Disputes - international: maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia;
Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger and part of
southeastern Algeria
______________________________________________________________________
LIECHTENSTEIN
@Liechtenstein:Introduction
Background: The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within
the Holy Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806.
Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the
economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to
conclude a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World
War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral) the country's low
taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth.
@Liechtenstein:Geography
Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates: 47 10 N, 9 32 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 160 sq km
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 35 km, Switzerland 41 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain;
cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 16%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations
based on elevation
@Liechtenstein:People
Population: 32,207 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 2,970; female 2,988)
15-64 years: 71% (male 11,379; female 11,370)
65 years and over: 11% (male 1,393; female 2,107) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.02% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 11.83 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 6.64 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.81 years
male: 75.16 years
female: 82.47 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups: Alemannic 87.5%, Italian, Turkish, and other 12.5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 7.4%, unknown 7.7%, other
4.9% (1996)
Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1981 est.)
@Liechtenstein:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein
Data code: LS
Government type: hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital: Vaduz
Administrative divisions: 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular -
Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan,
Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence: 23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein
established; 12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman
Empire
National holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution: 5 October 1921
Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed
executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und
zu Liechtenstein, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968)
head of government: Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15 December
1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 2 February
1997)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually
appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the
largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the deputy
head of government by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members are
elected by direct popular vote under proportional representation to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 2 February 1997 (next to be held by NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - VU 50.1%, FBPL 41.3%, FL
8.5%; seats by party - VU 13, FBPL 10, FL 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior Court
or Obergericht
Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald
KRANZ]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBPL ; The Free
List or FL [Christel HILTI, Hansjorg HILTI, Helen MARXER, Hugo RISCH,
Margrit WILLE]
International organization participation: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA,
ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Liechtenstein does not have an
embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in routine
diplomatic matters
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy
in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador to Switzerland is also
accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red
with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band
@Liechtenstein:Economy
Economy - overview: Despite its small size and limited natural
resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly
industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service
sector and living standards on a par with the urban areas of its large
European neighbors. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 18% -
and easy incorporation rules have induced about 73,700 holding or
so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in
Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country
participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss
franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy
requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic
Area (an organization serving as a bridge between European Free Trade
Association (EFTA) and EU) since May 1995. The government is working
to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $730 million (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,000 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 22,891 of which 13,847 are foreigners; 8,231 commute from
Austria and Switzerland to work each day
Labor force - by occupation: industry, trade, and building 45%,
services 53%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 2%
(1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.8% (February 1999)
Budget:
revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 150 million kWh (1995)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock,
dairy products
Exports: $2.47 billion (1996)
Exports - commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products,
stamps, hardware, pottery
Exports - partners: EU and EFTA countries 60.57% (Switzerland 15.7%)
(1995)
Imports: $917.3 million (1996)
Imports - commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs,
motor vehicles
Imports - partners: EU countries, Switzerland (1996)
Debt - external: $0 (1996)
Economic aid - recipient: none
Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SFR) = 100 centimes,
rappen, or centesimi
Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SFR) per US$1 -
1.5878 (January 2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997),
1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Liechtenstein:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 19,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio
relay
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 21,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Televisions: 12,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 115 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland)
(1999)
@Liechtenstein:Transportation
Railways:
total: 18.5 km; note - owned, operated, and included in statistics of
Austrian Federal Railways
standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
Highways:
total: 250 km
paved: 250 km
unpaved: 0 km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
@Liechtenstein:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
@Liechtenstein:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims 1,600 sq km of land in the Czech
Republic confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic
insists that restitution does not go back before February 1948, when
the communists seized power
______________________________________________________________________
LITHUANIA
@Lithuania:Introduction
Background: Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was
annexed by the USSR in 1940. In March of 1990, Lithuania became the
first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but this
proclamation was not generally recognized until September of 1991
(following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops
withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently has restructured its economy
for eventual integration into Western European institutions.
@Lithuania:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and
Russia
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 65,200 sq km
land: 65,200 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,273 km
border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia
(Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline: 99 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate
winters and summers
Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
Natural resources: peat, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 35%
permanent crops: 12%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 430 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater
with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
@Lithuania:People
Population: 3,620,756 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 357,712; female 342,796)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,177,732; female 1,259,682)
65 years and over: 14% (male 163,470; female 319,364) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.29% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 9.77 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 12.87 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.09 years
male: 63.07 years
female: 75.41 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.34 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%, Byelorussian
1.6%, other 2.1%
Religions: Roman Catholic (primarily), Lutheran, Russian Orthodox,
Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Muslim, Jewish
Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1989 est.)
@Lithuania:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: LH
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Vilnius
Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singular - rajonas) and
11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*,
Anyksciu Rajonas, Birstonas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos
Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas,
Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes
Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio
Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*, Marijampoles Rajonas, Mazeikiu
Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa* Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*,
Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas,
Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas, Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio
Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininku Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu
Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Silutes Rajonas, Sirvintu Rajonas, Skuodo
Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traku
Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas,
Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Statehood Day, 16 February (1918)
Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 26 February 1998)
head of government: Premier Andrius KUBILIUS (since 12 November 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the premier
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 December 1997 and 5 January 1998 (next to be
held NA 2003); premier appointed by the president on the approval of
the Parliament
election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote -
Valdas ADAMKUS 50.4%, Arturas PAULAUSKAS 49.6%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71
members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by
proportional representation; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October and 10 November 1996 (next to be held
NA October 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TS
69, LKDP 15, LCS 15, LDDP 12, LSDP 10, DP 2, independents 12, others 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Parliament;
Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Parliament
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or LKDP
; Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania or
LDDP ; Democratic Party or DP [Lydie
WURTH-POLFER, president]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS
; Lithuanian Center Union or LCS
; Lithuanian Farmer's Party or LUP
(previously Farmers' Union) ; Lithuanian
Nationalist Union or LTS ; Lithuanian
Polish Union or LLS ; Lithuanian
Social Democratic Party or LSDP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Lithuanian Future Forum
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stasys SAKALAUSKAS
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: (202) 234-5860
FAX: (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Keith C. SMITH
embassy: Akmenu 6, 2600 Vilnius
mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE
09723
telephone: (2) 223-031
FAX: (6) 706-084
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green,
and red
@Lithuania:Economy
Economy - overview: Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the
most trade with Russia, faced its own economic and financial crisis in
1999 as a result of the government's wrongfooted economic policies and
its inadequate response to the August 1998 Russian financial crisis.
Preliminary figures indicate 3% negative GDP growth, 10% unemployment
- the highest level since independence in 1991 - and a budget deficit
estimated at between 8 and 9% of GDP. The policies that Prime Minister
KUBILIUS implemented upon taking the helm in November 1999 underscore
a commitment to fiscal restraint, economic stabilization, and
accelerated reforms. The austere 2000 budget in based on a 2% GDP
growth forecast, 3% inflation, and a 2.8% budget deficit. Lithuania
was invited at the Helsinki EU summit in December 1999 to begin EU
accession talks in early 2000. Privatization of the large state-owned
utilities, particularly in the energy sector, and reducing the high
current account deficit remain challenges for the coming year.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $17.3 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -3% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,800 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 32%
services: 58% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.3% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1.8 million
Labor force - by occupation: industry 30%, agriculture 20%, services
50% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1999)
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television
sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding
(small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing,
fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic
components, computers, amber
Industrial production growth rate: -14% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 15.58 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 13.09%
hydro: 4.3%
nuclear: 82.61%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 7.829 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 7 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 340 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax,
vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, mineral products
19%, textiles and clothing 19%, chemicals 10%, foodstuffs (1998)
Exports - partners: Russia 17.4%, Germany 15.8%, Latvia 12.7%, Denmark
5.9%, Belarus 5.2% (1999)
Imports: $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment 30%, mineral products
16%, chemicals 9%, textiles and clothing 9%, foodstuffs (1998)
Imports - partners: Russia 20.4%, Germany 16.5%, Denmark 3.8%, Belarus
2.2%, Latvia 2% (1999)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $228.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas
Exchange rates: litai per US$1 - 4.000 (fixed rate since 1 May 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Lithuania:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.048 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 297,500 (1998)
Telephone system: inadequate but is being modernized to provide an
improved international capability and better residential access
domestic: a national fiber-optic cable interurban trunk system is
nearing completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded;
mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internet is
available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriber applications
international: landline connections to Latvia and Poland; major
international connections are to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway by
submarine cable for further transmission by satellite
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 112, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 1.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 82 (mainly repeater stations) (1998)
Televisions: 1.7 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 10 (1999)
@Lithuania:Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,002 km
broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)
Highways:
total: 71,375 km
paved: 64,951 km (including 417 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,424 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine:
total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 316,319 GRT/351,700 DWT
ships by type: cargo 23, combination bulk 11, petroleum tanker 2, rail
car carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 11, roll-on/roll-off 1, short-sea
passenger 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 96 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 14 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 71
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 63 (1994 est.)
@Lithuania:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force,
Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 925,551 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 727,609 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 27,259 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $181 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.5% (FY99)
@Lithuania:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: ongoing talks over maritime boundary dispute
with Latvia (primary concern is oil exploration rights); 1997 border
agreement with Russia not yet ratified