Chapter 89

Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council, Court of Cassation, State Security Courts Leaders: Chief of State: President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971 see note); Vice Presidents 'Abd al-Halim KHADDAM, Rif'at al-ASAD, and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984); note - President ASAD seized power in the November 1970 coup, assumed presidential powers 22 February 1971, and was confirmed as president in the 12 March 1971 national elections Head of Government: Prime Minister Mahmud ZU'BI (since 1 November 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981); Deputy Prime Minister Rashid AKHTARINI (since 4 July 1992) Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Walid MOUALEM chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 232-6313 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS embassy: Abu Rumaneh, Al Mansur Street No. 2, Damascus mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus telephone: [963] (11) 333052 or 332557, 330416, 332814, 332315, 714108, 337178, 333232 FAX: [963] (11) 718687 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

*Syria, Economy

Overview: Syria's state-dominated Ba'thist economy has benefited from the Gulf war, increased oil production, good weather, and economic deregulation. Economic growth averaged nearly 12% annually in 1990-91, buoyed by increased oil production and improved agricultural performance. The Gulf war of early 1991 provided Syria an aid windfall of nearly $5 billion dollars from Arab, European, and Japanese donors. These inflows more than offset Damascus's war-related costs and will help Syria cover some of its debt arrears, restore suspended credit lines, and initiate selected military and civilian purchases. In 1992 the government spurred economic development by loosening controls on domestic and foreign investment while maintaining strict political controls. For the long run, Syria's economy is still saddled with a large number of poorly performing public sector firms and industrial and agricultural productivity is poor. A major long-term concern is the additional drain of upstream Euphrates water by Turkey when its vast dam and irrigation projects are completed by mid-decade. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $30 billion (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: 9% (1991 est.) National product per capita: $2,300 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1989) Budget: revenues $5.4 billion; expenditures $7.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.9 billion (1991 est.) Exports: $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: petroleum 45%, farm products 11%, textiles, phosphates 5% (1990) partners: USSR and Eastern Europe 44%, EC 34%, Arab countries 17%, US/Canada 1% (1990) Imports: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: foodstuffs and beverages 21%, machinery 15%, metal and metal products 15%, textiles 7%, petroleum products (1990) partners: EC 42%, USSR and Eastern Europe 13%, other Europe 13%, US/Canada 11%, Arab countries 6% (1990) External debt: $5.3 billion (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 6% (1991 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP Electricity: 3,205,000 kW capacity; 11,900 million kWh produced, 830 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, petroleum Agriculture: accounts for 27% of GDP and one-third of labor force; all major crops (wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas) grown mainly on rain-watered land causing wide swings in production; animal products - beef, lamb, eggs, poultry, milk; not self-sufficient in grain or livestock products

*Syria, Economy

Illicit drugs: a transit country for Lebanese and Turkish refined cocaine going to Europe and heroin and hashish bound for the Persian Gulf area Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $538 million; Western (non-US) ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.23 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $12.3 billion; former Communist countries (1970-89), $3.3 billion Currency: 1 Syrian pound (#S) = 100 piasters Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 22.0 (promotional rate since 1991), 22.0 (official rate since 1991), 42.0 (official parallel rate since 1991), 11.2250 (fixed rate 1987-90) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Syria, Communications

Railroads: 1,998 km total; 1,766 km standard gauge, 232 km 1.050-meter (narrow) gauge Highways: 29,000 km total; 670 km expressways; 5,000 km main or national roads; 23,330 km secondary or regional roads (not including municipal roads); 22,680 km of the total is paved (1988) Inland waterways: 870 km; minimal economic importance Pipelines: crude oil 1,304 km, petroleum products 515 km Ports: Tartus, Latakia, Baniyas, Jablah Merchant marine: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 117,247 GRT/183,607 DWT; includes 36 cargo, 2 vehicle carrier, 3 bulk Airports: total: 104 usable: 100 with permanent-surface runways: 24 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 21 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 3 Telecommunications: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber optic technology; 512,600 telephones (37 telephones per 1,000 persons); broadcast stations - 9 AM, 1 FM, 17 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Intersputnik; 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey

*Syria, Defense Forces

Branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,168,429; fit for military service 1,777,413; reach military age (19) annually 151,102 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.2 billion, 6% of GDP (1992)

*Taiwan, Geography

Location: East Asia, off the southeastern coast of China, between Japan and the Philippines Map references: Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia Area: total area: 35,980 km2 land area: 32,260 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland and Delaware combined note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 1,448 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 55% other: 15% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: subject to earthquakes and typhoons

*Taiwan, People

Population: 21,091,663 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 15.88 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 5.54 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.04 years male: 71.84 years female: 78.39 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Chinese (singular and plural) adjective: Chinese Ethnic divisions: Taiwanese 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2% Religions: mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5% Languages: Madarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 86% male: 93% female: 79% Labor force: 7.9 million by occupation: industry and commerce 53%, services 22%, agriculture 15.6%, civil administration 7% (1989)

*Taiwan, Government

Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Taiwan local long form: none local short form: T'ai-wan Digraph: TW Type: multiparty democratic regime; opposition political parties legalized in March, 1989 Capital: Taipei Administrative divisions: some of the ruling party in Taipei claim to be the government of all China; in keeping with that claim, the central administrative divisions include 2 provinces (sheng, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities* (shih, singular, and plural) - Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province including Quemoy and Matsu), Kao-hsiung*, T'ai-pei*, and Taiwan (the island, of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands); the more commonly referenced administrative divisions are those of Taiwan Province - 16 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2, special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua,, Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*,, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan,, Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu,, P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**,, T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital is at Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization Constitution: 25 December 1947, presently undergoing revision Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary of the Revolution) Political parties and leaders: Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist Party), LI Teng-hui, chairman; Democratic Progressive Party (DPP); China Social Democratic Party (CSDP); Labor Party (LP) Other political or pressure groups: Taiwan independence movement, various environmental groups note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization and the increased representation of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate on the island's national identity; advocates of Taiwan independence, both within the DPP and the ruling Kuomintang, oppose the ruling party's traditional stand that the island will eventually unify with mainland China; the aims of the Taiwan independence movement include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan Nation Building

*Taiwan, Government

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held 21 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1996); results - President LI Teng-hui was reelected by the National Assembly Vice President: last held 21 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1996); results - LI Yuan-zu was elected by the National Assembly Legislative Yuan: last held 19 December 1992 (next to be held near the end of 1995); results - KMT 60%, DPP 31%, independents 9%; seats - (304 total, 161 elected) KMT 96, DPP 50, independents 15 National Assembly: first National Assembly elected in November 1946 with a supplementary election in December 1986; second and present National Assembly elected in December 1991; seats - 403 total, KMT 318, DPP 75, other 10; (next election to be held in 1997) Executive branch: president, vice president, premier of the Executive Yuan, vice premier of the Executive Yuan, Executive Yuan Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan and unicameral National Assembly Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan Leaders: Chief of State: President LI Teng-hui (since 13 January 1988); Vice President LI Yuan-zu (since 20 May 1990) Head of Government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIEN Chan (since 23 February 1993); Vice Premier (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) HSU Li-teh (since 23 February 1993) Member of: expelled from UN General Assembly and Security Council on 25 October 1971 and withdrew on same date from other charter-designated subsidiary organs; expelled from IMF/World Bank group April/May 1980; seeking to join GATT; attempting to retain membership in INTELSAT; suspended from IAEA in 1972, but still allows IAEA controls over extensive atomic development, APEC, AsDB, ICC, ICFTU, IOC Diplomatic representation in US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through a private instrumentality, the Coordination Council for North American Affairs (CCNAA) with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and 10 other US cities US diplomatic representation: unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of Taiwan are maintained through a private institution, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which has offices in Taipei at #7, Lane 134, Hsiu Yi Road, Section 3, telephone [886] (2) 709-2000, and in Kao-hsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3d Road, telephone [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, and the American Trade Center at Room 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, telephone [886] (2) 720-1550 Flag: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

*Taiwan, Economy

Overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with considerable government guidance of investment and foreign trade and partial government ownership of some large banks and industrial firms. Real growth in GNP has averaged about 9% a year during the past three decades. Export growth has been even faster and has provided the impetus for industrialization. Agriculture contributes about 4% to GNP, down from 35% in 1952. Taiwan currently ranks as number 13 among major trading countries. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The tightening of labor markets has led to an influx of foreign workers, both legal and illegal. National product: GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $209 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 6.7% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $10,000 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.4% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $30.3 billion; expenditures $30.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY91 est.) Exports: $82.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: electrical machinery 18.5%, textiles 14.7%, general machinery and equipment 17.7%, footwear 4.5%, foodstuffs 1.1%, plywood and wood products 1.1% (1992 est.) partners: US 29.1%, Hong Kong 18.7%, EC countries 17.1% (1992 est.) Imports: $72.1 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment 15.8%, chemicals 10.0%, crude oil 4.2%, foodstuffs 2.1% (1992 est.) partners: Japan 30.3%, US 21.9%, EC countries 17.1% (1992 est.) External debt: $620 million (1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 6.5% (1992 est.); accounts for more than 40% of GDP Electricity: 18,382,000 kW capacity; 98,500 million kWh produced, 4,718 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food processing, plywood, sugar milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum refining Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GNP and 16% of labor force (includes part-time farmers); heavily subsidized sector; major crops - vegetables, rice, fruit, tea; livestock - hogs, poultry, beef, milk; not self-sufficient in wheat, soybeans, corn; fish catch increasing, reached 1.4 million metric tons in 1988 Illicit drugs: an important heroin transit point; also a major drug money laundering center

*Taiwan, Economy

Economic aid: US, including Ex-Im (FY46-82), $4.6 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $500 million Currency: 1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: New Taiwan dollars per US$1 - 25.125 (1992 est.), 25.748 (1991), 27.108 (1990), 26.407 (1989) 28.589 (1988), 31.845 (1987) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

*Taiwan, Communications

Railroads: about 4,600 km total track with 1,075 km common carrier lines and 3,525 km industrial lines; common carrier lines consist of the 1.067-meter gauge 708 km West Line and the 367 km East Line; a 98.25 km South Link Line connection was completed in late 1991; common carrier lines owned by the government and operated by the Railway Administration under Ministry of Communications; industrial lines owned and operated by government enterprises Highways: 20,041 km total; 17,095 km bituminous or concrete pavement, 2,371 km crushed stone or gravel, 575 km graded earth Pipelines: petroleum products 615 km, natural gas 97 km Ports: Kao-hsiung, Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Su-ao, T'ai-tung Merchant marine: 223 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,761,609 GRT/9,375,677 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 43 cargo, 11 refrigerated cargo, 85 container, 19 oil tanker, 2 combination ore/oil, 1 specialized tanker, 57 bulk, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 2 combination bulk, 1 chemical tanker Airports: total: 40 usable: 38 with permanent-surface runways: 36 with runways over 3,659 m: 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 16 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 7 Telecommunications: best developed system in Asia outside of Japan; 7,800,000 telephones; extensive microwave radio relay links on east and west coasts; broadcast stations - 91 AM, 23 FM, 15 TV (13 repeaters); 8,620,000 radios; 6,386,000 TVs (5,680,000 color, 706,000 monochrome); satellite earth stations - 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; submarine cable links to Japan (Okinawa), the Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

*Taiwan, Defense Forces

Branches: General Staff, Ministry of National Defense, Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, Coastal Patrol and Defense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Military Police Command Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,095,857; fit for military service 4,731,172 (1993 est.); about 184,740 currently reach military age (19) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $10.9 billion, 5.4% of GNP (FY93/94 est.)

*Tajikistan, Geography

Location: South Asia, between Uzbekistan and China Map references: Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 143,100 km2 land area: 142,700 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin Land boundaries: total 3,651 km, Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: boundary with China under dispute; territorial dispute with Kyrgyzstan on northern boundary in Isfara Valley area; Afghanistan's support to Islamic fighters in Tajikistan's civil war Climate: midlatitude; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains Terrain: Pamir and Altay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in north, Kafirnigan and Vakhsh Valleys in south or southwest Natural resources: significant hydropower potential, petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 23% forest and woodland: 0% other: 71% Irrigated land: 6,940 km2 (1990) Environment: NA Note: landlocked

*Tajikistan, People

Population: 5,836,140 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.72% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 35.52 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 6.87 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -1.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 63.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.5 years male: 65.66 years female: 71.48 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.7 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Tajik(s) adjective: Tajik Ethnic divisions: Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining because of emigration), other 6.6% Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 5% Languages: Tajik (official) Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 99% Labor force: 1.938 million by occupation: agriculture and forestry 43%, industry and construction 22%, other 35% (1990)

*Tajikistan, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan conventional short form: Tajikistan local long form: Respublika i Tojikiston local short form: none former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic Digraph: TI Type: republic Capital: Dushanbe Administrative divisions: 2 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast') and one autonomous oblast*;, Gorno-Badakhshan*;, Khatlon, Leninabad (Khudzhand) note: the rayons around Dushanbe are under direct republic jurisdiction; an oblast usually has the same name as its administrative center (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses) Independence: 9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) Constitution: as of mid-1993, a new constitution had not been formally approved Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts National holiday: NA Political parties and leaders: Tajik Democratic Party (TDP), Maksud IKRAMOV, Davia KOUDONAZAROV, Shodmon YUSUPOV; Tajik Socialist Party (TSP), Rakhman NABIYEV, Kakhkhor MAKHKAMOV; Islamic Revival Party (IRP), Mullah Mukhamedsharif KHIMATZODA, Daviat USMON Other political or pressure groups: Tajik People's Front Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held 27 October 1991 (next to be held NA); results - Rakhman NABIYEV, Communist Party 60%; Davlat KHUDONAZAROV, Democratic Party, Islamic Rebirth Party and Rastokhoz Party 30% Supreme Soviet: last held 25 February 1990 (next to be held NA); results - Communist Party 99%, other 1%; seats - (230 total) Communist Party 227, other 3 note: in May 1992, the Supreme Soviet was replaced by the transitional 80-member Assembly (Majlis) and in November 1992 Emomili RAKHMANOV, chairman of the Assembly, became Chief of State Executive branch: president, prime minister, cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly (Majlis) Judicial branch: NA

*Tajikistan, Government