federal district* (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency**
(dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas,
Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**,
Distrito Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas,
Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia
note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled
island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence: 5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Constitution: 23 January 1961
Legal system: based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative
acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez (since 2 February
1994); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez (since 2
February 1994); note-the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held 6 December 1998)
election results: Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez elected president; percent
of vote-Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez (National Convergence) 30.45%,
Claudio FERMIN (AD) 23.59%, Oswaldo ALVAREZ PAZ (COPEI) 22.72%, Andres
VELASQUEZ (Causa R) 21.94%, other 1.3%
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de
la Republica consists of the Senate or Senado (52 seats, two from each
state and the Federal District (50), and retired presidents (2);
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and
Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (207 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate-last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held 6
December 1998); Chamber of Deputies-last held 5 December 1993 (next to
be held 6 December 1998)
election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by
party-AD 16, COPEI 14, Causa R 9, National Convergence 5, MAS 3,
independents 5; note-two former presidents (1 from AD, 1 from COPEI)
hold lifetime Senate seats; Chamber of Deputies-percent of vote by
party-AD 25.6%, COPEI 24.6%, MAS 10.6%, National Convergence 8.7%,
Causa R 19.3%; seats by party-AD 53, COPEI 51, Causa R 40, MAS 22,
National Convergence 18, other 23
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia),
magistrates are elected by both chambers in joint session for a
nine-year term, a third are re-elected every three years
Political parties and leaders: National Convergence (Convergencia),
Jose Miguel UZCATEGUI, president, Juan Jose CALDERA, national
coordinator; Social Christian Party (COPEI), Luis HERRERA Campins,
president, and Donald RAMIREZ, secretary general; Democratic Action
(AD), David MORALES Bello, president, and Luis ALFARO Ucero, secretary
general; Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), Felipe MUJICA, president,
and Leopoldo PUCHI, secretary general; Radical Cause (La Causa R),
Lucas MATHEUS, secretary general; Homeland for All (PPT), Alexis
ROSAS, director
Political pressure groups and leaders: FEDECAMARAS, a conservative
business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers (CTV, labor
organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOS groups
International organization participation: AG, Caricom (observer), CCC,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MINUGUA, MINURSO,
NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pedro Luis ECHEVERRIA
chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214
FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans,
New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John Francis MAISTO
embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas
1060
mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037
telephone: [58] (2) 977-2011
FAX: [58] (2) 977-0843
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue,
and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and
an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
@Venezuela:Economy
Economy-overview: The petroleum sector dominates the economy,
accounting for 27% of GDP, 78% of export earnings, and more than half
of government operating revenues. It is likely to become even more
important as the state petroleum company plans to double its
production over the next 10 years. Realizing the failure of
interventionist policies, the CALDERA administration embarked on a
comprehensive economic reform program, which included negotiation of a
stand-by agreement with the IMF in 1996, elimination of price and
exchange controls, and revitalization of Venezuela's stalled
privatization program. The influx of foreign capital, and the currency
depreciation that followed exchange liberalization, led to 103%
inflation in 1996, the highest in Venezuelan history. The government
stepped in toward the end of 1996, propping up the Bolivar by using a
stable nominal exchange rate as a restraint on inflation-which fell in
1997 to 38%. The macroeconomic adjustments, bolstered by strong oil
prices, resulted in strong growth in 1997. However, the East Asian
financial crisis and the decline of international oil prices toward
the end of 1997 brought pressure on the currency, which Caracas was
able to stave off. Caracas readjusted its exchange rate bands and
began to allow quicker depreciation of the Bolivar; the government
also tightened monetary policy. Concerned over potential revenue
shortfalls from soft oil prices for the 1998 budget, Caracas has
implemented budget cuts to compensate for previously optimistic oil
revenue estimates. The government also has pushed ahead with sale of
the state-owned steel company and the strategic aluminum sector,
thereby reassuring domestic and international investors of Venezuela's
commitment to reform. The monetary and fiscal measures have been well
received by the international financial community. As a result,
financial analysts believe the economy will still grow at a healthy
pace in 1998, though they have lowered their initial projections for
GDP growth due to the soft oil market.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$185 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 5% (1997)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$8,300 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 63%
services: 33% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 38% (1997)
Labor force:
total: 9.2 million
by occupation: services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11.5% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $11.99 billion
expenditures: $11.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $3
billion (1996 est.)
Industries: petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food
processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (1995 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 18.975 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 74 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,508 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas,
vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Exports:
total value: $20.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: petroleum 78%, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals,
agricultural products, basic manufactures
partners: US and Puerto Rico 55%, Japan, Netherlands, Italy
Imports:
total value: $10.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport
equipment, construction materials
partners: US 40%, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Canada
Debt-external: $26.5 billion (1996)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $46 million (1993)
Currency: 1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: bolivares (Bs) per US$1-507.447 (January 1998),
488.635 (1997), 417.333 (1996), 176.843 (1995), 148.503 (1994), 90.826
(1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.44 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern and expanding
domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations
international: 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth station-1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 181, FM 0, shortwave 26
Radios: 9.04 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 59
Televisions: 3.3 million (1992 est.)
@Venezuela:Transportation
Railways:
total: 584 km (336 km single track; 248 km privately owned)
standard gauge: 584 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:
total: 84,300 km
paved: 33,214 km
unpaved: 51,086 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept
oceangoing vessels
Pipelines: crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas
4,010 km
Ports and harbors: Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La
Salina, Maracaibo, Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz,
Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon
Merchant marine:
total: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 526,832 GRT/933,135 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 5, combination bulk 1, container 1,
liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 9, passenger-cargo 1,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 377 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 126
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 35
914 to 1,523 m: 61
under 914 m: 15 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 251
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 96
under 914 m: 147 (1997 est.)
@Venezuela:Military
Military branches: National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales
or FAN) includes Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or
Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada), Air Force
(Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National
Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 6,134,691 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 4,429,265 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually:
males: 240,506 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $902 million (1996)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 1.4% (1996)
@Venezuela:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo
River; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of
Venezuela
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, opium, and coca leaf for
the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large
quantities of cocaine and heroin transit the country from Colombia;
important money-laundering hub; active eradication program primarily
targeting opium
______________________________________________________________________
VIETNAM
@Vietnam:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of
Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 106 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 329,560 sq km
land: 325,360 sq km
water: 4,200 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 4,639 km
border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
Coastline: 3,444 km (excludes islands)
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: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season
(mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to
mid-March)
Terrain: low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly,
mountainous in far north and northwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Ngoc Linh 3,143 m
Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate,
offshore oil and gas deposits, forests
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 30%
other: 48% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 18,600 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive
flooding
Environment-current issues: logging and slash-and-burn agricultural
practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water
pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations;
groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban
industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading
environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
@Vietnam:People
Population: 76,236,259 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 13,570,312; female 12,796,687)
15-64 years: 60% (male 22,222,286; female 23,621,122)
65 years and over: 5% (male 1,613,103; female 2,412,749) (July 1998
est.)
Population growth rate: 1.43% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 21.55 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 6.69 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 36.02 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.74 years
male: 65.37 years
female: 70.25 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.5 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)
adjective: Vietnamese
Ethnic groups: Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Tai, Meo, Khmer,
Man, Cham
Religions: Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs,
Islam, Protestant, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao
Languages: Vietnamese (official), Chinese, English, French, Khmer,
tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 96.5%
female: 91.2% (1995 est.)
@Vietnam:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form: Vietnam
local long form: Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam
local short form: Viet Nam
abbreviation: SRV
Data code: VM
Government type: Communist state
National capital: Hanoi
Administrative divisions: 50 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), 3
municipalities* (thu do, singular and plural); An Giang, Ba Ria-Vung
Tau, Bac Thai, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Can Tho, Cao Bang, Dac
Lac, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Bac, Ha Giang, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay,
Ha Tinh, Hai Hung, Hai Phong*, Ho Chi Minh*, Hoa Binh, Khanh Hoa, Kien
Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Minh
Hai, Nam Ha, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Yen, Quang Binh,
Quang Nam-Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son
La, Song Be, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien
Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phu, Yen Bai
note: eight existing provinces (Bac Thai, Ha Bac, Hai Hung, Minh Hai,
Nam Ha, Quang Nam-Da Nang, Song Be, and Vinh Phu) may have been
abolished and from their territory 15 new provinces and one new
municipality* (Bac Can, Bac Giang, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Binh Duong,
Binh Phuoc, Ca Mau, Da Nang City*, Ha Nam, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Nam
Dinh, Phu Tho, Quang Nam, Thai Nguyen, and Vinh Phuc) may have been
created
Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Constitution: 15 April 1992
Legal system: based on communist legal theory and French civil law
system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tran Duc LUONG (since 24 September 1997) and
Vice President Nguyen Thi BINH (since NA October 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 25 September
1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 29 September
1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen Cong TAN (since 29 September
1997), Ngo Xuan LOC (since 29 September 1997), Nguyen Manh CAM (since
29 September 1997), and Pham Gia KHIEM (since 29 September 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the
prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its
members for a five-year term; election last held 25 September 1997
(next to be held when National Assembly meets following legislative
elections in NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president from
among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers
appointed by the prime minister
election results: Tran Duc LUONG elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (450
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party-CPV 92%, other 8% (the 8%
are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand for
election); seats by party-CPV or CPV-approved 450
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, chief justice is elected for
a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the
president
Political parties and leaders: only party-Communist Party of Vietnam
(CPV), Le Kha PHIEU, general secretary
International organization participation: will become a member at the
next APEC meeting in the fall of 1998, ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador LE VAN BANG
chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 501
telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737
FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas "Pete" Peterson
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [84] (4) 8431500
FAX: [84] (4) 8350484 or 8431510
Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the
center
@Vietnam:Economy
Economy-overview: Vietnam is a poor, densely populated country that
has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial
support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally
planned economy. Substantial progress has been achieved over the past
10 years in moving forward from an extremely low starting point.
Economic growth continued at a strong pace during 1997 with industrial
output rising by 12% and real GDP expanding by 8.5%. These positive
numbers, however, masked some major difficulties that are emerging in
economic performance. Many domestic industries, including coal,
cement, steel, and paper, reported large stockpiles of inventory and
tough competition from more efficient foreign producers, giving
Vietnam a trade deficit of $3.3 billion in 1997. While disbursements
of aid and foreign direct investment have risen, they are not large
enough to finance the rapid increase in imports; and it is widely
believed that Vietnam may be using short-term trade credits to bridge
the gap-a risky strategy that could result in a foreign exchange
crunch. Meanwhile, Vietnamese authorities continue to move slowly
toward implementing the structural reforms needed to revitalize the
economy and produce more competitive, export-driven industries.
Privatization of state enterprises remains bogged down in political
controversy, while the country's dynamic private sector is denied both
financing and access to markets. Reform of the banking sector is
proceeding slowly, raising concerns that the country will be unable to
tap sufficient domestic savings to maintain current high levels of
growth. Administrative and legal barriers are also causing costly
delays for foreign investors and are raising similar doubts about
Vietnam's ability to maintain the inflow of foreign capital.
Ideological bias in favor of state intervention and control of the
economy is slowing progress toward a more liberalized investment
environment.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$128 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 8.5% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 28%
industry: 30%
services: 42% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 5% (1997)
Labor force:
total: 32.7 million
by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry and services 35% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: 25% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.6 billion
expenditures: $6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7
billion (1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, garments, shoes, machine building,
mining, cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil
Industrial production growth rate: 12% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 5.32 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 12.3 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 165 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: paddy rice, corn, potatoes, rubber, soybeans,
coffee, tea, bananas; poultry, pigs; fish
Exports:
total value: $7.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea,
garments, shoes
partners: Japan, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, France, South
Korea
Imports:
total value: $11.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer,
steel products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles
partners: Singapore, South Korea, Japan, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan
Debt-external: $7.3 billion Western countries; $4.5 billion CEMA debts
primarily to Russia; $9 billion to $18 billion nonconvertible debt
(former CEMA, Iraq, Iran)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
note: $2.4 billion in credits and grants pledged by international
donors for 1997
Currency: 1 new dong (D) = 100 xu
Exchange rates: new dong (D) per US$1-12,300 (January 1998), 11,100
(December 1996), 11,193 (1995 average), 11,000 (October 1994), 10,800
(November 1993), 8,100 (July 1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 800,000 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: while Vietnam's telecommunication sector lags far
behind other countries in Southeast Asia, Hanoi has made considerable
progress since 1991 in upgrading the system; Vietnam has digitized all
provincial switch boards, while fiber-optic and microwave transmission
systems have been extended from Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City
to all provinces; the density of telephone receivers nationwide
doubled from 1993 to 1995, but is still far behind other countries in
the region; Vietnam's telecommunications strategy aims to increase
telephone density to 30 per 1,000 inhabitants by the year 2000 and
authorities estimate that approximately $2.7 billion will be spent on
telecommunications upgrades through the end of the decade
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations-2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean
region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 228, shortwave 0
Radios: 7.215 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 36 (repeaters 77)
Televisions: 2.9 million (1992 est.)
@Vietnam:Transportation