Part 722

External debt: $21.2 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $259 million (1993)

Currency: 1 Syrian pound (LS) = 100 piastres

Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (LS) per US$1 - 11.225 (official fixed rate), 26.6 ("blended rate" used by the UN and diplomatic missions), 42.0 ("neighboring country rate" - applies to most state enterprise imports), 48.0 - 52.0 (offshore rate) (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways: total: 1,998 km broad gauge: 1,766 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 232 km 1.050-m gauge

Highways: total: 31,569 km paved: 24,308 km (including 712 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,261 km (1991 est.)

Waterways: 870 km; minimal economic importance

Pipelines: crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km

Ports: Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus

Merchant marine: total: 99 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 294,355 GRT/454,990 DWT ships by type: bulk 12, cargo 85, livestock carrier 1, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)

Airports: total: 99 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 15 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 62 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 541,465 (1992 est.)

Telephone system: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel

Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: 3.392 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 17

Televisions: 700,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security Force

Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 3,590,557 males fit for military service: 2,011,610 males reach military age (19) annually: 164,598 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $875 million, 8% of GDP (1994 est.); note - based on official budget data that understate actual spending

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@Taiwan ------

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