ed; has not ratified 1998 maritime boundary
agreement with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from
Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and
Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to
CIS; limited production of illicit amphetamine, ephedrine, and
ecstasy for export

======================================================================

@Lebanon

Lebanon Introduction

Background: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its
political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since
1991 and the end of the devastating 16-year civil war. Under the
Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the
Lebanese have established a more equitable political system,
particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political
process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the
government. Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have conducted
several successful elections, most of the militias have been
weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have
extended central government authority over about two-thirds of the
country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains its weapons.
Syria maintains about 25,000 troops in Lebanon based mainly in
Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's troop
deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil
war and in the Ta'if Accord. Damascus justifies its continued
military presence in Lebanon by citing the continued weakness of the
LAF, Beirut's requests, and the failure of the Lebanese Government
to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord.
Israel's withdrawal from its security zone in southern Lebanon in
May of 2000, however, has emboldened some Lebanese Christians and
Druze to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well.

Lebanon Geography

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Israel and Syria

Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E

Map references: Middle East

Area: total: 10,400 sq km

land: 10,230 sq km

water: 170 sq km

Area - comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries: total: 454 km

border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km

Coastline: 225 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry
summers;