ey 10%,
Lebanon 7%, Spain 6% (1997 est.)

Imports: $5.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 40%,
foodstuffs/animals 15%, metal and metal products 15%, textiles 10%,
chemicals 10%, consumer goods 5% (1997 est.)

Imports--partners: Ukraine 14%, Italy 7%, Germany 6%, Turkey 5%,
France 4%, South Korea 4%, Japan 4%, US 3% (1997 est.)

Debt--external: $22 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $327.3 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Syrian pound (LS) = 100 piastres

Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (LS) per US$1--46 (1998), 41.9
(January 1997); official fixed rate 11.225

Fiscal year: calendar year

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: 54 (of which 36 are low-power
stations and repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 700,000 (1993 est.)

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: 41,451 km
paved: 9,575 km (including 877 km of expressways)
unpaved: 31,876 km (1997 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: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 401,407 GRT/578,081 DWT
ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 115, livestock carrier 4,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 104 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 80
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 63 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

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

Militar