chief of state and head of government: President Ronald R. VENETIAAN
(since 16 September 1991) and Prime Minister Jules R. AJODHIA (since
16 September 1991), who is also the vice president, were elected for
five-year terms by the National Assembly; election last held 6
September 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - elected by
the National Assembly - Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 80% (645 votes), Jules
WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115 votes), Hans PRADE (DA '91) 6% (49 votes)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the president from
among the members of the National Assembly
note: Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant
power
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 25 May
1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (51 total) NF 30, NDP 10, DA '91 9, independents 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices nominated for life
Political parties and leaders: The New Front (NF), a coalition of
four parties (NPS, VHP, KTPI, SPA), leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN;
Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party
of Suriname (NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and
Solidarity (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA), Fred
DERBY; Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), a coalition of two
parties (AF, and BEP) formed in January 1991, Winston JESSURUN;
Alternative Forum (AF), Gerard BRUNINGS; Party for Brotherhood and
Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Marsha
JAMIN; National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive
Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS; The
Alliance, a combination of three parties (DP, HPP, PVF), Ernie
BRUNINGS; Democratic Party (DP), Ernie BRUNINGS; Reformed
Progressive Party (HPP), Harry KISOENSINGH; Party of the Federation
of Land Workers PVF), Jwan SITAL
Other political or pressure groups: Surinamese Liberation Army
(SLA), Ronnie BRUNSWIJK, Johan "Castro" WALLY; Union for Liberation
and Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation
Movement, Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas
SABAJO
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUT
chancery: Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488, 7490 through 7492
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general: Miami
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roger R. GAMBLE
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo,
Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390
telephone: [597] 472900, 477881, 476459
FAX: [597] 420800
Flag: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white,
red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a
large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite
industry, which accounts for upwards of 15% of GDP and more than 65%
of export earnings. Following a dismal year in 1994 which saw the
value of the Surinamese currency plummet by about 80%, inflation
rise to more than 600%, and national output fall for the fifth
consecutive year, nearly all economic indicators improved in 1995.
The VENETIAAN government unified the exchange rate and the currency
gained some of its lost value. In addition, inflation fell to double
digits and tax revenues increased sufficiently to nearly erase the
budget deficit. The release of substantial development aid from the
Netherlands - which had been held up due to the government's failure
to initiate economic reforms - also helped buoy the economy.
Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on
continued implementation of needed economic restructuring; the
outcome of the national elections in May 1996 will be an important
factor in determining future government policy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 0.7% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,950 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 21.6%
industry: 23.7%
services: 54.7% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 62% (1995)
Labor force: 98,240
by occupation: agriculture, industry, services
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $300 million
expenditures: $700 million, including capital expenditures of $70
million (1994 est.)
Industries: bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production,
lumbering, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 420,000 kW
production: 1.4 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,123 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts,
plantains, peanuts; beef, chicken; forest products and shrimp of
increasing importance
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs
destined for the US and Europe
Exports: $293.6 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: alumina, aluminum, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
partners: Norway 33%, Netherlands 26%, US 13%, Japan 6%, Brazil 6%,
UK 3% (1992)
Imports: $194.3 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton,
consumer goods
partners: US 42%, Netherlands 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 10%, Brazil
5% (1992)
External debt: $180 million (March 1993 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per
US$1 - central bank midpoint rate: 402.32 (December 1995), 442.23
(1995), 134.12 (1994); parallel rate: 412 (December 1995), 510
(December 1994), 109 (January 1994)
note: beginning July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate
was unified and became market determined
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 166 km (single track)
standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:
total: 4,470 km
paved: 1,162 km
unpaved: 3,308 km (1990)
Waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing
vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the
principal waterways
Ports: Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam,
Wageningen
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, container 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 38
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 31
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 43,522 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: international facilities good
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 14, shortwave 1
Radios: 290,256 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 59,598 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force
elements), Civil Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 119,010
males fit for military service: 70,400 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Svalbard
--------
(territory of Norway)
Map
---
Location: 78 00 N, 20 00 E -- Northern Europe, islands between the
Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north
of Norway
Flag
----
Description: the flag of Norway is used
Geography
---------
Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean,
Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates: 78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:
total area: 62,049 sq km
land area: 62,049 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia
note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,587 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but
not recognized by Russia
territorial sea: 4 nm
International disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute in the
Barents Sea between Norway and Russia
Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool
summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and
north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most
of the year
Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered;
west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along
west and north coasts
lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc,
wildlife, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and
cloudberry)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: ice floes often block up the entrance to Bellsund
(a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally
make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway;
consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of
the total area
People
------
Population: 2,715 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -4.01% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
all ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Ethnic divisions: Russian and Ukrainian 62%, Norwegian 38%, other
NEGL% (1994)
Languages: Russian, Norwegian
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Svalbard
Data code: SV
Type of government: territory of Norway administered by the
Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing
in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920)
sovereignty was given to Norway
Capital: Longyearbyen
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
National holiday: NA
Legal system: NA
Executive branch:
Chief of State: King HARALD V (of Norway since 17 January 1991) is a
hereditary monarch
Head of Government: Governor Ann-Krisitin OLSEN (since NA) and
Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993) are
responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
note: Norwegian inhabitants participate in Norwegian national
elections
International organization participation: none
Flag: the flag of Norway is used
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on
Svalbard. By treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty
powers have equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to
Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal
companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining
are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are
essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company
employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs
many of the local services, and provides most of the local
infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear,
fox, and walrus.
Labor force: NA
Budget:
revenues: $11.6 million
expenditures: $11.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 21,000 kW
production: 45 million kWh
consumption per capita: 13,860 kWh (1992)
Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.4160 (January
1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992),
6.4829 (1991)
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports: Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 4
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 3 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: local telephone service
international: satellite earth station - 1 of NA type (for
communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 2), shortwave 0
note: there are five meteorological/radio stations
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: NA
Defense
-------
Defense note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
======================================================================
@Swaziland
---------
Map
---
Location: 26 30 S, 31 30 E -- Southern Africa, between Mozambique
and South Africa
Flag
----
Description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple
width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the
red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a
staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
Geography
---------
Location: Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 17,360 sq km
land area: 17,200 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 535 km
border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open
negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African
territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long
ago part of the Swazi Kingdom
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower,
forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: NEGL
meadows and pastures: 62%
forest and woodland: 7%
other: 20%
Irrigated land: 640 sq km (1993 est.)
Environment:
current issues: limited access to potable water; wildlife
populations being depleted because of excessive hunting;
overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change,
Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South
Africa
People
------
Population: 998,730 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 227,634; female 229,129)
15-64 years: 52% (male 247,156; female 271,096)
65 years and over: 2% (male 9,864; female 13,851) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.24% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 42.91 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 10.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 88.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.26 years
male: 53.25 years
female: 61.4 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.05 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi
Ethnic divisions: African 97%, European 3%
Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages: English (official, government business conducted in
English), siSwati (official)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 76.7%
male: 78%
female: 75.6%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland
Data code: WZ
Type of government: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
Capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)
Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini,
Shiselweni
Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended
12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978,
but has not been formally presented to the people
Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory
courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: NA; note - no suffrage before September 1993; 55 of the
65 seats in the House of Assembly were filled by popular vote in the
elections of September and October 1993; of a population of less
than 1 million, the electorate numbered 283,693
Executive branch:
chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) is a
hereditary monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Prince Jameson Mbilini DLAMINI
(since 12 November 1993); appointed by the king
cabinet: Cabinet; designated by the king
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament is advisory
Senate: consists of 30 members (10 appointed by the House of
Assembly and 20 appointed by the king)
House of Assembly: elections last held 26 September and 11 October
1993 (next to be held NA); results - balloting is done on a nonparty
basis; of the total of 65 seats, 10 are appointed by the king and 55
are elected by secret, popular vote; candidates for election are
nominated by the local council of each constituency and for each
constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first
round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round
Judicial branch: High Court, judges are appointed by the king;
Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the king
Political parties and leaders:
note: political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated
on 13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding
large public gatherings
illegal parties: Peoples' United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Mario
MASUKU; Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), Benedict TSABEDZE;
Swaziland Communist Party (SWACOPA), Mphandlana SHONGWE; Swaziland
Liberation Front (FROLISA); Convention for Full Democracy in
Swaziland (COFUDESWA), Sabelo DLAMINI; Swaziland National Front
(SWANAFRO); Ngwane Socialist Revolutionary Party (NGWASOREP)
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KHANYA
chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 362-6683, 6685
FAX: [1] (202) 244-8059
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador John T. SPROTT
embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
telephone: [268] 46441 through 46445
FAX: [268] 45959
Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width),
and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band
is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff
decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
Economy
-------
Economic overview: This small landlocked economy is based largely
on subsistence agriculture, which occupies more than 60% of the
population. Manufacturing features a number of agroprocessing
factories. Mining has declined in importance in recent years;
high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted by 1978, and health
concerns cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of sugar and
forestry products are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded
by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique,
Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa, from which it
receives 90% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its
exports. Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines
supplement domestically produced income by as much as 20%.
Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drougth persist as problems for the
future.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.6 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.6% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $3,700 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 40%
services: 35% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.7% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 160,355 (1986 est.)
by occupation: private sector about 65%, public sector 35%
Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $342 million
expenditures: $410 million, including capital expenditures of $130
million (1994 est.)
Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1993 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 120,000 kW
production: 410 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,003 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus,
pineapples, corn, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Exports: $798 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: sugar, edible concentrates, wood pulp, cotton yarn,
asbestos
partners: South Africa 50%, EU countries, Canada
Imports: $827 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment,
petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals
partners: South Africa 90%, Switzerland, UK 2.6%
External debt: $240 million (1992)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996),
3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563
(1991), 2.5863 (1990); note - the Swazi emalangeni is at par with
the South African rand
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 297 km; note - includes 71 km which are not in use
narrow gauge: 297 km 1.067-m gauge (single track)
Highways:
total: 2,960 km
paved: 804 km
unpaved: 2,156 km (1993 est.)
Ports: none
Airports:
total: 17
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 10
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 30,364 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and
low-capacity, microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 129,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 10
Televisions: 12,500 (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), Royal Swaziland
Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 220,097
males fit for military service: 127,285 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $22 million, NA%
of GDP (FY93/94)
======================================================================
@Sweden
------
Map
---
Location: 62 00 N, 15 00 E -- Northern Europe, bordering the
Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Skagerrak, between Finland and
Norway
Flag
----
Description: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of
the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Geography
---------