Senate: elections last held 2 March 1996 (next to be held NA 1999);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total)
Liberal-National 37, Labor 29, Australian Democrats 8, Greens 1,
independent 1
House of Representatives: elections last held 2 March 1996 (next to
be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(148 total) Liberal-National 94, Labor 49, independent 5
Judicial branch: High Court, the Chief Justice and six other
justices are appointed by the governor general
Political parties and leaders:
government: coalition of Liberal Party, John Winston HOWARD and
National Party, Timothy Andrew FISCHER
opposition: Australian Labor Party, Kim BEAZLEY; Australian
Democratic Party, Cheryl KERNOT; Green Party, Bob BROWN
Other political or pressure groups: Australian Democratic Labor
Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear
Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)
International organization participation: AG (observer), ANZUS,
APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-
8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM
(guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMIR,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John Phillip MCCARTHY
chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000
FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New
York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward J. PERKINS
embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital
Territory 2600
mailing address: APO AP 96549
telephone: [61] (6) 270-5000
FAX: [61] (6) 270-5970
consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
consulate(s): Brisbane
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side
quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern
Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and
four, larger, seven-pointed stars
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style
capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP comparable to levels in
highly industrialized West European countries. Rich in natural
resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products,
minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for more
than 80% of the value of total exports, so that, as in 1983-84, a
downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the
economy. The government is pushing for increased exports of
manufactured goods, but competition in international markets
continues to be severe. Australia has suffered from the low growth
and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early
1990s. In 1992-93 the economy recovered slowly from the prolonged
recession of 1990-91, a major restraining factor being weak world
demand for Australia's exports. Growth picked up so strongly in 1994
that the government felt the need for fiscal and monetary tightening
by yearend. Australia's GDP grew 6.4% in 1994, largely due to
increases in industrial output and business investment. A severe
drought in 1994 reduced the value of Australia's net farm
production, but rising world commodity prices are likely to boost
commodity exports by 15% to $42.4 billion in 1995/96, according to
government statistics. Short-term economic problems include a
balancing of output growth and inflationary pressures and the
stimulation of exports to offset rising imports.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $405.4 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $22,100 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 27.7%
services: 69.2% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.75% (1995)
Labor force: 8.63 million (September 1991)
by occupation: finance and services 33.8%, public and community
services 22.3%, wholesale and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and
industry 16.2%, agriculture 6.1% (1987)
Unemployment rate: 8.1% (December 1995)
Budget:
revenues: $95.69 billion
expenditures: $95.15 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY95/96 est.)
Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food
processing, chemicals, steel
Industrial production growth rate: 3.9% (FY93/94)
Electricity:
capacity: 34,540,000 kW
production: 155 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 8,021 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep,
poultry
Illicit drugs: Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of
licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over
areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw
concentrate
Exports: $51.57 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and
transport equipment
partners: Japan 25%, US 11%, South Korea 6%, NZ 5.7%, UK, Taiwan,
Singapore, Hong Kong (1992)
Imports: $57.41 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office
machines, crude oil and petroleum products
partners: US 23%, Japan 18%, UK 6%, Germany 5.7%, NZ 4% (1992)
External debt: $147.2 billion (1994)
Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $953 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January
1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3668 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992),
1.2835 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 38,563 km (2,914 km electrified; 172 km dual gauge)
broad gauge: 6,083 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge: 16,752 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 15,728 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:
total: 810,264 km
paved: 283,592 km (including 1,200 km of expressways)
unpaved: 526,672 km (1989 est.)
Waterways: 8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft
Pipelines: crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural
gas 5,600 km
Ports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle,
Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceton (Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne,
Sydney, Townsville
Merchant marine:
total: 76 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,547,869 GRT/3,679,534
DWT
ships by type: bulk 30, cargo 4, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk
1, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 18,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 442
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 9
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 13
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 106
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 116
with paved runways under 914 m: 30
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 22
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 146 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 8.7 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: good domestic and international service
domestic: domestic satellite system
international: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea,
and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian
Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean
Regions)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 258, FM 67, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 134 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 9.2 million (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian
Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 4,848,777
males fit for military service: 4,192,250
males reach military age (17) annually: 127,569 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $7.3 billion,
2.0% of GDP (FY95/96)
======================================================================
@Austria
-------
Map
---
Location: 47 20 N, 13 20 E -- Central Europe, north of Italy
Flag
----
Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and
red
Geography
---------
Location: Central Europe, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates: 47 20 N, 13 20 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 83,850 sq km
land area: 82,730 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
total: 2,558 km
border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366
km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 324
km, Switzerland 164 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with
frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with
occasional showers
Terrain: in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the
eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
highest point: Grossglockner 3,797 m
Natural resources: iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal,
lignite, copper, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 24%
forest and woodland: 39%
other: 19%
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soil
pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural
chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and
oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks
transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur
94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geographic note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads
of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and
valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on
eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low
temperatures elsewhere
People
------
Population: 8,023,244 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 720,696; female 685,179)
15-64 years: 67% (male 2,726,122; female 2,659,162)
65 years and over: 15% (male 451,231; female 780,854) (July 1996
est.)
Population growth rate: 0.41% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 11.19 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 10.43 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 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: 0.58 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.53 years
male: 73.38 years
female: 79.84 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Austrian(s)
adjective: Austrian
Ethnic divisions: German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other
0.1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9%
Languages: German
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1974 est.)
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form: Austria
local long form: Republik Oesterreich
local short form: Oesterreich
Data code: AU
Type of government: federal republic
Capital: Vienna
Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslaender, singular -
bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich,
Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
Independence: 12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)
National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955)
Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial
review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate
administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential
elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992) was
elected for a six-year term by popular vote; election last held 24
May 1992 (next to be held 1998); results of second ballot - Thomas
KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%
head of government: Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986)
was chosen by the president from the majority party in the National
Council; Vice Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (since 22 April 1995)
was chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
cabinet: Council of Ministers was chosen by the president on the
advice of the chancellor
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung)
Federal Council (Bundesrat): consists of 63 members representing
each of the provinces on the basis of population, but with each
province having at least three representatives
National Council (Nationalrat): elections last held 17 December 1995
(next to be held Fall 1999); results - SPOE 38.3%, OEVP 28.3%, FPOE
22.1%, Greens 4.6%, LF 5.3%, other 1.4%; seats - (183 total) SPOE
71, OEVP 53, FPOE 40, Greens 9, LF 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for
civil and criminal cases; Administrative Court
(Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic cases; Constitutional
Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for constitutional cases
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party of Austria
(SPOE), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman; Austrian People's Party (OEVP),
Wolfgang SCHUESSEL, chairman; Freedom Movement (F, formerly the
Freedom Party of Austria or FPOE), Joerg HAIDER, chairman; Communist
Party (KPOE), Walter SILBERMAYER, chairman; The Greens, Madeleine
PETROVIC; Liberal Forum (LF), Heide SCHMIDT
Other political or pressure groups: Federal Chamber of Commerce
and Industry; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist);
three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party (OEVP)
representing business, labor, and farmers; OEVP-oriented League of
Austrian Industrialists; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief
lay organization, Catholic Action
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA,
EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU
(observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Helmut TUERK
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Swanee G. HUNT
chancery: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [43] (1) 313-39
FAX: [43] (1) 310-0682
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Austria has a well-developed market economy
with a sizable - but falling - proportion of nationalized industry,
an extensive social system, and a high standard of living. Austria's
economy is closely integrated with Germany and other EU members -
Austria joined the EU on 1 January 1995. Since the early 1980s, the
Austrian economy has experienced stable growth. Following a mild
recession in 1993, Austria's economy - driven by strong exports,
investment, and private consumption - expanded 2.7% in 1994 and
about 2.4% in 1995. The slowdown in 1995 was largely due to an
appreciation of the Austrian schilling and its negative effect on
exports and tourism. EU membership has had a positive impact on
foreign investment and has helped to lower inflation. Despite
Austria's generally favorable economic prospects, the government
faces a number of economic challenges, especially budget
consolidation. Smaller than expected revenues and rising welfare
payments caused the budget deficit to climb to 7.1% of GDP in 1995.
Austria also faces a growing unemployment problem. Although low by
European standards, Austria's unemployment rate has risen gradually
during the 1990s as companies restructured to meet competition from
the EU single market and Eastern Europe.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $152 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $19,000 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 34%
services: 64% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 3.47 million (1989)
by occupation: services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%,
agriculture and forestry 8.1%
note: an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other European
countries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 5% of
labor force (1988)
Unemployment rate: 4.6% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $65 billion
expenditures: $75.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)
Industries: food, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals,
electrical, paper and pulp, tourism, mining, motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 7.7% (first half 1995)
Electricity:
capacity: 17,230,000 kW
production: 50.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 5,824 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets; cattle, pigs,
poultry; sawn wood
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
transiting the Balkan route and Eastern Europe
Exports: $45.2 billion (1994)
commodities: machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber,
textiles, paper products, chemicals
partners: EU 64.8% (Germany 38.1%, Italy 8.1%), Eastern Europe
11.8%, Japan 1.6%, US 3.5% (1994)
Imports: $55.3 billion (1994)
commodities: petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment,
vehicles, chemicals, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals
partners: EU 68.4% (Germany 40%, Italy 8.8%), Eastern Europe 6.55%,
Japan 4.3%, US 4.4% (1994)
External debt: $28.7 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $544 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Austrian schilling (S) = 100 groschen
Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (S) per US$1 - 10.314 (January
1996), 10.081 (1995), 11.422 (1994), 11.632 (1993), 10.989 (1992),
11.676 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 5,624 km
standard gauge: 5,269 km 1.435-m gauge (3,263 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 355 km 1.000-m and 0.760-m gauge (86 km electrified)
(1995)
Highways:
total: 108,000 km
paved: 22,000 km (including 1,800 km of expressways)
unpaved: 86,000 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: 446 km
Pipelines: crude oil 554 km; petroleum products 171 km; natural
gas 2,611 km
Ports: Linz, Vienna
Merchant marine:
total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 88,617 GRT/122,475 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 23, combination bulk 2, container 1,
refrigerated cargo 2 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 55
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 41
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 3.47 million (1986 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: highly developed and efficient
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 2 Eutelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 21 (repeaters 545), shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 47 (repeaters 870)
Televisions: 2,418,584 (1984 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Army (includes Flying Division)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,084,827
males fit for military service: 1,741,068
males reach military age (19) annually: 45,628 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.1 billion,
1.0% of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@Azerbaijan
----------
Azerbaijan continues to be plagued by an unresolved eight-year-old
conflict with Armenian separatists over its Nagorno-Karabakh region.
The Karabakh Armenians have declared independence and seized almost
20% of the country's territory, creating almost 1 million Azeri
refugees in the process. Both sides have generally observed a
Russian-mediated cease-fire in place since May 1994, and support the
OSCE-mediated peace process, now entering its fifth year.
Nevertheless, Baku and Xankandi (Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh
region) remain far apart on most substantive issues from the
placement and composition of a peacekeeping force to the enclave's
ultimate political status, and prospects for a negotiated settlement
remain dim.
Map
---
Location: 40 30 N, 47 30 E -- Southwestern Asia, bordering the
Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia
Flag
----
Description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and
green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in
red band
Geography
---------
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between
Iran and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 40 30 N, 47 30 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total area: 86,600 sq km
land area: 86,100 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maine
note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the
Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by
Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991
Land boundaries:
total: 2,013 km
border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia
(with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran
(with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan
exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: violent and longstanding dispute with
ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh over its status; Caspian Sea
boundaries are not yet determined
Climate: dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Lowland (much of it below sea level)
with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag (Karabakh)
Upland in west; Baku lies on Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula that juts
into Caspian Sea
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous
metals, alumina
Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 4%
meadows and pastures: 25%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 53%
Irrigated land: 14,010 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron (Apsheron)
Peninsula (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be
the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe
air, water, and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use
of DDT as a pesticide and also from toxic defoliants used in the
production of cotton
natural hazards: droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising
levels of the Caspian Sea
international agreements: party to - Climate Change; signed, but not
ratified - Biodiversity
Geographic note: landlocked
People
------
Population: 7,676,953 (July 1996 est.)