los CARVALHAS; Social
Democratic Center (CDS), Manuel MONTEIRO; National Solidarity Party
(PSN), Manuel SERGIO; Center Democratic Party (CDS); United
Democratic Coalition (CDU; communists)

International organization participation: AfDB, Australia Group,
BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA
(observer), MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO,
ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Fernando Antonio de Lacerda ANDRESEN
GUIMARAES
chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726
consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and San
Francisco
consulate(s): Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence
(Rhode Island)

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley BAGLEY
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon
mailing address: PSC 83, APO AE 09726
telephone: [351] (1) 7266600, 7266659, 7268670, 7268880
FAX: [351] (1) 7269109
consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)

Flag: two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red
(three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the
dividing line

Economy
-------

Economic overview: Portugal's short-term economic fundamentals are
strong - the economy grew by 2.8% in 1995, with similar growth
expected in 1996 and 1997, and unemployment is among the lowest in
the EU. The Socialist government has pledged its dedication both to
meeting the Maastricht monetary convergence criteria and to
increasing social spending, including provision of a guaranteed
minimum income. The government's 1996 budget, passed in March 1996,
includes a budget deficit target of 4.2%, to be attained largely
through cuts in non-social-service government spending and income
from an ambitious privatization program. As for the long run,
Portugal hopes for a steady modernization of its capital plant, its
work force, and its infrastructure in order to catch up with the
productivity and income levels of the Big Four economies of Western
Europe.

GDP: purchasing p