Part 50

Chapter 50 3,346 words Public domain Markdown

Long-form name: Republic of Liberia Type: republic Capital: Monrovia Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe Independence: 26 July 1847 Constitution: 6 January 1986 Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847) Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: interim President Dr. Amos SAWYER (since 15 November 1990); Vice President, vacant (since August 1991); note - this is an interim government appointed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that will be replaced after elections are held under a West African - brokered peace plan; rival rebel factions led by Prince Y. JOHNSON and Charles TAYLOR are challenging the SAWYER government's legitimacy while observing a tenuous cease-fire; the former president, Gen. Dr. Samuel Kanyon DOE, was killed on 9 September 1990 by Prince Y. JOHNSON Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL), Augustus CAINE, chairman; Liberian Action Party (LAP), Emmanuel KOROMAH, chairman; Unity Party (UP), Carlos SMITH, chairman; United People's Party (UPP), Gabriel Baccus MATTHEWS, chairman Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: President: last held on 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA); results - Gen. Dr. Samuel Kanyon DOE (NDPL) 50.9%, Jackson DOE (LAP) 26.4%, other 22.7%; note - President Doe was killed by rebel forces on 9 September 1990 Senate: last held on 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (26 total) NDPL 21, LAP 3, UP 1, UPP 1 House of Representatives: last held on 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (64 total) NDPL 51, LAP 8, UP 3, UPP 2 Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

:Liberia Government

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Eugenia A. WORDSWORTH-STEVENSON; Chancery at 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011; telephone (202) 723-0437 through 0440; there is a Liberian Consulate General in New York US: Ambassador Peter J. de VOS; Embassy at 111 United Nations Drive, Monrovia (mailing address is P. O. Box 98, Monrovia, or APO AE 09813; telephone [231] 222991 through 222994; FAX (231) 223-710 Flag: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag

:Liberia Economy

Overview: Civil war during 1990 destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Expatriate businessmen fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Many will not return. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. Political instability threatens prospects for economic reconstruction and repatriation of some 750,000 Liberian refugees who fled to neighboring countries. In 1991, the political impasse between the interim government and the rebel leader Charles Taylor prevented restoration of normal economic life. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $988 million, per capita $400; real growth rate 1.5% (1988) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1989) Unemployment rate: 43% urban (1988) Budget: revenues $242.1 million; expenditures $435.4 million, including capital expenditures of $29.5 million (1989) Exports: $505 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.) commodities: iron ore 61%, rubber 20%, timber 11%, coffee partners: US, EC, Netherlands Imports: $394 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.) commodities: rice, mineral fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, other foodstuffs partners: US, EC, Japan, China, Netherlands, ECOWAS External debt: $1.6 billion (December 1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 1.5% in manufacturing (1987); accounts for 22% of GDP Electricity: 410,000 kW capacity; 750 million kWh produced, 275 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: rubber processing, food processing, construction materials, furniture, palm oil processing, mining (iron ore, diamonds) Agriculture: accounts for about 40% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); principal products - rubber, timber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava, palm oil, sugarcane, bananas, sheep, and goats; not self-sufficient in food, imports 25% of rice consumption Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $665 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $870 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $25 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $77 million Currency: Liberian dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1 - 1.00 (fixed rate since 1940); unofficial parallel exchange rate of L$7 = US$1, January 1992

:Liberia Economy

Fiscal year: calendar year

:Liberia Communications

Railroads: 480 km total; 328 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 152 km 1.067-meter narrow gauge; all lines single track; rail systems owned and operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction with Liberian Government Highways: 10,087 km total; 603 km bituminous treated, 2,848 km all weather, 4,313 km dry weather; there are also 2,323 km of private, laterite-surfaced roads open to public use, owned by rubber and timber companies Ports: Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville, Harper (or Cape Palmas) Merchant marine: 1,564 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 54,049,124 DWT/ 95,338,925 DWT; includes 19 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 145 cargo, 51 refrigerated cargo, 22 roll-on/roll-off, 62 vehicle carrier, 89 container, 4 barge carrier, 460 petroleum tanker, 105 chemical, 57 combination ore/oil, 50 liquefied gas, 6 specialized tanker, 465 bulk, 1 multifunction large-load carrier, 27 combination bulk; note - a flag of convenience registry; all ships are foreign owned; the top 4 owning flags are US 18%, Japan 16%, Hong Kong 10%, and Norway 9% Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft Airports: 66 total, 49 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: telephone and telegraph service via radio relay network; main center is Monrovia; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 4 FM, 5 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; most telecommunications services inoperable due to insurgency movement

:Liberia Defense Forces

Branches: Monrovia-based Armed Forces of Liberia (Army only) along with a police force; rest of country controlled by the army of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) insurgent group Manpower availability: males 15-49, 585,224; 312,420 fit for military service; no conscription Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

:Libya Geography

Total area: 1,759,540 km2 Land area: 1,759,540 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska Land boundaries: 4,383 km; Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km Coastline: 1,770 km Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 12 nm Gulf of Sidra closing line: 32 degrees 30 minutes N Disputes: claims and occupies the 100,000 km2 Aozou Strip in northern Chad; maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia; Libya claims about 19,400 km2 in northern Niger; Libya claims about 19,400 km2 in southeastern Algeria Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, gypsum Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 8%; forest and woodland 0%; other 91%; includes irrigated NEGL% Environment: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; desertification; sparse natural surface-water resources Note: the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities

:Libya People

Population: 4,484,795 (July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992) Birth rate: 36 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 60 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Libyan(s); adjective - Libyan Ethnic divisions: Berber and Arab 97%; some Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians Religions: Sunni Muslim 97% Languages: Arabic; Italian and English widely understood in major cities Literacy: 64% (male 75%, female 50%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: 1,000,000, includes about 280,000 resident foreigners; industry 31%, services 27%, government 24%, agriculture 18% Organized labor: National Trade Unions' Federation, 275,000 members; General Union for Oil and Petrochemicals; Pan-Africa Federation of Petroleum Energy and Allied Workers

:Libya Government

Long-form name: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Digraph: Tripoli Administration divisions *** 25 municipalities (baladiyah, singular - baladiyat; Ajdabiya, Al `Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan Type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses); in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship Capital: Tripoli Administration divisions Administrative divisions: 25 municipalities (baladiyah, singular - baladiyat; Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan Independence: 24 December 1951 (from Italy) Constitution: 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977 Legal system: based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Revolution Day, 1 September (1969) Executive branch: revolutionary leader, chairman of the General People's Committee (premier), General People's Committee (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral General People's Congress Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: Revolutionary Leader Col. Mu`ammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969) Head of Government: Chairman of the General People's Committee (Premier) Abu Zayd `umar DURDA (since 7 October 1990) Political parties and leaders: none Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 Elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples' committees Other political or pressure groups: various Arab nationalist movements and the Arab Socialist Resurrection (Ba'th) party with almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

:Libya Government

Diplomatic representation: none Flag: plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)

:Libya Economy

Overview: The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about one-third of GDP. Since 1980, however, the sharp drop in oil prices and the resulting decline in export revenues have adversely affected economic development. In 1988 per capita GDP was the highest in Africa at $5,410, but GDP growth rates have slowed and fluctuate sharply in response to changes in the world oil market. Import restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs, although the reopening of the Libyan-Tunisian border in April 1988 and the Libyan-Egyptian border in December 1989 have somewhat eased shortages. Austerity budgets and a lack of trained technicians have undermined the government's ability to implement a number of planned infrastructure development projects. Windfall revenues from the hike in world oil prices in late 1990 improved the foreign payments position and resulted in a current account surplus for the first time in five years. The nonoil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 22% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Although agriculture accounts for about 5% of GDP, it employs about 20% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food requirements. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $28.9 billion, per capita $6,800; real growth rate 9% (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: 2% (1988 est.) Budget: revenues $8.1 billion; expenditures $9.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.1 billion (1989 est.) Exports: $11 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: petroleum, peanuts, hides partners: Italy, USSR, Germany, Spain, France, Belgium/Luxembourg, Turkey Imports: $7.6 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods partners: Italy, USSR, Germany, UK, Japan External debt: $3.5 billion, excluding military debt (1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate - 4%; accounts for 22% of GDP (not including oil) (1989) Electricity: 4,700,000 kW capacity; 13,700 million kWh produced, 3,100 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement Agriculture: 5% of GNP; cash crops - wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus fruits, peanuts; 75% of food is imported Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $242 million; no longer a recipient

:Libya Economy

Currency: Libyan dinar (plural - dinars); 1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams Exchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1 - 0.2743 (March 1992), 0.2669 (1991), 0.2699 (1990), 0.2922 (1989), 0.2853 (1988), 0.2706 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year

:Libya Communications

Pipelines: crude oil 4,383 km; natural gas 1,947 km; petroleum products 443 km (includes liquid petroleum gas 256 km) Ports: Tobruk, Tripoli, Banghazi, Misratah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf Merchant marine: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 684,969 GRT/1,209,084 DWT; includes 3 short-sea passenger, 11 cargo, 4 roll-on/roll-off, 10 petroleum tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1 liquefied gas Civil air: 59 major transport aircraft Airports: 133 total, 120 usable; 53 with permanent-surface runways; 9 with runways over 3,659 m; 28 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 46 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: modern telecommunications system using radio relay, coaxial cable, tropospheric scatter, and domestic satellite stations; 370,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 17 AM, 3 FM, 12 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 14 domestic; submarine cables to France and Italy; radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; planned ARABSAT and Intersputnik satellite stations

:Libya Defense Forces

Branches: Armed Peoples of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (including Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Command), National Police Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,056,686; 624,027 fit for military service; 50,916 reach military age (17) annually; conscription now being implemented Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, 11.1% of GDP (1987)

:Liechtenstein Geography

Total area: 160 km2 Land area: 160 km2 Comparative area: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 78 km; Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km Coastline: none - landlocked Maritime claims: none - landlocked Disputes: none 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 Natural resources: hydroelectric potential Land use: arable land 25%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 38%; forest and woodland 19%; other 18% Environment: variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation Note: landlocked

:Liechtenstein People

Population: 28,642 (July 1992), growth rate 0.6% (1992) Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 81 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Liechtensteiner(s); adjective - Liechtenstein Ethnic divisions: Alemannic 95%, Italian and other 5% Religions: Roman Catholic 87.3%, Protestant 8.3%, unknown 1.6%, other 2.8% (1988) Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect Literacy: 100% (male 100%, female 100%) age 10 and over can read and write (1981) Labor force: 19,905, of which 11,933 are foreigners; 6,885 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day; industry, trade, and building 53.2%, services 45%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 1.8% (1990) Organized labor: NA

:Liechtenstein Government

Long-form name: Principality of Liechtenstein 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 Constitution: 5 October 1921 Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August Executive branch: reigning prince, hereditary prince, head of government, deputy head of government Legislative branch: unicameral Diet (Landtag) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal cases and Superior Court (Obergericht) for civil cases Leaders: 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 (born 11 June 1968) Head of Government: Hans BRUNHART (since 26 April 1978); Deputy Head of Government Dr. Herbert WILLE (since 2 February 1986) Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Otto HASLER; Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), Emanuel VOGT; Free Electoral List (FW) Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: Diet: last held on 5 March 1989 (next to be held by March 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (25 total) VU 13, FBP 12 Member of: CE, CSCE, EBRD, IAEA, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO Diplomatic representation: in routine diplomatic matters, Liechtenstein is represented in the US by the Swiss Embassy US: the US has no diplomatic or consular mission in Liechtenstein, but the US Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has consular accreditation at Vaduz Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band

:Liechtenstein Economy

Overview: The prosperous economy is based primarily on small-scale light industry and tourism. Industry accounts for 53% of total employment, the service sector 45% (mostly based on tourism), and agriculture and forestry 2%. The sale of postage stamps to collectors is estimated at $10 million annually. Low business taxes (the maximum tax rate is 20%) and easy incorporation rules have induced about 25,000 holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein. Such companies, incorporated solely for tax purposes, provide 30% of state revenues. The economy is tied closely to that of Switzerland in a customs union, and incomes and living standards parallel those of the more prosperous Swiss groups. GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $630 million, per capita $22,300; real growth rate NA% (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (1990) Unemployment rate: 1.5% (1990) Budget: revenues $259 million; expenditures $292 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1990) Exports: $1.6 billion commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery partners: EFTA countries 20.9% (Switzerland 15.4%), EC countries 42.7%, other 36.4% (1990) Imports: $NA commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles partners: NA External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 23,000 kW capacity; 150 million kWh produced, 5,340 kWh per capita (1989) Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism Agriculture: livestock, vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes Economic aid: none Currency: Swiss franc, franken, or franco (plural - francs, franken, or franchi); 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.5079 (March 1992), 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990), 1.6359 (1989), 1.4633 (1988), 1.4912 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year

:Liechtenstein Communications