Chapter 65

Overview: Revenues come from the export of phosphates, the reserves of which are expected to be exhausted by the year 2000. Phosphates have given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third World - $10,000 annually. Few other resources exist, so most necessities must be imported, including fresh water from Australia. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. Substantial amounts of phosphate income are invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition. National product: GNP - exchange rate conversion - $90 million (1989 est.) National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $10,000 (1989 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment rate: 0% Budget: revenues $69.7 million; expenditures $51.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY86 est.) Exports: $93 million (f.o.b., 1984) commodities: phosphates partners: Australia, NZ Imports: $73 million (c.i.f., 1984) commodities: food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery partners: Australia, UK, NZ, Japan External debt: $33.3 million Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 14,000 kW capacity; 50 million kWh produced, 5,430 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: phosphate mining, financial services, coconut products Agriculture: coconuts; other agricultural activity negligible; almost completely dependent on imports for food and water Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries (1970-89), $2 million Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2834 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

*Nauru, Communications

Railroads: 3.9 km; used to haul phosphates from the center of the island to processing facilities on the southwest coast Highways: about 27 km total; 21 km paved, 6 km improved earth Ports: Nauru Merchant marine: 1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,426 GRT/5,750 DWT Airports: total: 1 useable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: adequate local and international radio communications provided via Australian facilities; 1,600 telephones; 4,000 radios; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Nauru, Defense Forces

Branches: Directorate of the Nauru Police Force note: no regular armed forces Manpower availability: males age 15-49 NA; fit for military service NA Defense expenditures: $NA - no formal defense structure

*Navassa Island, Header

Affiliation: (territory of the US)

*Navassa Island, Geography

Location: in the Caribbean Sea, 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo (Cuba), between Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 5.2 km2 land area: 5.2 km2 comparative area: about nine times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 8 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m or depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claimed by Haiti Climate: marine, tropical Terrain: raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high) Natural resources: guano Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 10% forest and woodland: 0% other: 90% Irrigated land: 0 km2 Environment: mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus Note: strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo, Cuba

*Navassa Island, People

Population: uninhabited; note - transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island

*Navassa Island, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Navassa Island Digraph: BQ Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Coast Guard Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

*Navassa Island, Economy

Overview: no economic activity

*Navassa Island, Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

*Navassa Island, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US

*Nepal, Geography

Location: South Asia, in the Himalayas, between China and India Map references: Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 140,800 km2 land area: 136,800 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Arkansas Land boundaries: total 2,926 km, China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: none Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south Terrain: Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydroelectric potential, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 33% other: 37% Irrigated land: 9,430 km2 (1989) Environment: contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India

*Nepal, People

Population: 20,535,466 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.43% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 37.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 13.66 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 85.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.98 years male: 51.84 years female: 52.12 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.33 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Nepalese (singular and plural) adjective: Nepalese Ethnic divisions: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas Religions: Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981) note: only official Hindu state in world, although no sharp distinction between many Hindu and Buddhist groups Languages: Nepali (official), 20 languages divided into numerous dialects Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 26% male: 38% female: 13% Labor force: 8.5 million (1991 est.) by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry 2% note: severe lack of skilled labor

*Nepal, Government

Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal conventional short form: Nepal Digraph: NP Type: parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991 Capital: Kathmandu Administrative divisions: 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah) Constitution: 9 November 1990 Legal system: based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945) Political parties and leaders: ruling party: Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Party president Krishna Prasad BHATTARAI, Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA, Ganesh Man SINGH center: the NDP has two factions: National Democratic Party/Chand (NDP/Chand), Lokendra Bahadur CHAND; and National Democratic Party/Thapa (NDP/Thapa), Surya Bahadur THAPA; Terai Rights Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party, Gayendra Narayan SINGH Communist: Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist and Leninist (CPN/UML), Man Mohan ADIKHARY; United People's Front (UPF), N. K. PRASAI, Lila Mani POKHAREL; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, leader NA; Rohit Party, N. M. BIJUKCHHE; Democratic Party, leader NA note: the two factions of the NDP announced a merger in late 1991 Other political or pressure groups: numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: House of Representatives: last held on 12 May 1991 (next to be held May 1996); results - NCP 38%, CPN/UML 28%, NDP/Chand 6%, UPF 5%, NDP/Thapa 5%, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 4%, Rohit 2%, CPN (Democratic) 1%, independents 4%, other 7%; seats - (205 total) NCP 110, CPN/UML 69, UPF 9, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 6, NDP/Chand 3, Rohit 2, CPN (Democratic) 2, NDP/Thapa 1, independents 3; note - the new Constitution of 9 November 1990 gave Nepal a multiparty democracy system for the first time in 32 years Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Council of Ministers Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or National Council and a lower house or House of Representatives

*Nepal, Government

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat) Leaders: Chief of State: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (since 31 January 1972, crowned King 24 February 1985); Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, son of the King (born 21 June 1971) Head of Government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 29 May 1991) Member of: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNPROFOR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Yog Prasad UPADHYAYA chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 667-4550 consulate general: New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Julia Chang BLOCH embassy: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [977] (1) 411179 or 412718, 411604, 411613, 413890 FAX: [977] (1) 419963 Flag: red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun

*Nepal, Economy

Overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 90% of the population and accounting for 60% of GDP. Industrial activity is limited, mainly involving the processing of agricultural produce (jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain). Production of textiles and carpets has expanded recently and accounted for 85% of foreign exchange earnings in FY91. Apart from agricultural land and forests, exploitable natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural production in the late 1980s grew by about 5%, as compared with annual population growth of 2.6%. More than 40% of the population is undernourished partly because of poor distribution. The top 10% of the population receives 47% of total income, the bottom 20% less than 5% of the total. Since May 1991, the government has been encouraging trade and foreign investment, e.g., by eliminating business licenses and registration requirements in order to simplify domestic and foreign investment. The government also has been cutting public expenditures by reducing subsides, privatizing state industries, and laying off civil servants. Prospects for foreign trade and investment in the 1990s remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, and its remoteness. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.4 billion (FY92) National product real growth rate: 3.1% (FY92) National product per capita: $170 (FY92) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (November 1992) Unemployment rate: 5% (1987); underemployment estimated at 25-40% Budget: revenues $308.0 million; expenditures $672.0 million, including capital expenditures of $396 million (FY92 est.) Exports: $313 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.) but does not include unrecorded border trade with India commodities: carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain partners: US, Germany, India, UK Imports: $751 million (c.i.f., FY92 est.) commodities: petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%, machinery 10% partners: India, Singapore, Japan, Germany External debt: $2 billion (FY92 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 6% (FY91 est.); accounts for 7% of GDP Electricity: 300,000 kW capacity; 1,000 million kWh produced, 50 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette, textile, carpet, cement, and brick production; tourism Agriculture: accounts for 60% of GDP and 90% of work force; farm products - rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, buffalo meat; not self-sufficient in food, particularly in drought years

*Nepal, Economy

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets; probable transit point for heroin from Southeast Asia to the West Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $304 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $2,230 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $30 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $286 million Currency: 1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa Exchange rates: Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1 - 43.200 (January 1993), 42.742 (1992), 37.255 (1991), 29.370 (1990), 27.189 (1989), 23.289 (1988) Fiscal year: 16 July - 15 July

*Nepal, Communications

Railroads: 52 km (1990), all 0.762-meter narrow gauge; all in Terai close to Indian border; 10 km from Raxaul to Birganj is government owned Highways: 7,080 km total (1990); 2,898 km paved, 1,660 km gravel or crushed stone; also 2,522 km of seasonally motorable tracks Airports: total: 37 usable: 37 with permanent-surface runways: 5 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 8 Telecommunications: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radio communication and broadcast service; international radio communication service is poor; 50,000 telephones (1990); broadcast stations - 88 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Nepal, Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service, Nepalese Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,849,109; fit for military service 2,517,385; reach military age (17) annually 234,060 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $34 million, 2% of GDP (FY91/92)

*Netherlands, Geography

Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany Map references: Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 37,330 km2 land area: 33,920 km2 comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey Land boundaries: total 1,027 km, Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km Coastline: 451 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil Land use: arable land: 26% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 32% forest and woodland: 9% other: 32% Irrigated land: 5,500 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: without an extensive system of dikes and dams, nearly one-half of the total area would be inundated by sea water Note: located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, Schelde)

*Netherlands, People

Population: 15,274,942 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.63% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 12.81 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 8.53 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.55 years male: 74.48 years female: 80.78 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.59 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women) adjective: Dutch Ethnic divisions: Dutch 96%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 4% (1988) Religions: Roman Catholic 36%, Protestant 27%, other 6%, unaffiliated 31% (1988) Languages: Dutch Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 5.3 million by occupation: services 50.1%, manufacturing and construction 28.2%, government 15.9%, agriculture 5.8% (1986)

*Netherlands, Government

Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands conventional short form: Netherlands local long form: Koninkrijk de Nederlanden local short form: Nederland Digraph: NL Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland Dependent areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles Independence: 1579 (from Spain) Constitution: 17 February 1983 Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory; judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order rather than Acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938) Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Willem van VELZEN; Labor (PvdA), Wim KOK; Liberal (VVD), Frederick BOLKSTEIN; Democrats '66 (D'66), Hans van MIERIO; a host of minor parties Other political or pressure groups: large multinational firms; Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises; and Interchurch Peace Council (IKV) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: First Chamber: last held on 9 June l991 (next to be held 9 June 1995); results - elected by the country's 12 provincial councils; seats - (75 total) percent of seats by party NA Second Chamber: last held on 6 September 1989 (next to be held in May 1994); results - CDA 35.3%, PvdA 31.9%, VVD 14.6%, D'66 7.9%, other 10.3%; seats - (150 total) CDA 54, PvdA 49, VVD 22, D'66 12, other 13 Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, vice prime minister, Cabinet, Cabinet of Ministers Legislative branch: bicameral legislature (Staten Generaal) consists of an upper chamber or First Chamber (Eerste Kamer) and a lower chamber or Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer)

*Netherlands, Government

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (De Hoge Raad) Leaders: Chief of State: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER, Prince of Orange, son of Queen Beatrix (born 27 April 1967) Head of Government: Prime Minister Ruud (Rudolph) F. M. LUBBERS (since 4 November 1982); Vice Prime Minister Willem (Wim) KOK (since 2 November 1989) Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Johan Hendrick MEESMAN chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008 telephone: (202) 244-5300 FAX: (202) 362-3430 consulates general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Manila (Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands), New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Thomas H. GEWECKE embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, The Hague mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715 telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209 FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688 consulate general: Amsterdam Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer

*Netherlands, Economy

Overview: This highly developed and affluent economy is based on private enterprise. The government makes its presence felt, however, through many regulations, permit requirements, and welfare programs affecting most aspects of economic activity. The trade and financial services sector contributes over 50% of GDP. Industrial activity provides about 25% of GDP and is led by the food-processing, oil-refining, and metalworking industries. The highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 5% of the labor force, but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing industry. Unemployment and a sizable budget deficit are currently the most serious economic problems. Many of the economic issues of the 1990s will reflect the course of European economic integration. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $259.8 billion (1992) National product real growth rate: 1.6% (1992) National product per capita: $17,200 (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 5.3% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $109.9 billion; expenditures $122.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.) Exports: $128.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: agricultural products, processed foods and tobacco, natural gas, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing partners: EC 77% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 15%, UK 10%), US 4% (1991) Imports: $117.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: raw materials and semifinished products, consumer goods, transportation equipment, crude oil, food products partners: EC 64% (Germany 26%, Belgium-Luxembourg 14%, UK 8%), US 8% (1991) External debt: $0 Industrial production: growth rate 1.6% (1992 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP Electricity: 22,216,000 kW capacity; 63,500 million kWh produced, 4,200 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, fishing, construction, microelectronics Agriculture: accounts for 4.6% of GDP; animal production predominates; crops - grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; shortages of grain, fats, and oils Illicit drugs: transit country for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries; European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $19.4 billion

*Netherlands, Economy

Currency: 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1 - 1.8167 (January 1993), 1.7585 (1992), 1.8697 (1991), 1.8209 (1990), 2.1207 (1989), 1.9766 (1988) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Netherlands, Communications