members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note--by
presidential decree, on 27 October 1997, the number of seats
increased from 85 to 99)
elections: last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--LPRP
or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 99
Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court, the president of the
People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the vice
president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed
by the National Assembly Standing Committee
Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party
proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders: noncommunist political
groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador VANG Rattanavong
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wendy Jean CHAMBERLIN
embassy: Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546
Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue
(double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue
band
Economy
Economy--overview: The government of Laos?one of the few remaining
official communist states--has been decentralizing control and
encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting
from an extremely low base, have been striking--growth averaged 7% in
1988-96. Because Laos depends heavily on its trade with Thailand, it
fell victim to the financial crisis in the region beginning in 1997.
Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure. It has
no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and
internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few
urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and
provides 80% of total employment. The predominant crop is glutinous
rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food,
but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause shortages in
various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future the economy
will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international
sources; Japan is currently the largest bilateral aid donor; aid
from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many
developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper
efforts to regain a high rate of GDP growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$6.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,260 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 51%
industry: 21%
services: 28% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: 46.1% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 26.4% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 112% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1 million-1.5 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $230.2 million
expenditures: $365.9 million, including capital expenditures of $317
million (1996)
Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power,
agricultural processing, construction, garments
Industrial production growth rate: 8.9% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 900 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.04%
hydro: 99.96%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity--consumption: 287 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 640 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 27 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee,
sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Exports: $330 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: wood products, garments, electricity,
coffee, tin
Exports--partners: Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France
Imports: $630 million (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel
Imports--partners: Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore
Debt--external: $1.2 billion (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $290 million (1998)
Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1--4,217 (January 1999),
3,299.21 (1998), 1,256.73 (1997), 921.14 (1996), 804.69 (1995),
717.67 (1994)
note: as of September 1995, a floating exchange rate policy was
adopted
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 28,000 (1998 est.)
Telephone system: service to general public is poor but
improving, with over 28,000 telephones currently in service and an
additional 48,000 expected by 2001; the government relies on a
radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas
domestic: radiotelephone communications
international: satellite earth station--1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean
Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 5, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 580,000 (1995)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)
Televisions: 32,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 21,716 km
paved: 9,673.5 km
unpaved: 12,042.5 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries;
2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft
drawing less than 0.5 m
Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km
Ports and harbors: none
Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT
(1998 est.)
Airports: 52 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes militia
element), Lao People's Navy (LPN; includes riverine element), Air
Force, National Police Department
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,200,664 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 648,087 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 57,047 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $77.4 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.2% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: parts of the border with Thailand are
indefinite
Illicit drugs: world's third-largest illicit opium producer
(estimated cultivation in 1998--26,100 hectares, a 7% decrease over
1997; estimated potential production in 1998--140 metric tons, a 33%
decrease over 1997); potential heroin producer; transshipment point
for heroin and methamphetamines produced in Burma; illicit producer
of cannabis
======================================================================
@Latvia
------
Introduction
Background: Along with most of the other small nations of Europe,
Latvia shares a history of invasion by a succession of expansionist
nations, e.g., Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Russia. After a brief
period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was
annexed by the USSR in 1940 under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The
USSR recaptured Latvia from its German occupiers in 1944. Latvia
reestablished its independence in August 1991, a few months prior to
the collapse of the Soviet Union; the last Russian troops left in
1994. The status of ethnic Russians, who make up 30% of the
population, is an issue of concern to Moscow. Unemployment has
become a growing problem and Latvia hopes to receive an invitation
to begin EU accession talks by the end of 1999.
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between
Estonia and Lithuania
Geographic coordinates: 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 64,589 sq km
land: 64,589 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,150 km
border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km,
Russia 217 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain: low plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
Land use:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: air and water pollution because of a
lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River
heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with
chemicals and petroleum products at military bases
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 2,353,874 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 216,369; female 207,242)
15-64 years: 67% (male 749,396; female 825,988)
65 years and over: 15% (male 114,038; female 240,841) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.25% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 8.1 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 15.82 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.75 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: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female
total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.3 years
male: 61.24 years
female: 73.66 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.18 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian
Ethnic groups: Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%,
Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4%
Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 99% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form: Latvia
local long form: Latvijas Republika
local short form: Latvija
former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: LG
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Riga
Administrative divisions: 26 counties (singular--rajons) and 7
municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons,
Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles
Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas
Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*,
Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons,
Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas
Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons,
Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
Constitution: the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the
1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Vilis KRISTOPANS (since 21
November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
appointed by the Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term
(amended from a three-year term on 4 December 1997); election last
held 18 June 1996 (next to be held by NA June/July 1999); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Guntis ULMANIS elected president in the first
round of balloting; percent of parliamentary vote--Guntis ULMANIS
53%, Ilga KREITUSE 25%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year
terms--amended from three-year term on 4 December 1997)
elections: last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--People's Party 21%, LC
18%, TSP 14%, TVB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 8%;
seats by party--People's Party 24, LC 21, TSP 16, TVB/LNNK 17, Social
Democrats 14, New Party 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges' appointments are
confirmed by Parliament
Political parties and leaders: New Party [Raimonds PAULS];
V. IVANOV]; Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly People's Front
ADAMSONS]
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OAS
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU
(associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS
chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James H. HOLMES
embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE
09723
Flag description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white
(half-width), and maroon
Economy
Economy--overview: Developments in 1998 include an invitation to
join the World Trade Organization (the first Baltic country
invited), GDP growth of 3.6% (down from 6% in 1997), and reduced
inflation at 4.7% (from 8.4% in 1997). The drop in GDP growth is
largely attributable to the impact of Russia's financial crisis and
reduced investment in emerging markets following the Asian financial
troubles. Unofficial sanctions that Russia imposed in the spring
initially hit Latvia's exporters--Russia is among Latvia's top three
trade partners--but also prompted them to seek alternative markets.
Latvia continued its strict fiscal and monetary policy, including
its second balanced budget and had a 1.8% budget surplus. Its draft
1999 budget is based on conservative projections of 2% to 4% GDP
growth and 4.5% inflation. Unemployment climbed to 9.2% in 1998, a
considerable increase over the 6.7% rate in 1997. Latvia continued
to have a high current account deficit, estimated at about 9%.
Privatization of large state utilities--especially the energy
sector--was postponed and is unlikely to resume before late 1999. EU
accession remains Latvia's top priority, and Latvia expects to be
invited to start EU accession talks by the end of 1999. Continued
troubles in the Russian and East Asian economies probably will hold
growth to around 2.5% in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$9.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 28%
services: 65% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.3%
highest 10%: 22.1% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.4 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture and forestry
16%, services 43% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 9.2% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $1.33 billion
expenditures: $1.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic
fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines,
radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles;
dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate
products
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 3.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 28.12%
hydro: 71.88%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6.18 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 300 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 3.28 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables;
beef, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: wood and wood products, machinery and
equipment, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports--partners: Russia 21%, Germany 14%, UK 14%, Sweden 8%
(1997)
Imports: $3.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: fuels, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports--partners: Russia 16%, Germany 16%, Finland 10%, Sweden 8%
(1997)
Debt--external: $212 million (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $96.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Latvian lat (LVL) = 100 santims
Exchange rates: lats (LVL) per US$1--0.570 (January 1999), 0.590
(1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 710,848 (1997)
Telephone system: Lattelekom is 51% state owned, plans to
privatize in 2000 to satisfy EU concerns; 50,000 people are on the
waiting list to receive telephone service; Internet service is
available throughout Latvia
domestic: local--two cellular service providers; NMT-450 and GSM
standards provide service nationwide; over 75% of population
covered; intercity--two synchronous digital hierarchy fiber-optic
rings form the national backbone; 11 digital switching centers, 3
service centers
international: Latvia has international fiber-optic connectivity to
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, and an undersea fiber-optic cable to
Sweden
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note--there
are 25 stations of unknown type; 75% of commercial broadcasts must
be in the Latvian language; remainder mostly in Russian and European
languages
Radios: 1.4 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 30 (origin of TV broadcasts must
be 40% Latvian and 40% other European languages)
Televisions: NA; note--almost 100% of the population have TV
access, 16% have VCRs, and 20% have cable or satellite dishes (1995)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,412 km
broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)
Highways:
total: 55,942 km
paved: 21,426 km
unpaved: 34,516 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas
560 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine:
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,429 GRT/44,583 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 3,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 50 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 36
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 27 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense
Forces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 565,811 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 443,879 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 16,883 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $60 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: draft treaty delimiting the boundary with
Russia has not been signed; ongoing talks over maritime boundary
dispute with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from
Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and
Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to
CIS; limited production of illicit amphetamines, ephedrine, and
ecstasy for export
======================================================================
@Lebanon
-------
Introduction
Background: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its
political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since
the end of the devastating 16-year civil war, which ended in 1991.
Under the Ta'if Accord--the blueprint for national reconciliation--the
Lebanese have established a more equitable political system,
particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political
process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the
government. Since the end of the civil war, the Lebanese have formed
six cabinets, conducted two legislative elections, and held their
first municipal elections in 35 years. Most of the militias have
been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has
seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the
war and extended central government authority over about one-half of
the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains its
weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel
maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a
proxy militia, the Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow
stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave
encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers
north to the strategic town of Jazzin. Syria maintains about 25,000
troops in Lebanon based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the
Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League
during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if Accord. Citing the
continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the
Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms
in the Ta'if Accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its
troops from Lebanon.
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Israel and Syria
Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 10,400 sq km
land: 10,230 sq km
water: 170 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 454 km
border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry
summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates
Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal al Makmal 3,087 m
Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state
in a water-deficit region
Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 8%
other: 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 860 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and
the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from
raw sewage and oil spills