vestock carrier 1, vehicle
carrier 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 99
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 15
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 62
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1995 est.)

Communications
--------------

Telephones: 541,465 (1992 est.)

Telephone system: fair system currently undergoing significant
improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology
domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable;
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon,
and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel

Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: 3.392 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 17

Televisions: 700,000 (1993 est.)

Defense
-------

Branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air
Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 3,590,557
males fit for military service: 2,011,610
males reach military age (19) annually: 164,598 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $875 million, 8%
of GDP (1994 est.); note - based on official budget data that
understate actual spending

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

@Taiwan
------

Map
---

Location: 23 30 N, 121 00 E -- Eastern Asia, islands bordering the
East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait,
north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China

Flag
----

Description: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

Geography
---------

Location: Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea,
Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the
Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China

Geographic coordinates: 23 30 N, 121 00 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total area: 35,980 sq km
land area: 32,260 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware
combined
note: inc