be held NA 2002;
note--extension of President NIYAZOV's term for an additional five
years overwhelmingly approved by national referendum held 15 January
1994); deputy chairmen of the cabinet of ministers are appointed by
the president
election results: Saparmurat NIYAZOV elected president without
opposition; percent of vote--Saparmurat NIYAZOV 99.5%

Legislative branch: under the 1992 constitution, there are two
parliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council or Halk
Maslahaty (more than 100 seats, some of which are elected by popular
vote and some of which are appointed; meets infrequently) and a
unicameral Assembly or Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: People's Council--NA; Assembly--last held 11 December 1994
(next to be held NA December 1999)
election results: Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Democratic Party 45, other 5; note--all 50 preapproved by
President NIYAZOV

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan
note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small
opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries

International organization participation: CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Halil UGUR
chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Steven R. MANN
embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat
mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: green field with a vertical red stripe near the
hoist side, containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing
rugs) stacked above two crossed olive branches similar to the olive
branches on the UN flag; a white crescent moon and five white stars
appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the
red stripe

Economy

Economy--overview: Turkmenistan is largely desert country with
nomadic cattle raising, intensive agriculture in irrigated oases,
and huge gas and oil resources. One-h