Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the
creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the
agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution: 24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and
approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished in
January 1997
Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Koranic
law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 12 October
1996); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18
October 1996); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March
1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the president
elections: the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year
term; the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 26
September 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH elected president; percent
of vote--Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 55.5%, Ousainou DARBOE 35.8%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly; 49 seats (45
elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the president; all for
five-year terms)
elections: last popular election held 2 January 1997 (next to be
held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--APRC
33, UDP 7, NRP 2, PDOIS 1, independents 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Patriotic
Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS
note--in August 1996 the government banned the following from
participation in the elections of 1996: People's Progressive Party
President Sheriff DIBBA] and the Gambian People's Party or GPP
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,
ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Crispin GREY-JOHNSON
chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador George W. HALEY
embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue
with white edges, and green
Economy
Economy--overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other
natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of
the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood.
Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of
peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a
major segment of economic activity, but the 50% devaluation of the
CFA franc in January 1994 made Senegalese goods more competitive and
hurt the reexport trade. The Gambia has benefited from a rebound in
tourism after its decline in response to the military's takeover in
July 1994. Short-run economic progress remains highly dependent on
sustained bilateral and multilateral aid and on responsible
government economic management as forwarded by IMF technical help
and advice.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 23%
industry: 13%
services: 64% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry, commerce,
and services 19%, government 6%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $88.6 million
expenditures: $98.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY96/97 est.)
Industries: processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism;
beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking,
metalworking; clothing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 70 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 70 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn,
cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats; forest and
fishery resources not fully exploited
Exports: $120 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton
lint, palm kernels
Exports--partners: Belgium, Japan, Senegal, Hong Kong, France,
Switzerland, UK, US, Indonesia (1997)
Imports: $207 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials,
fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports--partners: Cote d'Ivoire, Hong Kong, UK, Germany,
Netherlands, France, Belgium (1997)
Debt--external: $426 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $45.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 dalasi (D) = 100 butut
Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1--10.947 (December 1998),
10.643 (1998), 10.200 (1997), 9.789 (1996), 9.546 (1995), 9.576
(1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 11,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open wire
international: microwave radio relay links to Senegal and
Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 180,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (government owned) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,700 km
paved: 956 km
unpaved: 1,744 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 400 km
Ports and harbors: Banjul
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (includes marine unit), National Police,
National Guard
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 296,976 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 149,670 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.2 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: short section of boundary with Senegal is
indefinite
======================================================================
@Gaza Strip
----------
Introduction
Background: The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13
September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding
five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip
and the West Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May
1996, but have not resumed since the initial meeting. Under the DOP,
Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the
Palestinian Authority, which includes a Palestinian Legislative
Council elected in January 1996, as part of interim self-governing
arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers
and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place
pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza
Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank
pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement, the
Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in
Hebron, and the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum. The
DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the
transitional period for external security and for internal security
and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to
be determined through direct negotiations.
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Israel
Geographic coordinates: 31 25 N, 34 20 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 360 sq km
land: 360 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 62 km
border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims: Israeli-occupied with current status subject to
the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement--permanent status to be
determined through further negotiation
Climate: temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain: flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 39%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 11%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 120 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: desertification; salination of fresh
water; sewage treatment
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: there are 24 Israeli settlements and civilian
land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 1998 est.)
People
Population: 1,112,654 (July 1999 est.)
note: in addition, there are some 6,000 Israeli settlers in the Gaza
Strip (August 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 52% (male 294,196; female 280,017)
15-64 years: 46% (male 255,209; female 251,317)
65 years and over: 2% (male 13,475; female 18,440) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.44% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 48.24 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 3.8 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 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: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 22.92 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.44 years
male: 72.01 years
female: 74.95 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.46 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups: Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%
Religions: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%,
Jewish 0.6%
Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many
Palestinians), English (widely understood)
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gaza Strip
local long form: none
local short form: Qita Ghazzah
Data code: GZ
Economy
Economy--overview: Economic conditions in the Gaza Strip?under the
responsibility of the Palestinian Authority since the Cairo
Agreement of May 1994--have deteriorated since the early 1990s. Real
per capita GDP for the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS) declined 36%
between 1992 and 1996 owing to the combined effect of falling
aggregate incomes and robust population growth. The downturn in
economic activity was largely the result of Israeli closure
policies--the imposition of generalized border closures in response
to security incidents in Israel--which disrupted previously
established labor and commodity market relationships between Israel
and the WBGS. The most serious negative social effect of this
downturn has been the emergence of chronic unemployment; average
unemployment rates in the WBGS during the 1980s were generally under
5%, by the mid-1990s this level had risen to over 20%. Since 1997
Israel's use of comprehensive closures has decreased and, in 1998,
Israel implemented new policies to reduce the impact of closures and
other security procedures on the movement of Palestinian goods and
labor. These positive changes to the conduct of economic activity,
combined with international donor pledges of over $3 billion made to
the Palestinian Authority in November, may fuel a moderate economic
recovery in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 25%
services: 42% (1995 est., includes West Bank)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.8% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
note: excluding Israeli settlers
Labor force--by occupation: services 66%, industry 21%,
agriculture 13% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 26.8% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $816 million
expenditures: $866 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
note: includes West Bank
Industries: generally small family businesses that produce
textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs;
the Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in
an industrial center
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
note: electricity supplied by Israel
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: olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy
products
Exports: $781 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.) (includes West Bank)
Exports--commodities: citrus
Exports--partners: Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Imports: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.) (includes West Bank)
Imports--commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials
Imports--partners: Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Debt--external: $108 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1--4.2260
(November 1998), 3.4494 (1997), 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
Communications
Telephones: NA; 3.1% of Palestinian households have telephones
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA; note--95% of Palestinian households have radios (1992
est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (operated by the Palestinian
Broadcasting Corp.) (1997)
Televisions: NA; note--59% of Palestinian households have
televisions (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: NA km; note--one line, abandoned and in disrepair, little
trackage remains
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
note: small, poorly developed road network
Ports and harbors: Gaza
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
note: includes Gaza International Airport that opened on 24 November
1998 as part of agreements stipulated in the 23 October 1998 Wye
River Memorandum
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: West Bank and Gaza Strip are
Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement--permanent status to be
determined through further negotiation
======================================================================
@Georgia
-------
Introduction
Background: Beset by ethnic and civil strife since independence
from the Soviet Union in December 1991, Georgia began to stabilize
in 1994. Political settlements for separatist conflicts in South
Ossetia and Abkhazia remain elusive. The conflict in South Ossetia
has been dormant since spring 1994, but sporadic violence continues
between Abkhaz forces and Georgian partisans in western Georgia.
Russian peacekeepers are deployed in both regions and a UN Observer
Mission is operating in Abkhazia. As a result of these conflicts,
Georgia still has about 250,000 internally displaced people. In
1995, Georgia adopted a new constitution and conducted generally
free and fair nationwide presidential and parliamentary elections.
In 1996, the government focused its attention on implementing an
ambitious economic reform program and professionalizing its
parliament. Violence and organized crime were sharply curtailed in
1995 and 1996, but corruption remains rife. Georgia has taken some
steps to reduce its dependence on Russia, acquiring coastal patrol
boats in 1997 to replace Russian border units along the Black Sea
coast. In 1998, Georgia assumed control of its Black Sea coast and
about half of its land border with Turkey in line with a June 1998
agreement with Russia. Since 1997, Georgia's parliament has
sharpened its rhetoric against Russia's continued military presence
on Georgian territory. In February 1998 an assassination attempt was
made against President SHEVARDNADZE by supporters of the late former
president Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA. In October 1998, a disaffected
military officer led a failed mutiny in western Georgia; the armed
forces continue to feel the ripple effect of the uprising. Georgia
faces parliamentary elections this fall, and presidential elections
next spring. After two years of robust growth, the economy, hurt by
the financial crisis in Russia, slowed in 1998.
Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between
Turkey and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 69,700 sq km
land: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 1,461 km
border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km,
Turkey 252 km
Coastline: 310 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Terrain: largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the
north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi
(Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River
Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains,
foothills of Kolkhida Lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek) 5,048 m
Natural resources: forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron
ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils
allow for important tea and citrus growth
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 34%
other: 28% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes
Environment--current issues: air pollution, particularly in
Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea;
inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic
chemicals
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Desertification
People
Population: 5,066,499 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 544,055; female 522,491)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,628,993; female 1,753,527)
65 years and over: 12% (male 236,124; female 381,309) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.74% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.64 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.3 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.69 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: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 52.01 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.63 years
male: 61.13 years
female: 68.32 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.53 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian
Ethnic groups: Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri
5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%
Religions: Christian Orthodox 75% (Georgian Orthodox 65%, Russian
Orthodox 10%), Muslim 11%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%
Languages: Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%,
Azeri 6%, other 7%
note: Abkhaz (official in Abkhazia)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 100%
female: 98% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Georgia
local long form: none
local short form: Sak'art'velo
former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: GG
Government type: republic
Capital: T'bilisi
Administrative divisions: 53 rayons (raionebi, singular--raioni),
9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular--k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous
republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular--avtom respublika);
Abashis, Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika**
(Sokhumi), Adigenis, Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika**
(Bat'umi), Akhalgoris, Akhalk'alak'is, Akhalts'ikhis, Akhmetis,
Ambrolauris, Aspindzis, Baghdat'is, Bolnisis, Borjomis, Chiat'ura*,
Ch'khorotsqus, Ch'okhatauris, Dedop'listsqaros, Dmanisis, Dushet'is,
Gardabanis, Gori*, Goris, Gurjaanis, Javis, K'arelis, Kaspis,
Kharagaulis, Khashuris, Khobis, Khonis, K'ut'aisi*, Lagodekhis,
Lanch'khut'is, Lentekhis, Marneulis, Martvilis, Mestiis,
Mts'khet'is, Ninotsmindis, Onis, Ozurget'is, P'ot'i*, Qazbegis,
Qvarlis, Rust'avi*, Sach'kheris, Sagarejos, Samtrediis, Senakis,
Sighnaghis, T'bilisi*, T'elavis, T'erjolis, T'et'ritsqaros,
T'ianet'is, Tqibuli*, Ts'ageris, Tsalenjikhis, Tsalkis, Tsqaltubo*,
Vanis, Zestap'onis, Zugdidi*, Zugdidis
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence: 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 May (1991)
Constitution: adopted 17 October 1995
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE
(previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March
1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman
of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995;
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE
(previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March
1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman
of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995;
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE elected president; percent of
vote--Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 74%