or Grune, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito
Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La
Verda) [Ruth GENNER and Patrice MUGNY, co-presidents]; Radical Free
Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP,
Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale
Svizzero or PLR) [Gerold BUEHRER, president]; Social Democratic Party
(Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti Socialist Suisse
or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de
la Svizra or PSS) [Christiane BRUNNER, president]; Swiss People's Party
(Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC,
Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC)
[Ueli MAURER, president]; and other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest),
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP,
UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: Ambassador Christian BLICKENSTORFER
consulate(s): New York, and San Francisco FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564
telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900 chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Mercer REYNOLDS III embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse
use embassy street address telephone:
Flag description: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in
the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

Economy Switzerland

Economy - overview: Switzerland is a prosperous and stable modern
market economy with a per capita GDP higher than that of the big
western European economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their
economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their
international competitiveness. Although the Swiss are not pursuing full EU
membership in the near term, in 1999 Bern and Brussels signed agreements
to further liberalize trade ties. They continue to discuss further areas
for cooperation. Switzerland remains a safe haven for investors, because
it has ma