Part 61

Names: conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands Digraph: CQ Type: commonwealth in political union with the US; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs Capital: Saipan Administrative divisions: none Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US) National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978) Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Legal system: based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections Executive branch: chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO (since 9 January 1990); Lieutenant Governor Benjamin T. MANGLONA (since 9 January 1990); election last held in NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1993); results - Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO, Republican Party, was elected governor Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature Senate: elections last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) Republicans 6, Democrats 3 House of Representatives: elections last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total) Republicans 10, Democrats 6, Independent 2 US House of Representatives: the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats - (1 total) Republican (Juan N. BABAUTA) Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court, Superior Court, Federal District Court Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Governor Lorenzo GUERRERO; Democratic Party, Carlos SHODA, chairman Member of: ESCAP (associate), SPC Flag: blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center

@Northern Mariana Islands, Economy

Overview: The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special programs. A rapidly growing major source of income is the tourist industry, which now employs about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is small scale, mostly handicrafts and light manufacturing. National product: GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $541 million (1992) note: GNP numbers reflect US spending National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $11,500 (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5-7.5% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $147 million expenditures: $127.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.) Exports: $263.4 million (f.o.b. 1991 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, garments, bread, pastries, concrete blocks, light iron work partners: NA Imports: $392.4 million (c.i.f. 1991 est.) commodities: food, construction, equipment, materials partners: NA External debt: $0 Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 25,000 kW production: 35 million kWh consumption per capita: 740 kWh (1990) Industries: tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts Agriculture: coconuts, fruits, cattle, vegetables Economic aid: none Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

@Northern Mariana Islands, Communications

Railroads: none Highways: total: 381.5 km paved: NA unpaved: NA undifferentiated: primary 134.5 km; secondary 55 km; local 192 km (1991) Inland waterways: none Ports: Saipan, Tinian Airports: total: 6 usable: 5 with permanent-surface runways: 3 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2 Telecommunications: broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM (1984), 1 TV, 2 cable TV stations; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

@Northern Mariana Islands, Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US

@Norway, Geography

Location: Nordic State, Northern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden Map references: Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 324,220 sq km land area: 307,860 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico Land boundaries: total 2,515 km, Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 167 km Coastline: 21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km) Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 10 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 4 nm International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land); dispute between Denmark and Norway over maritime boundary in Arctic Ocean between Greenland and Jan Mayen has been settled by the International Court of Justice; maritime boundary dispute with Russia over portion of Barents Sea Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north Natural resources: petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 27% other: 70% Irrigated land: 950 sq km (1989) Environment: current issues: water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea Note: about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines in world; Norway and Turkey only NATO members having a land boundary with Russia

@Norway, People

Population: 4,314,604 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.39% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 13.32 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 10.44 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.38 years male: 74.02 years female: 80.94 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Norwegian(s) adjective: Norwegian Ethnic divisions: Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Lapps (Sami) 20,000 Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church), other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980) Languages: Norwegian (official) note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 2.004 million (1992) by occupation: services 39.1%, commerce 17.6%, mining, oil, and manufacturing 16.0%, banking and financial services 7.6%, transportation and communications 7.8%, construction 6.1%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5.5% (1989)

@Norway, Government

Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway conventional short form: Norway local long form: Kongeriket Norge local short form: Norge Digraph: NO Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Oslo Administrative divisions: 19 provinces (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold Dependent areas: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard Independence: 26 October 1905 (from Sweden) National holiday: Constitution Day, 17 May (1814) Constitution: 17 May 1814, modified in 1884 Legal system: mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS (born 20 July 1973) head of government: Prime Minister Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND (since 3 November 1990) cabinet: State Council; appointed by the king in accordance with the will of the Storting Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Storting) Storting: elections last held on 13 September 1993 (next to be held September 1997); results - Labor 37.1%, Center Party 18.5%, Conservatives 15.6%, Christian Peoples' 8.4%, Socialist Left 7.9%, Progress 6%, Left Party 3.6%, Red Electoral Alliance 1.2%; seats - (165 total) Labor 67, Center Party 32, Consevatives 18, Christian Peoples' 13, Socialist Left 13, Progress 10, Left Party 1, Red Electoral Alliance 1, unawarded 10 Lagting: Storting elects one-fourth of its member to upper house Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hoyesterett) Political parties and leaders: Labor Party, Thorbjorn JAGLUND; Conservative Party, Jan PETERSEN; Center Party, Anne ENGER LAHNSTEIN; Christian People's Party, Kjell Magne BONDEVIK; Socialist Left, Eric SOLHEIM; Norwegian Communist, Ingre IVERSEN; Progress Party, Carl I. HAGEN; Liberal, Odd Einar DORUM; Finnmark List, leader NA; Left Party; Red Electoral Alliance Member of: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kjeld VIBE chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 333-6000 FAX: (202) 337-0870 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Miami US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas A. LOFTUS embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo 2 mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707 telephone: [47] 22-44-85-50 FAX: [47] 22-43-07-77 Flag: red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

@Norway, Economy

Overview: Norway has a mixed economy involving a combination of free market

## activity and government intervention. The government controls key

areas, such as the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state enterprises) and extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and areas with sparse resources. Norway also maintains an extensive welfare system that helps propel public sector expenditures to slightly more than 50% of the GDP and results in one of the highest average tax burdens in the world (54%). A small country with a high dependence on international trade, Norway is basically an exporter of raw materials and semiprocessed goods, with an abundance of small- and medium-sized firms, and is ranked among the major shipping nations. The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil sector to keep its economy afloat. Although one of the government's main priorities is to reduce this dependency, this situation is not likely to improve for years to come. The government also hopes to reduce unemployment and strengthen and diversify the economy through tax reform and a series of expansionary budgets. The budget deficit is expected to hit a record 8% of GDP because of welfare spending and bail-outs of the banking system. Unemployment continues at record levels of over 10% - including those in job programs - because of the weakness of the economy outside the oil sector. Economic growth was only 1.6% in 1993, while inflation was a moderate 2.3%. Oslo, a member of the European Free Trade Area, has applied for membership in the European Union and continues to deregulate and harmonize with EU regulations. Membership is expected in early 1995. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $89.5 billion (1993) National product real growth rate: 1.6% (1993) National product per capita: $20,800 (1993) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 5.5% (excluding people in job-training programs; 1993 est.) Budget: revenues: $45.3 billion expenditures: $51.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993) Exports: $32.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 40%, metals and products 10.6%, fish and fish products 6.9%, chemicals 6.4%, natural gas 6.0%, ships 5.4% partners: EC 66.3%, Nordic countries 16.3%, developing countries 8.4%, US 6.0%, Japan 1.8% (1993) Imports: $24.8 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: machinery and equipment 38.9%, chemicals and other industrial inputs 26.6%, manufactured consumer goods 17.8%, foodstuffs 6.4% partners: EC 48.6%, Nordic countries 25.1%, developing countries 9.6%, US 8.1%, Japan 8.0% (1993) External debt: $6.5 billion (1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 6.2% (1992); accounts for 14% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 26,900,000 kW production: 111 billion kWh consumption per capita: 25,850 kWh (1992) Industries: petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing Agriculture: accounts for 3% of GDP and about 6% of labor force; among world's top 10 fishing nations; livestock output exceeds value of crops; over half of food needs imported; fish catch of 1.76 million metric tons in 1989 Illicit drugs: transshipment point for drugs shipped via the CIS and Baltic states for the European market Economic aid: donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $4.4 billion Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 7.4840 (January 1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992), 6.4829 (1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Norway, Communications

Railroads: 4,223 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; Norwegian State Railways (NSB) operates 4,219 km (2,450 km electrified and 96 km double track); 4 km other Highways: total: 88,800 km paved: 38,580 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 50,220 km Inland waterways: 1,577 km along west coast; 2.4 m draft vessels maximum Pipelines: refined products 53 km Ports: Oslo, Bergen, Fredrikstad, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Trondheim Merchant marine: 764 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,793,968 GRT/35,409,472 DWT, bulk 159, cargo 92, chemical tanker 85, combination bulk 8, combination ore/oil 28, container 17, liquefied gas 81, oil tanker 162, passenger 13, passenger-cargo 2, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 13, roll-on/roll-off cargo 54, short-sea passenger 21, vehicle carrier 28 note: the government has created a captive register, the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS), as a subset of the Norwegian register; ships on the NIS enjoy many benefits of flags of convenience and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians; the majority of ships (761) under the Norwegian flag are now registered with the NIS Airports: total: 103 usable: 102 with permanent-surface runways: 65 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 13 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 15 Telecommunications: high-quality domestic and international telephone, telegraph, and telex services; 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 3,102,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 46 AM, 350 private and 143 government FM, 54 (2,100 repeaters) TV; 4 coaxial submarine cables; 3 communications satellite earth stations operating in the EUTELSAT, INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean), MARISAT, and domestic systems

@Norway, Defense Forces

Branches: Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home Guard Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,119,405; fit for military service 932,438; reach military age (20) annually 30,557 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.1 billion, 3.2% of GDP (1993)

@Oman, Geography

Location: Middle East, along the Arabian Sea, between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates Map references: Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 212,460 sq km land area: 212,460 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas Land boundaries: total 1,374 km, Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km Coastline: 2,092 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: to be defined exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: no defined boundary with most of UAE; Administrative Line with UAE in far north; a treaty with Yemen defining the Omani-Yemeni boundary was ratified in December 1992 Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south Terrain: vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas Land use: arable land: less than 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 0% other: 93% Irrigated land: 410 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; sparse natural freshwater resources natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change Note: strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

@Oman, People

Population: 1,701,470 (July 1994 est.) note: Oman's first census was concluded in December 1993; preliminary figures give a population of 2,000,000, of whom about 500,000 are expatriate workers; final evaluative figures are not yet available Population growth rate: 3.46% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 40.38 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.77 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 36.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.79 years male: 65.9 years female: 69.77 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.53 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Omani(s) adjective: Omani Ethnic divisions: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi) Religions: Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 430,000 (est.) by occupation: agriculture 40% (est.)

@Oman, Government

Names: conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman conventional short form: Oman local long form: Saltanat Uman local short form: Uman Digraph: MU Type: monarchy Capital: Muscat Administrative divisions: there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 governorates (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat); Masqat, Musandam, Zufar Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese) National holiday: National Day, 18 November (1940) Constitution: none Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: none Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970) cabinet: Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral Consultative Council Judicial branch: none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system Political parties and leaders: none Other political or pressure groups: NA Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmad bin Muhammad al-RASBI chancery: 2342 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 387-1980 through 1982 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David J. DUNFORD embassy: address NA, Muscat mailing address: P. O. Box 202 Code No. 115, Muscat telephone: [968] 698-989 FAX: [968] 604-316 Flag: three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red, and green (double width) with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered at the top of the vertical band

@Oman, Economy

Overview: Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry, including trends in international oil prices and the ability of OPEC producers to agree on output quotas. Petroleum accounts for more than 85% of export earnings, about 80% of government revenues, and roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of 4 billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years' supply at the current rate of extraction. Agriculture is carried on at a subsistence level and the general population depends on imported food. The government is encouraging private investment, both domestic and foreign, as a prime force for further economic development. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $16.4 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 6.1% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $10,000 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $4.4 billion expenditures: $5.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1 billion (1994 est.) Exports: $5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: petroleum 87%, re-exports, fish, processed copper, textiles partners: UAE 30%, Japan 27%, South Korea 10%, Singapore 5% (1991) Imports: $3.7 billion (f.o.b, 1993 est.) commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants partners: Japan 20%, UAE 14%, UK 19%, US 7% (1991) External debt: $3 billion (1993) Industrial production: growth rate 8.6% (1991); accounts for almost 60% of GDP, including petroleum Electricity: capacity: 1,142,400 kW production: 5.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,200 kWh (1992) Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP and 40% of the labor force (including fishing); less than 2% of land cultivated; largely subsistence farming (dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables, camels, cattle); not self-sufficient in food; annual fish catch averages 100,000 metric tons Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $137 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $148 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $797 million Currency: 1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza Exchange rates: Omani rials (RO) per US$1 - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Oman, Communications

Highways: total: 26,000 km paved: 6,000 km unpaved: motorable track 20,000 km Pipelines: crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km Ports: Mina' Qabus, Mina' Raysut, Mina' al Fahl Merchant marine: 1 passenger ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,442 GRT/1,320 DWT Airports: total: 138 usable: 130 with permanent-surface runways: 6 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 9 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 74 Telecommunications: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radio communications stations; limited coaxial cable; 50,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 7 TV; satellite earth stations - 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, and 8 domestic

@Oman, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Royal Oman Police Manpower availability: males age 15-49 382,793; fit for military service 217,755; reach military age (14) annually 22,118 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.6 billion, 16% of GDP (1993 est.)

@Pacific Islands (Palau), Trust Territory of the

Header Affiliation: (UN trusteeship administered by the US)

@Pacific Islands (Palau), Trust Territory of the, Geography

Location: Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 850 km southeast of the Philippines Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 458 sq km land area: 458 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 1,519 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid Terrain: about 200 islands varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to typhoons (June to December) international agreements: NA Note: includes World War II battleground of Peleliu and world-famous rock islands; archipelago of six island groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain

@Pacific Islands (Palau), Trust Territory of the, People