ice, and
National Air Service)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 761,568 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 521,487 (2000 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $132 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.6% (FY97)

Military - note: on 10 February 1990, the government of then President
ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus
by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's
Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting
the creation of a standing military force, but allowing the temporary
establishment of special police units to counter acts of "external
aggression"

@Panama:Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: none

Illicit drugs: major cocaine transshipment point and major
drug-money-laundering center; no recent signs of coca cultivation;
monitoring of financial transactions is improving, yet Panama has
failed to prosecute anyone for money laundering - official corruption
remains a major problem

______________________________________________________________________

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

@Papua New Guinea:Introduction

Background: The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second
largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK
(south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902,
which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued
to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A
nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in
1997, after claiming some 20,000 lives.

@Papua New Guinea:Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands including the eastern
half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South
Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia

Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 147 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:
total: 820 km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km

Coastline: 5,152 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast
monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal tempera