Chapter 55
Location: Western Europe, between Austria and Switzerland Map references: Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 160 km2 land area: 160 km2 comparative area: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total 78 km, Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: claims 620 square miles of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February 1948, when the Communists seized power 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% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation Note: landlocked
*Liechtenstein, People
Population: 29,894 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.32% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 13.15 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 6.62 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 6.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.29 years male: 73.65 years female: 80.9 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (1993 est.) 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: age 10 and over can read and write (1981) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 19,905 of which 11,933 are foreigners; 6,885 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day by occupation: industry, trade, and building 53.2%, services 45%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 1.8% (1990)
*Liechtenstein, Government
Names: conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Furstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein Digraph: LS 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 Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Otto HASLER; Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), Emanuel VOGT; Free Electoral List (FL) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: Diet: last held on 7 February 1993 (next to be held by March 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (25 total) FBP 12, VU 11, FL 2 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, 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: Markus BUECHEL (since 7 February 1993); Deputy Head of Government Dr. Herbert WILLE (since 2 February 1986) Member of: CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO Diplomatic representation in US: in routine diplomatic matters, Liechtenstein is represented in the US by the Swiss Embassy
*Liechtenstein, Government
US diplomatic representation: 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 Switzerland's economy in a customs union, and incomes and living standards parallel those of the more prosperous Swiss groups. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $630 million (1990 est.) National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $22,300 (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, 5,230 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism Agriculture: livestock, vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes Economic aid: none Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.4781 (January 1993), 1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990), 1.6359 (1989), 1.4633 (1988) Fiscal year: calendar year
*Liechtenstein, Communications
Railroads: 18.5 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, electrified; owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways Highways: 130.66 km main roads, 192.27 km byroads Airports: none Telecommunications: limited, but sufficient automatic telephone system; 25,400 telephones; linked to Swiss networks by cable and radio relay for international telephone, radio, and TV services
*Liechtenstein, Defense Forces
Note: defense is responsibility of Switzerland
*Lithuania, Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia Map references: Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 65,200 km2 land area: 65,200 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia Land boundaries: total 1,273 km, Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km Coastline: 108 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: dispute with Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) over the position of the Neman River border presently located on the Lithuanian bank and not in midriver as by international standards Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil Natural resources: peat Land use: arable land: 49.1% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 22.2% forest and woodland: 16.3% other: 12.4% Irrigated land: 430 km2 (1990) Environment: risk of accidents from the two Chernobyl-type reactors at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant; contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
*Lithuania, People
Population: 3,819,638 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.76% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 14.95 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 10.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 16.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.12 years male: 66.39 years female: 76.08 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.03 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian Ethnic divisions: Lithuanian 80.1%, Russian 8.6%, Polish 7.7%, Belarusian 1.5%, other 2.1% Religions: Roman Catholic, Lutheran, other Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 1.836 million by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 18%, other 40% (1990)
*Lithuania, Government
Names: conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania conventional short form: Lithuania local long form: Lietuvos Respublika local short form: Lietuva former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic Digraph: LH Type: republic Capital: Vilnius Administrative divisions: NA districts Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992 Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts National holiday: Independence Day, 16 February Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party, Egidijus KLUMBYS, chairman; Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania, Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS, chairman; Lithuanian Democratic Party, Sauluis PECELIUNAS, chairman; Lithuanian Green Party, Irena IGNATAVICIENE, chairwoman; Lithuanian Humanism Party, Vytautas KAZLAUSKAS, chairman; Lithuanian Independence Party, Virgilijus CEPAITIS, chairman; Lithuanian Liberty League, Antanas TERLECKAS; Lithuanian Liberal Union, Vytautus RADZVILAS, chairman; Lithuanian Nationalist Union, Rimantas SMETONA, chairman; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, Aloizas SAKALAS, chairman; Union of the Motherland, Vytavtas LANDSBERGIS, chairman Other political or pressure groups: Sajudis; Lithuanian Future Forum; Farmers Union Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held NA); results - Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS was elected Seimas (parliament): last held 26 October and 25 November 1992 (next to be held NA); results - Democratic Labor Party 51%; seats - (141 total) Democratic Labor Party 73 Executive branch: president, prime minister, cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral Seimas (parliament) Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Court of Appeals Leaders: Chief of State: Seimas Chairman and Acting President Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 15 November 1992); Deputy Seimas Chairmen Aloyzas SAKALAS (since NA December 1992) and Egidius BICKAUSKAS (since NA December 1992)
*Lithuania, Government
Head of Government: Premier Adolfas SLEZEVICIUS (since NA) Member of: CBSS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stasys LOZORAITIS, Jr. chancery: 2622 16th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 234-5860, 2639 FAX: (202) 328-0466 consulate general: New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Darryl N. JOHNSON embassy: Akmenu 6, Vilnius 232600 mailing address: APO AE 09723 telephone: 011 [7] (012-2) 222-031 FAX: 011 [7] (012-2) 222-779 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
*Lithuania, Economy
Overview: Lithuania is striving to become an independent privatized economy. Although it was substantially above average in living standards and technology in the old USSR, Lithuania historically lagged behind Latvia and Estonia in economic development. The country has no important natural resources aside from its arable land and strategic location. Industry depends entirely on imported materials that have come from the republics of the former USSR. Lithuania benefits from its ice-free port at Klaipeda on the Baltic Sea and its rail and highway hub at Vilnius, which provides land communication between Eastern Europe and Russia, Latvia, Estonia, and Belarus. Industry produces a small assortment of high-quality products, ranging from complex machine tools to sophisticated consumer electronics. Because of nuclear power, Lithuania is presently self-sufficient in electricity, exporting its surplus to Latvia and Belarus; the nuclear facilities inherited from the USSR, however, have come under world scrutiny as seriously deficient in safety standards. Agriculture is efficient compared with most of the former Soviet Union. Lithuania held first place in per capita consumption of meat, second place for eggs and potatoes, and fourth place for milk and dairy products. Grain must be imported to support the meat and dairy industries. Lithuania is pressing ahead with plans to privatize at least 60% of state-owned property (industry, agriculture, and housing), having already sold almost all housing and many small enterprises using a voucher system. Other government priorities include encouraging foreign investment by protecting the property rights of foreign firms and redirecting foreign trade away from Eastern markets to the more competitive Western markets. For the moment, Lithuania will remain highly dependent on Russia for energy, raw materials, grains, and markets for its products. In 1992, output plummeted by 30% because of cumulative problems with inputs and with markets, problems that were accentuated by the phasing out of the Russian ruble as the medium of exchange. National product: GDP $NA National product real growth rate: -30% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $NA Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10%-20% per month (first quarter 1993) Unemployment rate: 1% (February 1993); but large numbers of underemployed workers Budget: revenues $258.5 million; expenditures $270.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.) Exports: $NA commodities: electronics 18%, petroleum products 5%, food 10%, chemicals 6% (1989) partners: Russia 40%, Ukraine 16%, other former Soviet republics 32%, West 12% Imports: $NA commodities: oil 24%, machinery 14%, chemicals 8%, grain NA% (1989) partners: Russia 62%, Belarus 18%, former Soviet republics 10%, West 10% External debt: $650 million (1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -50% (1992 est.)
*Lithuania, Economy
Electricity: 5,925,000 kW capacity; 25,000 million kWh produced, 6,600 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: employs 25% of the labor force; shares in the total production of the former USSR are: metal-cutting machine tools 6.6%; electric motors 4.6%; television sets 6.2%; refrigerators and freezers 5.4%; other branches: petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, and amber Agriculture: employs around 20% of labor force; sugar, grain, potatoes, sugarbeets, vegetables, meat, milk, dairy products, eggs, fish; most developed are the livestock and dairy branches, which depend on imported grain; net exporter of meat, milk, and eggs Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-86), $NA million; Communist countries (1971-86), $NA million Currency: using talonas as temporary currency (March 1993), but planning introduction of convertible litas (late 1993) Exchange rates: NA Fiscal year: calendar year
*Lithuania, Communications
Railroads: 2,100 km; does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways: 44,200 km total 35,500 km hard surfaced, 8,700 km earth (1990) Inland waterways: 600 km perennially navigable Pipelines: crude oil 105 km, natural gas 760 km (1992) Ports: coastal - Klaipeda; inland - Kaunas Merchant marine: 46 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 282,633 GRT/332,447 DWT; includes 31 cargo, 3 railcar carrier, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 11 combination bulk Airports: total: 96 useable: 19 with permanent-surface runways: 12 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 11 Telecommunications: better developed than in most other former USSR republics; operational NMT-450 analog cellular network in Vilnius; fiber optic cable installed beween Vilnius and Kaunas; 224 telephones per 1000 persons; broadcast stations - 13 AM, 26 FM, 1 SW, 1 LW, 3 TV; landlines or microwave to former USSR republics; leased connection to the Moscow international switch for traffic with other countries; satellite earth stations - (8 channels to Norway); new international digital telephone exchange in Kaunas for direct access to 13 countries via satellite link out of Copenhagen, Denmark
*Lithuania, Defense Forces
Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 933,245; fit for military service 739,400; reach military age (18) annually 27,056 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, 5.5% of GDP (1993 est.)
*Luxembourg, Geography
Location: Western Europe, between Belgium and Germany Map references: Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 2,586 km2 land area: 2,586 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island Land boundaries: total 359 km, Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: none Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers Terrain: mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle floodplain in the southeast Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited) Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 21% other: 34% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: deforestation Note: landlocked
*Luxembourg, People
Population: 398,220 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.04% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 12.96 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 9.56 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 6.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.43 years male: 72.71 years female: 80.3 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Luxembourger(s) adjective: Luxembourg Ethnic divisions: Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, and European (guest and worker residents) Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3% Languages: Luxembourgisch, German, French, English Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 177,300 one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany by occupation: services 65%, industry 31.6%, agriculture 3.4% (1988)
*Luxembourg, Government
Names: conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg conventional short form: Luxembourg local long form: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg local short form: Luxembourg Digraph: LU Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Luxembourg Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg Independence: 1839 Constitution: 17 October 1868, occasional revisions Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day, 23 June (1921) (public celebration of the Grand Duke's birthday) Political parties and leaders: Christian Social Party (CSV), Jacques SANTER; Socialist Workers Party (LSAP), Jacques POOS; Liberal (DP), Colette FLESCH; Communist (KPL), Andre HOFFMANN; Green Alternative (GAP), Jean HUSS Other political or pressure groups: group of steel companies representing iron and steel industry; Centrale Paysanne representing agricultural producers; Christian and Socialist labor unions; Federation of Industrialists; Artisans and Shopkeepers Federation Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Elections: Chamber of Deputies: last held on 18 June 1989 (next to be held by June 1994); results - CSV 31.7%, LSAP 27.2%, DP 16.2%, Greens 8.4%, PAC 7.3%, KPL 5.1%, other 4.1%; seats - (60 total) CSV 22, LSAP 18, DP 11, Greens 4, PAC 4, KPL 1 Executive branch: grand duke, prime minister, vice prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes); note - the Council of State (Conseil d'Etat) is an advisory body whose views are considered by the Chamber of Deputies Judicial branch: Superior Court of Justice (Cour Superieure de Justice) Leaders: Chief of State: Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964); Heir Apparent Prince HENRI (son of Grand Duke Jean, born 16 April 1955) Head of Government: Prime Minister Jacques SANTER (since 21 July 1984); Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984)
*Luxembourg, Government
Member of: ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CCC, CE, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alphonse BERNS chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-4171 FAX: (202) 328-8270 consulates general: New York and San Francisco US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward M. ROWELL embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: PSC 11, APO AE 09132-5380 telephone: [352] 460123 FAX: [352] 461401 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France
*Luxembourg, Economy