Part 81
Long-form name: Republic of Suriname Type: republic Capital: Paramaribo Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands; formerly Netherlands Guiana or Dutch Guiana) Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987 Legal system: NA National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975) Executive branch: president, vice president and prime minister, Cabinet of Ministers, Council of State; note - Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant power Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Ronald VENETIAAN (since 16 September 1991); Vice President and Prime Minister Jules AJODHIA (since 16 September 1991) Political parties and leaders: traditional ethnic-based parties: The New Front (NF), a coalition formed of four parties following the 24 December 1990 military coup - Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of Suriname (NPS), Henck ARRON; Indonesian Peasants Party (KTPI), Willie SOEMITA; and Suriname Labor Party (SPA) Fred DERBY; promilitary: National Democratic Party (NDP), Orlando VAN AMSON; Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), Winston JESSURUN, a coalition of five parties formed in January 1991 - Alternative Forum (AF), Gerard BRUNINGS, Winston JESSURUN; Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Panalal PARMESSAR; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Cipriano ALLENDY; Pendawalima, Marsha JAMIN; and Independent Progressive Group, Karam RAMSUNDERSINGH; leftists: Revolutionary People's Party (RVP), Michael NAARENDORP; Progressive Workers and Farmers (PALU), Iwan KROLIS Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: President: last held 6 September 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - elected by the National Assembly - Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 80% (645 votes), Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115 votes), Hans PRADE (DA '91) 6% (49 votes) National Assembly: last held 25 May 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (51 total) NF 30, NDP 12, DA '91 9
:Suriname Government
Member of: ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, GATT, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUT; Chancery at Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 244-7488 or 7490 through 7492; there is a Surinamese Consulate General in Miami US: Ambassador John (Jack) P. LEONARD; Embassy at Dr. Sophie Redmonstraat 129, Paramaribo (mailing address is P. O. Box 1821, Paramaribo); telephone [597] 472900, 477881, or 476459; FAX [597] 410025 Flag: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band
:Suriname Economy
Overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for about 70% of export earnings and 40% of tax revenues. The economy has been in trouble since the Dutch ended development aid in 1982. A drop in world bauxite prices which started in the late 1970s and continued until late 1986 was followed by the outbreak of a guerrilla insurgency in the interior that crippled the important bauxite sector. Although the insurgency has since ebbed and the bauxite sector recovered, a military coup in December 1990 reflected continued political instability and deterred investment and economic reform. High inflation, high unemployment, widespread black market activity, and hard currency shortfalls continue to mark the economy. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $1.4 billion, per capita $3,400; real growth rate 0% (1989 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50% (1989 est.) Unemployment rate: 33% (1990) Budget: revenues $466 million; expenditures $716 million, including capital expenditures of $123 million (1989 est.) Exports: $549 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.) commodities: alumina, bauxite, aluminum, rice, wood and wood products, shrimp and fish, bananas partners: Norway 33%, Netherlands 20%, US 15%, FRG 9%, Brazil 5%, UK 5%, Japan 3%, other 10% Imports: $331 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.) commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods partners: US 37%, Netherlands 15%, Netherlands Antilles 11%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Brazil 5%, UK 3%, other 20% External debt: $138 million (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate NA; accounts for 22% of GDP Electricity: 458,000 kW capacity; 2,018 million kWh produced, 5,015 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production, lumbering, food processing, fishing Agriculture: accounts for 11% of GDP; paddy rice planted on 85% of arable land and represents 60% of total farm output; other products - bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts, beef, chicken; shrimp and forestry products of increasing importance; self-sufficient in most foods Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $2.5 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion Currency: Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (plural - guilders, gulden, or florins); 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - 1.7850 (fixed rate)
:Suriname Economy
Fiscal year: calendar year
:Suriname Communications
Railroads: 166 km total; 86 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned, and 80 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; all single track Highways: 8,300 km total; 500 km paved; 5,400 km bauxite gravel, crushed stone, or improved earth; 2,400 km sand or clay Inland waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways Ports: Paramaribo, Moengo Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,472 GRT/8,914 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 container Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft Airports: 46 total, 40 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: international facilities good; domestic microwave system; 27,500 telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 14 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
:Suriname Defense Forces
Branches: National Army (including Navy which is company-size, small Air Force element), Civil Police, People's Militia Manpower availability: males 15-49, 109,551; 65,250 fit for military service Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
:Svalbard Geography
Total area: 62,049 km2 Land area: 62,049 km2; includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island) Comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia Land boundaries: none Coastline: 3,587 km Maritime claims: Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway, not recognized by Russia Territorial sea: 4 nm Disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%; there are no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry Environment: great calving glaciers descend to the sea Note: located 445 km north of Norway where the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea meet
:Svalbard People
Population: 3,181 (July 1992), growth rate -3.9% (1992); about one-third of the population resides in the Norwegian areas (Longyearbyen and Svea on Vestspitsbergen) and two-thirds in the Russian areas (Barentsburg and Pyramiden on Vestspitsbergen); about 9 persons live at the Polish research station Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1992) Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1992) Ethnic divisions: Russian 64%, Norwegian 35%, other 1% (1981) Languages: Russian, Norwegian Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%) Labor force: NA Organized labor: none
:Svalbard Government
Long-form name: none Type: territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway Capital: Longyearbyen Leaders: Chief of State: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991) Head of Government: Governor Leif ELDRING (since NA) Member of: none Flag: the flag of Norway is used
:Svalbard Economy
Overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus. Budget: revenues $13.3 million, expenditures $13.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990) Electricity: 21,000 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 11,420 kWh per capita (1989) Currency: Norwegian krone (plural - kroner); 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 ore Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.5189 (March 1992), 6.4829 (1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988), 6.7375 (1987)
:Svalbard Communications
Ports: limited facilities - Ny-Alesund, Advent Bay Airports: 4 total, 4 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: 5 meteorological/radio stations; local telephone service; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 (2 repeaters) FM, 1 TV; satellite communication with Norwegian mainland
:Svalbard Defense Forces
Note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
:Swaziland Geography
Total area: 17,360 km2 Land area: 17,200 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey Land boundaries: 535 km total; Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km Coastline: none - landlocked Maritime claims: none - landlocked Disputes: none Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 67%; forest and woodland 6%; other 19%; includes irrigated 2% Environment: overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion Note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
:Swaziland People
Population: 913,008 (July 1992), growth rate 2.6% (1992) Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: -6 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 98 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 60 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 6.2 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Swazi(s); adjective - Swazi Ethnic divisions: African 97%, European 3% Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40% Languages: English and siSwati (official); government business conducted in English Literacy: 55% (male 57%, female 54%) age 15 and over can read and write (1976) Labor force: 195,000; over 60,000 engaged in subsistence agriculture; about 92,000 wage earners (many only intermittently), with agriculture and forestry 36%, community and social services 20%, manufacturing 14%, construction 9%, other 21%; 16,800 employed in South Africa mines (1990) Organized labor: about 10% of wage earners
:Swaziland Government
Long-form name: Kingdom of Swaziland Type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth Capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative) Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK) Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended on 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but has not been formally presented to the people Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts, Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968) Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament is advisory and consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal Leaders: Chief of State: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) Head of Government: Prime Minister Obed DLAMINI (since 12 July 1989) Political parties and leaders: none; banned by the Constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978 Suffrage: none Elections: indirect parliamentary election through Swaziland's Tinkhundala System scheduled for November 1992 Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Absalom Vusani MAMBA; Chancery at 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 362-6683 US: Ambassador Stephen H. ROGERS; Embassy at Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane (mailing address is P. O. Box 199, Mbabane); telephone [268] 46441 through 5; FAX [268] 45959 Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
:Swaziland Economy
Overview: The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which occupies most of the labor force and contributes nearly 25% to GDP. Manufacturing, which includes a number of agroprocessing factories, accounts for another quarter of GDP. Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted in 1978, and health concerns cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of sugar and forestry products are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa, from which it receives 75% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its exports. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $563 million, per capita $725; real growth rate 5.0% (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13% (1990) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $335.4 million; expenditures $360.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93 est.) Exports: $557 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, citrus, canned fruit partners: South Africa 50% (est.), EC, Canada Imports: $632 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals partners: South Africa 75% (est.), Japan, Belgium, UK External debt: $290 million (1990) Industrial production: growth rate NA; accounts for 26% of GDP (1989) Electricity: 60,000 kW capacity; 155 million kWh produced, 180 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP and over 60% of labor force; mostly subsistence agriculture; cash crops - sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus fruit, pineapples; other crops and livestock - corn, sorghum, peanuts, cattle, goats, sheep; not self-sufficient in grain Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $142 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $518 million Currency: lilangeni (plural - emalangeni); 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 2.7814 (January 1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987); note - the Swazi emalangeni is at par with the South African rand Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
:Swaziland Communications
Railroads: 297 km (plus 71 km disused), 1.067-meter gauge, single track Highways: 2,853 km total; 510 km paved, 1,230 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized soil, and 1,113 km improved earth Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft Airports: 23 total, 21 usable; 1 with permanent-surfaced runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: system consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines and low-capacity microwave links; 17,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 7 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
:Swaziland Defense Forces
Branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force, Royal Swaziland Police Force Manpower availability: males 15-49, 197,654; 114,204 fit for military service Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $11 million, about 2% of GNP (1989)
:Sweden Geography
Total area: 449,964 km2 Land area: 410,928 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than California Land boundaries: 2,205 km total; Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km Coastline: 3,218 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: none Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower potential Land use: arable land 7%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 2%; forest and woodland 64%; other 27%; includes irrigated NEGL% Environment: water pollution; acid rain Note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
:Sweden People
Population: 8,602,157 (July 1992), growth rate 0.4% (1992) Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 81 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Swede(s); adjective - Swedish Ethnic divisions: homogeneous white population; small Lappish minority; foreign born or first-generation immigrants (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks) about 12% Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987) Languages: Swedish, small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities; immigrants speak native languages Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.) Labor force: 4,552,000 community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%, banking, insurance 9.0%, communications 7.2%, construction 7.0%, agriculture, fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991) Organized labor: 80% of labor force (1990 est.)
:Sweden Government