Aminet 6/Aminet 6 - June 1995.iso/Aminet/docs/misc/wfbook93_texi.lha/texi/71.data

Text File | 1995-03-27 | 13.0 KB | 422 lines

@node Geography (El Salvador)
@section Geography (El Salvador)

@display

Location:
  Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean between Guatemala and
  Honduras
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the
  World
Area:
 total area:
  21,040 km2
 land area:
  20,720 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
  total 545 km, Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline:
  307 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  200 nm; overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nm
International disputes:
  land boundary dispute with Honduras mostly resolved by 11 September 1992
  International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; ICJ referred the maritime
  boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca to an earlier agreement in this century and
  advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and
  Nicaragua likely would be required
Climate:
  tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April)
Terrain:
  mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Natural resources:
  hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum
Land use:
 arable land:
  27%
 permanent crops:
  8%
 meadows and pastures:
  29%
 forest and woodland:
  6%
 other:
  30%
Irrigated land:
  1,200 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  the Land of Volcanoes; subject to frequent and sometimes very destructive
  earthquakes; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Note:
  smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on
  Caribbean Sea



@end display

@node People (El Salvador)
@section People (El Salvador)

@display

Population:
  5,636,524 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.04% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  33.12 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.53 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -6.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  42.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  66.5 years
 male:
  63.93 years
 female:
  69.2 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.87 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Salvadoran(s)
 adjective:
  Salvadoran
Ethnic divisions:
  mestizo 94%, Indian 5%, white 1%
Religions:
  Roman Catholic 75%
 note:
  Roman Catholic about 75%; there is extensive activity by Protestant groups
  throughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1
  million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Languages:
  Spanish, Nahua (among some Indians)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  73%
 male:
  76%
 female:
  70%
Labor force:
  1.7 million (1982 est.)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 40%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 15%, government 13%, financial
  services 9%, transportation 6%, other 1%
 note:
  shortage of skilled labor and a large pool of unskilled labor, but manpower
  training programs improving situation (1984 est.)



@end display

@node Government (El Salvador)
@section Government (El Salvador)

@display

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of El Salvador
 conventional short form:
  El Salvador
 local long form:
  Republica de El Salvador
 local short form:
  El Salvador
Digraph:
  ES
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  San Salvador
Administrative divisions:
  14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan,
  Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan,
  San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence:
  15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Constitution:
  20 December 1983
Legal system:
  based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial review of
  legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
  with reservations
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Political parties and leaders:
  National Republican Alliance (Arena), Armando CALDERON Sol, president;
  Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Fidel CHAVEZ Mena, secretary general;
  National Conciliation Party (PCN), Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, president; Democratic
  Convergence (CD) is a coalition of three parties - the Social Democratic
  Party (PSD), Carlos Diaz BARRERA, secretary general; Democratic Nationalist
  Union (UDN), Mario AGUINADA Carranza, secretary general; and the Popular
  Social Christian Movement (MPSC), Dr. Ruben Ignacio ZAMORA Rivas; Authentic
  Christian Movement (MAC), Guillermo Antonia GUEVARA Lacayo, president;
  Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLM), Jorge Shafik HANDAL,
  general coordinator, has five factions - Popular Liberation Forces (FPL),
  Salvador SANCHEZ Ceren; Armed Forces of National Resistance (FARN), Ferman
  CIENFUEGOS; People's Revolutionary Army (ERP), Joaquin VILLA LOBOS Huezo;
  Salvadoran Communist Party/Armed Forces of Liberation (PCES/FAL), Jorge
  Shafik HANDAL; and
  Central American Workers' Revolutionary Party (PRTC)/Popular Liberation
  Revolutionary Aermed Forces (FARLP), Francisco JOVEL
Other political or pressure groups:
 FMLN labor front organizations:
  National Union of Salvadoran Workers (UNTS), leftist umbrella front group,
  leads FMLN front network; National Federation of Salvadoran Workers
  (FENASTRAS), best organized of front groups and controlled by FMLN's
  National Resistance (RN); Social Security Institute Workers Union (STISSS),
  one of the most militant fronts, is controlled by FMLN's Armed Forces of
  National Resistance (FARN) and RN; Association of Telecommunications Workers
  (ASTTEL); Unitary Federation of Salvadoran Unions (FUSS), leftist; Treasury
  Ministry Employees (AGEMHA)



@end display

@node Government (El Salvador 2. usage)
@section Government (El Salvador 2. usage)

@display

 FMLN nonlabor front organizations:
  Committee of Mothers and Families of Political Prisoners, Disappeared
  Persons, and Assassinated of El Salvador (COMADRES); Nongovernmental Human
  Rights Commission (CDHES); Committee of Dismissed and Unemployed of El
  Salvador (CODYDES); General Association of Salvadoran University Students
  (AGEUS); National Association of Salvadoran Educators (ANDES-21 DE JUNIO);
  Salvadoran Revolutionary Student Front (FERS), associated with the Popular
  Forces of Liberation (FPL); Association of National University Educators
  (ADUES); Salvadoran University Students Front (FEUS); Christian Committee
  for the Displaced of El Salvador (CRIPDES), an FPL front; The Association
  for Communal Development in El Salvador (PADECOES), controlled by the
  People's Revolutionary Army (ERP); Confederation of Cooperative Associations
  of El Salvador (COACES)
 labor organizations:
  Federation of Construction and Transport Workers Unions (FESINCONSTRANS),
  independent; Salvadoran Communal Union (UCS), peasant association;
  Democratic Workers Central (CTD), moderate; General Confederation of Workers
  (CGT), moderate; National Union of Workers and Peasants (UNOC), moderate
  labor coalition of democratic labor organizations; United Workers Front
  (FUT)
 business organizations:
  National Association of Private Enterprise (ANEP), conservative; Productive
  Alliance (AP), conservative; National Federation of Salvadoran Small
  Businessmen (FENAPES), conservative
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Legislative Assembly:
  last held 10 March 1991 (next to be held March 1994); results - ARENA 44.3%,
  PDC 27.96%, CD 12.16%, PCN 8.99%, MAC 3.23%, UDN 2.68%; seats - (84 total)
  ARENA 39, PDC 26, PCN 9, CD 8, UDN 1, MAC 1
 President:
  last held 19 March 1989 (next to be held March 1994); results - Alfredo
  CRISTIANI (ARENA) 53.8%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 36.6%, other 9.6%
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President (Felix) Alfredo CRISTIANI Buchard (since 1 June 1989); Vice
  President (Jose) Francisco MERINO Lopez (since 1 June 1989)
Member of:
  BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),
  LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
  WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:  chief of mission:
  Ambassador Miguel Angel SALAVERRIA
 chancery:
  2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone:
  [phone] through 3482
 consulates general:
  Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco



@end display

@node Government (El Salvador 3. usage)
@section Government (El Salvador 3. usage)

@display

US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Charge d'Affaires Peter F. ROMERO
 embassy:
  Final Boulevard, Station Antigua Cuscatlan, San Salvador
 mailing address:
  APO AA 34023
 telephone:
  [503] 78-4444
 FAX:
  [503] 78-6011
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the
  national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features
  a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA
  CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of
  arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the
  words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also
  similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X
  pattern centered in the white band



@end display

@node Economy (El Salvador)
@section Economy (El Salvador)

@display

Overview:
  The agricultural sector accounts for 24% of GDP, employs about 40% of the
  labor force, and contributes about 66% to total exports. Coffee is the major
  commercial crop, accounting for 45% of export earnings. The manufacturing
  sector, based largely on food and beverage processing, accounts for 18% of
  GDP and 15% of employment. Economic losses because of guerrilla sabotage
  total more than $2 billion since 1979. The costs of maintaining a large
  military seriously constrain the government's efforts to provide essential
  social services. Nevertheless, growth in national output during the period
  1990-92 exceeded growth in population for the first time since 1987.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $5.9 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  4.6% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,060 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  17% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  7.5% (1991)
Budget:
  revenues $846 million; expenditures $890 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
  $693 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  coffee 45%, sugar, shrimp, cotton
 partners:
  US 33%, Guatemala, Germany, Costa Rica
Imports:
  $1.47 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods
 partners:
  US 43%, Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, Germany
External debt:
  $2.6 billion (December 1992)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 4.7% (1991); accounts for 22% of GDP
Electricity:
  713,800 kW capacity; 2,190 million kWh produced, 390 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  food processing, beverages, petroleum, nonmetallic products, tobacco,
  chemicals, textiles, furniture
Agriculture:
  accounts for 24% of GDP and 40% of labor force (including fishing and
  forestry); coffee most important commercial crop; other products -
  sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseeds, beef, dairy products, shrimp; not
  self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for cocaine
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $2.95 billion, plus $250 million
  for 1992-96; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
  (1970-89), $525 million
Currency:
  1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos



@end display

@node Economy (El Salvador 2. usage)
@section Economy (El Salvador 2. usage)

@display

Exchange rates:
  Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 - 8.7600 (January 1993), 9.1700 (1992),
  8.0300 (1991), fixed rate of 5.000 (1986-1989)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year



@end display

@node Communications (El Salvador)
@section Communications (El Salvador)

@display

Railroads:
  602 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track; 542 km in use
Highways:
  10,000 km total; 1,500 km paved, 4,100 km gravel, 4,400 km improved and
  unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  Rio Lempa partially navigable
Ports:
  Acajutla, Cutuco
Airports:
 total:
  105
 usable:
  74
 with permanent-surface runways:
  5
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  5
Telecommunications:
  nationwide trunk microwave radio relay system; connection into Central
  American Microwave System; 116,000 telephones (21 telephones per 1,000
  persons); broadcast stations - 77 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 2 shortwave; 1 Atlantic
  Ocean INTELSAT earth station



@end display

@node Defense Forces (El Salvador)
@section Defense Forces (El Salvador)

@display

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 1,305,853; fit for military service 836,192; reach military
  age (18) annually 71,101 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $104 million, 3%-4% of GDP (1993 est.)



@end display