ges elected by the Supreme Council
on the president's recommendation; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders: Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG
; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG
; Greens Party [Giorgi
GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia or IWSG ;
Labor Party ; National Democratic Party or NDP
; National Independent Party or NIP
; People's Party ;
Socialist Party or SPG ; Union for "Revival"
Party or AGUR ; Union of Traditionalists or UGT
; United Republican Party or URP [Nodar NATADZE,
chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Georgian refugees from Abkhazia
(Abkhaz faction in Georgian Parliament); separatist elements in the
breakaway region of Abkhazia; supporters of the late ousted President
Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA remain a source of opposition

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CE (guest),
CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE
chancery: Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20009
telephone: (202) 387-2390
FAX: (202) 393-4537

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth S. YALOWITZ
embassy: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: (32) 989-967
FAX: (32) 933-759

Flag description: maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist
side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white
below

@Georgia:Economy

Economy - overview: Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved
around Black Sea tourism; cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and
grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small
industrial sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and
textiles. The country imports the bulk of its energy needs, including
natural gas and oil products. Its only sizable internal energy
resource is hydropower. Despite the severe damage the economy has
suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and
World Bank, made substantial economic gains since 1995, increasing GDP
growth and slashing inflation. The Georgian economy continues to
experience large budget deficits due to a failure to collect tax
revenues. Georgia also still suf