commodities: agricultural products, machinery and transportation
equipment, chemicals, textiles, construction materials
partners: Western Europe 79.2% (EU countries 72.3%, other 6.9%), US
6.4%
External debt: $NA
Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $793 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes,
rappen, or centesimi
Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 -
1.1810 (January 1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993),
1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 5,719 km (1,432 km double track)
standard gauge: 3,283 km 1.435-m gauge (99% electrified; 310 km
nongovernment owned)
narrow gauge: 1,255 km 1.000-m gauge (99% electrified; 1,181 km
nongovernment owned)
other: 1,181 km NA-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 71,118 km
paved: 71,118 km (including 1,514 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to
Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes
Pipelines: crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km
Ports: Basel
Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 410,581 GRT/727,744 DWT
ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 2,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, specialized tanker 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 67
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 4
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
with paved runways under 914 m: 40
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 5,622,976 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international services
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean
and Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 265, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 18 (repeaters 1,322)
Televisions: 2.513 million (1994 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Army, Air Force and Antiaircraft Command, Frontier
Guards, Fortification Guards
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,893,587
males fit for military service: 1,623,414
males reach military age (20) annually: 41,425 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.74 billion,
1.4% of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@Syria
-----
Map
---
Location: 35 00 N, 38 00 E -- Middle East, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
Flag
----
Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and
black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line
centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has
a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an
Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle
centered in the white band
Geography
---------
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Lebanon and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total area: 185,180 sq km
land area: 184,050 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than North Dakota
note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Land boundaries:
total: 2,253 km
border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon
375 km, Turkey 822 km
Coastline: 193 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 41 nm
territorial sea: 35 nm
International disputes: Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Hatay
question with Turkey; dispute over Turkey's water development plans
for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; Syrian troops in northern,
central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976
Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August)
and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold
weather with snow or sleet periodically hitting Damascus
Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal
plain; mountains in west
lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese
ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum
Land use:
arable land: 28%
permanent crops: 3%
meadows and pastures: 46%
forest and woodland: 3%
other: 20%
Irrigated land: 10,000 sq km (1992)
Environment:
current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification; water pollution from dumping of raw sewage and
wastes from petroleum refining; inadequate supplies of potable water
natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
international agreements: party to - Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not
ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification, Environmental Modification
Geographic note: there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian
land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1995
est.)
People
------
Population: 15,608,648 (July 1996 est.)
note: in addition, there are 31,300 people living in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - 16,500 Arabs (15,000 Druze and
1,500 Alawites) and 14,800 Israeli settlers (August 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 3,738,671; female 3,557,474)
15-64 years: 50% (male 4,013,355; female 3,843,466)
65 years and over: 3% (male 227,249; female 228,433) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.37% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 39.56 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.86 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: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 40 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.13 years
male: 65.94 years
female: 68.38 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.91 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Syrian(s)
adjective: Syrian
Ethnic divisions: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim
sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities
in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic,
Circassian, French widely understood
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 70.8%
male: 85.7%
female: 55.8%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic
conventional short form: Syria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
local short form: Suriyah
former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Data code: SY
Type of government: republic under military regime since March 1963
Capital: Damascus
Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (muhafazat, singular -
muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As
Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib,
Rif Dimashq, Tartus
Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under
French administration)
National holiday: National Day, 17 April (1946)
Constitution: 13 March 1973
Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special
religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971; see
note) was reelected for a seven-year term by universal suffrage;
election last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held NA December
1998); results - President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected for a fourth
seven-year term with 99.98% of the vote; note - President ASAD
seized power in the November 1970 coup, assumed presidential powers
22 February 1971, and was confirmed as president in the 12 March
1971 national elections; Vice Presidents 'Abd al-Halim ibn Said
KHADDAM (since NA), Rifaat al-ASAD (since NA), and Muhammad Zuhayr
MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984) were appointed by the president
head of government: Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November
1987), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March
1984), Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981), and Rashid AKHTARINI
(since 4 July 1992) were appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab): elections last held 24-25 August
1994 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (250 total) National Progressive Front 167, independents
83
Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are
appointed for four-year terms by the president; High Judicial
Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts
Political parties and leaders:
National Progressive Front includes: the ruling Arab Socialist
Renaissance (Ba'th) Party, Hafiz al-ASAD, president of the republic,
secretary general of the party, and chairman of the National
Progressive Front; Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP), 'Abd al-Ghani
KANNUT; Arab Socialist Union (ASU), Jamal ATASSI; Syrian Communist
Party (SCP), Wisal FARHAH; Arab Socialist Unionist Movement, Sami
SOUFAN; and Democratic Socialist Union Party, Ghassan UTHMAN
Other political or pressure groups: non-Ba'th parties have little
effective political influence; Communist party ineffective;
conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Walid MUALEM
chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313
FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS
embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street No. 2, Damascus
mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone: [963] (11) 333-2814, 333-0788, 332-0783
FAX: [963] (11) 224-7938
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black
with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line
centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has
a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an
Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle
centered in the white band
Economy
-------
Economic overview: During 1990-92 Syria's state-dominated economy
benefited from the Gulf war, increased oil production, good weather,
and economic reform. Economic growth averaged roughly 10%. The war
led to a Syrian aid windfall of nearly $5 billion from Arab,
European, and Japanese donors. Most positive economic trends ended
in 1993 due to the dissipation of the Gulf war boom, a domestic
financial crisis, and economic policy missteps. Economic growth has
dropped below 5%, income inequality is increasing, the government
budget deficit is growing, and international accounts are weakening.
For the long run, Syria's economy is saddled with a large number of
poorly performing public sector firms and low industrial
productivity. Oil production is likely to ebb by the end of the
decade. Unemployment will likely rise as the more than 60% of the
population under age 20 moves into the labor force. The economic
benefits of any peace treaty with Israel will depend in large part
on the pace of economic reform.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $91.2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4.4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $5,900 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 25%
services: 45% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15.1% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 4.7 million (1995 est.)
by occupation: services 42%, industry 36%, agriculture 22% (1990
est.)
Unemployment rate: 8% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.5 billion
expenditures: $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)
Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco,
phosphate rock mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 4,160,000 kW
production: 13.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 865 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas; beef,
lamb, eggs, poultry, milk
Illicit drugs: a transit point for Lebanese and Turkish refined
cocaine going to Europe and heroin and hashish bound for regional
and Western markets
Exports: $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: petroleum 66%, cotton, fruits and vegetables 14%,
textiles 9%, animal products 4%, industrial products 3%
partners: EU 61%, Arab countries 24%, former CEMA countries, China,
Yugoslavia 5%, US and Canada 3% (1993 est.)
Imports: $5.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: machinery 25%, metal products 16%, transport equipment
15%, foodstuffs 12%, textiles 10%
partners: EU 37%, former CEMA countries, China, Yugoslavia 17%, US
and Canada 7%, Arab countries 6% (1993 est.)
External debt: $21.2 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $259 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Syrian pound (LS) = 100 piastres
Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (LS) per US$1 - 11.225 (official
fixed rate), 26.6 ("blended rate" used by the UN and diplomatic
missions), 42.0 ("neighboring country rate" - applies to most state
enterprise imports), 48.0 - 52.0 (offshore rate) (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 1,998 km
broad gauge: 1,766 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 232 km 1.050-m gauge
Highways:
total: 31,569 km
paved: 24,308 km (including 712 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,261 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: 870 km; minimal economic importance
Pipelines: crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km
Ports: Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus
Merchant marine:
total: 99 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 294,355 GRT/454,990 DWT
ships by type: bulk 12, cargo 85, livestock carrier 1, vehicle
carrier 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 99
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 15
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 62
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 541,465 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: fair system currently undergoing significant
improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology
domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable;
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon,
and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.392 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 17
Televisions: 700,000 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air
Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 3,590,557
males fit for military service: 2,011,610
males reach military age (19) annually: 164,598 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $875 million, 8%
of GDP (1994 est.); note - based on official budget data that
understate actual spending
======================================================================
@Taiwan
------
Map
---
Location: 23 30 N, 121 00 E -- Eastern Asia, islands bordering the
East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait,
north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China
Flag
----
Description: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays
Geography
---------
Location: Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea,
Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the
Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China
Geographic coordinates: 23 30 N, 121 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total area: 35,980 sq km
land area: 32,260 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware
combined
note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: involved in complex dispute over the
Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and
possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by
Vietnam and Taiwan; Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku
Islands/Diaoyu Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan
Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon
(June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to
gently rolling plains in west
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Yu Shan 3,997 m
Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone,
marble, and asbestos
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 5%
forest and woodland: 55%
other: 15%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: water pollution from industrial emissions, raw
sewage; air pollution; contamination of drinking water supplies;
trade in endangered species
natural hazards: earthquakes and typhoons
international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Marine Life
Conservation
People
------
Population: 21,465,881 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 2,605,495; female 2,436,864)
15-64 years: 69% (male 7,505,344; female 7,252,188)
65 years and over: 8% (male 907,310; female 758,680) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.89% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 15.01 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.52 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.02 years
male: 73.43 years
female: 78.82 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic divisions: Taiwanese 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
Religions: mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%,
Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%
Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka
dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 86%
male: 93%
female: 79%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Taiwan
local long form: none
local short form: T'ai-wan
Data code: TW
Type of government: multiparty democratic regime; opposition
political parties legalized in March 1989
Capital: Taipei
Administrative divisions: some of the ruling party in Taipei claim
to be the government of all China; in keeping with that claim, the
central administrative divisions include 2 provinces (sheng,
singular and plural) and 2 municipalities* (shih, singular and
plural) - Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province
including Quemoy and Matsu), Kao-hsiung*, T'ai-pei*, and Taiwan (the
island of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands); note - the more
commonly referenced administrative divisions are those of Taiwan
Province - 16 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5
municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2 special
municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua,
Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan,
Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung,
T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**,
T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital is at
Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un
note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization
National holiday: National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary of
the Revolution)
Constitution: 1 January 1947, amended in 1992, presently
undergoing revision
Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President LI Teng-hui (succeeded to the presidency
following the death of President CHIANG Ching-kuo 13 January 1988,
elected by the National Assembly 21 March 1990, reelected by popular
vote in the first-ever direct elections for president 23 March
1996); election last held 23 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000);
results - LI Teng-hui 54%, PENG Ming-min 21%, LIN Yang-kang 15%, and
CHEN Li-an 10%; Vice President-elect LIEN Chan (to be inaugurated 20
May 1996)
head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIEN
Chan (since 23 February 1993) and Vice Premier (Vice President of
the Executive Yuan) HSU Li-teh (since 23 February 1993) were
appointed by the president; note - LIEN Chan will continue to serve
as premier until 20 May 1996 when he will be inaugurated as vice
president; a new premier is expected to be appointed sometime in May
1996
cabinet: Executive Yuan was appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan and unicameral
National Assembly
Legislative Yuan: elections last held 2 December 1995 (next to be
held NA December 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
- (164 total) KMT 85, DPP 54, CNP 21, independents 4; note - since
the election, there has been a change in the distribution of seats -
KMT 83, DPP 54, CNP 21, independents 6
National Assembly: elections last held 23 March 1996 (next to be
held NA 2000); results - KMT 55%, DPP 30%, CNP 14%, other 1%; seats
- (334 total) KMT 183, DPP 99, CNP 46, other 6
Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan, justices nominated and appointed
for nine-year terms by the president
Political parties and leaders: Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist
Party), LI Teng-hui, chairman; Democratic Progressive Party (DPP),
leader NA; Chinese New Party (CNP), leader NA; Labor Party (LP),
leader NA
Other political or pressure groups: Taiwan independence movement,
various environmental groups
note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the
mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization
and the increased representation of the opposition Democratic
Progressive Party in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate
on the island's national identity; advocates of Taiwan independence,
both within the DPP and the ruling Kuomintang, oppose the ruling
party's traditional stand that the island will eventually unify with
mainland China; the aims of the Taiwan independence movement include
establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; other
organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World
United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan
Nation Building
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC,
IOC, WCL, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US: none; unofficial commercial and
cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through
a private instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office (TECRO) with headquarters in Taipei and field
offices in Washington and 10 other US cities