umbrella politicalorganization; Radical Civic Union (UCR), Mario LOSADA, moderately left of
center; Union of the Democratic Center (UCD), Jorge AGUADO, conservative
party; Intransigent Party (PI), Dr. Oscar ALENDE, leftist party; several
provincial parties
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
Chamber of Deputies:
last held in three phases during late 1991 for half of 254 seats, total
current breakdown of seats - JP 122, UCR 85, UCD 10, other 37
President:
last held 14 May 1989 (next to be held NA May 1995); results - Carlos Saul
MENEM was elected
Senate:
last held May 1989, but provincial elections in late 1991 set the stage for
indirect elections by provincial senators for one-third of 46 seats in the
national senate in May 1992; total current breakdown of seats - JP 27, UCR
14, others 5
Communists:
some 70,000 members in various party organizations, including a small
nucleus of activists
:Argentina Government
Other political or pressure groups:
Peronist-dominated labor movement, General Confederation of Labor
(Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization), Argentine Industrial Union
(manufacturers' association), Argentine Rural Society (large landowners'
association), business organizations, students, the Roman Catholic Church,
the Armed Forces
Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77,
GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS,
MERCOSUR, OAS, PCA, RG, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIIMOG,
UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Carlos ORTIZ DE ROZAS; Chancery at 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20009; telephone (202) 939-6400 through 6403; there are
Argentine Consulates General in Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San
Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Consulates in Baltimore, Chicago,
and Los Angeles
US:
Ambassador Terence A. TODMAN; Embassy at 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires
(mailing address is APO AA 34034); telephone [54] (1) 774- 7611 or 8811,
9911; Telex 18156 AMEMBAR
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue;
centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face known
as the Sun of May
:Argentina Economy
Overview:
Argentina is rich in natural resources and has a highly literate population,
an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base.
Nevertheless, following decades of mismanagement and statist policies, the
economy has encountered major problems in recent years, leading to
escalating inflation and a recession during 1988-90. Since 1978, Argentina's
external debt has nearly doubled to $58 billion, creating severe debt
servicing difficulties and hurting the country's creditworthiness with
international lenders. Elected in 1989, President Menem has implemented a
comprehensive economic restructuring program that shows signs of reversing
Argentina's economic decline and putting it on a path of stable, sustainable
growth.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $101.2 billion, per capita $3,100; real growth
rate 5.5% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
83.8% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
6.4% (October 1991)
Budget:
revenues $13.6 billion; expenditures $16.6 billion, including capital
expenditures of $2.5 billion (1991)
Exports:
$12 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, hides, wool
partners:
US 12%, USSR, Italy, Brazil, Japan, Netherlands
Imports:
$8 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and lubricants,
agricultural products
partners:
US 22%, Brazil, FRG, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands
External debt:
$61 billion (January 1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate 20% (1991 est.); accounts for 30% of GDP
Electricity:
17,059,000 kW capacity; 47,357 million kWh produced, 1,450 kWh per capita
