reestablished its
independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the
Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to
Moscow. Latvia continues to revamp its economy for eventual
integration into various Western European political and economic
institutions.

Lebanon:
Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political
institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since 1991 and
the end of the devastating 16-year civil war. Under the Ta'if Accord
- the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have
established a more equitable political system, particularly by
giving Muslims a greater say in the political process while
institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the
end of the war, the Lebanese have conducted several successful
elections, most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded, and
the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have extended central government
authority over about two-thirds of the country. Hizballah, the
radical Shi'a party, retains its weapons. Syria maintains about
25,000 troops in Lebanon based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and
the Bekaa Valley. Syria's troop deployment was legitimized by the
Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if Accord.
Damascus justifies its continued military presence in Lebanon by
citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and the
failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the
constitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal from
its security zone in southern Lebanon in May of 2000, however, has
emboldened some Lebanese Christians and Druze to demand that Syria
withdraw its forces as well.

Lesotho:
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon
independence from the UK in 1966. Constitutional government was
restored in 1993 after 23 years of military rule.

Liberia:
Seven years of civil strife were brought to a close in 1996
when free and open presidential and legislative elections were held.
President TAYLOR now holds strong executive power with no real
political opposition. The years of fighting coupled with the flight
of most businesses have disrupted formal economic activity. A still
unsettled domestic security situation has slowed the process of
rebuilding the social and economic structu