Chapter 98
Railroads: none Highways: 1,027 km total; at least 240 km sealed or all-weather roads Ports: Port-Vila, Luganville, Palikoulo, Santu Merchant marine: 125 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,121,819 GRT/3,193,942 DWT; includes 23 cargo, 16 refrigerated cargo, 6 container, 11 vehicle carrier, 1 livestock carrier, 6 oil tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 54 bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger; note - a flag of convenience registry Airports: total: 31 usable: 31 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2 Telecommunications: broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, no TV; 3,000 telephones; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground station
*Vanuatu, Defense Forces
Branches: Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) note: no military forces Manpower availability: males age 15-49 NA; fit for military service NA Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Venezuela, Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea between Colombia and Guyana Map references: South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 912,050 km2 land area: 882,050 km2 comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of California Land boundaries: total 4,993 km, Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km Coastline: 2,800 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 15 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo river; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands Terrain: Andes mountains and Maracaibo lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guyana highlands in southeast Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 39% other: 37% Irrigated land: 2,640 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts; increasing industrial pollution in Caracas and Maracaibo Note: on major sea and air routes linking North and South America
*Venezuela, People
Population: 20,117,687 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.22% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 26.37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 4.69 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 28.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.69 years male: 69.76 years female: 75.77 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.14 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan Ethnic divisions: mestizo 67%, white 21%, black 10%, Indian 2% Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2% Languages: Spanish (official), Indian dialects spoken by about 200,000 Amerindians in the remote interior Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 88% male: 87% female: 90% Labor force: 5.8 million by occupation: services 56%, industry 28%, agriculture 16% (1985)
*Venezuela, Government
Names: conventional long form: Republic of Venezuela conventional short form: Venezuela local long form: Republica de Venezuela local short form: Venezuela Digraph: VE Type: republic Capital: Caracas Administrative divisions: 21 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 territory* ( territorio), 1, federal district**, (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependence***, (dependencia federal); Amazonas*, Anzoategui,, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales***,, Distrito Federal**,, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia note: the federal dependence consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands Independence: 5 July 1811 (from Spain) Constitution: 23 January 1961 Legal system: based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1811) Political parties and leaders: Social Christian Party (COPEI), Hilarion CARDOZO, president, and Jose CURIEL, secretary general (acting); Democratic Action (AD), Humberto CELLI, president, and Luis ALFARO Ucero, secretary general; Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), Argelia LAYA, president, and Freddy MUNOZ, secretary general; The Radical Cause ( La Causa R), Pablo Medina, secretary general Other political or pressure groups: FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOS groups Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: President: last held 4 December 1988 (next to be held 5 December 1993); results - Carlos Andres PEREZ (AD) 54.6%, Eduardo FERNANDEZ (COPEI) 41.7%, other 3.7%; note - President Carlos Andres PEREZ suspended pending trial on corruption charges Senate: last held 4 December 1988 (next to be held 5 December 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) AD 23, COPEI 22, other 4; note - 3 former presidents (1 from AD, 2 from COPEI) hold lifetime senate seats
*Venezuela, Government
Chamber of Deputies: last held 4 December 1992 (next to be held 5 December 1993); results - AD 43.7%, COPEI 31.4%, MAS 10.3%, other 14.6%; seats - (201 total) AD 97, COPEI 67, MAS 18, other 19 Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: bicameral Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica) consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: Interim President Ramon Jose VELASQUEZ (since 5 June 1993); note - President Carlos Andres PEREZ suspended pending trial on corruption charges Member of: AG, CARICOM (observer), CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Simon Alberto CONSALVI Bottaro chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 342-2214 consulates general: Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Martin SKOL embassy: Avenida Francisco de Miranda and Avenida Principal de la Floresta, Caracas mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A, or APO AA 34037 telephone: [58] (2) 285-2222 FAX: [58] (2) 285-0336 consulate: Maracaibo Flag: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
*Venezuela, Economy
Overview: Petroleum is the backbone of the economy, accounting for 23% of GDP, 70% of central government revenues, and 82% of export earnings in 1992. President PEREZ introduced an economic readjustment program when he assumed office in February 1989. Lower tariffs and the removal of price controls, a free market exchange rate, and market-linked interest rates threw the economy into confusion, causing an 8% decline in GDP in 1989. However, the economy recovered part way in 1990 and grew by 10.4% in 1991 and 7.3% in 1992, led by the non-petroleum sector. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $57.8 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 7.3% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $2,800 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 32% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 8.4% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $13.2 billion; expenditures $13.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992) Exports: $14.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: petroleum 82%, bauxite and aluminum, iron ore, agricultural products, basic manufactures partners: US 50.7%, Europe 13.7%, Japan 4.0% (1989) Imports: $12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, chemicals, manufactures, machinery and transport equipment partners: US 44%, FRG 8.0%, Japan 4%, Italy 7%, Canada 2% (1989) External debt: $27.1 billion (1992) Industrial production: growth rate 11.9% (1992 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP, including petroleum Electricity: 21,130,000 kW capacity; 58,541 million kWh produced, 2,830 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: petroleum, iron-ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly Agriculture: accounts for 6% of GDP and 16% of labor force; products - corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee, beef, pork, milk, eggs, fish; not self-sufficient in food other than meat Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and coca leaf for the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine transit the country from Colombia; important money-laundering hub Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-86), $488 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $10 million Currency: 1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos
*Venezuela, Economy
Exchange rates: bolivares (Bs) per US$1 - 80.18 (January 1993), 68.38 (1992), 56.82 (1991), 46.90 (1990), 34.68 (1989), 14.50 (fixed rate 1987-88) Fiscal year: calendar year
*Venezuela, Communications
Railroads: 542 km total; 363 km 1.435-meter standard gauge all single track, government owned; 179 km 1.435-meter gauge, privately owned Highways: 77,785 km total; 22,780 km paved, 24,720 km gravel, 14,450 km earth roads, and 15,835 km unimproved earth Inland waterways: 7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels Pipelines: crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas 4,010 km Ports: Amuay Bay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Puerto Ordaz Merchant marine: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 837,375 GRT/1,344,795 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 1 passenger cargo, 19 cargo, 2 container, 4 roll-on/roll-off, 18 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 6 bulk, 1 vehicle carrier, 1 combination bulk Airports: total: 360 usable: 331 with permanent-surface runways: 133 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 87 Telecommunications: modern and expanding; 1,440,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 181 AM, no FM, 59 TV, 26 shortwave; 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite ground stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic
*Venezuela, Defense Forces
Branches: National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales, FAN) includes - Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada), Air Forces (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperation or Guardia Nacional) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 5,192,107; fit for military service 3,769,441; reach military age (18) annually 221,043 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.95 billion, 4% of GDP (1991)
*Vietnam, Geography
Location: Southeast Asia, bordering the South China Sea, between Laos and the Philippines Map references: Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 329,560 km2 land area: 325,360 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico Land boundaries: total 3,818 km, Cambodia 982 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 1,555 km Coastline: 3,444 km (excludes islands) Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: maritime boundary with Cambodia not defined; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei; unresolved maritime boundary with Thailand; maritime boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March) Terrain: low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil deposits, forests Land use: arable land: 22% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 40% other: 35% Irrigated land: 18,300 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding
*Vietnam, People
Population: 71,787,608 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.85% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 27.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 7.92 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -1.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 46.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.1 years male: 63.08 years female: 67.25 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.45 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural) adjective: Vietnamese Ethnic divisions: Vietnamese 85-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham Religions: Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs, Islamic, Protestant Languages: Vietnamese (official), French, Chinese, English, Khmer, tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 88% male: 92% female: 84% Labor force: 32.7 million by occupation: agricultural 65%, industrial and service 35% (1990 est.)
*Vietnam, Government
Names: conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam conventional short form: Vietnam local long form: Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam local short form: Viet Nam Abbreviation: SRV Digraph: VM Type: Communist state Capital: Hanoi Administrative divisions: 50 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), 3 municipalities* (thanh pho,, singular and plural); An Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Bac Thai, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Can Tho, Cao Bang, Dac Lac, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Bac, Ha Giang, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Hung, Hai Phong*, Ho Chi, Minh*, Hoa Binh, Khanh, Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Minh Hai, Nam Ha, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam-Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Song Be, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phu, Yen Bai Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France) Constitution: NA April 1992 Legal system: based on Communist legal theory and French civil law system National holiday: Independence Day, 2 September (1945) Political parties and leaders: only party - Vietnam Communist Party (VCP), DO MUOI, general secretary Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: National Assembly: last held 19 July 1992 (next to be held NA July 1997); results - VCP is the only party; seats - (395 total) VCP or VCP-approved 395 Executive branch: president, prime minister, three deputy prime ministers Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi) Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court Leaders: Chief of State: President Le Duc ANH (since 23 September 1992) Head of Government: Prime Minister Vo Van KIET (since 9 August 1991); First Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 10 August 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen KHANH (since NA February 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Tran Duc LUONG (since NA February 1987)
*Vietnam, Government
Member of: ACCT, AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: none US diplomatic representation: none Flag: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
*Vietnam, Economy
Overview: Vietnam has made significant progress in recent years moving away from the planned economic model and toward a more effective market-based economic system. Most prices are now fully decontrolled and the Vietnamese currency has been effectively devalued and floated at world market rates. In addition, the scope for private sector activity has been expanded, primarily through decollectivization of the agricultural sector and introduction of laws giving legal recognition to private business. Despite such positive indicators, the country's economic turnaround remains tenuous. Nearly three-quarters of export earnings are generated by only two commodities, rice and crude oil. Meanwhile, industrial production stagnates, burdened by uncompetitive state-owned enterprises the government is unwilling or unable to privatize. Unemployment looms as the most serious problem with over 25% of the workforce without jobs and population growth swelling the ranks of the unemployed yearly. National product: GNP - exchange rate conversion - $16 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 7.4% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $230 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15%-20% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 25% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990) Exports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: agricultural and handicraft products, coal, minerals, crude oil, ores, seafood partners: Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan Imports: $1.9 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: petroleum products, steel products, railroad equipment, chemicals, medicines, raw cotton, fertilizer, grain partners: Japan, Singapore, Thailand External debt: $16.8 billion (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 15% (1992); accounts for 30% of GNP Electricity: 3,300,000 kW capacity; 9,000 million kWh produced, 130 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: food processing, textiles, machine building, mining, cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil Agriculture: accounts for half of GNP; paddy rice, corn, potatoes make up 50% of farm output; commercial crops (rubber, soybeans, coffee, tea, bananas) and animal products 50%; since 1989 self-sufficient in food staple rice; fish catch of 943,100 metric tons (1989 est.)
*Vietnam, Economy
Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-74), $3.1 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.9 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $61 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $12.0 billion Currency: 1 new dong (D) = 100 xu Exchange rates: new dong (D) per US$1 - 10,800 (November 1992), 8,100 (July 1991), 7,280 (December 1990), 3,996 (March 1990), 2,047 (1988), 225 (1987); note - 1985-89 figures are end of year Fiscal year: calendar year
*Vietnam, Communications
Railroads: 3,059 km total; 2,454 1.000-meter gauge, 151 km 1.435-meter (standard) gauge, 230 km dual gauge (three rails), and 224 km not restored to service after war damage Highways: 85,000 km total; 9,400 km paved, 48,700 km gravel or improved earth, 26,900 km unimproved earth (est.) Inland waterways: 17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at all times by vessels up to 1.8 meter draft Pipelines: petroleum products 150 km Ports: Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City Merchant marine: 99 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 460,712 GRT/739,246 DWT; includes 84 cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 8 oil tanker, 3 bulk Airports: total: 100 usable: 100 with permanent-surface runways: 50 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 10 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 20 Telecommunications: the inadequacies of the obsolete switching equipment and cable system is a serious constraint on the business sector and on economic growth, and restricts access to the international links that Vietnam has established with most major countries; the telephone system is not generally available for private use (25 telephones for each 10,000 persons); 3 satellite earth stations; broadcast stations - NA AM, 288 FM; 36 (77 repeaters) TV; about 2,500,000 TV receivers and 7,000,000 radio receivers in use (1991)
*Vietnam, Defense Forces
Branches: Ground, Navy (including Naval Infantry), Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 17,835,536; fit for military service 11,338,880; reach military age (17) annually 771,792 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GNP
*Virgin Islands, Header
Affiliation: (territory of the US)
*Virgin Islands, Geography
Location: in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east and southeast of Puerto Rico Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 352 km2 land area: 349 km2 comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 188 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: none Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 6% meadows and pastures: 26% forest and woodland: 6% other: 47% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: rarely affected by hurricanes; subject to frequent severe droughts, floods, earthquakes; lack of natural freshwater resources Note: important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
*Virgin Islands, People