the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), which then
served as the country's legislative body, announced the formation of
the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE) in preparation for the
23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence from Ethiopia. The
referendum resulted in a landslide vote for independence, which
became effective on 24 May 1993.
Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti
and Sudan
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 39 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 121,320 sq km
land: 121,320 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 1,630 km
border countries: Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km
Coastline: 2,234 km total; mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands
in Red Sea 1,083 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and
wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually);
semiarid in western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during
June-September except on coastal desert
Terrain: dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending
highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the
northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling
plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m
highest point: Soira 3,018 m
Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil
and natural gas (currently under exploration), fish
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 48%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 280 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent droughts
Environment--current issues: deforestation; desertification; soil
erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: strategic geopolitical position along world's
busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of
Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia
on 27 April 1993
People
Population: 3,984,723 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 859,899; female 852,329)
15-64 years: 54% (male 1,061,921; female 1,078,102)
65 years and over: 3% (male 67,969; female 64,503) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.88% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 42.56 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.32 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: it is estimated that approximately 315,000 Eritrean refugees
were still living in Sudan by the end of 1997 according to the UNHCR
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 76.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.74 years
male: 53.61 years
female: 57.95 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.96 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Eritrean(s)
adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic groups: ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar
4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%
Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages: Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya,
minor ethnic group languages
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Eritrea
conventional short form: Eritrea
local long form: Hagere Ertra
local short form: Ertra
former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Data code: ER
Government type: transitional government
note: following a successful referendum on independence for the
Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National
Assembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and
Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; a
Constitutional Commission was also established to draft a
constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the
transitional legislature
Capital: Asmara (formerly Asmera)
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces (singular--awraja); Akale
Guzay, Barka, Denkel, Hamasen, Sahil, Semhar, Senhit, Seraye
note: in May 1995 the National Assembly adopted a resolution stating
that the administrative structure of Eritrea, which had been
established by former colonial powers, would consist of only six
provinces when the new constitution, then being drafted, became
effective in 1997; the new provinces, the names of which had not
been recommended by the US Board on Geographic Names for recognition
by the US Government, pending acceptable definition of the
boundaries, were: Anseba, Debub, Debubawi Keyih Bahri, Gash-Barka,
Maakel, and Semanawi Keyih Bahri; more recently, it has been
reported that these provinces have been redesignated regions and
renamed Southern Red Sea, Northern Red Sea, Anseba, Gash-Barka,
Southern, and Central
Independence: 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea
Autonomous Region)
National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24
May (1993)
Constitution: the transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May
1993, was replaced by a new constitution that was promulgated in May
1997
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: NA; note--it seems likely that the final version of the
constitution would follow the example set in the referendum of 1993
and extend suffrage to all persons 18 years of age or older
Executive branch:
chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority
note: the president is head of the State Council and National
Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly; election last
held 8 June 1993 (next to be held NA)
election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote--ISAIAS Afworki 95%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term
limits not established)
elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the new
constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old
Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member
Constituent Assembly which had been established in 1997 to discuss
and ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans
living abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly to
serve as the country's legislative body until country-wide elections
to a National Assembly are held; only 75 members will be elected to
the National Assembly--the other 75 will be members of the Central
Committee of the PFDJ
Judicial branch: the Supreme Court; 10 provincial courts; 29
district courts
Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and
Afworki, PETROS Solomon]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Eritrean Islamic Jihad or
NAWUD]; Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council or ELF-RC
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador SEMERE Russom
chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William CLARK
embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara
mailing address: P.O. Box 211, Asmara
Flag description: red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist
side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle
is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold
olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle
Economy
Economy--overview: With independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993,
Eritrea faced the bitter economic problem of a small, desperately
poor African country. The economy is largely based on subsistence
agriculture, with over 70% of the population involved in farming and
herding. The small industrial sector consists mainly of light
industries with outmoded technologies. Domestic output (GDP) is
substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad.
Government revenues come from custom duties and taxes on income and
sales. Road construction is a top domestic priority. Eritrea has
long-term prospects for revenues from the development of offshore
oil, offshore fishing, and tourism. Eritrea's economic future
depends on its ability to master fundamental social and economic
problems, e.g., overcoming illiteracy, promoting job creation,
expanding technical training, attracting foreign investment, and
streamlining the bureaucracy. The most immediate threat to the
economy, however, is the possible expansion of the armed conflict
with Ethiopia.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$660 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 20%
services: 62% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $226 million
expenditures: $453 million, including capital expenditures of $88
million (1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: sorghum, lentils, vegetables, maize,
cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish
Exports: $95 million (1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small
manufactures
Exports--partners: Ethiopia 67%, Sudan 10%, US 8%, Italy 4%, Saudi
Arabia, Yemen (1996)
Imports: $514 million (1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: processed goods, machinery, petroleum
products
Imports--partners: Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Italy, United Arab
Emirates (1996)
Debt--external: $46 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $149.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 nafka = 100 cents
Exchange rates: nakfa per US$1 = 7.6 (January 1999), 7.2 (March
1998 est.)
note: following independence from Ethiopia, Eritrea continued to use
Ethiopian currency until November 1997 when Eritrea issued its own
currency, the nakfa, at approximately the same rate as the birr,
i.e., 7.2 nakfa per US$1
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: very inadequate; about 4 telephones per 100 families, most
of which are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders
to improve the system
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 1
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (government controlled) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: 307 km
narrow gauge: 307 km 0.950-m gauge (1995 est.)
note: nonoperational since 1978 except for about a 5 km stretch that
was reopened in Massawa in 1994; rehabilitation of the remainder and
of the rolling stock is under way; links Ak'ordat and Asmara
(formerly Asmera) with the port of Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa)
Highways:
total: 4,010 km
paved: 874 km
unpaved: 3,136 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,947 GRT/5,747 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 20 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $196 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 28.6% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: dispute over alignment of boundary with
Ethiopia led to armed conflict in 1998, which is still unresolved
despite arbitration efforts; Hanish Islands dispute with Yemen
resolved by arbitral tribunal in October 1998
======================================================================
@Estonia
-------
Introduction
Background: In and out of Swedish and Russian control over the
centuries, this little Baltic state was re-incorporated into the
USSR after German occupation in World War II. Independence came with
the collapse of the USSR in 1991; the last Russian troops left in
1994. Estonia thus became free to promote economic and political
ties with Western Europe. The position of ethnic Russians (29% of
the population) remains an issue of concern to Moscow. European
Union (EU) membership negotiations, which began in 1998, remain a
domestic issue.
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of
Finland, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 59 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 45,226 sq km
land: 43,211 sq km
water: 2,015 sq km
note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont
combined
Land boundaries:
total: 633 km
border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km
Coastline: 3,794 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with
neighboring states
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Terrain: marshy, lowlands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Natural resources: shale oil (kukersite), peat, phosphorite,
amber, cambrian blue clay, limestone, dolomite
Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 11%
forests and woodland: 44%
other: 20% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 110 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding occurs frequently in the spring
Environment--current issues: air heavily polluted with sulfur
dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast;
contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products,
chemicals at former Soviet military bases; Estonia has more than
1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in
agricultural areas are heavily affected by organic waste; coastal
sea water is polluted in many locations
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 1,408,523 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 130,883; female 126,112)
15-64 years: 67% (male 455,112; female 491,819)
65 years and over: 15% (male 66,700; female 137,897) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.82% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.05 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.21 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.08 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.83 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.65 years
male: 62.61 years
female: 75 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.28 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian
Ethnic groups: Estonian 65.1%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%,
Byelorussian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.8% (1998)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian
Orthodox, others include Baptist, Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist,
Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, Seventh Day Baptist,
Judaism
Languages: Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, English,
Finnish, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1998 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
conventional short form: Estonia
local long form: Eesti Vabariik
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: EN
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Tallinn
Administrative divisions: 15 counties (maakonnad,
singular--maakond): Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa
(Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu),
Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva),
Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuessaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa
(Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 5 October 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Mart SIIMANN (since 12 March 1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
approved by Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if
he or she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds
of balloting, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus
members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between
the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election
last held August-September 1996 (next to be held fall 2001); prime
minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
election results: Lennart MERI elected president by an electoral
assembly after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock between
MERI and RUUTEL; percent of electoral assembly vote--Lennart MERI
61%, Arnold RUUTEL 39%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 March 1995 (next to be held 7 March 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--KMU 32.22%, RE 16.18%, K
14.17%, Pro Patria and ERSP 7.85%, M 5.98%, Our Home is Estonia and
Right-Wingers 5.0%; seats by party--KMU 41, RE 19, K 16, Pro Patria
8, Our Home is Estonia 6, M 6, Right-Wingers 5
Judicial branch: National Court, chairman appointed by Parliament
for life
Political parties and leaders: Coalition Party and Rural Union or
SAVISAAR, chairman]; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League
ANDREJEV] made up of two parties: United People's Party and the
Russian Party of Estonia; note--Our Home is Estonia split when two
Russian Party of Estonia members withdrew; United People's Party
parties: Social Democratic Party or ESDP and Rural Center Party or
VEIDEMANN, chairwoman] (created by defectors from Center Party in
late spring 1996, Development Party faction split and now holds five
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UPU, WEU
(associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Grigore-Kaleu STOICESCU
chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Melissa WELLS
embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May
1990--three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
Economy
Economy--overview: Estonia's continued adherence to market
reforms, disciplined fiscal and monetary policies, and a liberal
free trade regime resulted in GDP growth in 1998 of 5.5% and a
decrease in inflation to 6.5% from 11.2% in 1997. A high but
slightly decreased current account deficit was estimated at 8.6%.
The fall in GDP growth is largely due to the impact of Russia's
financial crisis and reduced investment in emerging markets in the
wake of the Asian financial crisis. Like other small emerging
markets, Estonia will face difficulties in 1999 as a result of
continuing fallout from Asia. Key events of 1998 were the start of
official EU accession talks, banking sector consolidation--nine banks
were reduced to five--and the important role that Swedish capital
played in the large banks (Swedbank's acquisition of a majority
stake in Hansapank has accounted for the large increase in foreign
direct investment). The IMF urged Estonia to maintain a stable
economy and good reputation in international markets and to avoid
populist policies in the run-up to March 1999 parliamentary
elections. The government completed restructuring of
state-controlled Estonian Telecom, the sale of 49% of which will be
the flagship privatization in 1999 and the largest public equity
transaction in the Baltics. Estonia expects to join the World Trade
Organization in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$7.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 24.3%
services: 69.5% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 6.3% (1994 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 28.5% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 717,000 (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: industry 42%, agriculture and forestry
11%, services 47% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.6% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.37 billion
expenditures: $1.37 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors,
excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes,
apparel
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
Electricity--production: 8.065 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.96%
hydro: 0.04%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 5.581 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--exports: 1.2 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--imports: 210 million kWh (1997)
Agriculture--products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables; livestock and
dairy products; fish
Exports: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment 17%, textiles 16%,
food products 8%, transport equipment 8%, mineral products 8%,
chemical products 8% (1997)
Exports--partners: Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Latvia (1997)
Imports: $3.9 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 21%, transport
equipment 12%, foodstuffs 10%, minerals 9%, textiles 8%, metals 8%,
chemical products 8% (1997)
Imports--partners: Finland, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Japan, US
(1997)
Debt--external: $270 million (January 1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $137.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents