Slovakia; Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Christian Social
Union; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; Metal Workers Unions or
KOVO and METALURG; Party of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen of Slovakia
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC
(observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
NAM (guest), NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin BUTORA
chancery: (temporary) Suite 250, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20007
telephone: (202) 965-5161
FAX: (202) 965-5166
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Douglas
HENGEL
embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: (7) 5443-0861, 5443-3338
FAX: (7) 5441-5148
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue,
and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the
hoist side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and
blue
@Slovakia:Economy
Economy - overview: Slovakia continues the difficult transition from a
centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. It started 1999
faced with a sharp slowdown in GDP growth, large budget and current
account deficits, fast-growing external debt, and persisting
corruption, but made considerable progress toward achieving
macroeconomic stabilization later in the year. Tough austerity
measures implemented in May cut the overall fiscal deficit from 6% in
1998 to under 4% of GDP, and the current account deficit was halved to
an estimated 5% of GDP. Slovakia was invited by the EU in December to
begin accession negotiations early in 2000. Foreign investor interest,
although rising, has not yet led to actual deals; several credit
rating agencies have upgraded their outlook for the country. However,
Slovakia's fiscal position remains weak; inflation and unemployment
remain high; and the government is only now addressing the structural
problems inherited from the MECIAR period, such as large inefficient
enterprises, an insolvent banking sector and high inter-company debts,
and declining tax and social support payments. Furthermore, the
government faces considerable public discontent over the government's
austerity package, persistent high unemployment - which reached an
all-time high of 20% in December 1999 - rising consumer prices,
reduced social benefits, and declining living standards. Real GDP is
forecast to stagnate in 2000; inflationary pressures will remain
strong due to further price liberalization; and little scope exists
for further fiscal consolidation in the 2000 budget, which is based on
rosier assumptions than nearly all private forecasts.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $45.9 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.9% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 33%
services: 62% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 5.1%
highest 10%: 18.2% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 3.32 million (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%,
construction 8%, transport and communication 8.2%, services 45.6%
(1994)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.4 billion
expenditures: $5.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries: metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity,
gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery;
paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles;
textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products
Industrial production growth rate: 0.9% (1998)
Electricity - production: 20.035 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 24%
hydro: 20%
nuclear: 56%
other: 0% (1999 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 23.3 billion kWh (1999 est.)
Electricity - exports: 920 million kWh (1999 est.)
Electricity - imports: 840 million kWh (1999 est.)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit;
pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products
Exports: $10.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 37%;
intermediate manufactured goods 30%, miscellaneous manufactured goods
13%; chemicals 9%; raw materials 4% (1998)
Exports - partners: EU 56% (Germany 29%, Austria 7%), Czech Republic
20%, Poland 7% (1998)
Imports: $11.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 40%;
intermediate manufactured goods 18%; fuels 11%; chemicals 11%;
miscellaneous manufactured goods 10% (1998)
Imports - partners: EU 50% (Germany 26%, Italy 6%), Czech Republic
18%, Russia 10% (1998)
Debt - external: $10.6 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $421.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 koruna (Sk) = 100 halierov
Exchange rates: koruny (Sk) per US$1 - 42.059 (January 2000), 41.363
(1999), 35.233 (1998), 33.616 (1997), 30.654 (1996), 29.713 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Slovakia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.557 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 641,000 (1998)
Telephone system:
domestic: predominantly an analog system which is now receiving
digital equipment and is being enlarged with fiber-optic cable,
especially in the larger cities; mobile cellular capability has been
added
international: 3 international exchanges, 1 in Bratislava and 2 in
Banska Bystrica, are available; Slovakia is participating in several
international telecommunications projects which will increase the
availability of external services
Radio broadcast stations: AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 3.12 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (1998)
Televisions: 2.62 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 11 (1999)
@Slovakia:Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,660 km
broad gauge: 102 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 3,507 km 1.435-m gauge (1505 km electrified; 1,011 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 51 km (46 km 1,000-m gauge; 5 km 0.750-m gauge) (1998)
Highways:
total: 17,710 km
paved: 17,533 km (including 288 km of expressways)
unpaved: 177 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 172 km on the Danube
Pipelines: petroleum products NA km; natural gas 2,700 km
Ports and harbors: Bratislava, Komarno
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,041 GRT/19,517 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 36 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 8 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 8 (1999 est.)
@Slovakia:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Territorial Defense Forces, Civil Defense Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,484,567 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,134,751 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 45,605 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $332 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.7% (FY99)
@Slovakia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: ongoing Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Hungary;
agreement with Czech Republic signed 24 November 1998 resolves issues
of redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal property - approval
by both parliaments is expected in 2000
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound
for Western Europe
______________________________________________________________________
SLOVENIA COUNTRY FLAG OF SLOVENIA
______________________________________________________________________
SOLOMON ISLANDS
@Solomon Islands:Introduction
Background: The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands
in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred
on these islands. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and
independence two years later. Current issues include government
deficits, deforestation, and malaria control.
@Solomon Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east
of Papua New Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 S, 159 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 28,450 sq km
land: 27,540 sq km
water: 910 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 5,313 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m
Natural resources: fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead,
zinc, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 88%
other: 9% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons, but they are rarely destructive;
geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic
activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; much of the
surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
@Solomon Islands:People
Population: 466,194 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 105,024; female 101,065)
15-64 years: 53% (male 124,627; female 121,358)
65 years and over: 3% (male 6,935; female 7,185) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.04% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 34.79 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.35 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.28 years
male: 68.86 years
female: 73.81 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.8 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander
Ethnic groups: Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%,
European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%
Religions: Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United
(Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, other
Protestant 5%, indigenous beliefs 4%
Languages: Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca,
English spoken by 1%-2% of population
note: 120 indigenous languages
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
@Solomon Islands:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands
Data code: BP
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Honiara
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central,
Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western
note: there may be two new provinces of Choiseul (Lauru) and
Rennell/Bellona and the administrative unit of Honiara may have been
abolished
Independence: 7 July 1978 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Constitution: 7 July 1978
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Father John LAPLI (since NA 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU (since 27
August 1997); Deputy Prime Minister Sir Baddeley DEVESI (since 27
August 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister from among the members of Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed
by the monarch on the advice of Parliament for up to five years;
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
the leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime minister
by Parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of
Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members
elected from single member constituencies by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 August 1997 (next to be held by August 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GNUR
21, PAP 7, NAPSI 5, SILP 4, UP 4, independents 6, other 3
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: characterized by fluid coalitions;
Christian Fellowship ; Group for National Unity and
Reconciliation or GNUR ; Labor Party or LP [Joses
TUHANUKU]; Liberal Party ; National Action
Party of Solomon Islands or NAPSI ; National Party [leader
NA]; Nationalist Front for Progress or NFP ; People's
Alliance Party or PAP ; Solomon Islands Labor Party or SILP
; Solomon Islands National Unity, Reconciliation, and
Progressive Party or SINURP (leader of
opposition); United Party or UP
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Rex HOROI (represents the country
as both the permanent representative to the UN and the ambassador to
the US)
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017
telephone: (212) 599-6192, 6193
FAX: (212) 661-8925
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy
in Solomon Islands (embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to Papua
New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands
Flag description: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the
lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with
five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower
triangle is green
@Solomon Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: The bulk of the population depend on agriculture,
fishing, and forestry for at least part of their livelihood. Most
manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The
islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc,
nickel, and gold. Economic troubles in Southeast Asia led to a steep
downturn in the timber industry, and economic output declined by about
10% in 1998. The government instituted public service pay cuts and
other retrenchments. The economy partially recovered in 1999 on the
strength of rising international gold prices and the first full year
of the Gold Ridge mining operation. However, the closure of the
country's major palm oil plantation in mid-year cast a shadow over
future prospects.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.21 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,650 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 50%
industry: 3.5%
services: 46.5% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 26,842
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $147 million
expenditures: $168 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: fish (tuna), mining, timber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 30 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 28 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice,
potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish
Exports: $142 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports - commodities: timber, fish, palm oil, cocoa, copra
Exports - partners: Japan 50%, Spain 16%, UK, Thailand 5% (1996)
Imports: $160 million (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: plant and equipment, manufactured goods, food
and live animals, fuel
Imports - partners: Australia 42%, Japan 10%, Singapore 9%, NZ 8%, US
5% (1996)
Debt - external: $135 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $46.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1 - 5.0745
(January 2000), 4.8381 (1999), 4.8156 (1998), 3.5664 (1997), 3.4059
(1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Solomon Islands:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 7,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 230 (1995)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 57,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: 3,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Solomon Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,360 km
paved: 34 km
unpaved: 1,326 km (includes about 800 km of private plantation roads)
(1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Aola Bay, Honiara, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor,
Yandina
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 33 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 21 (1999 est.)
@Solomon Islands:Military
Military branches: no regular military forces; Solomon Islands
National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon Islands
Police (RSIP)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
@Solomon Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
SOMALIA
@Somalia:Introduction
Background: Intermittent civil war has been a fact of life in Somalia
since 1977. In 1991, the northern portion of the country declared its
independence as Somaliland; although de facto independent and
relatively stable compared to the tumultuous south, it has not been
recognized by any foreign government. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN
humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate
famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered
significant casualties, order still had not been restored.
@Somalia:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian
Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 49 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 637,657 sq km
land: 627,337 sq km
water: 10,320 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,366 km
border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km
Coastline: 3,025 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: principally desert; December to February - northeast monsoon,
moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October -
southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular
rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m
Natural resources: uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron
ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 69%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 3% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern
plains in summer; floods during rainy season
Environment - current issues: famine; use of contaminated water
contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil
erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern
approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
@Somalia:People
Population: 7,253,137
note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1975
by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is
complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements in
response to famine and clan warfare (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,610,945; female 1,608,209)
15-64 years: 53% (male 1,938,263; female 1,892,752)
65 years and over: 3% (male 90,717; female 112,251) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.9% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 47.7 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 18.69 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 125.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.23 years
male: 44.66 years
female: 47.85 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.18 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Somali(s)
adjective: Somali
Ethnic groups: Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000
Religions: Sunni Muslim
Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 24%
male: 36%
female: 14% (1990 est.)
@Somalia:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Somalia
former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
Data code: SO
Government type: none
Capital: Mogadishu
Administrative divisions: 18 regions (plural - NA, singular -
gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo,
Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag,
Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
Independence: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which
became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian
Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN
trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: Somalia has no functioning government; the United
Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Major General Mohamed SIAD
Barre on 27 January 1991; the present political situation is one of
anarchy, marked by interclan fighting and random banditry
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Golaha Shacbiga
note: not functioning