are
appointed by the president and ratified by the Senate from lists of
candidates provided by the court itself; the president of the
Supreme Court is elected by the 21-member court

Political parties and leaders: Coalition of Parties for Democracy
or CPD consists mainly of: Christian Democratic Party or PDC
Javier ERRAZURIZ]

Political pressure groups and leaders: revitalized university
student federations at all major universities; United Labor Central
or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest
labor confederations; Roman Catholic Church

International organization participation: APEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO,
G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), NAM, OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP,
UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Genaro Luis ARRIAGADA Herrera
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John O'LEARY
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago
mailing address: APO AA 34033

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and
red; there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the
hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white
five-pointed star in the center; design was based on the US flag

Economy

Economy--overview: Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market
economy. Civilian governments--which took over from the military in
March 1990--have continued to reduce the government's role in the
economy while shifting the emphasis of public spending toward social
programs. Growth in real GDP averaged more than 7.0% in 1991-1997
but fell to about half of that average in 1998 because of spillover
from the global financial crisis. Inflation has been on a downward
trend and hit a 60-year low in 1998. Chile's currency and foreign
reserves also are strong, as sustained foreign capital
inflows--including significant direct investment--have more than
offset current account deficits and public debt buy-back