Abassi MADANI, Abdelkader HACHANI (all under arrest), Rabeh KEBIR(self-exile in Germany); National Liberation Front (FLN), Abdelhamid
MEHRI, Secretary General; Socialist Forces Front (FFS), Hocine Ait
AHMED, Secretary General
note:
the government established a multiparty system in September 1989 and,
as of 31 December 1990, over 50 legal parties existed
Member of:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer),
OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTAC,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Nourredine Yazid ZERHOUNI
chancery:
2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 265–2800
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Mary Ann CASEY
embassy:
4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers
mailing address:
B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers
telephone:
[213] (2) 601–425, 255, 186
FAX:
[213] (2) 603979
consulate(s):
Oran
Flag:
two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white with a red
five-pointed star within a red crescent; the crescent, star, and color
green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion)
@Algeria, Economy
Overview:
The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for
roughly 57% of government revenues, 25% of GDP, and almost all export
earnings; Algeria has the fifth largest reserves of natural gas in the
world and ranks fourteenth for oil. Algiers' efforts to reform one of
the most centrally planned economies in the Arab world began after the
1986 collapse of world oil prices plunged the country into a severe
recession. In 1989, the government launched a comprehensive,
IMF-supported program to achieve macroeconomic stabilization and to
introduce market mechanisms into the economy. Despite substantial
progress toward macroeconomic adjustment, in 1992 the reform drive
stalled as Algiers became embroiled in political turmoil. In September
1993, a new government was formed, one of whose priorities was the
resumption and acceleration of the structural adjustment process.
Buffeted by the slump in world oil prices and burdened with a heavy
foreign debt, Algiers in 1993 resumed negotiations with the IMF and is
on track to conclude a standby arrangement with the Fund in 1994.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $89 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
1% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$3,300 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
22% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
22% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$14.4 billion
expenditures:
$14.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.5 billion (1992
est.)
Exports:
$11.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
petroleum and natural gas 97%
partners:
Italy 21%, France 16%, US 14%, Germany 13%, Spain 9%
Imports:
$9 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
capital goods 39.7%, food and beverages 21.7%, consumer goods 11.8%
(1990)
partners:
France 29%, Italy 14%, Spain 9%, US 9%, Germany 7%
External debt:
$26 billion (1994)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
6,380,000 kW
production:
16.384 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
630 kWh (1992)
Industries:
petroleum, light industries, natural gas, mining, electrical,
petrochemical, food
