FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN,
UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alvaro DIEZ DE MEDINA SUAREZ
chancery : 2715 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
FAX : [1] (202) 331-8147
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
mailing address : APO AA 34035
telephone: [598] (2) 23 60 61, 48 77 77
FAX: [598] (2) 48 86 11
Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and
bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper
hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the
Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy
Economy
Economy - overview: Uruguay's small economy benefits from a favorable
climate for agriculture and substantial hydropower potential. Economic
development has been restrained in recent years by high - though
declining - inflation and extensive government regulation. The
SANGUINETTI government's conservative monetary and fiscal policies are
aimed at continuing to reduce inflation, at 24.3% at yearend 1996;
other priorities include extensive reform of the social security
system and increased investment in education. Uruguay recovered from
recession in 1996 - partly due to the recovery in Argentina - and
ended the year with a nearly 5% rise in GDP. Uruguayan trade continued
to expand and the potential for new markets continued to open through
the negotiations of Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market) with
neighboring countries and the European Union (EU). The economy is
expected to continue growing at a healthy rate in 1997 along with
other regional economies.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $26 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.9% (1996)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture : 10.8%
industry: 27.4%
services: 61.8% (1995)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 24.4% (December 1996)
Labor force:
total: 1.436 million (1996 est.)
by occupation: government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%,
commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications
12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.03 billion
expenditures : $3.37 billion with capital expenditures of $NA (1994
est.)
Industries: meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles,
footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, petroleum refining, wine
Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (1996)
Electricity - capacity: 2.142 million kW (1995)
Electricity - production: 6.308 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 1,568 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; livestock; fishing
Exports:
total value : $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal
products, leather, rice
partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, China, Italy
Imports:
total value: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, minerals,
plastics, oil
partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Nigeria
Debt - external: $5 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $91 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos
Exchange rates: Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1 - 8.6550 (January
1997), 7.9718 (1996), 6.3491 (1995), 5.0529 (1994), 3.9484 (1993),
3.0270 (1992)
note: on 1 March 1993 the former new peso (N$Ur) was replaced as
Uruguay's unit of currency by the peso which is equal to 1,000 of the
new pesos
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Uruguay:Communications
Telephones: 451,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: some modern facilities
domestic : most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new
nationwide microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 99, FM 0, shortwave 9
Radios: 1.89 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 26
Televisions: 725,000 (1992 est.)
@Uruguay:Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,070 km (461 km closed; additional 460 km only partially
operational)
standard gauge: 2,070 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:
total: 50,900 km
paved: 6,973 km
unpaved: 43,927 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft
Ports and harbors: Fray Bentos, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu,
Punta del Este
Merchant marine:
total: 2 oil tanker ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,042
GRT/83,684 DWT (1996 est.)
Airports: 60 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 45
2,438 to 3,047 m : 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 31 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total : 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 13 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard,
Marines), Air Force, Grenadier Guards, Coracero Guard, Police
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49 : 792,365 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males: 643,137 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $256 million (1994)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.5% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: two short sections of the boundary with
Brazil are in dispute - Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area
of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the islands at the confluence of
the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay River
______________________________________________________________________
UZBEKISTAN
@Uzbekistan:Geography
Location: Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 64 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 447,400 sq km
land: 425,400 sq km
water: 22,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 6,221 km
border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan
1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Coastline: 0 km
note : Uzbekistan borders the Aral Sea (420 km)
Maritime claims: none (doubly landlocked)
Climate: mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters;
semiarid grassland in east
Terrain: mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat
intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya and Syr
Darya; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and
Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium,
silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops : 1%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting
in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts;
these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed
and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial
wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of
many human health disorders; increasing soil salinization; soil
contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are the only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world
@Uzbekistan:People
Population: 23,467,724 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 4,609,766; female 4,474,481)
15-64 years: 57% (male 6,593,525; female 6,703,482)
65 years and over : 4% (male 421,609; female 664,861) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.35% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 24.02 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 7.63 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 70.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.31 years
male : 60.69 years
female: 68.11 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.92 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Uzbekistani(s)
adjective: Uzbekistani
Ethnic groups: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazak 3%, Karakalpak
2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Languages: Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 96% (1989 est.)
@Uzbekistan:Government
Country name:
conventional long form : Republic of Uzbekistan
conventional short form: Uzbekistan
local long form: Uzbekiston Respublikasi
local short form: none
former : Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: UZ
Government type: republic
National capital: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions: 12 wiloyatlar (singular - wiloyat), 1
autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon
Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati,
Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Khorazm
Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Samarqand
Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati
(Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name
following in parentheses)
Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Constitution: new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system: evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent
judicial system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he
was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)
head of government: Prime Minister Utkur SULTONOV (since December
1995); First Deputy Prime Minister Ismoil JURABEKOV (since NA); First
Deputy Prime Minister for Agriculture Qobiljon OBIDOV (since NA);
Deputy Prime Ministers Viktor CHIZHEN (since NA), Bakhtiyor HAMIDOV
(since NA), Kayim HAQQULOV (since NA), Dilbar GHOLOMOVA (since NA),
Alisher AZIZKHOJAYEV (since NA), Mirabror USMONOV (since NA), Murat
SHARIFKHOJAYEV (since NA), Rustam YUNUSOV (since NA)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval
of the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA 2000; note -
extension of President KARIMOV's term for an additional four years
overwhelmingly approved - 99.6% of total vote in favor - by national
referendum held 26 March 1995); prime minister and deputy prime
ministers appointed by the president
election results: Islom KARIMOV elected president; percent of vote -
Islom KARIMOV 86%, Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2%
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 25 December 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
People's Democratic Party 207, Fatherland Progress Party 12, other 31;
note - final runoffs were held 22 January 1995; seating was as
follows: People's Democratic Party 69, Fatherland Progress Party 14,
Social Democratic Party 47, local government 120
note: all parties in parliament support President KARIMOV
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president
and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly
Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Party or PDP
(formerly Communist Party) [Islom A. KARIMOV, chairman]; Fatherland
Progress Party or FPP [Anwar YULDASHEV, chairman]; Social Democratic
Party [Anvar JORABAYEV, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Birlik (Unity) People's
Movement or BPM [Ibrahim BURIYEV, chairman]; Islamic Rebirth Party or
IRP [Abdullah UTAYEV, chairman]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party was
banned 9 December 1992
note: UTAYEV or IRP is either in prison or in exile
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE,
ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, ISO, ITU, NACC, NAM, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sodyk SAFAYEV
chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300
FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804
consulate(s) general : New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley T. ESCUDERO
embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone : [7] (3712) 77-14-07, 77-10-81, 77-69-86
FAX: [7] (3712) 40-63-35
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white,
and green separated by red fimbriations with a crescent moon and 12
stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
Economy
Economy - overview: Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which
10% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. It was
one of the poorest areas of the former Soviet Union with more than 60%
of its population living in overpopulated rural communities.
Uzbekistan is now the world's third largest cotton exporter, a major
producer of gold and natural gas, and a regionally significant
producer of chemicals and machinery. Following independence in
December 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style
command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and
prices. Faced with high rates of inflation, however, the government
stepped up the pace of reform in mid-1994, by introducing tighter
monetary policies, expanding privatization, slightly reducing the role
of the state in the economy, and improving the environment for foreign
investors. Nevertheless, the state continues to be a dominating
influence in the economy, and reforms have so far failed to bring
about much-needed structural changes. The IMF suspended Uzbekistan's
$185 million standby arrangement in late 1996 because of governmental
steps that made impossible fulfillment of Fund conditions.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $57 billion (1996 estimate as
extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.6% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,430 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 24%
services: 47% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 55% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total: 8.2 million
by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry and construction
20%, other 36% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 0.3% includes only officially registered
unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers (December 1996)
Budget:
revenues : $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy,
natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1996 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 11.82 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 45.15 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 1,970 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
Exports:
total value: $3.2 billion (1996)
commodities: cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous
metals, textiles, food products, autos
partners: Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, Western Europe
Imports:
total value: $3.2 billion (1996)
commodities : grain, machinery and parts, consumer durables, other
foods
partners: principally other FSU, Czech Republic, Western Europe
Debt - external: $1.285 billion (of which $510 million to Russia)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $71 million (1993)
note: commitments, $2,915 million ($135 million in disbursements)
(1992-95)
Currency: introduced provisional som-coupons 10 November 1993 which
circulated parallel to the Russian rubles; became the sole legal
currency 31 January 1994; was replaced in July 1994 by the som
currency
Exchange rates: Uzbekistani soms (UKS) per US$1 - 51.1 (January 1997),
35.8 (end December 1995), 25 (yearend 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Uzbekistan:Communications
Telephones: 1.458 million (1995 est.)
Telephone system: poorly developed
domestic: NMT-450 analog cellular network established in Tashkent
international: linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS
member states and to other countries by leased connection via the
Moscow international gateway switch; new Intelsat links to Tokyo and
Ankara give Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian
facilities; satellite earth stations - NA Orbita and NA Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there is
at least one state-owned broadcast station of NA type
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 national, many local
Televisions: NA
@Uzbekistan:Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,380 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
lines
broad gauge: 3,380 km 1.520-m gauge (300 km electrified) (1993)
Highways:
total: 80,000 km
paved : 69,760 km (note - these roads are said to be hard surfaced,
meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced)
unpaved: 10,240 km dirt (1995 est.)
Waterways: 1,100 (1990)
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 810
km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Termiz (Amu Darya river)
Airports: 261 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 35
over 3,047 m : 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total : 226
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m : 216 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces
(internal and border troops), National Guard
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49 : 5,833,862 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males: 4,748,539 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 239,978 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: 164 million soms (1993); note -
conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current
exchange rate could produce misleading results
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.7% (1993)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of cannabis and small
amounts of opium poppy; mostly for domestic consumption; limited
government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment
point for illicit drugs to Russia and Western Europe
______________________________________________________________________
VANUATU
@Vanuatu:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 S, 167 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total : 14,760 sq km
land: 14,760 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,528 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea : 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 10%
permanent pastures : 2%
forests and woodland: 75%
other: 11% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April);
volcanism causes minor earthquakes
Environment - current issues: a majority of the population does not
have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
@Vanuatu:People
Population: 181,358 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 36,655; female 35,359)
15-64 years: 57% (male 53,506; female 50,508)
65 years and over: 3% (male 2,904; female 2,426) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.12% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 29.87 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 8.63 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over : 1.2 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 62.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.56 years
male: 58.65 years
female: 62.58 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.88 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic groups: indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese,
Chinese, Pacific Islanders
Religions: Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%, indigenous
beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other
15.7%
Languages: English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as
Bislama or Bichelama)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53%
male: 57%
female: 48% (1979 est.)
@Vanuatu:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides
Data code: NH
Government type: republic
National capital: Port-Vila
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa,
Tafea, Torba
Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Constitution: 30 July 1980
Legal system: unified system being created from former dual French and
British systems
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal