Chapter 63
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 lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Burgplatz 559 m
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 sq km
Environment: current issues: deforestation; air and water pollution in urban areas natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: landlocked
People ------
Population: 415,870 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 39,199; female 37,239) 15-64 years: 68% (male 142,394; female 138,349) 65 years and over: 14% (male 23,118; female 35,571) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.57% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 13.14 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.32 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 10.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.26 years male: 75.24 years female: 81.56 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (1996 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 est.) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg conventional short form: Luxembourg local long form: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg local short form: Luxembourg
Data code: LU
Type of government: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Luxembourg
Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, ======================================================================
@Macau -----
(overseas territory of Portugal)
Map ---
Location: 22 10 N, 113 33 E -- Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Flag ----
Description: the flag of Portugal is used
Geography ---------
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates: 22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total area: 16 sq km land area: 16 sq km comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0.34 km border country: China 0.34 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims: not specified
International disputes: none
Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain: generally flat lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Coloane Alto 174 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Ozone Layer Protection (extended from Portugal)
Geographic note: essentially urban; one causeway and one bridge connect the two islands to the peninsula on mainland
People ------
Population: 496,837 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 60,709; female 57,004) 15-64 years: 68% (male 167,466; female 169,486) 65 years and over: 8% (male 17,569; female 24,603) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.15% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 14.16 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 4.31 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.95 years male: 77.49 years female: 82.54 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Macanese (singular and plural) adjective: Macau
Ethnic divisions: Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%
Religions: Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%, other 1.2% (1981)
Languages: Portuguese (official) 4%, Chinese (Cantonese) is the language of commerce
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.) total population: 90% male: 93% female: 86%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Macau local long form: none local short form: Ilha de Macau
Data code: MC
Type of government: overseas territory of Portugal scheduled to revert to China in 1999
Capital: Macau
Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Ilhas, Macau
Independence: none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20 December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition)
National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law drafted primarily by Beijing promulgated 31 March 1993
Legal system: Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President (of Portugal) Mario Alberto SOARES (since 9 March 1986) head of government: Governor Gen. Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA (since 20 March 1991) was appointed by the President of Portugal after consultation with the Legislative Assembly cabinet: Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members - five appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five elected for a four-year term (two represent administrative bodies, one represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and two represent economic interests), and three statutory members
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly: elections last held 10 March 1991 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (23 total, 8 elected by direct vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the governor) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates including the president; lower court judges appointed for three years by governor
Political parties and leaders: Association to Defend the Interests of Macau; Macau Democratic Center; Group to Study the Development of Macau; Macau Independent Group
Other political or pressure groups: wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy procommunist merchants representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over administration
International organization participation: CCC, ESCAP (associate), IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), UNESCO (associate), WToO (associate), WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration)
US diplomatic representation: the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag: the flag of Portugal is used
Economy -------
Economic overview: The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned other small industries - toys, artificial flowers, and electronics. The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has provided about two-thirds of export earnings; the gambling industry probably represents over 40% of GDP. Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.4 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $13,000 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.6% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 180,000 (1986) by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $305 million expenditures: $298 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)
Industries: clothing, textiles, toys, plastic products, furniture, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 258,000 kW production: 950 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,093 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: rice, vegetables
Exports: $1.9 billion (1995 est.) commodities: textiles, clothing, toys partners: US 35%, Hong Kong 12.5%, Germany 12%, China 9.9%, France 8% (1992 est.)
Imports: $2 billion (1992 est.) commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods partners: Hong Kong 33%, China 20%, Japan 18% (1992 est.)
External debt: $0 (1995)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 pataca (P) = 100 avos
Exchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1 - 8.034 (1991-95), 8.024 (1990), 8.030 (1989); note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 90 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 48 km (1987 est.)
Ports: Macau
Merchant marine: none
Airports: new international airport completed in 1995; 1 seaplane station
Communications --------------
Telephones: 170,021 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services domestic: NA international: HF radiotelephone communication facility; access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 135,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 note: TV programs received from Hong Kong
Televisions: 34,000 (1992 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: NA
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 142,704 males fit for military service: 79,225 (1996 est.)
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Portugal
======================================================================
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of ------------------------------------------
Map ---
Location: 41 50 N, 22 00 E -- Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Flag ----
Description: a rising yellow sun with 8 rays extending to the edges of the red field
Geography ---------
Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates: 41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total area: 25,333 sq km land area: 24,856 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries: total: 748 km border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: dispute with Greece over name; in September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; Athens also lifted its economic embargo on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Climate: hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
Terrain: mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; there are three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River lowest point: Vardar River 50 m highest point: Korab 2,753 m
Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber
Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 30% other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants natural hazards: high seismic risks international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
Geographic note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
People ------
Population: 2,104,035 (July 1996 est.) note: the Macedonian government census of July 1994 put the population at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely undercounted
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (male 242,593; female 228,563) 15-64 years: 68% (male 728,969; female 703,665) 65 years and over: 10% (male 90,363; female 109,882) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.46% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 13.31 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.47 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.94 years male: 69.86 years female: 74.18 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic divisions: Macedonian 65%, Albanian 22%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%, Gypsies 3%, other 4%
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%
Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%
Literacy: NA
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia conventional short form: none local long form: Republika Makedonija local short form: Makedonija abbreviation: FYROM
Data code: MK
Type of government: emerging democracy
Capital: Skopje
Administrative divisions: 34 counties (opstinas, singular - opstina) Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar, Delcevo, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Murgasevo, Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar, Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos, Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti Nikole, Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Vinica
Independence: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: 8 September
Constitution: adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991) was elected by the Assembly in 1991 and reelected by popular vote in 1994; election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote NA; note - following a failed assassination attempt on the president in October 1995, then Parliamentary Speaker Stojan ANDOV was acting president; GLIGOROV resumed his duties in early 1996 head of government: Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 4 September 1992) was appointed by the president cabinet: Council of Ministers were elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly; note - after the withdrawal of the Liberal Party from the ruling coalition in early 1996, the Council of Ministers was reorganized without LP participation
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly (Sobranje): elections last held 16 and 30 October 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) SDSM 58, LP 29, SPM 8, PDP 10, NDP 4, independents 7, other 4
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Judicial Council; Judicial Court of the Republic, judges are elected by the Judicial Council
Political parties and leaders: Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia (SDSM; former Communist Party), Branko CRVENKOVSKI, president; Party for Democratic Prosperity (PDP), Abdurahman HALITI, president; National Democratic Party (NDP), Ilijas HALINI, president; Alliance of Reform Forces of Macedonia - Liberal Party (SRSM-LP), Stojan ANDOV, president; Socialist Party of Macedonia (SPM), Kiro POPOVSKI, president; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE), Ljupco GEORGIEVSKI, president; Party of Yugoslavs in Macedonia (SJM), Milan DURCINOV, president; Democratic Party (DP), Petar GOSEV, president; Party for Democratic Prosperity of Albanians (PDPA), Arben XHAFFERI, president
Other political or pressure groups: Movement for All Macedonian Action (MAAK); Democratic Party of Serbs; Democratic Party of Turks; Party for Democratic Action (Slavic Muslim)
International organization participation: CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ljubica ACEVSKA chancery: 3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 337 3063 FAX: [1] (202) 337 3093
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Christopher HILL; Charge d'Affaires Victor D. COMRAS embassy: ul. 27 Mart No. 5, 9100 Skopje mailing address: United States Liaison Office Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: [389] (91) 116-180 FAX: [389] (91) 117-103 note: the US agreed to establish full diplomatic relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in September 1995, and to upgrade the Liaison Office to an Embassy
Flag: a rising yellow sun with 8 rays extending to the edges of the red field
Economy -------
Economic overview: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, although the poorest republic in the former Yugoslav federation, can meet basic food and energy needs through its own agricultural and coal resources. Its economic decline will continue unless ties are reforged or enlarged with its neighbors Serbia and Montenegro, Albania, Greece, and Bulgaria. The economy depends on outside sources for all of its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts. An important supplement of GDP is the remittances from thousands of Macedonians working in Germany and other West European nations. The end of sanctions on Serbia and the lifting of the Greek embargo on Macedonia have reopened its natural trade corridors, but the country has been slow to capitalize on these opportunities. Moreover, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's geographical isolation, technological underdevelopment, and potential political instability place it far down the list of countries of interest to Western investors. An internal commitment to economic reform would encourage foreign investment over the long run.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.9 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4%
GDP per capita: $880 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 44% services: 32%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.8% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 591,773 (June 1994) by occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 37% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: -14% (1993)
Electricity: capacity: 1,600,000 kW production: 6.046 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,941 kWh (1992)
Agriculture: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton
Illicit drugs: limited illicit opium cultivation; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
Exports: $916.2 million (1995) commodities: manufactured goods 40%, machinery and transport equipment 14%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 23%, raw materials 7.6%, food (rice) and live animals 5.7%, beverages and tobacco 4.5%, chemicals 4.7% (1990) partners: principally Serbia and Montenegro and the other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, Greece, Albania
Imports: $199 million (1995) commodities: fuels and lubricants 19%, manufactured goods 18%, machinery and transport equipment 15%, food and live animals 14%, chemicals 11.4%, raw materials 10%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 8.0%, beverages and tobacco 3.5% (1990) partners: other former Yugoslav republics, Greece, Albania, Germany, Bulgaria
External debt: $737.1 million (1994)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: US, $10 million (for humanitarian and technical assistance); in December 1995, the EU agreed to provide a credit line of ECU 21.7 million for investment projects
Currency: the denar, which was adopted by the Macedonian legislature 26 April 1992, was initially issued in the form of a coupon pegged to the German mark; subsequently repegged to a basket of seven currencies
Exchange rates: denar per US$1 - 38.8 (December 1995), 39 (November 1994), 865 (October 1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (232 km electrified) (1995)
Highways: total: 10,591 km paved: 5,091 km unpaved: 5,500 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: none, lake transport only
Pipelines: none
Ports: none
Airports: total: 16 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways under 914 m: 12 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 125,000
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 369,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (relays 2)
Televisions: 327,011 (1992 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 571,927 males fit for military service: 458,231 males reach military age (19) annually: 16,698 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: 7 billion denars, NA% of GDP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
======================================================================
@Madagascar ----------
Map ---
Location: 20 00 S, 47 00 E -- Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Flag ----
Description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
Geography ---------
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 587,040 sq km land area: 581,540 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,828 km