y Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 565,811 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 443,879 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 16,883 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $60 million (1999)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (1999)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: draft treaty delimiting the boundary with
Russia has not been signed; ongoing talks over maritime boundary
dispute with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from
Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and
Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to
CIS; limited production of illicit amphetamines, ephedrine, and
ecstasy for export

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@Lebanon
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Introduction

Background: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its
political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since
the end of the devastating 16-year civil war, which ended in 1991.
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 civil war, the Lebanese have formed
six cabinets, conducted two legislative elections, and held their
first municipal elections in 35 years. Most of the militias have
been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has
seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the
war and extended central government authority over about one-half of
the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains its
weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel
maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a
proxy militia, the Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow
stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave
encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers
north to the strategic town of Jazzin. Syria maintains about 25,000
troops i