Part 39
Long-form name: State of Kuwait Type: nominal constitutional monarchy Capital: Kuwait Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (mu'hafaz'at, singular - muh'afaz'ah); Al Ah'madi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt, 'Hawalli; Farwaniyah Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK) Constitution: 16 November 1962 (some provisions suspended since 29 August 1962) Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day, 25 February Executive branch: amir, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: National Assembly (Majlis al `umma) dissolved 3 July 1986; elections for new Assembly scheduled for October 1992 Judicial branch: High Court of Appeal Leaders: Chief of State: Amir Shaykh JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 31 December 1977) Head of Government: Prime Minister and Crown Prince SA`UD al-`Abdallah al-Salim al-Sabah (since 8 February 1978); Deputy Prime Minister SALIM al-Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah Political parties and leaders: none Suffrage: adult males who resided in Kuwait before 1920 and their male descendants at age 21; note - out of all citizens, only 10% are eligible to vote and only 5% actually vote Elections: National Assembly: dissolved 3 July 1986; new elections are scheduled for October 1992 Other political or pressure groups: 40,000 Palestinian community; small, clandestine leftist and Shi`a fundamentalist groups are active; several groups critical of government policies are active Member of: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Shaykh Sa`ud Nasir al-SABAH; Chancery at 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 966-0702 US: Ambassador Edward (Skip) GNEHM, Jr.; Embassy at Bneid al-Gar (opposite the Kuwait International Hotel), Kuwait City (mailing address is P.O. Box 77 SAFAT, 13001 SAFAT, Kuwait; APO AE 09880); telephone [965] 242-4151 through 4159; FAX [956] 244-2855
:Kuwait Government
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side
:Kuwait Economy
Overview: Up to the invasion by Iraq in August 1990, the oil sector had dominated the economy. Kuwait has the third-largest oil reserves in the world after Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Earnings from hydrocarbons have generated over 90% of both export and government revenues and contributed about 40% to GDP. Most of the nonoil sector has traditionally been dependent upon oil-derived government revenues. Iraq's destruction of Kuwait's oil industry during the Gulf war has devastated the economy. Iraq destroyed or damaged more than 80% of Kuwait's 950 operating oil wells, as well as sabotaged key surface facilities. Firefighters brought all of the roughly 750 oil well fires and blowouts under control by November 1991. By yearend, production had been brought back to 400,000 barrels per day; it could take two to three years to restore Kuwait's oil production to its prewar level of about 2.0 million barrels per day. Meanwhile, population had been greatly reduced because of the war, from 2.1 million to 1.4 million. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $8.75 billion, per capita $6,200; real growth rate -50% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA Unemployment rate: NA Budget: revenues $7.1 billion; expenditures $10.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.1 billion (FY88) Exports: $11.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: oil 90% partners: Japan 19%, Netherlands 9%, US 8%, Pakistan 6% Imports: $6.6 billion (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing partners: US 15%, Japan 12%, FRG 8%, UK 7% External debt: $7.2 billion (December 1989 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1988); accounts for 52% of GDP Electricity: 3,100,000 kW available out of 8,290,000 kW capacity due to Persian Gulf war; 7,300 million kWh produced, 3,311 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, building materials, salt, construction Agriculture: virtually none; dependent on imports for food; about 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported Economic aid: donor - pledged $18.3 billion in bilateral aid to less developed countries (1979-89) Currency: Kuwaiti dinar (plural - dinars); 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1 - 0.2950 (March 1992), 0.2843 (1991), 0.2915 (1990), 0.2937 (1989), 0.2790 (1988), 0.2786 (1987)
:Kuwait Economy
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
:Kuwait Communications
Railroads: 6,456 km total track length (1990); over 700 km double track; government owned Highways: 3,900 km total; 3,000 km bituminous; 900 km earth, sand, light gravel Pipelines: crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 165 km Ports: Ash Shu`aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Mina' al 'Ahmadi Merchant marine: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 1,196,435 GRT/1,957,216 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 4 livestock carrier, 18 oil tanker, 4 liquefied gas; note - all Kuwaiti ships greater than 1,000 GRT were outside Kuwaiti waters at the time of the Iraqi invasion; many of these ships transferred to the Liberian flag or to the flags of other Persian Gulf states; only 1 has returned to Kuwaiti flag since the liberation of Kuwait Civil air: 9 major transport aircraft Airports: 7 total, 4 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: civil network suffered extensive damage as a result of Desert Storm; reconstruction is under way with some restored international and domestic capabilities; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 0 FM, 3 TV; satellite earth stations - destroyed during Persian Gulf war; temporary mobile satellite ground stations provide international telecommunications; coaxial cable and radio relay to Saudi Arabia; service to Iraq is nonoperational
:Kuwait Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard Manpower availability: males 15-49, 389,770; 234,609 fit for military service; 12,773 reach military age (18) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $9.17 billion, 20.4% of GDP (1992 budget)
:Kyrgyzstan Geography
Total area: 198,500 km2 Land area: 191,300 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than South Dakota Land boundaries: 3,878 km; China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km Coastline: none - landlocked Maritime claims: none - landlocked Disputes: territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southern boundary in Isfara Valley area Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in south (Fergana Valley) Terrain: peaks of Tien Shan rise to 7,000 meters, and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation Natural resources: small amounts of coal, natural gas, oil; also nepheline, rare earth metals, mercury, bismuth, gold, uranium, lead, zinc, hydroelectric power Land use: NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other; includes NA% irrigated Environment: NA
:Kyrgyzstan People
Population: 4,567,875 (July 1992), growth rate 1.9% (1992) Birth rate: 31 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: - 8.5 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 56 deaths/1,000 live births (1991) Life expectancy at birth: 62 years male, 71 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 4.0 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Kirghiz(s); adjective - Kirghiz Ethnic divisions: Kirghiz 52%, Russian 21%, Uzbek 13%, other 14% Religions: Muslim 70%, Russian Orthodox NA% Languages: Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write Labor force: 1,894,000 (1989); agriculture 33%, other 49%, industry 18%, other NA% (1988) Organized labor: NA
:Kyrgyzstan Government
Long-form name: Republic of Kyrgyzstan Type: republic Capital: Bishkek (formerly Frunze) Administrative divisions: 6 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast'); Chu, Dzhalal-Abad, Issyk-Kul', Naryn, Osh, Talas; note - an oblast has the same name as its administrative center Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union; formerly Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic) Constitution: adopted NA, effective 20 April 1978, amended 23 September 1989; note - new constitution is being drafted Legal system: NA National holiday: NA Executive branch: president, Cabinet of Ministers Legislative branch: unicameral body or bicameral Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: President Askar AKAYEV; Vice President Felix KULOV; Chairman, Supreme Soviet, Medetkav SHERIMKULOV; Spiritual leader of Kyrgyz Muslims, Sadykzhav KAMALOV Chief of State: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990), Vice President Felix KULOV (since 2 March 1992) Head of Government: Prime Minister Tursenbek CHYNGYSHEV (since 2 March 1992) Political parties and leaders: Kyrgyzstan Democratic Movement, Zhypur ZHEKSHEYEV, Kazat AKMAKOV, and Toshubek TURGANALIEV, co-chairmen of popular front coalition of 40 informal groups for Democratic Renewal and Civic Accord, 117-man pro-Akayev parliamentary faction; Civic Accord, Coalition representing nonnative minority groups; National Revived Asaba (Banner) Party, Asan ORMUSHEV, chairman; Communist Party now banned Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: President: last held 12 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - AKAYEV won in uncontested election with 95% of vote with 90% of electorate voting; note - Republic Supreme Soviet elections held 25 February 1990; presidential elections held first by Supreme Soviet 28 October 1990, then by popular vote 12 October 1991 Supreme Soviet: note - last held 25 February 1990 (next to be held no later than November 1994); results - Commnunists (310) 90%, seats - (350 total) Other political or pressure groups: National Unity Democratic Movement; Peasant Party; Council of Free Trade Union; Union of Entrepreneurs Member of: CIS, CSCE, IMF, UN, UNCTAD
:Kyrgyzstan Government
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador NA; Chancery at NW, Washington, DC 200__; telephone (202) NA; there are Consulates General in NA; US: Charge Ralph Bresler; Interim Chancery at #66 Derzhinskiy Prospekt; Residence: Hotel Pishpek (mailing address is APO AE 09862); telephone 8-011-7-3312-22-22-70 Flag: red-orange field with yellow sun in center with folk motif medallion inscribed
:Kyrgyzstan Economy
Overview: Kyrgyzstan's small economy (less than 1% of the total for the former Soviet Union) is oriented toward agriculture, producing mainly livestock such as goats and sheep, as well as cotton, grain, and tobacco. Industry, concentrated around Bishkek, produces small quantities of electric motors, livestock feeding equipment, washing machines, furniture, cement, paper, and bricks. Mineral extraction is small, the most important minerals being rare earth metals and gold. Kyrgyzstan is a net importer of most types of food and fuel but is a net exporter of electricity. By early 1991, the Kirghiz leadership had accelerated reform, primarily by privatizing business and granting life-long tenure to farmers. In 1991 overall industrial and livestock output declined substantially. GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $NA billion, per capita $NA; real growth rate -5% (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 88% (1991) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $NA million; expenditures $NA million Exports: $115 million (1990) commodities: wool, chemicals, cotton, ferrous and nonferrous metals, shoes, machinery, tobacco partners: Russia 70%, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and others Imports: $1.5 million (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel, machinery, textiles, footwear External debt: $650 million (1991) Industrial production: growth rate 0.1% (1991) Electricity: NA kW capacity; 13,900 million kWh produced, 3,232 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: small machinery, textiles, food-processing industries, cement, shoes, sawn logs, steel, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, and rare earth metals Agriculture: wool, tobacco, cotton, livestock (sheep and goats) and cattle, vegetables, meat, grapes, fruits and berries, eggs, milk, potatoes Illicit drugs: poppy cultivation legal Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $NA billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-86), $NA million; Communist countries (1971-86), $NA million Currency: as of May 1992, retaining ruble as currency Fiscal year: calendar year
:Kyrgyzstan Communications
Railroads: 370 km; does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways: 30,300 km total; 22,600 km paved or graveled, 7,700 km earth(1990) Inland waterways: NA km perennially navigable Pipelines: NA Ports: none - landlocked Civil air: NA Airports: NA Telecommunications: poorly developed; connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth stations - Orbita and INTELSAT (TV receive only)
:Kyrgyzstan Defense Forces
Branches: Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops); National Guard, Civil Defense; CIS Forces (Ground, Air, and Air Defense) Manpower availability: males 15-49, NA fit for military service; NA reach military age (18) annually Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
:Laos Geography
Total area: 236,800 km2 Land area: 230,800 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than Utah Land boundaries: 5,083 km; Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km Coastline: none - landlocked Maritime claims: none - landlocked Disputes: boundary dispute with Thailand Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones Land use: arable land 4%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 3%; forest and woodland 58%; other 35%; includes irrigated 1% Environment: deforestation; soil erosion; subject to floods Note: landlocked
:Laos People
Population: 4,440,213 (July 1992), growth rate 2.9% (1992) Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 107 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 49 years male, 52 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 6.3 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Lao(s) or Laotian(s); adjective - Lao or Laotian Ethnic divisions: Lao 50%, Phoutheung (Kha) 15%, tribal Thai 20%, Meo, Hmong, Yao, and other 15% Religions: Buddhist 85%, animist and other 15% Languages: Lao (official), French, and English Literacy: 84% (male 92%, female 76%) age 15 to 45 can read and write (1985 est.) Labor force: 1-1.5 million; 85-90% in agriculture (est.) Organized labor: Lao Federation of Trade Unions is subordinate to the Communist party
:Laos Government
Long-form name: Lao People's Democratic Republic Type: Communist state Capital: Vientiane Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamsai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louang Namtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Saravan, Savannakhet, Sekong, Vientiane, Vientiane*, Xaignabouri, Xiangkhoang Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France) Constitution: promulgated August 1991 Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic), 2 December (1975) Executive branch: president, chairman and two vice chairmen of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: Supreme People's Assembly Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: President KAYSONE PHOMVIHAN (since 15 August 1991) Head of Government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991) Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), KAYSONE PHOMVIHAN, party chairman; includes Lao Patriotic Front and Alliance Committee of Patriotic Neutralist Forces; other parties moribund Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: Supreme People's Assembly: last held on 26 March 1989 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (79 total) number of seats by party NA Other political or pressure groups: non-Communist political groups moribund; most leaders have fled the country Member of: ACCT (associate), AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation: Charge d'Affaires LINTHONG PHETSAVAN; Chancery at 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 332-6416 or 6417 US: Charge d'Affaires Charles B. SALMON, Jr.; Embassy at Rue Bartholonie, Vientiane (mailing address is B. P. 114, Vientiane, or AMEMB, Box V, APO AP 96546); telephone (856) 2220, 2357, 2384; FAX (856) 4675
:Laos Government
Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
:Laos Economy
Overview: One of the world's poorest nations, Laos has had a Communist centrally planned economy with government ownership and control of productive enterprises of any size. In recent years, however, the government has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise. Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure; that is, it has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, limited external and internal telecommunications, and electricity available in only a limited area. Subsistence agriculture is the main occupation, accounting for over 60% of GDP and providing about 85-90% of total employment. The predominant crop is rice. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend for its survival on foreign aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid from the former USSR and Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $800 million, per capita $200; real growth rate 4% (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.4% (December 1991) Unemployment rate: 21% (1989 est.) Budget: revenues $83 million; expenditures $188.5 million, including capital expenditures of $94 million (1990 est.) Exports: $72 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: electricity, wood products, coffee, tin partners: Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, USSR, US, China Imports: $238 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.) commodities: food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures partners: Thailand, USSR, Japan, France, Vietnam, China External debt: $1.1 billion (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 12% (1991 est.); accounts for about 18% of GDP (1991 est.) Electricity: 226,000 kW capacity; 1,100 million kWh produced, 270 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction Agriculture: accounts for 60% of GDP and employs most of the work force; subsistence farming predominates; normally self-sufficient in nondrought years; principal crops - rice (80% of cultivated land), sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; livestock - buffaloes, hogs, cattle, chicken Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, opium poppy for the international drug trade, third-largest opium producer Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $276 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $605 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $995 million Currency: new kip (plural - kips); 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
:Laos Economy
Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1 - 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700 (September 1990), 576 (1989), 385 (1988), 200 (1987) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
:Laos Communications
Railroads: none Highways: about 27,527 km total; 1,856 km bituminous or bituminous treated; 7,451 km gravel, crushed stone, or improved earth; 18,220 km unimproved earth and often impassable during rainy season mid-May to mid-September Inland waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km Ports: none Airports: 57 total, 47 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 14 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: service to general public considered poor; radio communications network provides generally erratic service to government users; 7,390 telephones (1986); broadcast stations - 10 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth station
:Laos Defense Forces
Branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; including naval, aviation, and militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department Manpower availability: males 15-49, 946,289; 509,931 fit for military service; 45,232 reach military age (18) annually; conscription age NA Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
:Latvia Geography
Total area: 64,100 km2 Land area: 64,100 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia Land boundaries: 1,078 km; Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km Coastline: 531 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: NA nm Continental shelf: NA meter depth Exclusive fishing zone: NA nm Exclusive economic zone: NA nm Territorial sea: NA nm Disputes: the Abrene section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944 Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters Terrain: low plain Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite Land use: 27% arable land; NA% permanent crops; 13% meadows and pastures; 39% forest and woodland; 21% other; includes NA% irrigated Environment: heightened levels of air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga heavily polluted
:Latvia People
Population: 2,728,937 (July 1992), growth rate 0.6% (1992) Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 4 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 19 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 75 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Latvian(s);adjective - Latvian Ethnic divisions: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%, Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2% Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox Languages: Latvian NA% (official), Lithuanian NA%, Russian NA%, other NA% Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write Labor force: 1,407,000; industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, other 43% (1990) Organized labor: NA
:Latvia Government
Long-form name: Republic of Latvia Type: republic Capital: Riga Administrative divisions: none - all districts are under direct republic jurisdiction Independence: 18 November 1918; annexed by the USSR 21 July 1940, the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic declared independence 6 September 1991 from USSR Constitution: April 1978, currently rewriting constitution, but readopted the 1922 Constitution Legal system: based on civil law system National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918) Executive branch: Prime Minister Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: Chairman, Supreme Council, Anatolijs GORBUNOVS (since October 1988); Chairmen, Andrejs KRASTINS, Valdis BIRKAVS (since NA 1992) Head of Government: Prime Minister Ivars GODMANIS (since May 1990) Political parties and leaders: Democratic Labor Party of Latvia, Juris BOJARS, chairman; Inter-Front of the Working People of Latvia, Igor LOPATIN, chairman; note - Inter-Front was banned after the coup; Latvian National Movement for Independence, Eduards BERKLAVS, chairman; Latvian Social Democratic Party, Janis DINEVICS, chairman; Social Democratic Party of Latvia, Uldis BERZINS, chairman; Latvian People's Front, Romualdas RAZUKAS, chairman; Latvian Liberal Party, Georg LANSMANIS, chairman Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: President: last held October 1988 (next to be held NA; note - elected by Parliament; new elections have not been scheduled; results - percent of vote by party NA Supreme Council: last held 18 March 1990 (next to be held NA); results - undetermined; seats - (234 total) Latvian Communist Party 59, Latvian Democratic Workers Party 31, Social Democratic Party of Latvia 4, Green Party of Latvia 7, Latvian Farmers Union 7, 126 supported by the Latvia Popular Front Congress of Latvia: last held April 1990 (next to be held NA); note - the Congress of Latvia is a quasi-governmental structure; results - percent of vote by party NA%; seats - (231 total) number of seats by party NA Member of: CSCE, IAEA, UN Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Dr. Anatol DINBERGS; Chancery at 4325 17th St. NW, Washington, DC 20011; telephone (202) 726-8213 and 8214
:Latvia Government
US: Ambassador Ints SILINS; (mailing address is APO AE 09862); telephone [358] (49) 306-067 (cellular), (7) (01-32) 325-968/185; FAX [358] (49) 308-326 (cellular), (7) (01-32) 220-502 Flag: two horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (middle, narrower than other two bands) and maroon (bottom)
:Latvia Economy