including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $538 million; Western (non-US)
ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.23 billion; OPEC bilateral
aid (1979-89), $12.3 billion; former Communist countries (1970-89), $3.3
billion
Currency:
Syrian pound (plural - pounds); 1 Syrian pound (#S) = 100 piasters

:Syria Economy

Exchange rates:
Syrian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 22.0 (promotional rate since 1991), 11.2250
(fixed rate 1987-90), 3.9250 (fixed rate 1976-87)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

:Syria Communications

Railroads:
2,350 km total; 2,035 km standard gauge, 315 km 1.050-meter (narrow) gauge
Highways:
28,000 km total; 22,000 km paved, 3,000 km gravel or crushed stone, 3,000 km
improved earth
Inland waterways:
672 km; minimal economic importance
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,304 km, petroleum products 515 km
Ports:
Tartus, Latakia, Baniyas
Merchant marine:
29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 85,417 GRT/138,078 DWT; includes 25
cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 vehicle carrier, 2 bulk
Civil air:
35 major transport aircraft
Airports:
104 total, 100 usable; 24 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 3,659 m; 21 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
fair system currently undergoing significant improvement; 512,600
telephones; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 1 FM, 17 TV; satellite earth stations
- 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Intersputnik, 1 submarine cable; coaxial
cable and radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey

:Syria Defense Forces

Branches:
Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air
Defense Forces, Police and Security Force
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 3,012,671; 1,691,660 fit for military service; 145,976 reach
military age (19) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $2.5 billion, 8% of GDP (1989)

:Taiwan Geography

Total area:
35,980 km2
Land area:
32,260 km2; includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
Comparative area:
slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
1,448 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia,
Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by