Chapter 88

Overview: Aided by a long period of peace and neutrality during World War I through World War II, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy that is heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. In the last few years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by inflation, growing unemployment, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. Although Prime Minister BILDT'S center-right minority coalition had hoped to charge ahead with free-market-oriented reforms, a skyrocketing budget deficit - almost 13% of GDP in FY94 projections - and record unemployment have forestalled many of the plans. Unemployment in 1993 is forecast at around 7% with another 5% in job training. Continued heavy foreign exchange speculation forced the government to cooperate in late 1992 with the opposition Social Democrats on two crisis packages - one a severe austerity pact and the other a program to spur industrial competitiveness - which basically set economic policy through 1997. In November 1992, Sweden broke its tie to the EC's ECU, and the krona has since depreciated around 2.5% against the dollar. The government hopes the boost in export competitiveness from the depreciation will help lift Sweden out of its 3-year recession. To curb the budget deficit and bolster confidence in the economy, BILDT continues to propose cuts in welfare benefits, subsidies, defense, and foreign aid. Sweden continues to harmonize its economic policies with those of the EC in preparation for concluding its EC membership bid by 1995. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $145.6 billion (1992) National product real growth rate: -1.7% (1992) National product per capita: $16,900 (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1992) Unemployment rate: 5.3% (1992) Budget: revenues $70.4 billion; expenditures $82.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92) Exports: $56 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products partners: EC 55.8% (Germany 15%, UK 9.7%, Denmark 7.2%, France 5.8%), EFTA 17.4% (Norway 8.4%, Finland 5.1%), US 8.2%, Central and Eastern Europe 2.5% (1992) Imports: $51.7 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing partners: EC 53.6% (Germany 17.9%, UK 6.3%, Denmark 7.5%, France 4.9%), EFTA (Norway 6.6%, Finland 6%), US 8.4%, Central and Eastern Europe 3% (1992) External debt: $19.5 billion (1992 est.)

*Sweden, Economy

Industrial production: growth rate -3.0% (1992) Electricity: 39,716,000 kW capacity; 142,500 million kWh produced, 16,560 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles Agriculture: animal husbandry predominates, with milk and dairy products accounting for 37% of farm income; main crops - grains, sugar beets, potatoes; 100% self-sufficient in grains and potatoes; Sweden is about 50% self-sufficient in most products; farming accounted for 1.2% of GDP and 1.9% of jobs in 1990 Illicit drugs: increasingly used as transshipment point for Latin American cocaine to Europe and gateway for Asian heroin shipped via the CIS and Baltic states for the European market Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.3 billion Currency: 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 ore Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 6.8812 (December 1992), 5.8238 (1992), 6.0475 (1991) 5.9188 (1990), 6.4469 (1989), 6.1272 (1988) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

*Sweden, Communications

Railroads: 12,000 km total; Swedish State Railways (SJ) - 10,819 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 6,955 km electrified and 1,152 km double track; 182 km 0.891-meter gauge; 117 km rail ferry service; privately-owned railways - 511 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (332 km electrified) and 371 km 0.891-meter gauge (all electrified) Highways: 97,400 km total; 51,899 km paved, 20,659 km gravel, 24,842 km unimproved earth Inland waterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges Pipelines: natural gas 84 km Ports: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Kalmar, Malmo, Stockholm; numerous secondary and minor ports Merchant marine: 179 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,473,769 GRT/3,227,366 DWT; includes 10 short-sea passenger, 29 cargo, 3 container, 43 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 13 vehicle carrier, 2 railcar carrier, 32 oil tanker, 27 chemical tanker, 4 specialized tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 2 combination ore/oil, 10 bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 refrigerated cargo Airports: total: 253 usable: 250 with permanent-surface runways: 139 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 94 Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international facilities; 8,200,000 telephones; mainly coaxial and multiconductor cables carry long-distance network; parallel microwave network carries primarily radio, TV and some telephone channels; automatic system; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 360 (mostly repeaters) FM, 880 (mostly repeaters) TV; 5 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 EUTELSAT

*Sweden, Defense Forces

Branches: Swedish Army, Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,156,720; fit for military service 1,884,121; reach military age (19) annually 57,383 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6.7 billion, 3.8% of GDP (FY92/93)

*Switzerland, Geography

Location: Western Europe, between France and Austria Map references: Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 41,290 km2 land area: 39,770 km2 comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey Land boundaries: total 1,852 km, Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: none Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 40% forest and woodland: 26% other: 23% Irrigated land: 250 km2 (1989) Environment: dominated by Alps Note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest elevations in Europe

*Switzerland, People

Population: 6,986,621 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.83% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 12.37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 9.24 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 5.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.99 years male: 74.6 years female: 81.54 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss Ethnic divisions: total population: German 65% French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6% Swiss nationals: German 74% French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 47.6%, Protestant 44.3%, other 8.1% (1980) Languages: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 12%, Romansch 1%, other 4% note: these are figures for Swiss nationals only - German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1% Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 3.31 million (904,095 foreign workers, mostly Italian) by occupation: services 50%, industry and crafts 33%, government 10%, agriculture and forestry 6%, other 1% (1989)

*Switzerland, Government

Names: conventional long form: Swiss Confederation conventional short form: Switzerland local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German) Confederation Suisse (French) Confederazione Svizzera (Italian) local short form: Schweiz (German) Suisse (French) Svizzera (Italian) Digraph: SZ Type: federal republic Capital: Bern Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich Independence: 1 August 1291 Constitution: 29 May 1874 Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291) Political parties and leaders: Free Democratic Party (FDP), Bruno HUNZIKER, president; Social Democratic Party (SPS), Helmut HUBACHER, chairman; Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP), Eva SEGMULLER-WEBER, chairman; Swiss People's Party (SVP), Hans UHLMANN, president; Green Party (GPS), Peter SCHMID, president; Automobile Party (AP), DREYER; Alliance of Independents' Party (LdU), Dr. Franz JAEGER, president; Swiss Democratic Party (SD), NA; Evangelical People's Party (EVP), Max DUNKI, president; Workers' Party (PdA; Communist), Jean SPIELMANN, general secretary; Ticino League, leader NA; Liberal Party (LPS), Gilbert COUTAU, president Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: Council of States: last held throughout 1991 (next to be held NA 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (46 total) FDP 18, CVP 16, SVP 4, SPS 3, LPS 3, LdU 1, Ticino League 1 National Council: last held 20 October 1991 (next to be held NA October 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (200 total) FDP 44, SPS 42, CVP 37, SVP 25, GPS 14, LPS 10, AP 8, LdU 6, SD 5, EVP 3, PdA 2, Ticino League 2, other 2 Executive branch: president, vice president, Federal Council (German - Bundesrat, French - Conseil Federal, Italian - Consiglio Federale)

*Switzerland, Government

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (German - Bundesversammlung, French - Assemblee Federale, Italian - Assemblea Federale) consists of an upper council or Council of States (German - Standerat, French - Conseil des Etats, Italian - Consiglio degli Stati) and a lower council or National Council (German - Nationalrat, French - Conseil National, Italian - Consiglio Nazionale) Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Adolf OGI (1993 calendar year; presidency rotates annually); Vice President Otto STICH (term runs concurrently with that of president) Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM (coopeating country), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTRC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edouard BRUNNER chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 745-7900 FAX: (202) 387-2564 consulates general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph B. GILDENHORN embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [41] (31) 437-011 FAX: [41] (31) 437-344 branch office: Geneva consulate general: Zurich Flag: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

*Switzerland, Economy

Overview: Switzerland's economy - one of the most prosperous and stable in the world - is nonetheless undergoing a painful adjustment after both the inflationary boom of the late-1980s and the electorate's rejection late last year of membership in the European Economic Area. Stubborn inflation and a soft economy have afflicted Switzerland. Despite slow growth in 1991-92, the Swiss central bank had been unable to ease monetary policy in the past three years because of the threat to the Swiss franc posed by high German interest rates. As a result, unemployment is forecast to rise from 3% in 1992 to more than 4% in 1993, with inflation moving down from 4% to 3%. The voters' rejection in December 1992 of a referendum on membership in the EEA which was supported by most political, business, and financial leaders has raised doubts that the country can maintain its preeminent prosperity and leadership in commercial banking in the 21st century. Despite these problems, Swiss per capita output, general living standards, education and science, health care, and diet remain unsurpassed in Europe. The country has few natural resources except for the scenic natural beauty that has made it a world leader in tourism. Management-labor relations remain generally harmonious. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $152.3 billion (1992) National product real growth rate: -0.6% (1992) National product per capita: $22,300 (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 3% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $24.0 billion; expenditures $23.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990) Exports: $62.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, precision instruments, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles and clothing partners: Western Europe 64% (EC countries 56%, other 8%), US 9%, Japan 4% Imports: $68.5 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.) commodities: agricultural products, machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, textiles, construction materials partners: Western Europe 78% (EC countries 71%, other 7%), US 6% External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate 0.4% (1991 est.) Electricity: 17,710,000 kW capacity; 56,000 million kWh produced, 8,200 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments Agriculture: dairy farming predominates; less than 50% self-sufficient in food; must import fish, refined sugar, fats and oils (other than butter), grains, eggs, fruits, vegetables, meat

*Switzerland, Economy

Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $3.5 billion 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

*Switzerland, Communications

Railroads: 4,418 km total; 3,073 km are government owned and 1,345 km are nongovernment owned; the government network consists of 2,999 km 1.435-meter standard gauge and 74 km 1.000-meter narrow gauge track; 1,432 km double track, 99% electrified; the nongovernment network consists of 510 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, and 835 km 1.000-meter gauge, 100% electrified Highways: 62,145 km total (all paved); 18,620 km are canton, 1,057 km are national highways (740 km autobahn), 42,468 km are communal roads Inland waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes Pipelines: crude oil 314 km, natural gas 1,506 km Ports: Basel (river port) Merchant marine: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 308,725 GRT/548,244 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 chemical tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 8 bulk, 1 oil tanker Airports: total: 66 usable: 65 with permanent-surface runways: 42 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 18 Telecommunications: excellent domestic, international, and broadcast services; 5,890,000 telephones; extensive cable and microwave networks; broadcast stations - 7 AM, 265 FM, 18 (1,322 repeaters) TV; communications satellite earth station operating in the INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) system

*Switzerland, Defense Forces

Branches: Army (Air Force is part of the Army), Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,852,213; fit for military service 1,590,308; reach military age (20) annually 44,124 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion, 1.7% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Syria, Geography

Location: Middle East, along the Mediterranean Sea, between Turkey and Lebanon Map references: Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 185,180 km2 land area: 184,050 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than North Dakota note: includes 1,295 km2 of Israeli-occupied territory Land boundaries: total 2,253 km, Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km Coastline: 193 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 41 nm territorial sea: 35 nm International disputes: separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Hatay question with Turkey; periodic disputes with Iraq over Euphrates water rights; ongoing dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; Syrian troops in northern Lebanon since October 1976 Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum Land use: arable land: 28% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 46% forest and woodland: 3% other: 20% Irrigated land: 6,700 km2 (1989) Environment: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification Note: there are 38 Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights

*Syria, People

Population: 14,338,527 (July 1993 est.) note: in addition, there are at least 14,500 Druze and 14,000 Jewish settlers in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (1993 est.) Population growth rate: 3.76% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 44.08 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 6.44 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 43.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.12 years male: 65.07 years female: 67.22 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.75 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Syrian(s) adjective: Syrian Ethnic divisions: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7% Religions: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo) Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French widely understood Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 64% male: 78% female: 51% Labor force: 2.951 million (1989) by occupation: miscellaneous and government services 36%, agriculture 32%, industry and construction 32%; note - shortage of skilled labor (1984)

*Syria, Government

Names: conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic conventional short form: Syria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah local short form: Suriyah former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt) Digraph: SY Type: republic under leftwing military regime since March 1963 Capital: Damascus Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) Constitution: 13 March 1973 Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day, 17 April (1946) Political parties and leaders: ruling party is the Arab Socialist Resurrectionist (Ba'th) Party; the Progressive National is dominated by Ba'thists but includes independents and members of the Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP); Arab Socialist Union (ASU); Syrian Communist Party (SCP); Arab Socialist Unionist Movement; and Democratic Socialist Union Party Other political or pressure groups: non-Ba'th parties have little effective political influence; Communist party ineffective; conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held December 1998); results - President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected for a fourth seven-year term with 99.98% of the vote People's Council: last held 22-23 May 1990 (next to be held NA May 1994); results - Ba'th 53.6%, ASU 3.2%, SCP 3.2%, Arab Socialist Unionist Movement 2.8%, ASP 2%, Democratic Socialist Union Party 1.6%, independents 33.6%; seats - (250 total) Ba'th 134, ASU 8, SCP 8, Arab Socialist Unionist Movement 7, ASP 5, Democratic Socialist Union Party 4, independents 84; note - the People's Council was expanded to 250 seats total prior to the May 1990 election Executive branch: president, three vice presidents, prime minister, three deputy prime ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab)

*Syria, Government