Senate (28 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (54 seats;
members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7
November 2000); House of Representatives - last held 5 November 1996
(next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PNP 19, PPD 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 37, PPD 16, PIP 1
note: Puerto Rico elects one nonvoting representative to the US House
of Representatives; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next to be
held 7 November 2000); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices appointed by the governor
with the consent of the Senate; Superior Courts, justices appointed by
the governor with the consent of the Senate; Municipal Courts,
justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party [William
MIRANDA]; National Republican Party of Puerto Rico ; New
Progressive Party or PNP ; Popular Democratic Party or
PPD ; Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Armed Forces for National
Liberation or FALN; Armed Forces of Popular Resistance; Boricua
Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Volunteers of the Puerto
Rican Revolution
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC
(associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCL,
WFTU, WHO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (commonwealth associated
with the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (commonwealth associated
with the US)
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom)
alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist
side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design
based on the US flag
@Puerto Rico:Economy
Economy - overview: Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies
in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has surpassed
agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income.
Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US
firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum
wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and
other livestock products as the main source of income in the
agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important
source of income for the island, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5
million tourists in 1999. Prospects for 2000 are good, assuming
continued strength in the tourism and construction sectors and
continuation of the US boom.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $38.1 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.2% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,800 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.2% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1.3 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 3%, industry 20%, services
77% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 13% (FY97/98 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY99/00)
Industries: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products;
tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 17.765 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 98.06%
hydro: 1.94%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 16.521 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains,
bananas; livestock products, chickens
Exports: $34.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned
tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment
Exports - partners: US 88% (1999)
Imports: $25.3 billion (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities: chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing,
food, fish, petroleum products
Imports - partners: US 60% (1999)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Puerto Rico:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.196 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 171,000 (1995)
Telephone system: modern system, integrated with that of the US by
high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data
capability
domestic: digital telephone system; cellular telephone service
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; submarine cable
to US
Radio broadcast stations: AM 72, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 2.7 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 18 (plus three stations of the US Armed
Forces Radio and Television Service) (1997)
Televisions: 1.021 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 18 (1999)
@Puerto Rico:Transportation
Railways:
total: 96 km
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge, rural, narrow-gauge system for
hauling sugarcane; no passenger service
Highways:
total: 14,400 km
paved: 14,400 km
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Playa de Ponce, San
Juan
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,513 GRT/14,976 DWT
ships by type: roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 30 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 6 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)
@Puerto Rico:Military
Military branches: paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Puerto Rico:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
QATAR
@Qatar:Introduction
Background: During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy
was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by
the amir who had ruled the country since 1972. He was overthrown in a
bloodless coup by his own son in 1995. Oil and natural gas revenues
enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the leading
industrial countries of Western Europe.
@Qatar:Geography
Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi
Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 11,437 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline: 563 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements, or the
median line
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and
gravel
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 94% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 80 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources
are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near
major petroleum deposits
@Qatar:People
Population: 744,483 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 99,702; female 95,960)
15-64 years: 71% (male 378,741; female 152,978)
65 years and over: 3% (male 12,120; female 4,982) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.35% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 16.07 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.19 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 21.58 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: 2.48 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.43 male(s)/female
total population: 1.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 22.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.37 years
male: 69.92 years
female: 74.94 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.25 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other
14%
Religions: Muslim 95%
Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second
language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.4%
male: 79.2%
female: 79.9% (1995 est.)
@Qatar:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between
cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
Data code: QA
Government type: traditional monarchy
Capital: Doha
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular -
baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al
Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Salal
Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972
Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir,
although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant
in personal matters
Suffrage: suffrage is limited to municipal elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995
when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al
Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa
Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown prince by the
monarch 22 October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions
of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces
head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani,
brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister
MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20
January 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; note - in March 1999 Qatar
held elections for representatives to its Central Municipal Council
Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35
seats; members appointed)
note: the constitution calls for elections for part of this
consultative body, but no elections have been held since 1970, when
there were partial elections to the body; Council members have their
terms extended every four years since
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC,
ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO
(pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI
chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: (202) 274-1600
consulate(s) general: Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth MCKUNE
embassy: 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: 884 101
FAX: 884 150
note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday
Flag description: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white
points) on the hoist side
@Qatar:Economy
Economy - overview: Oil accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80%
of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil
reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at
current levels for 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP
three-fourths that of the leading West European industrial countries.
Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters,
more than 5% of the world total, third largest in the world.
Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly
important. Long-term goals feature the development of off-shore
petroleum and the diversification of the economy. If high oil prices
continue in 2000, Qatar will post its highest ever trade surplus - of
more than $4 billion.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 49%
services: 50% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1999)
Labor force: 233,000 (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $5 billion
expenditures: $4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY99/00 est.)
Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers,
petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 6.715 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 6.245 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products,
beef; fish
Exports: $6.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel
Exports - partners: Japan 50%, Singapore 12%, South Korea 9%, US, UAE
(1997)
Imports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, food,
chemicals
Imports - partners: UK 25%, France 13%, Japan 10%, US 9%, Italy 6%
(1997)
Debt - external: $10 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1 - 3.6400 riyals (fixed
rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Qatar:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 146,980 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 18,469 (1995)
Telephone system: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: NA
international: tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay
to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and
1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 256,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus three repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 230,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Qatar:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,230 km
paved: 1,107 km
unpaved: 123 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
Ports and harbors: Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id
Merchant marine:
total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 721,756 GRT/1,132,510 DWT
ships by type: cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 7, petroleum
tanker 5 (1999 est.)
Airports: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Qatar:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 306,850
note: includes non-nationals (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 160,899 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 6,471 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $816 million (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 8.1% (FY99/00)
@Qatar:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the territorial dispute with Bahrain over
the Hawar Islands and the maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain are
currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ); June 1999
agreement has furthered the goal of definitively establishing the
border with Saudi Arabia
______________________________________________________________________
REUNION
@Reunion:Introduction
Background: The Portuguese discovered the uninhabited island in 1513.
From the 17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration supplemented
by influxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Malabar Indians gave the
island its ethnic mix. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 cost the
island its importance as a stopover on the East Indies trade route.
@Reunion:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 21 06 S, 55 36 E
Map references: World
Area:
total: 2,512 sq km
land: 2,502 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 207 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and
dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April);
Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Environment - current issues: NA
@Reunion:People
Population: 720,934 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 119,291; female 113,741)
15-64 years: 62% (male 220,066; female 227,632)
65 years and over: 6% (male 16,336; female 23,868) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.63% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 21.84 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 5.55 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.68 years
male: 69.28 years
female: 76.24 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.61 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Reunionese (singular and plural)
adjective: Reunionese
Ethnic groups: French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian
Religions: Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist (1995)
Languages: French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79%
male: 76%
female: 80% (1982 est.)
@Reunion:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Reunion
conventional short form: Reunion
local long form: none
local short form: Ile de la Reunion
Data code: RE
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Saint-Denis
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France); there
are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are four arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47
cantons
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Robert POMMIES (since NA 1996)
head of government: President of the General Council Jean-Luc POUDROUX
(since NA March 1998) and President of the Regional Council Paul
VERGES (since NA March 1993)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (47 seats; members are
elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) and unicameral
Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote
to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
NA 2000); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held
NA 2004)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7; Regional
Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCR 7, UDF
8, PS 6, RPR 4, various right-wing candidates 15, various left-wing
candidates 5
note: Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate;
elections last held 14 April 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); results -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, PCR 2; Reunion
also elects five deputies to the French National Assembly; elections
last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCR 3, PS 1, and
RPR-UDF 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Reunion or PCR [Paul
VERGES]; France-Reunion Future or FRA ; Mouvement
des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG ; National Front or FN
; Rally for the Republic or RPR ;
Socialist Party or PS ; Union for France or UPF
(includes RPR and UDF) ; Union for French Democracy or UDF
International organization participation: FZ, InOC, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department of
France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@Reunion:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy has traditionally been based on
agriculture. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a
century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The
government has been pushing the development of a tourist industry to
relieve high unemployment, which amounts to more than 40% of the labor
force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the poor is
extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social tensions. The
white and Indian communities are substantially better off than other
segments of the population, often approaching European standards,
whereas minority groups suffer the poverty and unemployment typical of
the poorer nations of the African continent. The outbreak of severe
rioting in February 1991 illustrates the seriousness of socioeconomic
tensions. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on
continued financial assistance from France.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,800 (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): NA%
Labor force: 261,000 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 8%, industry 19%, services
73% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 42.8% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $1.2 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $260
million (1995)
Industries: sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft items, flower oil
extraction
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.11 billion kWh (1998)