Chapter 61 of 110 · 3997 words · ~20 min read

Part 61

Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, 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, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified : Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Geography - note: landlocked

@Luxembourg:People

Population: 420,416 (July 1997 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years : 18% (male 39,219; female 37,459) 15-64 years: 67% (male 143,754; female 138,493) 65 years and over: 15% (male 24,653; female 36,838) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.16% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 11.92 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 9.29 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 8.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.33 years male : 74.24 years female: 80.52 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Nationality: noun : Luxembourger(s) adjective: Luxembourg

Ethnic groups: Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, and European (guest and worker residents)

Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%

Languages: Luxembourgish, German, French, English

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male : 100% female: 100% (1980 est.)

@Luxembourg:Government

Country name: 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

Government type: constitutional monarchy

National capital: Luxembourg

Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Independence: 1839

National holiday: National Day, 23 June (1921) (public celebration of the Grand Duke's birthday)

Constitution: 17 October 1868, occasional revisions

Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch: chief of state: Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964); Heir Apparent Prince HENRI (son of Grand Duke JEAN, born 16 April 1955) head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984) cabinet : Council of Ministers appointed by the sovereign, responsible to the Chamber of Deputies elections : none; the grand duke is a hereditary monarch; prime minister and vice prime minister appointed by the sovereign but are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies

Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 June 1994 (next to be held by June 1999) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CSV 21, LSAP 17, DP 12, Action Committee for Democracy and Pension Rights 5, Greens 5 note: the Conseil d'Etat or Council of State is an advisory body whose views are considered by the Chamber of Deputies

Judicial branch: Superior Court of Justice or Cour Superieure de Justice, judges are appointed for life by the Grand Duke; Administrative Court or Tribunale Administratin

Political parties and leaders: Christian Social People's Party or CSV [Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP [Ben FAYOT]; Democratic Party or DP [Lydie Wurth POLFER]; Action Committee for Democracy and Pension Rights [Roby MEHLEN]; the Green Alternative [Abbes JACOBY]; other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders: group of steel companies representing iron and steel industry; Centrale Paysanne representing agricultural producers; Christian and Socialist labor unions; Federation of Industrialists; Artisans and Shopkeepers Federation

International organization participation: ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alphonse BERNS chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171 FAX : [1] (202) 328-8270 consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Clay CONSTANTINOU embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail) telephone: [352] 46 01 23 FAX : [352] 46 14 01

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France

Economy

Economy - overview: The stable, prosperous economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. The industrial sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified. During the past decades, growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing proportion of the economy. Luxembourg

## participates in an economic union with Belgium on trade and most

financial matters, is also closely connected economically to the Netherlands, and, as a member of the EU, enjoys the advantages of the open European market.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $10 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 3.7% (1995 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $24,500 (1995 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 21% services: 74% (1995)

Inflation rate - consumer price index: 2.3% (1995)

Labor force: total: 213,100 (one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany) by occupation : trade, restaurants, hotels 20%, mining, quarrying, manufacturing 16%, other market services 18%, community, social, personal services 14%, construction 11%, finance, insurance, real estate, business services 9%, transport, storage, communications 8%, agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing 1%, electricity, gas, water 1% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: 3% (1995)

Budget: revenues: $5.46 billion expenditures: $5.44 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Industries: banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum

Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)

Electricity - capacity: 1.2 million kW (1994)

Electricity - production: 1.2 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita: 13,443 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture - products: barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products

Exports: total value: $7.3 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass, aluminum, other industrial products partners : Germany 28%, France 18%, Belgium 15%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%

Imports: total value: $9.1 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods partners: Belgium 38%, Germany 25%, France 11%, Netherlands 4%

Debt - external: $NA

Economic aid: donor: ODA, $50 million (1993)

Currency: 1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1 - 30.067 (January 1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994), 34.597 (1993), 32.150 (1992); note - the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Luxembourg:Communications

Telephones: 221,900 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios: 230,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 plus 1 direct-broadcast satellite link

Televisions: 100,500 (1993 est.)

@Luxembourg:Transportation

Railways: total: 275 km standard gauge : 275 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified; 178 km double track) (1995)

Highways: total : 5,137 km paved: 5,086 km (including 123 km of expressways) unpaved: 51 km (1995 est.)

Waterways: 37 km; Moselle

Pipelines: petroleum products 48 km

Ports and harbors: Mertert

Merchant marine: total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 858,861 GRT/1,188,457 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, chemical tanker 5, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 12, oil tanker 4, passenger 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6 (1996 est.)

Airports: 2 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m : 1 (1996 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, National Gendarmerie

Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49 : 107,842 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 88,733 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 2,337 (1997 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $142 million (1995)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.8% (1995)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________

MACAU

(overseas territory of Portugal)

@Macau: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 : 16 sq km land: 16 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: total: 0.34 km border countries: China 0.34 km

Coastline: 40 km

Maritime claims: not specified

Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Terrain: generally flat

Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Coloane Alto 174 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other : 100% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: NA

Environment - current issues: NA

Environment - international agreements: party to: Ozone Layer Protection (extended from Portugal) signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography - note: essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two islands to the peninsula on mainland

@Macau:People

Population: 502,325 (July 1997 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 60,270; female 56,803) 15-64 years: 68% (male 169,850; female 171,551) 65 years and over: 9% (male 18,208; female 25,643) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.05% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 13.78 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 4.41 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 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 total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population : 80.05 years male: 77.57 years female : 82.65 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.53 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Nationality: noun: Macanese (singular and plural) adjective: Macau

Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%

Religions: Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%, other 1.2% (1981)

Languages: Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)

Literacy: definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90% male: 93% female: 86% (1981 est.)

@Macau:Government

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Macau local long form: none local short form : Ilha de Macau

Data code: MC

Dependency status: overseas territory of Portugal; note - scheduled to revert to China on 20 December 1999

Government type: NA

National 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 Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996) head of government: Governor General Vasco Joachim Rocha VIERA (since 20 March 1991) 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 elections: none; governor general appointed by the president of Portugal after consultation with the Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (23 seats; 8 elected by popular vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the governor; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates including the president; lower court judges appointed for three-year terms by the governor

Political parties and leaders: Association to Defend the Interests of Macau, leader NA; Macau Democratic Center, leader NA; Group to Study the Development of Macau, leader NA; Macau Independent Group, leader NA

Political pressure groups and leaders: 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), WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration)

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong

Flag description: the flag of Portugal is used

Economy

Economy - 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 - $6.8 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $13,600 (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Inflation rate - consumer price index: 5.5% (first half 1996)

Labor force: total : 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: 260,000 kW (1994)

Electricity - production: 1.2 billion kWh (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita: 2,750 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture - products: rice, vegetables

Exports: total value: $1.99 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: textiles, clothing, toys partners: US 42%, Hong Kong 10%, Germany 9.9%, China 9.6%, France 8%, UK 7.2% (1995)

Imports: total value : $1.99 billion (c.i.f.,1996 est.) commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods partners: Hong Kong 33%, China 20%, Japan 18% (1992 est.)

Debt - external: $0 (1996)

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 pataca (P) = 100 avos

Exchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1 - 7.962 (1996), 8.034 (1993-95), 7.973 (1992); note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Macau: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.)

@Macau:Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 97 km paved : 97 km (1995 est.)

Ports and harbors: Macau

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 1

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Military

Military branches: NA

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 144,117 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 79,819 (1997 est.)

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Portugal

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________

MACEDONIA, Yugoslav Republic of]

@Macedonia,:Geography

Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Geographic coordinates: 41 50 N, 22 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area: total : 25,333 sq km land: 24,856 sq km water: 477 sq km

Area - comparative: 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)

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

Elevation extremes: 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: 24% permanent crops : 2% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 39% other: 10% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 830 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: high seismic risks

Environment - current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants

Environment - international agreements: party to: Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified : none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe

@Macedonia,:People

Population: 1,995,859 (July 1997 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: 24% (male 245,923; female 231,621) 15-64 years: 67% (male 670,535; female 665,556) 65 years and over : 9% (male 82,285; female 99,939) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.68% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 15.88 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 8.13 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 20.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population : 72.48 years male: 70.41 years female: 74.71 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.07 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Nationality: noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian

Ethnic groups: 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

@Macedonia,:Government

Country name: 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

Government type: emerging democracy

National 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 note: in September 1996, the Macedonian Parliament passed legislation changing the territorial division of the country; names of the 123 new municipalities are not yet available

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) head of government: Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 4 September 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly; note - after the withdrawal of the Liberal Party (LP) from the ruling coalition in early 1996, the Council of Ministers was reorganized without LP participation elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: Kiro GLIGOROV elected president; percent of vote - NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly or Sobranje (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 and 30 October 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998) election results : percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SDSM 58, LP 29, SP 8, PDP 10, NDP 4, independents 7, other 4; note - since October 1994 elections, some members of the Assembly have changed their party affiliation; the seating as of January 1997 is as follows: SDSM 61, LP 27, SP 6, PDP 11, NDP 2, PDPA 5, independents 3, other 5

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 or SDSM (former Communist Party) [Branko CRVENKOVSKI, president]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PDP [Abdurahman ALITI, president]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Ilijas HALIMI, president]; Liberal Party or LP [Stojan ANDOV, president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubislav IVANOV-ZINGO, president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Ljupco GEORGIEVSKI, president]; Democratic Party or DP [Petar GOSEV, president]; Party for Democratic Prosperity of Albanians or PDPA [Arben XHAFFERI, president]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Movement for All Macedonian

## Action or 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, ISO, ITU, NACC, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ljubica Z. ACEVSKA chancery: 3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 337 3063 FAX: [1] (202) 337 3093

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher Robert HILL (18 July 1996) embassy: Ilindenska BB, 9100 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone : [389] (91) 116-180 FAX: [389] (91) 117-103

Flag description: a rising yellow sun with 8 rays extending to the edges of the red field

Economy

Economy - 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. The economy slowly rebounded in 1996 after years of recession. Continued recovery depends on Macedonia's ability to redevelop trade ties with Greece and Serbia and Montenegro; as well as on Skopje's continued commitment to economic liberalization. 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.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $2 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 1.1% (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $960 (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 44% services : 32%

Inflation rate - consumer price index: 5% (1996 est.)

Labor force: total: 591,773 (June 1994) by occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)

Unemployment rate: 38% (1996 est.); note - many employed workers are, in fact, furloughees

Budget: revenues : $1.06 billion expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Industries: coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1996 est.)

Electricity - capacity: 1.38 million kW (1994)

Electricity - production: 5.22 billion kWh (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita: 2,408 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture - products: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton

Exports: total value: $900 million (1996 est.) commodities: food, beverage, tobacco 17.0%, machinery and transport equipment 13.3%, other manufactured goods 58% partners : Bulgaria, other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, Italy

Imports: total value: $1.4 billion (1996 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, chemicals 14%, fuels 12% partners: other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, Bulgaria, Italy, Austria