domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay,
coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form of telephone
traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile telephone
traffic throughout the country
international: 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earth stations
- 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean
regions) (2000)
Radio broadcast stations: AM about 5,000, FM about 5,000, shortwave 18
(1998)
Radios: 575 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: more than 1,500 (including nearly 1,000
stations affiliated with the five major networks - NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX,
and PBS; in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems) (1997)
Televisions: 219 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7,600 (1999 est.)
@United States:Transportation
Railways:
total: 240,000 km mainline routes (nongovernment owned)
standard gauge: 240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)
Highways:
total: 6,348,227 km
paved: 3,732,757 km (including 88,727 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,615,470 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of the
Great Lakes
Pipelines: petroleum products 276,000 km; natural gas 331,000 km
(1991)
Ports and harbors: Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago,
Duluth, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles,
New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral, Portland
(Oregon), Prudhoe Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Toledo
Merchant marine:
total: 386 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,634,608
GRT/15,574,117 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 10, bulk 67, cargo 28, chemical tanker
14, combination bulk 2, container 84, liquified gas 10,
multi-functional large load carrier 3, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 1,
petroleum tanker 104, roll-on/roll-off 43, short-sea passenger 3,
specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 9 (1999 est.)
Airports: 14,572 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5,174
over 3,047 m: 180
2,438 to 3,047 m: 221
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,310
914 to 1,523 m: 2,448
under 914 m: 1,015 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9,398
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 155
914 to 1,523 m: 1,661
under 914 m: 7,574 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 118 (1999 est.)
@United States:Military
Military branches: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy
(includes Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force
note: the Coast Guard is normally subordinate to the Department of
Transportation, but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 70,502,691 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,056,762 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $276.7 billion (FY1999 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.2% (FY1999 est.)
@United States:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: maritime boundary disputes with Canada
(Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal
Island); US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only
mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the
lease; Haiti claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim
in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not
recognize the claims of any other nation; Marshall Islands claims Wake
Island
Illicit drugs: consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through
Mexico and the Caribbean; consumer of heroin, marijuana, and
increasingly methamphetamines from Mexico; consumer of high-quality
Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana,
depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamines;
drug-money-laundering center
______________________________________________________________________
URUGUAY
@Uruguay:Introduction
Background: A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement, the Tupamaros,
launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to agree to
military control of his administration in 1973. By the end of the year
the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its
hold throughout the government. Civilian rule was not restored until
1985. Uruguay has long had one of South America's highest standards of
living; its political and labor conditions are among the freest on the
continent.
@Uruguay:Geography
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Argentina and Brazil
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 S, 56 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water: 2,600 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Land boundaries:
total: 1,564 km
border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
Coastline: 660 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 200 nm; overflight and navigation guaranteed beyond
12 nm
Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
Natural resources: arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 77%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 10% (1997 est.)
Irrigated land: 7,700 sq km (1997 est.)
Natural hazards: seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and
occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas),
droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as
weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid
changes in weather fronts
Environment - current issues: water pollution from meat
packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
@Uruguay:People
Population: 3,334,074 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 417,288; female 397,125)
15-64 years: 63% (male 1,030,201; female 1,057,968)
65 years and over: 13% (male 178,393; female 253,099) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.77% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 17.42 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 9.06 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.24 years
male: 71.9 years
female: 78.75 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.37 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan
Ethnic groups: white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian,
practically nonexistent
Religions: Roman Catholic 66% (less than one-half of the adult
population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%,
nonprofessing or other 30%
Languages: Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on
the Brazilian frontier)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.3%
male: 96.9%
female: 97.7% (1995 est.)
@Uruguay:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay
Data code: UY
Government type: republic
Capital: Montevideo
Administrative divisions: 19 departments (departamentos, singular -
departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno,
Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio
Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y
Tres
Independence: 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
Constitution: 27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27
June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980;
two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November 1989 and
7 January 1997
Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jorge BATLLE (since 1 March 2000) and Vice
President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jorge BATLLE (since 1 March 2000) and
Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with
parliamentary approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by
popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 31 October 1999
with run-off election on 28 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Jorge BATLLE elected president; percent of vote -
52% in a runoff against Tabare VAZQUEZ
Legislative branch: bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General
consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and
Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 1999 (next to be
held NA 2004); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October 1999
(next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Encuentro Progresista 12, Colorado Party 10, Blanco
7, New Sector/Space Coalition 1; Chamber of Representatives - percent
of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Encuentro Progresista 40,
Colorado Party 33, Blanco 22, New Sector/Space Coalition 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president
and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Batlleist faction of the Colorado Party
; Broad Front Coalition ;
Colorado Party ; Herrerista faction of the National
Party ; Herrero Wilsonista faction of the National
Party ; National Party or Blanco ;
New Sector/Space Coalition or Nuevo Espacio ;
Progressive Encounter in the Broad Front or Encuentro Progresista
International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, 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, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, 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: (202) 331-1313 through 1316
FAX: (202) 331-8142
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher C. ASHBY
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: (2) 23 60 61, 48 77 77
FAX: (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
@Uruguay:Economy
Economy - overview: Uruguay's economy is characterized by an
export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce,
relatively even income distribution, and high levels of social
spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually in 1996-98, in 1999
the economy suffered from lower demand in Argentina and Brazil, which
together account for about half of Uruguay's exports. Despite the
severity of the trade shocks and ensuing recession, Uruguay's
financial indicators remained more stable than those of its neighbors,
a reflection of its solid reputation among investors and its
investment-grade sovereign bond rating - one of only two in Latin
America. Challenges for the government of incoming President Jorge
BATLLE include expanding Uruguay's trade ties beyond its Mercosur
trade partners and bolstering Uruguay's competitiveness by increasing
labor market flexibility and reducing the costs of public services.
Growth should recover in 2000, to perhaps 3%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $28 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -2.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 28%
services: 62% (1999)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1.38 million (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services
NA%
Unemployment rate: 12% (1999)
Budget:
revenues: $4.4 billion
expenditures: $4.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $500
million (1998 est.)
Industries: food processing, electrical machinery, transportation
equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: -4% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 9.474 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 3.91%
hydro: 95.62%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.47% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 6.526 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 2.363 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 78 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, rice, barley, corn, sorghum; livestock;
fish
Exports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: meat, rice, leather products, vehicles, dairy
products, wool, electricity
Exports - partners: Mercosur partners 45%, EU 20%, US 7% (1999 est.)
Imports: $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: road vehicles, electrical machinery, metal
manufactures, heavy industrial machinery, crude petroleum
Imports - partners: MERCOSUR partners 43%, EU 20%, US 11% (1999 est.)
Debt - external: $8 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos
Exchange rates: Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1 - 11.3393 (1999),
10.4719 (1998), 9.4418 (1997), 7.9718 (1996), 6.3490 (1995), 5.0439
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Uruguay:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 622,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 40,000 (1995)
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 94, FM 115, shortwave 14 (seven are
inactive) (1998)
Radios: 1.97 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 26 (plus ten low-power repeaters for
the Montevideo station) (1997)
Televisions: 782,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999)
@Uruguay:Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,073 km
standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge (1997)
Highways:
total: 8,983 km
paved: 8,085 km
unpaved: 898 km (1999 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, Colonia, Piriapolis
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,807 GRT/2,405 DWT
ships by type: petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 65 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 50
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 33 (1999 est.)
@Uruguay:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard,
Marines), Air Force, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 810,490 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 656,492 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $172 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY98)
@Uruguay: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:Introduction
Background: Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century.
Stiff resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually
suppressed and a socialist republic set up in 1925. During the Soviet
era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to
overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which
have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half
dry. Independent since 1991, the country seeks to gradually lessen its
dependence on agriculture while developing its mineral and petroleum
reserves. Current concerns include terrorism by Islamic militant
groups from Tajikistan and Afghanistan, a non-convertible currency,
and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.
@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, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan
1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Coastline: 0 km
note: Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a
420 km shoreline
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, Sirdaryo
(Syr Darya), and Zarafshon; 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 salination; soil
contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world
@Uzbekistan:People
Population: 24,755,519 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37% (male 4,673,501; female 4,520,471)
15-64 years: 58% (male 7,140,215; female 7,283,143)
65 years and over: 5% (male 452,480; female 685,709) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.6% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 26.18 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 8.02 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 72.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.71 years
male: 60.09 years
female: 67.52 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.09 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Uzbekistani(s)
adjective: Uzbekistani
Ethnic groups: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 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: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (yearend 1996)
@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; effectively authoritarian presidential
rule, with little power outside the executive branch; executive power
concentrated in the presidency
Capital: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions: 12 wiloyatlar (singular - wiloyat), 1
autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon
Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati,
Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati,
Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), 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 Otkir SULTONOV (since 21 December
1995) and 10 deputy prime ministers
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 9 January 2000 (next to be held NA January 2005);
note - extension of President KARIMOV's original term for an
additional five years overwhelmingly approved - 99.6% of total vote in
favor - by national referendum held 26 March 1995); prime minister and
deputy ministers appointed by the president
election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote -
Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz DZHALALOV 4.2%