Chapter 39
Agriculture - products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish
Exports: total value: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: textiles 16%, food products 16%, machinery and equipment 16%, metals 9% (1995) partners: Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Latvia (1995)
Imports: total value : $3.1 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and equipment 29%, foodstuffs 14%, minerals 13%, textiles 13%, metals 12% (1995) partners: Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany (1995)
Debt - external: $270 million (January 1996)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $147 million (1993) note: Western commitments $285 million (including international financial institutions)
Currency: 1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents (introduced in August 1992)
Exchange rates: krooni (EEK) per US$1 - 12.6 (January 1997), 12.410 (December 1996), 12.034 (1996), 11.465 (1995), 12.991 (1994), 13.223 (1993); note - krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Estonia:Communications
Telephones: 400,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: system is antiquated; improvements are being made piecemeal, with emphasis on business needs and international connections; there are still about 150,000 unfulfilled requests for subscriber service domestic : substantial investment has been made in cellular systems which are operational throughout Estonia international: international traffic is carried to the other former Soviet republics by landline or microwave radio relay and to other countries partly by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch and partly by a new Tallinn-Helsinki fiber-optic, submarine cable which gives Estonia access to international circuits everywhere; access to the international packet-switched digital network via Helsinki
Radio broadcast stations: 3 commercial broadcast stations, 1 government broadcast station (1994)
Radios: 710,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1993) note: provide Estonian programs as well as Moscow Ostenkino's first and second programs
Televisions: 600,000 (1993 est.)
@Estonia:Transportation
Railways: total : 1,018 km common carrier lines only; does not include dedicated industrial lines broad gauge: 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)
Highways: total: 14,992 km paved: 8,096 km (including 65 km of expressways) unpaved : 6,896 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 500 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: natural gas 420 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Haapsalu, Narva, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn
Merchant marine: total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 364,492 GRT/478,441 DWT ships by type : bulk 7, cargo 31, container 4, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 4 (1996 est.)
Airports: 22 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m : 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy/Coast Guard, Air and Air Defense Force (not officially sanctioned), Maritime Border Guard, Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 353,616 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 277,489 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 10,396 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $35 million (1995)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.5% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical border agreement in December 1996, which Estonia is prepared to sign and ratify in January 1997; Estonia had claimed over 2,000 sq km territory in the Narva and Pechory regions in Russia - based on boundary established under the 1920 Peace Treaty of Tartu
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and the Caucasus, and cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia ______________________________________________________________________
ETHIOPIA
Introduction
Historical perspective: on 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) toppled the authoritarian government of MENGISTU Haile-Mariam and took control in Addis Ababa; a new constitution was promulgated in December 1994 and national and regional popular elections were held in May and June 1995
@Ethiopia:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,127,127 sq km land: 1,119,683 sq km water: 7,444 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 5,311 km border countries: Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 830 km, Somalia 1,626 km, Sudan 1,606 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Denakil -125 m highest point: Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m
Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops : 1% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 25% other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,900 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
Environment - current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993
@Ethiopia:People
Population: 58,732,577 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years : 46% (male 13,492,323; female 13,444,656) 15-64 years: 51% (male 15,167,806; female 15,020,499) 65 years and over: 3% (male 745,554; female 861,739) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.67% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 45.59 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 17.56 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.) note: repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan, Kenya and Somalia for refuge from war and famine in earlier years, is expected to continue in 1997; entry into Ethiopia of Sudanese and Somalis fleeing the fighting in their own countries is also continuing in 1997
Sex ratio: at birth : 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 121.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.62 years male : 45.48 years female: 47.8 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.94 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian
Ethnic groups: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
Religions: Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8%
Languages: Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.5% male: 45.5% female : 25.3% (1995 est.)
@Ethiopia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia conventional short form: Ethiopia local long form: YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik local short form: YeItyop'iya abbreviation: FDRE
Data code: ET
Government type: federal republic
National capital: Addis Ababa
Administrative divisions: 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akababi) and 1 federal capital*: Addis Ababa*; Afar; Amhara; Benshangul/Gumaz; Gambela; Harar; Oromia; Somali; Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples; Tigray
Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years
National holiday: National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of Mengistu regime)
Constitution: new constitution promulgated in December 1994
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state : President NEGASSO Gidada (since 22 August 1995) head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA August 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided in the December 1994 constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and approved by the Council of People's Representatives elections : president elected by the Council of People's Representatives for a six-year term; election last held June 1995 (next to be held NA 2001); prime minister designated by the party in power following legislative elections election results: NEGASSO Gidada elected president; percent of vote by the Council of People's Representatives - NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Council of the Federation or upper chamber (117 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the Council of People's Representatives or lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms); note - the upper chamber represents the ethnic interests of the regional governments elections: regional and national popular elections were held in May and June 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) and the Federal Parliamentary Assembly assumed legislative power on 21 August 1995 election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - NA; note - EPRDF won nearly all seats
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the national legislature
Political parties and leaders: Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF [MELES Zenawi]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Oromo Liberation Front or OLF; All Amhara People's Organization; Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition; numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed since MENGISTU'S resignation, including several Islamic militant groups
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission : Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-2281, 2282 FAX: [1] (202) 328-7950
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David H. SHINN (17 June 1996) embassy : Entoto Street, Addis Ababa mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa telephone: [251] (1) 550666 FAX: [251] (1) 552191
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the pan-African colors
Economy
Economy - overview: Ethiopia continues to face difficult economic problems as one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Its economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for more than half of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total employment; coffee generates 60% of export earnings. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent periods of drought, poor cultivation practices, and deterioration of internal security conditions. The manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on inputs from the agricultural sector. Over 90% of large-scale industry, but less than 10% of agriculture, is state-run. The government is considering selling off a portion of state-owned plants and is implementing reform measures that are gradually liberalizing the economy. A major medium-term problem is the improvement of roads, water supply, and other parts of an infrastructure badly neglected during years of civil strife.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $24.8 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 7.7% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $430 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 57% industry: 10% services: 33% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 10% (1995 est.)
Labor force: total: 18 million by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues : $1 billion expenditures: $1.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $415 million (FY96/97)
Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 630,000 kW (1991)
Electricity - production: 1.27 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 23 kWh (1994 est.)
Agriculture - products: cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes, other vegetables; hides, cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: total value : $423 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: coffee, leather products, gold (1995) partners: Germany 18%, Japan 13%, Djibouti 10%, Saudi Arabia 8% (1993)
Imports: total value: $1.15 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals (1995) partners : Saudi Arabia 13.3%, Italy 11.6%, US 10.2%, Germany 9.1%, Japan (1993)
Debt - external: $4.3 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $367 million (FY95/96)
Currency: 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 (end of period) - 6.4260 (December 1996), 6.4260 (1996), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994), 5.0000 (fixed rate 1992-93); fixed at 2.070 before 1992 note: since May 1993, the birr market rate has been determined in an interbank market supported by weekly wholesale auction; prior to that date, the official rate was pegged to US$1 = 5.000 birr
Fiscal year: 8 July - 7 July
@Ethiopia:Communications
Telephones: 100,000 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: open wire and microwave radio relay system adequate for government use domestic: open wire and microwave radio relay international: open wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 9.9 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 100,000 (1993 est.)
@Ethiopia:Transportation
Railways: total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 28,360 km paved : 4,254 km unpaved: 24,106 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: none; Ethiopia is landlocked but by agreement with Eritrea may use the ports of Assab and Massawa
Merchant marine: total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 60,081 GRT/84,686 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 (1996 est.)
Airports: 59 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 13 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m : 1 under 914 m: 6 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 46 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 31 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Police note: following the secession of Eritrea, Ethiopia's naval facilities remained in Eritrea's possession; current reorganization plans do not include a navy
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 13,257,668 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 6,889,800 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 605,030 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $110 million (1996)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: most of the southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden
Illicit drugs: transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (chat) for local use and regional export ______________________________________________________________________
EUROPA ISLAND
(possession of France)
@Europa Island:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 22 20 S, 40 22 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 28 sq km land: 28 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 22.2 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point : Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 24 m
Natural resources: negligible
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures : NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: wildlife sanctuary
@Europa Island:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a small military garrison
@Europa Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form : none conventional short form: Europa Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Europa
Data code: EU
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
National capital: none; administered by France from Reunion
Independence: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Europa Island:Communications
Communications - note: 1 meteorological station
@Europa Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar ______________________________________________________________________
FALKLAND ISLANDS (ISLAS MALVINAS) (Islas Malvinas)]
(dependent territory of the UK)
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):Geography
Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina
Geographic coordinates: 51 45 S, 59 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 12,170 sq km land: 12,170 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate
Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point : Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Natural resources: fish, wildlife
Land use: arable land : 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 99% forests and woodland: 0% other : 1% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to : NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):People
Population: 2,432 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.43% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio: at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female total population : NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality: noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island
Ethnic groups: British
Religions: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages: English
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):Government
Country name: conventional long form : Colony of the Falkland Islands conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Data code: FA
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK
Government type: NA
National capital: Stanley
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution: 3 October 1985
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state : Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor Richard RALPH (since 29 January 1996) cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex-officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor elections : none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats, 8 elected; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held NA October 1993 (next was to be held NA October 1998) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is non-resident
Political parties and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
Economy