Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice, other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission
Political parties and leaders: Bougainville Unity Alliance (BUA),
Samuel AKOITAI; People's Progress Party (PPP), Michael NALI; Papua New
Guinea United Party (Pangu Pati), Chris HAIVETA; National Alliance
(NA), Michael SOMARE; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Iario
LASARO; People's Action Party (PAP), Ted DIRO; United Party (UP),
Rimbiuk PATO; National Party (NP), Paul PORA; People's Unity Party
(PUP), Alfred KAIABE; Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS;
Movement for Greater Autonomy, Stephen POKAWIN; Christian Democratic
Party, Dilu GOMA; Papua New Guinea First Party (includes People's
National Congress or PNC, Bill SKATE, and Christian Country Party,
Avusi TANO) leader NA; People's Resources Awareness Party, leader NA;
Liberal Party, Rabbie SAMAI; People's Solidarity Party, Kala SWOKIM;
Melanesian Labour Party, Paul MONDIA; Black Action Party, Paul WANJIK;
League for National Advancement (LNA), leader NA; United Resource
Party, Masket IANGALIO; Hausman Party, Waim TOKAM; Milne Bay Party,
Simon MUMURIK
International organization participation: ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN chancery: 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680 FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby telephone: [675] 321-1455 FAX: [675] 321-3423
Flag description: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five white five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered
@Papua New Guinea:Economy
Economy-overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high cost of developing an infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. In 1995, Port Moresby reached agreement with the IMF and World Bank on a structural adjustment program, of which the first phase was successfully completed in 1996. Droughts caused by the El Nino weather pattern wreaked havoc on Papua New Guinea's coffee, cocoa, and coconut production, the mainstays of the agricultural-based economy and major sources of export earnings. The coffee crop was slashed by up to 50% in 1997. Moreover, droughts could bite into growth in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$11.6 billion (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.3% (1996 est.)