Chapter 52

Railroads: none Highways: 3,900 km total; 3,000 km bituminous; 900 km earth, sand, light gravel Pipelines: crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 165 km Ports: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Mina' al 'Ahmadi Merchant marine: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 1,996,052 GRT/3,373,088 DWT; includes 7 cargo, 4 livestock carrier, 24 oil tanker, 4 liquefied gas, 3 container Airports: total: 7 usable: 4 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: civil network suffered extensive damage as a result of Desert Storm and reconstruction is still under way with some restored international and domestic capabilities; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 0 FM, 3 TV; satellite earth stations - destroyed during Persian Gulf War and not rebuilt yet; temporary mobile satellite ground stations provide international telecommunications; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; service to Iraq is nonoperational

*Kuwait, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard Manpower availability: males age 15-49 498,254; fit for military service 298,865; reach military age (18) annually 14,459 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.5 billion, 7.3% of GDP (FY92/93)

*Kyrgyzstan, Geography

Location: South Asia, between China and Kazakhstan Map references: Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 198,500 km2 land area: 191,300 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than South Dakota Land boundaries: total 3,878 km, China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southern boundary in Isfara Valley area Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in south (Fergana Valley) Terrain: peaks of Tien Shan rise to 7,000 meters, and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation Natural resources: small amounts of coal, natural gas, oil, nepheline, rare earth metals, mercury, bismuth, gold, lead, zinc, hydroelectric power Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: 10,320 km2 (1990) Environment: NA Note: landlocked

*Kyrgyzstan, People

Population: 4,625,954 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.56% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 26.69 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 7.45 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 47.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.71 years male: 63.47 years female: 72.15 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.39 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Kirghiz(s) adjective: Kirghiz Ethnic divisions: Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 21.5%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, other 8.3% Religions: Muslim 70%, Russian Orthodox NA% Languages: Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) - official language, Russian Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 1.748 million by occupation: agriculture and forestry 33%, industry and construction 28%, other 39% (1990)

*Kyrgyzstan, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Kyrgyzstan conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan local long form: Kyrgyzstan Respublikasy local short form: none former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic Digraph: KG Type: republic Capital: Bishkek (Frunze) Administrative divisions: 6 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast'); Chu, Jalal-Abad, Ysyk-Kul', Naryn, Osh, Talas Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) Constitution: adopted 5 May 1993 Legal system: based on civil law system National holiday: National Day, 2 December Political parties and leaders: Kyrgyz Democratic Movement, Kazat AKMAKOV, chairman; Civic Accord, Coalition representing nonnative minority groups; National Revived Asaba (Banner) Party, Asan ORMUSHEV, chairman; Communist Party was banned but has registered as political party 18 September 1992 Other political or pressure groups: National Unity Democratic Movement; Peasant Party; Council of Free Trade Unions; Union of Entrepreneurs Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held 12 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Askar AKAYEV won in uncontested election with 95% of vote with 90% of electorate voting; note - president elected by Supreme Soviet 28 October 1990, then by popular vote 12 October 1991 Zhogorku Keneshom: last held 25 February 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next to be held no later than NA November 1994 for the Zhgorku Keneshom); results - Commnunists 90%; seats - (350 total) Communists 310 Executive branch: president, Cabinet of Ministers, prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral Zhogorku Keneshom Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990); Vice President Feliks KULOV (since 12 October 1992)

*Kyrgyzstan, Government

Head of Government: Prime Minister Tursenbek CHYNGYSHEV (since 2 March 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Abdygani ERKEBAYEV; Supreme Soviet Chairman Medetkan SHERIMKULOV (since NA) Member of: CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, IDA, ILO, IMF, NACC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roza OTUNBAYEVA chancery: 1511 K Street, NW, Washington, DC telephone: (202) 347-5029 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward HURWITZ embassy: (temporary) Erkindik Prospekt #66, Bishkek mailing address: APO AE 09721 telephone: 7-3312 22-26-93, 22-35-51, 22-29-20 FAX: 7-3312 22-35-51 Flag: red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Krygyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt

*Kyrgyzstan, Economy

Overview: Kyrgyzstan's small economy (less than 1% of the total for the former Soviet Union) is oriented toward agriculture, producing mainly livestock such as goats and sheep, as well as cotton, grain, and tobacco. Industry, concentrated around Bishkek, produces small quantities of electric motors, livestock feeding equipment, washing machines, furniture, cement, paper, and bricks. Mineral extraction is small, the most important minerals being coal, rare earth metals and gold. Kyrgyzstan is a net importer of many types of food and fuel but is a net exporter of electricity. In 1992, the Kirghiz leadership made progress on reform, primarily by privatizing business, granting life-long tenure to farmers, and freeing most prices. Nonetheless, in 1992 overall industrial and livestock output declined because of acute fuel shortages and a widespread lack of spare parts. National product: GDP $NA National product real growth rate: -25% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $NA Inflation rate (consumer prices): 29% per month (first quarter 1993) Unemployment rate: 0.1% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $NA commodities: wool, chemicals, cotton, ferrous and nonferrous metals, shoes, machinery, tobacco partners: Russia 70%, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and others Imports: $NA commodities: lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel, machinery, textiles, footwear partners: other CIS republics External debt: $650 million (1991) Industrial production: growth rate NA% (1992) Electricity: 4,100,000 kW capacity; 11,800 million kWh produced, 2,551 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: small machinery, textiles, food-processing industries, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, and rare earth metals Agriculture: wool, tobacco, cotton, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle), vegetables, meat, grapes, fruits and berries, eggs, milk, potatoes Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europel Economic aid: $300 million official and commitments by foreign donors (1992)

*Kyrgyzstan, Economy

Currency: introduced national currency, the som (10 May 1993) Exchange rates: rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations Fiscal year: calendar year

*Kyrgyzstan, Communications

Railroads: 370 km; does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways: 30,300 km total; 22,600 km paved or graveled, 7,700 km earth(1990) Pipelines: natural gas 200 km Ports: none; landlocked Airports: total: 52 useable: 27 with permanent-surface runways: 12 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 13 Telecommunications: poorly developed; 56 telephones per 1000 persons (December 1990); connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth stations - Orbita and INTELSAT (TV receive only); new intelsat earth station provide TV receive-only capability for Turkish broadcasts

*Kyrgyzstan, Defense Forces

Branches: National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Civil Defense Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,093,694; fit for military service 890,961 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

*Laos, Geography

Location: Southeast Asia, between Vietnam and Thailand Map references: Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 236,800 km2 land area: 230,800 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Utah Land boundaries: total 5,083 km, Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: boundary dispute with Thailand Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 58% other: 35% Irrigated land: 1,200 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: deforestation; soil erosion; subject to floods Note: landlocked

*Laos, People

Population: 4,569,327 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.86% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 43.82 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 15.22 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 104.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.18 years male: 49.67 years female: 52.77 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.16 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian Ethnic divisions: Lao 50%, Phoutheung (Kha) 15%, tribal Thai 20%, Meo, Hmong, Yao, and other 15% Religions: Buddhist 85%, animist and other 15% Languages: Lao (official), French, English Literacy: age 15-45 can read and write (1985) total population: 84% male: 92% female: 76% Labor force: 1-1.5 million by occupation: agriculture 85-90% (est.)

*Laos, Government

Names: conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic conventional short form: Laos local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao local short form: none Digraph: LA Type: Communist state Capital: Vientiane Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng, nakhon, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamsai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louang Namtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Saravan, Savannakhet, Sekong, Vientiane, Vientiane*, Xaignabouri,, Xiangkhoang Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France) Constitution: promulgated August 1991 Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic) Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president; includes Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC); other parties moribund Other political or pressure groups: non-Communist political groups moribund; most leaders fled the country in 1975 Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: Third National Assembly: last held on 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (85 total) number of seats by party NA Executive branch: president, prime minister and two deputy prime ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: National Assembly Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court Leaders: Chief of State: President NOUHAK Phoumsavan (since 25 November 1992) Head of Government: Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 15 August 1991) Member of: ACCT (associate), AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

*Laos, Government

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador HIEM Phommachanh chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-6416 or 6417 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles B. SALMON, Jr. embassy: Rue Bartholonie, Vientiane mailing address: B. P. 114, Vientiane, or AMEMB, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: (856) 2220, 2357, 2384 FAX: (856) 4675 Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

*Laos, Economy

Overview: One of the world's poorest nations, Laos has had a Communist centrally planned economy with government ownership and control of productive enterprises of any size. In recent years, however, the government has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise. Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure; that is, it has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, limited external and internal telecommunications, and electricity available in only a limited area. Subsistence agriculture is the main occupation, accounting for over 60% of GDP and providing about 85-90% of total employment. The predominant crop is rice. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend for its survival on foreign aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid from the former USSR and Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $900 million (1991) National product real growth rate: 4% (1991) National product per capita: $200 (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1991) Unemployment rate: 21% (1989 est.) Budget: revenues $83 million; expenditures $188.5 million, including capital expenditures of $94 million (1990 est.) Exports: $72 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: electricity, wood products, coffee, tin partners: Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, USSR, US, China Imports: $238 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.) commodities: food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures partners: Thailand, USSR, Japan, France, Vietnam, China External debt: $1.1 billion (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 12% (1991 est.); accounts for about 18% of GDP (1991 est.) Electricity: 226,000 kW capacity; 990 million kWh produced, 220 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction Agriculture: accounts for 60% of GDP and employs most of the work force; subsistence farming predominates; normally self-sufficient in nondrought years; principal crops - rice (80% of cultivated land), sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; livestock - buffaloes, hogs, cattle, poultry Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, opium poppy for the international drug trade, third-largest opium producer

*Laos, Economy

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $276 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $605 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $995 million Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1 - 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700 (September 1990), 576 (1989), 385 (1988), 200 (1987) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

*Laos, Communications

Railroads: none Highways: about 27,527 km total; 1,856 km bituminous or bituminous treated; 7,451 km gravel, crushed stone, or improved earth; 18,220 km unimproved earth and often impassable during rainy season mid-May to mid-September Inland waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km Ports: none Airports: total: 54 usable: 41 with permanent-surface runways: 8 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 15 Telecommunications: service to general public practically non-existant; radio communications network provides generally erratic service to government users; 7,390 telephones (1986); broadcast stations - 10 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth station

*Laos, Defense Forces

Branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; including naval, aviation, and militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department Manpower availability: males age 15-49 980,274; fit for military service 528,450; reach military age (18) annually 43,849 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Latvia, Geography

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering on the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia Map references: Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 64,100 km2 land area: 64,100 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia Land boundaries: total 1,078 km, Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km Coastline: 531 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: the Abrene section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944 Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters Terrain: low plain Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 39% other: 21% Irrigated land: 160 km2 (1990) Environment: heightened levels of air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases

*Latvia, People

Population: 2,735,573 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.5% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 13.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 12.73 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 3.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.23 years male: 64.15 years female: 74.55 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian Ethnic divisions: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Belarusian 4.5%, Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2% Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox Languages: Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 1.407 million by occupation: industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, other 43% (1990)

*Latvia, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic Digraph: LG Type: republic Capital: Riga Administrative divisions: none (all districts are under direct republic jurisdiction) Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) Constitution: adopted NA May 1922, considering rewriting constitution Legal system: based on civil law system National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918) Political parties and leaders: Democratic Labor Party of Latvia, Juris BOJARS, chairman; Inter-Front of the Working People of Latvia, Igor LOPATIN, chairman (Inter-Front was banned after the coup); Latvian National Movement for Independence, Eduards BERKLAVS, chairman; Latvian Democratic Party, Janis DINEVICS, chairman; Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party, Uldis BERZINS, chairman; Latvian People's Front, Uldis AUGST-KALNS, chairman; Latvian Liberal Party, Georg LANSMANIS, chairman Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held October 1988 (next to be held NA); note - Anatolijs V. GORBUNOVS elected by Supreme Soviet; elected to restyled post of Chairman of the Supreme Council on 3 May 1990; new elections have not been scheduled Supreme Council: last held 18 March 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next to be held 5-6 June 1993 for the Saeima); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (234 total) Latvian Communist Party 59, Latvian Democratic Workers Party 31, Social Democratic Party of Latvia 4, Green Party of Latvia 7, Latvian Farmers Union 7, Latvian Popular Front 126; note - the Supreme Council is an interim 201-seats legislative body; a new parliament or Saiema to be elected in June 1993 Congress of Latvia: last held April 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (231 total) number of seats by party NA; note - the Congress of Latvia is a quasi-governmental structure Executive branch: Chairman of Supreme Council (president), prime minister, cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council

*Latvia, Government