tons from nearly 20,000 hectares in 1995); heroin producer;
increasingly used as transshipment point for heroin produced in
Burma; illicit producer of cannabis
Exports: $278 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: electricity, wood products, coffee, tin, garments
partners: Thailand, Japan, France, Germany, Netherlands
Imports: $486 million (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures
partners: Thailand, China, Japan, France, US
External debt: $2 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1 - 920 (1995), 717 (1994
est.), 720 (July 1993), 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700
(September 1990), 576 (1989)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 14,130 km
paved: 2,261 km
unpaved: 11,869 km (1992 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: none
Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT
(1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 39
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 16
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 6,600 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: service to general public very poor;
radiotelephone communications network provides generally erratic
service to government users
domestic: radiotelephone communications
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian
Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 560,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2
Televisions: 32,000 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine naval and
militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,087,264
males fit for military service: 586,664
males reach military age (18) annually: 53,250 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $105 million,
8.1% of GDP (FY92/93)
======================================================================
@Latvia
------
Map
---
Location: 57 00 N, 25 00 E -- Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic
Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Flag
----
Description: two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom),
white (middle, narrower than other two bands)
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 area: 64,100 sq km
land area: 64,100 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,078 km
border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km,
Russia 217 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
International disputes: the Abrene/Pytalovo section of border
ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944;
the maritime borders with Lithuania and Estonia
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain: low plain
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%
meadows and pastures: 13%
forest and woodland: 39%
other: 21%
Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1990)
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
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed,
but not ratified - Ozone Layer Protection
People
------
Population: 2,468,982 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 254,664; female 244,502)
15-64 years: 66% (male 775,690; female 848,128)
65 years and over: 14% (male 108,814; female 237,184) (July 1996
est.)
Population growth rate: -1.39% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 10.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 15.19 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -9.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.46 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.86 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.91 years
male: 60.84 years
female: 73.27 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.62 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian
Ethnic divisions: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%,
Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2%
Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 99%
Government
----------
Name of country:
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
Type of government: republic
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, Preiju 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: newly elected Parliament in 1993 restored the 1933
constitution
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993) was
elected by Parliament (Saeima) in the third round of balloting;
election last held 7 July 1993 (next to be held NA June 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Andris SKELE (since 21 December
1995) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was nominated by the prime minister
and appointed by the Supreme Council
Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Saeima): elections last held 30 September-1 October 1995
(next to be held NA October 1998); results - Saimnieks 18%, LC 17%,
For Latvia 16%, TB 14%, LNNK 8%, Unity 8%, LSZ/LKDS 7%, Harmony 6%,
Socialist 6%; seats - (100 total) Saimnieks 18, LC 17, For Latvia
16, TB 14, LNNK 8, Unity 8, LSZ/LKDS 7, Harmony 6, Socialist 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmed
by the Saeima
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party "Saimnieks" (DPS),
Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman; Latvia's Way (LC), Valdis BIRKAVS;
People's Movement For Latvia, Joachim SIEGERIST; Fatherland and
Freedom (TB), Maris GRINBLATS; Latvian Unity Party (LVP), A. KAULS;
Latvian National Conservative Party (LNNK), A. SEILE; Green Party
(LSZ), O. BATAREVSK; Latvian Farmers Union (LZS), A. ROZENTALS;
Christian Democrat Union (LKDS), P. KLAVINS; National Harmony Party
(TSP), Janis JURKANS; Latvian Socialist Party (LSP), F. STROGANOVS;
Latvian Liberal Party (LLP), J. DANOSS; Political Association of the
Underprivileged (MPA), B. PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS; Latvian
Democratic Labor Party (LDDP), J. BOJARS; Party of Russian Citizens
(LKPP), V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV; Popular Front of Latvia (LTF), Uldis
AUGSTKALNS; Political Union of Economists (TPA), E. KIDE; Latvian
National Democratic Party (LNDP), A. MALINS; "Our Land" (MZ), M.
DAMBEKALNE; Anticommunist Union (PA), P. MUCENIEKS; Latvian
Social-Democratic Workers Party (LSDSP); Party for the Defense of
Latvia's Defrauded People; Latvian Independence Party (LNP), V.
KONOVALOUS
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS
chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214
FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Larry C. NAPPER
embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga
mailing address: PSC 78, Box R, APO AE 09723
telephone: [371] (2) 210-005
FAX: [371] (2) 226-530
Flag: two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white
(middle, narrower than other two bands)
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Latvia's economic transformation to a modern
market economy - rivaled only by Estonia among the former Soviet
states - faltered in 1995 as a result of banking and budget crises.
Latvia's largely unregulated financial sector suffered a series of
bank failures, including the collapse of the country's largest
commercial bank - Bank Baltija - due largely to criminal activity by
the owners. The government's attempts to compensate depositors of
failed banks exacerbated an existing budget shortfall; poor revenue
collection and a soft treasury bill market had already caused the
government to incur a larger than expected deficit early in the
year. As a result of the crises, Latvia's budget deficit for 1995
was $168 million, double that originally planned. In addition, GDP
growth came to a halt. The Central Bank maintained its tough
monetary policies - severely limiting credits to the state, despite
the budget problems - helping to keep annual inflation the lowest
among the Baltic states, at about 20%. New Prime Minister SKELE
wants to invigorate the privatization of industry; agriculture
already is mainly in private hands.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $14.7 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -1.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $5,300 (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World
Bank estimate for 1994)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 31%
services: 60% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 1.407 million
by occupation: industry and construction 41%, agriculture and
forestry 16%, other 43% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 6.5% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
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: -9.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 2,080,000 kW
production: 5.5 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 1,864 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; meat, milk,
eggs; fish
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central
and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited
producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption; also
produces illicit amphetamines for export
Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: timber, textiles, dairy products
partners: Russia, Germany, Sweden, UK, Lithuania
Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: fuels, cars, chemicals
partners: Russia, Germany, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, Lithuania, Finland
External debt: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $122 million (1993)
note: commitments from the West and international institutions, $525
million (1992-95)
Currency: 1 lat = 100 cents; introduced NA March 1993
Exchange rates: lats per US$1 - 0.544 (January 1996), 0.528
(1995), 0.560 (1994), 0.675 (1993), 0.736 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
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: 66,718 km
paved: 12,076 km
unpaved: 54,642 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas
560 km (1992)
Ports: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine:
total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 519,859 GRT/678,987 DWT
ships by type: cargo 7, oil tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 18,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 50
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 27
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 660,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: service is better than in most of the other
former Soviet republics
domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network covers 75% of
Latvia's population
international: international traffic carried by leased connection to
the Moscow international gateway switch, through the new Ericsson
digital telephone exchange in Riga, and through the Finnish cellular
net; Sprint data network carries electronic mail
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there
are 25 radio broadcast stations of unknown type
Radios: 1.4 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 30
Televisions: 1.1 million (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 583,134
males fit for military service: 457,067
males reach military age (18) annually: 16,180 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: 176 million rubles, 3% to 5% of GDP (1994);
note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the
prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results
======================================================================
@Lebanon
-------
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 began in 1975. 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. Since December 1990, the Lebanese have formed four cabinets
and conducted the first legislative election in 20 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 most of 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 30,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based
mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's
deployment was legitimized by the Arab League early in 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 Beirut.
Map
---
Location: 33 50 N, 35 50 E -- Middle East, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Flag
----
Description: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double
width), and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the
white band
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 area: 10,400 sq km
land area: 10,230 sq km
comparative area: about 0.8 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
International disputes: Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since
June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon
since October 1976
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
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%
meadows and pastures: 1%
forest and woodland: 8%
other: 61%
Irrigated land: 860 sq km (1990 est.)
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
natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation
Geographic note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not
crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically
helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based
on religion, clan, and ethnicity
People
------
Population: 3,776,317 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 687,631; female 662,100)
15-64 years: 59% (male 1,049,689; female 1,163,255)
65 years and over: 5% (male 98,406; female 115,236) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.16% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 27.93 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.35 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 36.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.99 years
male: 67.49 years
female: 72.62 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic divisions: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions: Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups -
Alawite or Nusayri, Druze, Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30%
(11 legally recognized Christian groups - 4 Orthodox Christian, 6
Catholic, 1 Protestant), Judaism NEGL%
Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Armenian, English
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 92.4%
male: 94.7%
female: 90.3%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Lebanon
conventional short form: Lebanon
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
local short form: none
Data code: LE
Type of government: republic
Capital: Beirut
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
muhafazah); Al Biqa', Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan
Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate
under French administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Constitution: 23 May 1926, amended a number of times
Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code,
and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized
for women at age 21 with elementary education
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989) was
elected for a six-year term by the National Assembly and in 1995 the
National Assembly amended the constitution to extend his term by
three years; note - by custom, the president is a Maronite
Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of
the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim
head of government: Prime Minister Rafiq al-HARIRI (since 22 October
1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Michel al-MURR (since NA) were
appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly
cabinet: Cabinet was chosen by the prime minister in consultation
with the members of the National Assembly; the current Cabinet was
formed in 1995
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Arabic - Majlis Alnuwab French - Assembl:
elections last held in the summer of 1992 (next to be held NA 1996);
results - percent of vote NA; seats - (128 total, one-half Christian
and one-half Muslim) independents 128
Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil
and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases)
Political parties and leaders: political party activity is
organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political
groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and
followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL,
AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Riyad TABBARAH
chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300
FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324
consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. JONES
embassy: Antelias, Beirut
mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE
09836-0002
telephone: [961] (1) 402200, 403300, 406650, 406651, 426183, 417774,
889926
FAX: [961] (1) 407112
Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width),
and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band
Economy
-------