% over the past five years. However, population
has increased at about the same rate over the same period, leaving per
capita income nearly stagnant. The WASMOSY government has continued to
pursue its economic reform agenda, albeit with limited success because
of in-fighting in the ruling party and resistance from the opposition.
Paraguay's ongoing integration into Mercosur (the Southern Cone Common
Market) offers potential for investment and growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$21.9 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$3,900 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 26.4%
industry: 24.9%
services: 48.7% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 6.2% (1997)
Labor force:
total: 1.8 million (1995 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 45%
Unemployment rate: 8.2% (urban) (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.25 billion
expenditures: $1.66 billion, including capital expenditures of $357
million (1995 est.)
Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing,
textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 5.1% (1995)
Electricity-capacity: 6.533 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 40.05 billion kWh (1995)
note: exported about 36.96 billion kWh of electricity to Brazil
Electricity-consumption per capita: 577 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat,
tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs,
milk; timber
Exports:
total value: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
commodities: cotton, soybeans, timber, vegetable oils, meat products,
coffee, tung oil
partners: Brazil 48%, Netherlands 22%, Argentina 9%, US 4%, Uruguay
3%, Chile 2% (1997)
Imports:
total value: $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
commodities: capital goods, consumer goods, foodstuffs, raw materials,
fuels
partners: Brazil 29%, US 22%, Argentina 14%, Hong Kong 9% (1995)
Debt-external: $1.3 billion (1996)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $38 million (1993)
Currency: 1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$-2,528.8 (January 1998), 2,191.0
(1997), 2,062.8 (1996), 1,970.4 (1995), 1,911.5 (1994), 1,744.3 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 88,730 (1985 est.)
Telephone system: meager telephone service; principal switching center
is Asuncion
domestic: fair microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 40, FM 0, shortwave 7
Radios: 775,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5
Televisions: 370,000 (1992 est.)
@Paraguay:Transportation
Railways:
total: 971 km
standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 60 km 1.000-m gauge
other gauge: 470 km various gauges (privately owned)
Highways:
total: 29,500 km
paved: 2,803 km
unpaved: 26,697 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 3,100 km
Ports and harbors: Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Merchant marine:
total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,442 GRT/32,510 DWT
ships by type: cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 3,
roll-on/roll-off 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 948 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 938
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 29
914 to 1,523 m: 353
under 914 m: 555 (1997 est.)
@Paraguay:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), Air
Force
Military manpower-military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 1,274,297 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 921,323 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually:
males: 53,514 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $94 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 0.6% (1994)
@Paraguay:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: short section of the boundary with Brazil,
just west of Salto del Guaira (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, has
not been precisely delimited
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug
trade; transshipment country for Bolivian cocaine headed for Europe
and the US
______________________________________________________________________
PERU
@Peru:Geography
Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean,
between Chile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 76 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 1,285,220 sq km
land: 1.28 million sq km
water: 5,220 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 6,940 km
border countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km,
Colombia 2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline: 2,414 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west
Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in
center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural resources: copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron
ore, coal, phosphate, potash
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 21%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 10% (1993 est.)