Aminet 6/Aminet 6 - June 1995.iso/Aminet/docs/misc/wfbook93_texi.lha/texi/190.data

Text File | 1995-03-27 | 11.3 KB | 385 lines

@node Geography (Paraguay)
@section Geography (Paraguay)

@display

Location:
  Central South America, between Argentina and Brazil
Map references:
  South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  406,750 km2
 land area:
  397,300 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
  total 3,920 km, Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
  none; landlocked
International disputes:
  short section of the boundary with Brazil (just west of Guaira Falls on the
  Rio Parana) has not been determined
Climate:
  varies from temperate in east to semiarid in far west
Terrain:
  grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west
  of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and
  thorny scrub elsewhere
Natural resources:
  hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use:
 arable land:
  20%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  39%
 forest and woodland:
  35%
 other:
  5%
Irrigated land:
  670 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains
  may become boggy (early October to June)
Note:
  landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil



@end display

@node People (Paraguay)
@section People (Paraguay)

@display

Population:
  5,070,856 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.8% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  32.61 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4.58 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  26.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  72.98 years
 male:
  71.42 years
 female:
  74.62 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  4.37 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Paraguayan(s)
 adjective:
  Paraguayan
Ethnic divisions:
  mestizo (Spanish and Indian) 95%, white and Indian 5%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant denominations
Languages:
  Spanish (official), Guarani
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  90%
 male:
  92%
 female:
  88%
Labor force:
  1.641 million (1992 est.)
 by occupation:
  agriculture, industry and commerce, services, government (1986)



@end display

@node Government (Paraguay)
@section Government (Paraguay)

@display

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Paraguay  conventional short form:
  Paraguay
 local long form:
  Republica del Paraguay
 local short form:
  Paraguay
Digraph:
  PA
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Asuncion
Administrative divisions:
  19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto
  Parana, Amambay, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Chaco,
  Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Nueva Asuncion,
  Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence:
  14 May 1811 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  25 August 1967; Constituent Assembly rewrote the Constitution that was
  promulgated on 20 June 1992
Legal system:
  based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of
  legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does not accept compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
Political parties and leaders:
  Colorado Party, Blas N. RIQUELME, president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party
  (PLRA), Domingo LAINO; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jose Angel BURRO;
  Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEUEDO; Popular Democratic
  Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER; National Encounter (EN), Guillermo Caballero
  VARGAS
Other political or pressure groups:
  Confederation of Workers (CUT); Roman Catholic Church
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60
Elections:
 President:
  last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held 9 May 1993); results - Gen. RODRIGUEZ
  75.8%, Domingo LAINO 19.4%
 Chamber of Senators:
  last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held by 9 May 1993); results - percent of
  vote by party NA; seats - (36 total) Colorado Party 24, PLRA 10, PLR 1, PRF
  1
 Chamber of Deputies:
  last held on 1 May 1989 (next to be held by 9 May 1993); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) Colorado Party 48, PLRA 19, PRF 2,
  PDC 1, other 2
Executive branch:
  president, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of State
Legislative branch:
  bicameral Congress (Congreso) consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of
  Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies
  (Camara de Diputados)



@end display

@node Government (Paraguay 2. usage)
@section Government (Paraguay 2. usage)

@display

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Gen. Andres RODRIGUEZ Pedotti (since 15 May 1989)
Member of:
  AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD,
  IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS,
  MERCOSUR, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
  WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre MARTINEZ
 chancery:
  2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  [phone] through 6962
 consulates general:
  New Orleans and New York
 consulate:
  Houston
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jon David GLASSMAN
 embassy:
  1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Asuncion
 mailing address:
  C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO AA 34036-0001
 telephone:
  [595] (21) 213-715
 FAX:
  [595] (21) 213-728
Flag:
  three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem
  centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on
  each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of
  arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words
  REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at
  the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of
  Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words
  REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)



@end display

@node Economy (Paraguay)
@section Economy (Paraguay)

@display

Overview:
  Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GDP, employs
  about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of exports. Paraguay
  lacks substantial mineral or petroleum resources but does have a large
  hydropower potential. Since 1981 economic performance has declined compared
  with the boom period of 1976-81, when real GDP grew at an average annual
  rate of nearly 11%. During the period 1982-86 real GDP fell in three of five
  years, inflation jumped to an annual rate of 32%, and foreign debt rose.
  Factors responsible for the erratic behavior of the economy were the
  completion of the Itaipu hydroelectric dam, bad weather for crops, and weak
  international commodity prices for agricultural exports. In 1987 the economy
  experienced a minor recovery because of improved weather conditions and
  stronger international prices for key agricultural exports. The recovery
  continued through 1990, on the strength of bumper crops in 1988-89. In a
  major step to increase its economic activity in the region, Paraguay in
  March 1991 joined the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR), which includes
  Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. In 1992, the government, through an
  unorthodox approach, reduced external debt with both commercial and official
  creditors by purchasing a sizable amount of the delinquent commercial debt
  in the secondary market at a substantial discount. The government had paid
  100% of remaining official debt arrears to the US, Germany, France, and
  Spain. All commercial debt arrears have been rescheduled. For the long run,
  the government must press forward with general, market-oriented economic
  reforms.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $7.3 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  1.7% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,500 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  20% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  10% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.2 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $487 million (1991)
Exports:
  $719 million (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, coffee, tung oil, meat products
 partners:
  EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%
Imports:
  $1.33 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  capital goods 35%, consumer goods 20%, fuels and lubricants 19%, raw
  materials 16%, foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco 10%
 partners:
  Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%
External debt:
  $1.2 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 5.9% (1989 est.); accounts for 17% of GDP
Electricity:
  5,257,000 kW capacity; 16,200 million kWh produced, 3,280 kWh per capita
  (1992)



@end display

@node Economy (Paraguay 2. usage)
@section Economy (Paraguay 2. usage)

@display

Industries:
  meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other light
  consumer goods, cement, construction
Agriculture:
  accounts for 25% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash crops - cotton,
  sugarcane; other crops - corn, wheat, tobacco, soybeans, cassava, fruits,
  vegetables; animal products - beef, pork, eggs, milk; surplus producer of
  timber; self-sufficient in most foods
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; important
  transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for the US and Europe
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion
Currency:
  1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
  guaranies (G) per US$ - 1,637.6 (January 1993), 1,500.3 (1992), 447.5 (March
  1992), 1,325.2 (1991), 1,229.8 (1990), 1,056.2 (1989), 550.00 (fixed rate
  1986-February 1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year



@end display

@node Communications (Paraguay)
@section Communications (Paraguay)

@display

Railroads:
  970 km total; 440 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 60 km 1.000-meter gauge,
  470 km various narrow gauge (privately owned)
Highways:
  21,960 km total; 1,788 km paved, 474 km gravel, and 19,698 km earth
Inland waterways:
  3,100 km
Ports:
  Asuncion, Villeta, Ciudad del Este
Merchant marine:
  13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,747 GRT/19,865 DWT; includes 11
  cargo, 2 oil tanker; note - 1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used
  commercially
Airports:
 total:
  862
 usable:
  719
 with permanent-surface runways:
  7
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  64
Telecommunications:
  principal center in Asuncion; fair intercity microwave net; 78,300
  telephones; broadcast stations - 40 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 7 shortwave; 1 Atlantic
  Ocean INTELSAT earth station



@end display

@node Defense Forces (Paraguay)
@section Defense Forces (Paraguay)

@display

Branches:
  Army, Navy (including Naval Air and Marines), Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,210,171; fit for military service 879,601; reach military
  age (17) annually 51,361 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $84 million, 1.4% of GDP (1988 est.)



@end display