Estonia

potatoes, fruits, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

revenues: $1.7 billion expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $214 million (1996 est.)

1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents (introduced in August 1992)

$270 million (January 1996)

recipient: ODA, $147 million (1993) note: Western commitments $285 million (including international financial institutions)

In 1997 Estonia's continued implementation of market economic reforms, disciplined fiscal and monetary policies, and a liberal free trade regime resulted in GDP growth of 10% and a drop in inflation to 11.2%. Estonia can point to its inclusion among the first group of Central and East European countries to begin EU accession talks in 1998 as its most significant economic achievement in 1997. Other economic strengths include solid investment grade rating from both Standard and Poors and Moody's, government revenue collection in excess of projections by more than 6%, growth in exports at a faster rate than imports, and record levels of foreign direct investment, among the highest per capita in Central and East Europe. Estonia privatized its shipping company in 1997, but failed to make as much progress privatizing other large infrastructure/utility companies, such as Eesti Energia and the Oil Shale company, which it plans to privatize in the next two years. The growing current account deficit, which stood at nearly 10% of GDP at yearend 1997, remains a serious concern. In 1998, GDP is expected to grow by 5.5% and inflation to fall 10%.

3.287 million kW (1995)

4,355 kWh (1995)

8.083 billion kWh (1995)

krooni (EEK) per US$1-14.527 (January 1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996), 11.465 (1995), 12.991 (1994), 13.223 (1993); note-krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1

total value: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: textiles 16%, food products 16%, machinery and equipment 16%, metals 9% (1995) partners: Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Latvia (1995)

calendar year Communications

purchasing power parity-$9.34 billion (1997 est.)

agriculture: 7.1% industry: 24.9% services: 68% (1995 est.)

purchasing power parity-$6,450 (1997 est.)

10% (1997 est.)

total value: $3.2 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and equipment 29%, foodstuffs 14%, minerals 13%, textiles 13%, metals 12% (1995) partners: Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany (1995)

3% (1996 est.)

oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes, apparel

11.2% (1997 est.)

total: 785,000 (1996 est.) by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1990)

3 commercial broadcast stations, 1 government broadcast station (1994)

710,000 (1992 est.)

system is antiquated; improvements are being made piecemeal, with emphasis on business needs and international connections; there are still about 150,000 unfulfilled requests for subscriber service domestic: substantial investment has been made in cellular systems which are operational throughout Estonia international: international traffic is carried to the other former Soviet republics by landline or microwave radio relay and to other countries partly by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch and partly by a new Tallinn-Helsinki fiber-optic, submarine cable which gives Estonia access to international circuits everywhere; access to the international packet-switched digital network via Helsinki

400,000 (1994 est.)

4 (1993) note: provide Estonian programs as well as Moscow Ostenkino's first and second programs

600,000 (1993 est.)

3.6% (1997 est.)

total: 45,226 sq km land: 43,211 sq km water: 2,015 sq km note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers

3,794 km

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m

air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products, chemicals at former Soviet military bases; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas are heavily affected by organic waste; coastal sea water is polluted in many locations

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

59 00 N, 26 00 E

110 sq km (1993 est.)

total: 633 km border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km

arable land: 22% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 31% other: 36% (1993 est.)

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia

Europe

exclusive economic zone: limits to be fixed in coordination with neighboring states territorial sea: 12 nm

flooding occurs frequently in the spring

shale oil (kukersite), peat, phosphorite, amber, cambrian blue clay

marshy, lowlands

15 counties (maakonnad, singular-maakond): Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuessaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

adopted 28 June 1992

conventional long form: Republic of Estonia conventional short form: Estonia local long form: Eesti Vabariik local short form: Eesti former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

EN

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Walter ANDRUSYSZYU embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001 mailing address: American Embassy Tallinn; PSC 78, Box T; APO AE 09723 telephone: [372] (6) 312-021

chief of mission: Ambassador Grigore-Kalev STOICESCU chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101

chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 5 October 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Mart SIIMANN (since 12 March 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if he or she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election last held August-September 1996 (next to be held fall 2001); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament election results: Lennart MERI elected president by an electoral assembly after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock between MERI and RUUTEL; percent of electoral assembly vote-Lennert MERI 61%, Arnold RUUTEL 39%

[1] (202) 588-0108 consulate(s) general: New York

[372] (6) 312-025

pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990-three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

parliamentary democracy

6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

National Court, chairman appointed by the Parliament for life

based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 5 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-KMU 32.22%, RE 16.18%, K 14.17%, Pro Patria and ERSP 7.85%, M 5.98%, Our Home is Estonia and Right-Wingers 5.0%; seats by party-KMU 41, RE 19, K 16, Pro Patria 8, Our Home is Estonia 6, M 6, Right-Wingers 5

Tallinn

Independence Day, 24 February (1918)

Coalition Party and Rural Union or KMU [Mart SIIMAN, chairman] made up of 4 parties: Coalition Party or EK, Country People's Party [Arnold RUUTEL, chairman]/Farmer's Assembly or EME, Rural Union or EM [Arvo SIRENDI, chairman] , and Pensioners' and Families' League or EPPL [Mai TREIAL, chairperson]; Reform Party or RE [Siim KALLAS, chairman]; Center Party or K [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League (Isamaaliit) [Toivo JURGENSON, chairman]; National Independence Party or ERSP [Tunne KELAM, chairman]; Our Home is Estonia [Viktor ANDREJEV] made up of two parties: United Peoples Party and the Russian Party of Estonia; note-Our Home is Estonia split when two Russian Party of Estonia members withdrew; United Peoples Party [Viktor ANDREJEV, chairman]; Russian Party of Estonia [Nikolai MASPANOV, chairman]; Moderates or M [Andres TARAND] made up of two parties: Social Democratic Party or ESDP and Rural Center Party or EMK; Social Democratic Party [Eiki NESTOR, chairman]; Rural Center Party [Vambo KAAL, chairman]; Right-Wingers [Ulo NUGIS, chairman]; Republican Conservative [Vootele HANSEN]; Development/Progressive Party [Andra VEIDEMANN, chairwoman], note-party was created by defectors from Center Party in late spring 1996, Development Party faction split and now holds five independent seats

18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

Ground Forces, Navy/Coast Guard, Air and Air Defense Force (not officially sanctioned), Maritime Border Guard, Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and border troops)

$35 million (1995)

1.5% (1995)

males age 15-49: 351,148 (1998 est.)

males: 275,610 (1998 est.)

18 years of age

males: 10,424 (1998 est.)

0-14 years: 19% (male 136,278; female 131,480) 15-64 years: 67% (male 456,796; female 492,946) 65 years and over: 14% (male 66,261; female 137,574) (July 1998 est.)

9.04 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

14.15 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Estonian 64.2%, Russian 28.7%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Byelorussian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.9% (1995)

13.98 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, other

total population: 68.52 years male: 62.5 years female: 74.83 years (1998 est.)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1989 est.)

noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian

-4.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

1,421,335 (July 1998 est.)

-0.99% (1998 est.)

Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, others include Baptist, Methodist, 7th Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, 7th Day Baptist, Judaism

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

1.29 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical border agreement in December 1996 which has not been ratified; Estonia claimed over 2,000 sq km territory in the Narva and Pechory regions of Russia-based on boundary established under the 1920 Peace Treaty of Tartu

On 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) toppled the authoritarian government of MENGISTU Haile-Mariam and took control in Addis Ababa; a new constitution was promulgated in December 1994 and national and regional popular elections were held in May and June 1995.

transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and the Caucasus, and cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia ETHIOPIA Introduction

5 (1997 est.)

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m : 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)

total: 15,304 km paved: 8,142 km (including 65 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,162 km (1996 est.)

total: 53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 368,340 GRT/455,696 DWT ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 27, combination bulk 1, container 5, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 5 (1997 est.)

natural gas 420 km (1992)

Haapsalu, Narva, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn

total: 1,018 km common carrier lines only; does not include dedicated industrial lines broad gauge: 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)

500 km perennially navigable