Part 6
Overview: Argentina, rich in natural resources, benefits also from a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Nevertheless, following decades of mismanagement and statist policies, the economy in the late 1980s was plagued with huge external debts and recurring bouts of hyperinflation. Elected in 1989, in the depths of recession, President MENEM has implemented a comprehensive economic restructuring program that shows signs of putting Argentina on a path of stable, sustainable growth. Argentina's currency has traded at par with the US dollar since April 1991, and inflation has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years. Argentines have responded to the relative price stability by repatriating flight capital and investing in domestic industry. The economy registered an impressive 6% advance in 1994, fueled largely by inflows of foreign capital and strong domestic consumption spending. The government's major short term objective is encouraging exports, e.g., by reducing domestic costs of production. At the start of 1995, the government had to deal with the spillover from international financial movements associated with the devaluation of the Mexican peso. In addition, unemployment had become a serious issue for the government. Despite average annual 7% growth in 1991-94, unemployment surprisingly has doubled - due mostly to layoffs in government bureaus and in privatized industrial firms and utilities and, to a lesser degree, to illegal immigration. Much remains to be done in the 1990s in dismantling the old statist barriers to growth, extending the recent economic gains, and bringing down the rate of unemployment.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $270.8 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 6% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $7,990 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $48.46 billion expenditures: $46.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.5 billion (1994 est.)
Exports: $15.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, manufactures partners: US 12%, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Netherlands
Imports: $21.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and lubricants, agricultural products partners: US 22%, Brazil, Germany, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands
External debt: $73 billion (April 1994)
Industrial production: growth rate 12.5% accounts for 31% of GDP (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 17,330,000 kW production: 54.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,610 kWh (1993)
Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Agriculture: accounts for 8% of GDP (including fishing); produces abundant food for both domestic consumption and exports; among world's top five exporters of grain and beef; principal crops - wheat, corn, sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets
Illicit drugs: increasing use as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for the US and Europe
Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.4 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $718 million
Currency: 1 nuevo peso argentino = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: pesos per US$1 - 0.99870 (December 1994), 0.99901 (1994), 0.99895 (1993), 0.99064 (1992), 0.95355 (1991), 0.48759 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Argentina:Transportation
Railroads: total: 34,572 km broad gauge: NA km 1.676-m gauge standard gauge: NA km 1.435-m narrow gauge: 400 km 0.750-m gauge; NA km 1.000-m gauge (209 km electrified)
Highways: total: 208,350 km paved: 57,000 km unpaved: gravel 39,500 km; improved/unimproved earth 111,850 km
Inland waterways: 11,000 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; natural gas 9,918 km
Ports: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario, Santa Fe, Ushuaia
Merchant marine: total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 434,525 GRT/667,501 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 21, chemical tanker 1, container 4, oil tanker 8, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
Airports: total: 1,602 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 55 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 48 with paved runways under 914 m: 703 with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 70 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 693
@Argentina:Communications
Telephone system: 2,650,000 telephones; 12,000 public telephones; 78 telephones/1,000 persons; extensive modern system but many families do not have telephones; microwave widely used; however, during rainstorms, the telephone system frequently grounds out, even in Buenos Aires local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay and domestic satellite network with 40 earth stations international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
Radio: broadcast stations: AM 171, FM 0, shortwave 13 radios: NA
Television: broadcast stations: 231 televisions: NA
@Argentina:Defense Forces
Branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic, Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval Prefecture (Coast Guard only), National Aeronautical Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 8,573,780; males fit for military service 6,954,584; males reach military age (20) annually 301,166 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
________________________________________________________________________
ARMENIA
@Armenia:Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - European States
Area: total area: 29,800 sq km land area: 28,400 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total 1,254 km, Azerbaijan (east) 566 km, Azerbaijan (south) 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: supports ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh in their separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani government; traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided
Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain: high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 0% other: 60%
Irrigated land: 3,050 sq km (1990)
Environment: current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation as citizens scavenge for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich, a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Note: landlocked
@Armenia:People
Population: 3,557,284 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (female 542,664; male 570,998) 15-64 years: 61% (female 1,103,171; male 1,076,226) 65 years and over: 8% (female 154,784; male 109,441) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.94% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 22.79 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.66 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 26 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.36 years male: 68.94 years female: 75.95 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.06 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian
Ethnic divisions: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989) note: as of the end of 1994, most Azeris had emigrated from Armenia
Religions: Armenian Orthodox 94%
Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989) total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98%
Labor force: 1.578 million by occupation: industry and construction 34%, agriculture and forestry 31%, other 35% (1992)
@Armenia:Government
Names: conventional long form: Republic of Armenia conventional short form: Armenia local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun local short form: Hayastan former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic
Digraph: AM
Type: republic
Capital: Yerevan
Administrative divisions: 37 regions (shrjanner, singular - shrjan) and 23 cities* (kaghakner, singular - kaghak); Abovyan*, Akhuryani Shrjan, Alaverdi*, Amasiayi Shrjan, Anii Shrjan, Aparani Shrjan, Aragatsi Shrjan, Ararat*, Ararati Shrjan, Armaviri Shrjan, Artashat*, Artashati Shrjan, Art'ik*, Art'iki Shrjan, Ashots'k'i Shrjan, Ashtarak*, Ashtaraki Shrjan, Baghramyani Shrjan, Ch'arents'avan*, Dilijan*, Ejmiatsin*, Ejmiatsni Shrjan, Goris*, Gorisi Shrjan, Gugark'i Shrjan, Gyumri*, Hoktemberyan*, Hrazdan*, Hrazdani Shrjan, Ijevan*, Ijevani Shrjan, Jermuk*, Kamo*, Kamoyi Shrjan, Kapan*, Kapani Shrjan, Kotayk'i Shrjan, Krasnoselski Shrjan, Martunu Shrjan, Masisi Shrjan, Meghru Shrjan, Metsamor*, Nairii Shrjan, Noyemberyani Shrjan, Sevan*, Sevani Shrjan, Sisiani Shrjan, Spitak*, Spitaki Shrjan, Step'anavan*, Step'anavani Shrjan, T'alini Shrjan, Tashiri Shrjan, Taushi Shrjan, T'umanyani Shrjan, Vanadzor*, Vardenisi Shrjan, Vayk'i Shrjan, Yeghegnadzori Shrjan, Yerevan*
Independence: 28 May 1918 (First Armenian Republic); 23 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Referendum Day, 21 September
Constitution: adopted NA April 1978; referendum on new constitution to be held 5 July 1995
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN (since October 1991) election last held 16 October 1991 (next to be held NA 1996); results - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN 86%; radical nationalists about 7%; note - Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN was elected Chairman of the Armenian Supreme Soviet 4 August 1990 before becoming president head of government: Prime Minister Hrant BAGRATYAN (since 16 February 1993); First Deputy Prime Minister Vigen CHITECHYAN (since 16 February 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Soviet: elections last held 20 May 1990 (next to be held 5 July 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (260 total) non-aligned 136, ANM 52, DPA 17, Democratic Liberal Party 17, ARF 12, NDU 9, Christian Democratic Party 1, Constitutional Rights Union 1, ONS 1, Republican Party 1, Nagorno-Karabakh representatives 13
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Armenian National Movement (ANM), Ter-Husik LAZARYAN, chairman; National Democratic Union (NDU), David VARTANYAN, chairman; Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun); note - banned until reorganized; Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA; Communist Party), Aram SARKISYAN, chairman; Christian Democratic Party, Azat ARSHAKYAN, chairman; Greens Party, Hakob SANASARIAN, chairman; Democratic Liberal Party, Rouben MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman; Republican Party, Ashot NAVARSARDYAN, chairman; Union for Self-Determination (ONS), Paruir AIRIKYAN, chairman
Member of: BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, NACC, NAM (observer), OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ruben SHUGARIAN chancery: Suite 210, 1660 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 628-5766 FAX: [1] (202) 628-5769
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Harry J. GILMORE embassy: 18 Gen Bagramian, Yerevan mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (8852) 151-144, 524-661 FAX: [7] (8852) 151-138
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and gold
@Armenia:Economy
Overview: Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a more modern industrial sector, supplying machine building equipment, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy resources. Armenia is a large food importer and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The economic decline in recent years (1991-94) has been particularly severe due to the ongoing conflict over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Turkey have blockaded pipeline and railroad traffic to Armenia for its support of the Karabakh Armenians. This has left Armenia with chronic energy shortages because of a lack of capacity and frequent disruptions of natural gas deliveries through unstable Georgia, as well as difficulties in obtaining other types of fuel. In addition, bread is strictly rationed and there are shortages of other goods. In 1994, the economy seemed to bottom out. The government has managed to increase its financial and budgetary discipline, bringing inflation down from around 40% per month in first half 1994 to single digits in second half 1994 and the first quarter of 1995. A full economic recovery cannot be expected until the conflict is settled and the blockade lifted.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $8.1 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
National product real growth rate: -2% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $2,290 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 27% per month average (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.5% of officially registered unemployed but large numbers of underemployed (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $43 million to countries outside the FSU (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport equipment, electrical equipment partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia
Imports: $120 million from countries outside the FSU (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: grain, other foods, fuel, other energy partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, US, EU
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate 7% (1994 est.); accounts for 41% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 4,620,000 kW production: 5.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,620 kWh (1994)
Industries: traditionally diverse, including (as a percent of output of former USSR) metalcutting machine tools (5.5%), forging-pressing machines (1.9%), electric motors (9%), tires (1.5%), knitted wear (4.4%), hosiery (3.0%), shoes (2.2%), silk fabric (0.8%), washing machines (2.0%), chemicals, trucks, watches, instruments, and microelectronics (1990); currently, much of industry is shut down
Agriculture: only 17% of land area is arable; employs 31% of labor force as residents increasingly turn to subsistence agriculture; fruits (especially grapes) and vegetable farming, minor livestock sector; vineyards near Yerevan are famous for brandy and other liqueurs
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid: recipient: considerable humanitarian aid, mostly food and energy products, from US and EU; Russia granted 60 billion rubles in technical credits in late 1994 and approved a 110 billion ruble credit almost half of which was to go toward the restart of the Metsamor nuclear power plant
Currency: 1 dram = 100 luma (introduced new currency in November 1993)
Exchange rates: dram per US$1 - 406 (end December 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Armenia:Transportation
Railroads: total: 840 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 840 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
Highways: total: 11,300 km paved: 10,500 km unpaved: earth 800 km (1990)
Inland waterways: NA km
Pipelines: natural gas 900 km (1991)
Ports: none
Airports: total: 11 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 1
@Armenia:Communications
Telephone system: about 650,000 telephones; 177 telephones/1,000 persons; progress on installation of fiber optic cable and construction of facilities for mobile cellular phone service remains in the negotiation phase for joint venture agreement local: NA intercity: NA international: international connections to other former republics of the USSR are by landline or microwave and to other countries by satellite and by leased connection through the Moscow international gateway switch; 1 INTELSAT satellite link
Radio: broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA radios: NA
Television: broadcast stations: NA; note - 100% of population receives Armenian and Russian TV programs televisions: NA
@Armenia:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 877,414; males fit for military service 699,167; males reach military age (18) annually 28,634 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: 250 million rubles, NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
________________________________________________________________________
ARUBA
(part of the Dutch realm)
@Aruba:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total area: 193 sq km land area: 193 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 68.5 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Natural resources: negligible; white sandy beaches
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt international agreements: NA
@Aruba:People
Population: 65,974 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (female 7,377; male 7,726) 15-64 years: 69% (female 24,269; male 21,141) 65 years and over: 8% (female 3,223; male 2,238) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.65% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 14.6 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.17 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.56 years male: 72.89 years female: 80.42 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban
Ethnic divisions: mixed European/Caribbean Indian 80%
Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: NA by occupation: most employment is in the tourist industry (1995)
@Aruba:Government
Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba
Digraph: AA
Type: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles
Capital: Oranjestad
Administrative divisions: none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)
Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm; in 1990, Aruba requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically give independence to the island in 1996)
National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March
Constitution: 1 January 1986
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29 July 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed with the advice and approval of the legislature
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature (Staten): elections last held 29 July 1994 (next to be held by NA July 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson ODUBER; Aruban People's Party (AVP), Jan (Henny) H. EMAN; National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro KELLY; New Patriotic Party (PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Benny NISBET; Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo BERLINSKI; Democratic Action '86 (AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Organization for Aruban Liberty (OLA), Glenbert CROES note: governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN
Member of: ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WTO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)
US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)
Flag: blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner
@Aruba:Economy
Overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. Additionally, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and less than 1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: 5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita: $17,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 0.6% (1992)
Budget: revenues: $145 million expenditures: $185 million, including capital expenditures of $42 million (1988)
Exports: $1.3 billion (including oil re-exports) (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: mostly refined petroleum products partners: US 64%, EC
Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum products, crude oil for refining and re-export partners: US 8%, EC
External debt: $81 million (1987)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 90,000 kW production: 330 million kWh consumption per capita: 4,761 kWh (1993)
Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Agriculture: poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agricultural activity to the cultivation of aloes, some livestock, and fishing
Illicit drugs: drug money laundering center and transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe
Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $220 million
Currency: 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1 - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Aruba:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA
Ports: Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 2 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 note: government-owned airport east of Oranjestad accepts transatlantic flights
@Aruba:Communications
Telephone system: 72,168 telephones; 1,100 telephones/1,000 persons; more than adequate local: NA intercity: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten
Radio: broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 4, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television: broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA
@Aruba:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands
________________________________________________________________________
ASHMORE AND CARTIER ISLANDS
(territory of Australia)
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total area: 5 sq km land area: 5 sq km comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 74.1 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical
Terrain: low with sand and coral
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs which can pose maritime hazards international agreements: NA
Note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only seasonal caretakers
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Government
Names: conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Digraph: AT
Type: territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry for the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Economy
Overview: no economic activity
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Transportation
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
@Ashmore And Cartier Islands:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
________________________________________________________________________
ATLANTIC OCEAN
@Atlantic Ocean:Geography
Location: body of water between Africa, Antarctica, and the Western Hemisphere
Map references: World
Area: total area: 82.217 million sq km comparative area: slightly less than nine times the size of the US; second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean) note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Coastline: 111,866 km
International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent from August to November