Aminet 6/Aminet 6 - June 1995.iso/Aminet/docs/misc/wfbook93_texi.lha/texi/221.data

Text File | 1995-03-27 | 13.7 KB | 435 lines

@node Geography (Spain)
@section Geography (Spain)

@display

Location:
  Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the
  Mediterranean Sea, between Portugal and France
Map references:
  Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  504,750 km2
 land area:
  499,400 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
 note:
  includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of sovereignty
  (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - Ceuta, Mellila,
  Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera
Land boundaries:
  total 1,903.2 km, Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal
  1,214 km
Coastline:
  4,964 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls five places of sovereignty
  (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves
  of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of
  Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas
Climate:
  temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along
  coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
Terrain:
  large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in
  north
Natural resources:   coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc,
  lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower
Land use:
 arable land:
  31%
 permanent crops:
  10%
 meadows and pastures:
  21%
 forest and woodland:
  31%
 other:
  7%
Irrigated land:
  33,600 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  deforestation; air pollution
Note:
  strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar



@end display

@node People (Spain)
@section People (Spain)

@display

Population:
  39,207,159 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.24% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  10.88 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  8.76 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.51 years
 male:
  74.22 years
 female:
  81.04 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.38 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Spaniard(s)
 adjective:
  Spanish
Ethnic divisions:
  composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 99%, other sects 1%
Languages:
  Castilian Spanish, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  95%
 male:
  97%
 female:
  93%
Labor force:
  14.621 million
 by occupation:
  services 53%, industry 24%, agriculture 14%, construction 9% (1988)



@end display

@node Government (Spain)
@section Government (Spain)

@display

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Spain
 conventional short form:
  Spain
 local short form:
  Espana
Digraph:
  SP
Type:
  parliamentary monarchy
Capital:
  Madrid
Administrative divisions:
  17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad
  autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La
  Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Communidad Valencia, Extremadura,
  Galicia, Islas Baleares, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco
 note:
  there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of Morocco (Ceuta,
  Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la
  Gomera) with administrative status unknown
Independence:
  1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)
Constitution:
  6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978
Legal system:
  civil law system, with regional applications; does not accept compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction
National holiday:
  National Day, 12 October
Political parties and leaders:
 principal national parties, from right to left:
  Popular Party (PP), Jose Maria AZNAR; Social Democratic Center (CDS), Rafael
  Calvo ORTEGA; Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), Felipe GONZALEZ
  Marquez, secretary general; Socialist Democracy Party (DS), Ricardo Garcia
  DAMBORENEA; Spanish Communist Party (PCE), Julio ANGUITA; United Left (IU) a
  coalition of parties including the PCE, a branch of the PSOE, and other
  small parties, leader NA
 chief regional parties:
  Convergence and Unity (CiU), Jordi PUJOL Saley, in Catalonia; Basque
  Nationalist Party (PNV), Xabier ARZALLUS; Basque Solidarity (EA), Carlos
  GARAICOETXEA Urizza; Basque Popular Unity (HB), Jon IDIGORAS; Basque Left
  (EE), Juan Maria BANDRES; Basque Socialist Party (PSE); coalition of the
  PSE, EE, and PSOE, Jose Maria BANEGAS; Euskal Ezkerra (EUE), Xabier
  GURRUTXAGA; Andalusian Party (PA), Pedro PACHECO; Independent Canary Group
  (AIC), leader NA; Aragon Regional Party (PAR), leader NA; Valencian Union
  (UV), leader NA
Other political or pressure groups:
  on the extreme left, the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) and the First
  of October Antifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO) use terrorism to oppose the
  government; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977) include the
  Communist-dominated Workers Commissions (CCOO); the Socialist General Union
  of Workers (UGT), and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union (USO);
  the Catholic Church; business and landowning interests; Opus Dei; university
  students
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal



@end display

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

@display

Elections:
 Senate:
  last held 29 October 1989 (next to be held NA October 1993); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (208 total) PSOE 106, PP 79, CiU 10,
  PNV 4, HB 3, AIC 1, other 5
 Congress of Deputies:
  last held 29 October 1989 (next to be held NA October 1993); results - PSOE
  39.6%, PP 25.8%, CDS 9%, IU 9%, CiU 5%, PNV 1.2%, HB 1%, PA 1%, other 8.4%;
  seats - (350 total) PSOE 175, PP 106, CiU 18, IU 17, CDS 14, PNV 5, HB 4,
  other 11
Executive branch:
  monarch, president of the government (prime minister), deputy prime
  minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of State
Legislative branch:
  bicameral The General Courts or National Assembly (Las Cortes Generales)
  consists of an upper house or Senate (Senado) and a lower house or Congress
  of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez (since 2 December 1982); Deputy Prime
  Minister Narcis SERRA y Serra (since 13 March 1991)
Member of:
  AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE,
  EBRD, AfDB, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-8, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
  ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), LORCS, MTRC, NACC,
  NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNAVEM
  II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Jaime De OJEDA y Eiseley
 chancery:
  2700 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
 telephone:
  [phone] or 0191
 consulates general:
  Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San
  Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Richard G. CAPEN, Jr.
 embassy:
  Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
 mailing address:
  PSC 61, APO AE 09642
 telephone:
  [34] (1) 577-4000
 FAX:
  [34] (1) 577-5735
 consulate general:
  Barcelona
 consulate:
  Bilbao



@end display

@node Government (Spain 3. usage)
@section Government (Spain 3. usage)

@display

Flag:
  three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the
  national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms
  includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two
  promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the
  Strait of Gibraltar



@end display

@node Economy (Spain)
@section Economy (Spain)

@display

Overview:
  Spain has done well since joining the EC in 1986. Foreign and domestic
  investments have spurred GDP growth at an annual average of more than 4% in
  1986-91. As of 1 January 1993, Spain has wholly liberalized its trade and
  capital markets to EC standards, including integrating agriculture two years
  ahead of schedule. Beginning in 1989, Madrid implemented a tight monetary
  policy to fight 7% inflation. As a result of this action and the worldwide
  decline in economic growth, Spain's growth rate declined to 1% in 1992.
  Spain faces a likely recession in first half 1993. The government expects a
  recovery in the second half, but this depends on stepped-up growth in
  Germany and France. The slowdown in growth - along with displacements caused
  by structural adjustments in preparation for the EC single market - has
  pushed an already high unemployment rate up to 19%. However, many people
  listed as unemployed work in the underground economy. If the government can
  stick to its tough economic policies and push further structural reforms,
  the economy will emerge stronger at the end of the 1990s.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $514.9 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  1% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $13,200 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  19% (yearend 1992)
Budget:
  revenues $122.9 billion; expenditures $140.2 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $62 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  cars and trucks, semifinished manufactured goods, foodstuffs, machinery
 partners:
  EC 71.0%, US 4.9%, other developed countries 7.9% (1991)
Imports:
  $100 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  machinery, transport equipment, fuels, semifinished goods, foodstuffs,
  consumer goods, chemicals
 partners:
  EC 60.0%, US 8.0%, other developed countries 11.5%, Middle East 2.6% (1991)
External debt:
  $67.5 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 0.6% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
  46,600,000 kW capacity; 157,000 million kWh produced, 4,000 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and
  metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools,
  tourism
Agriculture:
  accounts for about 5% of GDP and 14% of labor force; major products - grain,
  vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus fruit, beef, pork,
  poultry, dairy; largely self-sufficient in food; fish catch of 1.4 million
  metric tons is among top 20 nations



@end display

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

@display

Illicit drugs:
  key European gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the
  European market
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $1.9 billion; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-79), $545.0 million; not
  currently a recipient
Currency:   1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
  pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 114.59 (January 1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91
  (1991), 101.93 (1990), 118.38 (1989), 116.49 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year



@end display

@node Communications (Spain)
@section Communications (Spain)

@display

Railroads:
  15,430 km total; Spanish National Railways (RENFE) operates 12,691 km (all
  1.668-meter gauge, 6,184 km electrified, and 2,295 km double track); FEVE
  (government-owned narrow-gauge railways) operates 1,821 km (predominantly
  1.000-meter gauge, 441 km electrified); privately owned railways operate 918
  km (predominantly 1.000-meter gauge, 512 km electrified, and 56 km double
  track)
Highways:
  150,839 km total; 82,513 km national (includes 2,433 km limited-access
  divided highway, 63,042 km bituminous treated, 17,038 km intermediate
  bituminous, concrete, or stone block) and 68,326 km provincial or local
  roads (bituminous treated, intermediate bituminous, or stone block)
Inland waterways:
  1,045 km, but of minor economic importance
Pipelines:
  crude oil 265 km, petroleum products 1,794 km, natural gas 1,666 km
Ports:
  Algeciras, Alicante, Almeria, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon
  de la Plana, Ceuta, El Ferrol del Caudillo, Puerto de Gijon, Huelva, La
  Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Mahon, Malaga, Melilla, Rota, Santa
  Cruz de Tenerife, Sagunto, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo, and 175 minor ports
Merchant marine:
  242 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,394,175 GRT/4,262,868 DWT; includes
  2 passenger, 8 short-sea passenger, 71 cargo, 12 refrigerated cargo, 12
  container, 32 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 4 vehicle carrier, 41 oil tanker, 14
  chemical tanker, 7 liquefied gas, 3 specialized tanker, 36 bulk
Airports:
 total:
  105
 usable:
  99
 with permanent-surface runways:
  60
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  4
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  22
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  26
Telecommunications:
  generally adequate, modern facilities; 15,350,464 telephones; broadcast
  stations - 190 AM, 406 (134 repeaters) FM, 100 (1,297 repeaters) TV; 22
  coaxial submarine cables; 2 communications satellite earth stations
  operating in INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean); MARECS, INMARSAT,
  and EUTELSAT systems; tropospheric links



@end display

@node Defense Forces (Spain)
@section Defense Forces (Spain)

@display

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, National Police, Coastal Civil
  Guard
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 10,299,960; fit for military service 8,341,046; reach
  military age (20) annually 338,231 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $9.6 billion, 1.6% of GDP (1992)



@end display