Part 803

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.)

@Syria: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: 39,243 km paved : 27,862 km (including 850 km of expressways) unpaved: 11,381 km (1995 est.)

Waterways: 870 km; minimal economic importance

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

Ports and harbors: Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus

Merchant marine: total: 125 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 381,408 GRT/565,225 DWT ships by type: bulk 12, cargo 109, livestock carrier 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1996 est.)

Airports: 99 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 84 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m : 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 62 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m : 2 914 to 1,523 m: 13 (1996 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1996 est.)

Military

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

Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,742,851 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 2,095,933 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 170,328 (1997 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $875 million (1994 est.); note - based on official budget data that understate actual spending

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 8% (1994 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Hatay question with Turkey; dispute with upstream riparian Turkey over Turkish water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976

Illicit drugs: a transit point for Lebanese and Turkish refined cocaine going to Europe and heroin and hashish bound for regional and Western markets ______________________________________________________________________