Gabon
         n 1: a republic on the west coast of Africa [syn: {Gabon},
               {Gabonese Republic}, {Gabun}]

English Dictionary: given	by the DICT Development Group
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Gabun n a republic on the west coast of Africa [syn: Gabon, Gabonese Republic, Gabun]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Gibbon n English historian best known for his history of the Roman Empire (1737-1794) Synonym(s): Gibbon, Edward Gibbon smallest and most perfectly anthropoid arboreal ape having long arms and no tail; of southern Asia and East Indies Synonym(s): gibbon, Hylobates lar
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
give in v yield to another's wish or opinion; "The government bowed to the military pressure" Synonym(s): submit, bow, defer, accede, give in consent reluctantly Synonym(s): yield, give in, succumb, knuckle under, buckle under
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
given adj acknowledged as a supposition; "given the engine's condition, it is a wonder that it started" Synonym(s): given, granted (usually followed by `to') naturally disposed toward; "he is apt to ignore matters he considers unimportant"; "I am not minded to answer any questions" Synonym(s): apt(p), disposed(p), given(p), minded(p), tending(p) n an assumption that is taken for granted [syn: given, presumption, precondition]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
goa bean n a tuberous twining annual vine bearing clusters of purplish flowers and pods with four jagged wings; Old World tropics Synonym(s): winged bean, winged pea, goa bean, goa bean vine, Manila bean, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus Old World tropical bean
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Guevina n one species: Chilean nut Synonym(s): Guevina, genus Guevina
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Gabion \Ga"bi*on\, n.[F., from It. gabbione a large cage,       gabion, from gabbia cage, L. cavea. See {Cage}.]       1. (Fort.) A hollow cylinder of wickerwork, like a basket             without a bottom. Gabions are made of various sizes, and             filled with earth in building fieldworks to shelter men             from an enemy's fire.          2. (Hydraul. Engin.) An openwork frame, as of poles, filled             with stones and sunk, to assist in forming a bar dyke,             etc., as in harbor improvement.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Gipoun \Gi*poun"\, n. [See {Jupon}.]       A short cassock. [Written also {gepoun}, {gypoun}, {jupon},       {juppon}.] [Obs.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Jib \Jib\, n. [Named from its shifting from side to side. See       {Jib}, v. i.., {Jibe}.]       1. (Naut.) A triangular sail set upon a stay or halyard             extending from the foremast or fore-topmast to the             bowsprit or the jib boom. Large vessels often carry             several jibe; as, inner jib; outer jib; flying jib; etc.          2. (Mach.) The projecting arm of a crane, from which the load             is suspended.          {Jib boom} (Naut.), a spar or boom which serves as an             extension of the bowsprit. It is sometimes extended by             another spar called the flying jib boom. [Written also             {gib boom}.]          {Jib crane} (Mach.), a crane having a horizontal jib on which             a trolley moves, bearing the load.          {Jib door} (Arch.), a door made flush with the wall, without             dressings or moldings; a disguised door.          {Jib header} (Naut.), a gaff-topsail, shaped like a jib; a             jib-headed topsail.          {Jib topsail} (Naut.), a small jib set above and outside of             all the other jibs.          {The cut of one's jib}, one's outward appearance. [Colloq.]             --Sir W. Scott.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Gib boom \Gib" boom`\       See {Jib boom}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Jib \Jib\, n. [Named from its shifting from side to side. See       {Jib}, v. i.., {Jibe}.]       1. (Naut.) A triangular sail set upon a stay or halyard             extending from the foremast or fore-topmast to the             bowsprit or the jib boom. Large vessels often carry             several jibe; as, inner jib; outer jib; flying jib; etc.          2. (Mach.) The projecting arm of a crane, from which the load             is suspended.          {Jib boom} (Naut.), a spar or boom which serves as an             extension of the bowsprit. It is sometimes extended by             another spar called the flying jib boom. [Written also             {gib boom}.]          {Jib crane} (Mach.), a crane having a horizontal jib on which             a trolley moves, bearing the load.          {Jib door} (Arch.), a door made flush with the wall, without             dressings or moldings; a disguised door.          {Jib header} (Naut.), a gaff-topsail, shaped like a jib; a             jib-headed topsail.          {Jib topsail} (Naut.), a small jib set above and outside of             all the other jibs.          {The cut of one's jib}, one's outward appearance. [Colloq.]             --Sir W. Scott.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Gib boom \Gib" boom`\       See {Jib boom}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Gibbon \Gib"bon\, n. [Cf. F. gibbon.] (Zo[94]l.)       Any arboreal ape of the genus {Hylobates}, of which many       species and varieties inhabit the East Indies and Southern       Asia. They are tailless and without cheek pouches, and have       very long arms, adapted for climbing.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Gipoun \Gi*poun"\, n. [See {Jupon}.]       A short cassock. [Written also {gepoun}, {gypoun}, {jupon},       {juppon}.] [Obs.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Give \Give\ (g[icr]v), v. t. [imp. {Gave} (g[amac]v); p. p.       {Given} (g[icr]v"'n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Giving}.] [OE. given,       yiven, yeven, AS. gifan, giefan; akin to D. geven, OS.       ge[edh]an, OHG. geban, G. geben, Icel. gefa, Sw. gifva, Dan.       give, Goth. giban. Cf. {Gift}, n.]       1. To bestow without receiving a return; to confer without             compensation; to impart, as a possession; to grant, as             authority or permission; to yield up or allow.                         For generous lords had rather give than pay.                                                                               --Young.          2. To yield possesion of; to deliver over, as property, in             exchange for something; to pay; as, we give the value of             what we buy.                         What shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?                                                                               --Matt. xvi.                                                                               26.          3. To yield; to furnish; to produce; to emit; as, flint and             steel give sparks.          4. To communicate or announce, as advice, tidings, etc.; to             pronounce; to render or utter, as an opinion, a judgment,             a sentence, a shout, etc.          5. To grant power or license to; to permit; to allow; to             license; to commission.                         It is given me once again to behold my friend.                                                                               --Rowe.                         Then give thy friend to shed the sacred wine.                                                                               --Pope.          6. To exhibit as a product or result; to produce; to show;             as, the number of men, divided by the number of ships,             gives four hundred to each ship.          7. To devote; to apply; used reflexively, to devote or apply             one's self; as, the soldiers give themselves to plunder;             also in this sense used very frequently in the past             participle; as, the people are given to luxury and             pleasure; the youth is given to study.          8. (Logic & Math.) To set forth as a known quantity or a             known relation, or as a premise from which to reason; --             used principally in the passive form given.          9. To allow or admit by way of supposition.                         I give not heaven for lost.               --Mlton.          10. To attribute; to assign; to adjudge.                         I don't wonder at people's giving him to me as a                      lover.                                             --Sheridan.          11. To excite or cause to exist, as a sensation; as, to give             offense; to give pleasure or pain.          12. To pledge; as, to give one's word.          13. To cause; to make; -- with the infinitive; as, to give             one to understand, to know, etc.                         But there the duke was given to understand That in                      a gondola were seen together Lorenzo and his                      amorous Jessica.                              --Shak.          {To give away}, to make over to another; to transfer.                         Whatsoever we employ in charitable uses during our                      lives, is given away from ourselves.   --Atterbury.          {To give back}, to return; to restore. --Atterbury.          {To give the bag}, to cheat. [Obs.]                         I fear our ears have given us the bag. --J. Webster.          {To give birth to}.             (a) To bear or bring forth, as a child.             (b) To originate; to give existence to, as an enterprise,                   idea.          {To give chase}, to pursue.          {To give ear to}. See under {Ear}.          {To give forth}, to give out; to publish; to tell. --Hayward.          {To give ground}. See under {Ground}, n.          {To give the hand}, to pledge friendship or faith.          {To give the hand of}, to espouse; to bestow in marriage.          {To give the head}. See under {Head}, n.          {To give in}.             (a) To abate; to deduct.             (b) To declare; to make known; to announce; to tender;                   as, to give in one's adhesion to a party.          {To give the lie to} (a person), to tell (him) that he lies.                      {To give line}. See under {Line}.          {To give off}, to emit, as steam, vapor, odor, etc.          {To give one's self away}, to make an inconsiderate surrender             of one's cause, an unintentional disclosure of one's             purposes, or the like. [Colloq.]          {To give out}.             (a) To utter publicly; to report; to announce or declare.                               One that gives out himself Prince Florizel.                                                                               --Shak.                               Give out you are of Epidamnum.   --Shak.             (b) To send out; to emit; to distribute; as, a substance                   gives out steam or odors.          {To give over}.             (a) To yield completely; to quit; to abandon.             (b) To despair of.             (c) To addict, resign, or apply (one's self).                               The Babylonians had given themselves over to                            all manner of vice.                     --Grew.          {To give place}, to withdraw; to yield one's claim.          {To give points}.             (a) In games of skill, to equalize chances by conceding a                   certain advantage; to allow a handicap.             (b) To give useful suggestions. [Colloq.]          {To give rein}. See under {Rein}, n.          {To give the sack}. Same as {To give the bag}.          {To give and take}.             (a) To average gains and losses.             (b) To exchange freely, as blows, sarcasms, etc.          {To give time}             (Law), to accord extension or forbearance to a debtor.                      --Abbott.          {To give the time of day}, to salute one with the compliment             appropriate to the hour, as [bd]good morning.[b8] [bd]good             evening[b8], etc.          {To give tongue}, in hunter's phrase, to bark; -- said of             dogs.          {To give up}.             (a) To abandon; to surrender. [bd]Don't give up the                   ship.[b8]                               He has . . . given up For certain drops of                            salt, your city Rome.                  --Shak.             (b) To make public; to reveal.                               I'll not state them By giving up their                            characters.                                 --Beau. & Fl.             (c) (Used also reflexively.)          {To give up the ghost}. See under {Ghost}.          {To give one's self up}, to abandon hope; to despair; to             surrender one's self.          {To give way}.             (a) To withdraw; to give place.             (b) To yield to force or pressure; as, the scaffolding                   gave way.             (c) (Naut.) To begin to row; or to row with increased                   energy.             (d) (Stock Exchange). To depreciate or decline in value;                   as, railroad securities gave way two per cent.          {To give way together}, to row in time; to keep stroke.          Syn: To {Give}, {Confer}, {Grant}.          Usage: To give is the generic word, embracing all the rest.                   To confer was originally used of persons in power, who                   gave permanent grants or privileges; as, to confer the                   order of knighthood; and hence it still denotes the                   giving of something which might have been withheld;                   as, to confer a favor. To grant is to give in answer                   to a petition or request, or to one who is in some way                   dependent or inferior.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Given \Giv"en\,       p. p. & a. from {Give}, v.          1. (Math. & Logic) Granted; assumed; supposed to be known;             set forth as a known quantity, relation, or premise.          2. Disposed; inclined; -- used with an adv.; as, virtuously             given. --Shak.          3. Stated; fixed; as, in a given time.          {Given name}, the Christian name, or name given by one's             parents or guardians, as distinguished from the {surname},             which is inherited. [Colloq.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Gobang \Go*bang"\, n. [Written also {goban}.] [Jap. goban       checkerboard, fr. Chino-Jap. go checker + ban board.]       A Japanese game, played on a checkerboard, in which the       object of the game is to be the first in placing five pieces,       or men, in a row in any direction.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Gipoun \Gi*poun"\, n. [See {Jupon}.]       A short cassock. [Written also {gepoun}, {gypoun}, {jupon},       {juppon}.] [Obs.]
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Gaffney, SC (city, FIPS 28060)       Location: 35.07232 N, 81.65612 W       Population (1990): 13145 (5450 housing units)       Area: 19.1 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)       Zip code(s): 29340
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Gibbon, MN (city, FIPS 23678)       Location: 44.53513 N, 94.52300 W       Population (1990): 712 (359 housing units)       Area: 2.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)       Zip code(s): 55335    Gibbon, NE (city, FIPS 18615)       Location: 40.74650 N, 98.84474 W       Population (1990): 1525 (602 housing units)       Area: 1.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)       Zip code(s): 68840
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Given, WV       Zip code(s): 25245
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Govan, SC (town, FIPS 29950)       Location: 33.22323 N, 81.17513 W       Population (1990): 84 (29 housing units)       Area: 2.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
Goffin          A {definitional constraint language} for       {declarative} parallel programming.   Goffin systematically       integrates {equational constraint}s and functions within a       uniform framework of {concurrent} programming.          Goffin is an embedding of a functional language kernel       ({Haskell}) into a layer of constraint logic, which allows       {logical variable}s inside functional expressions.   In order       to preserve {referential transparency}, functional {reduction}       suspends until logical variables become bound.          Logical variables are bound by equational constraints, which       impose relations over expressions.   Hence, constraints are the       means to structure the concurrent reduction of functional       expressions.          (1995-02-21)
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
GPM          {General Purpose Macro-generator}
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Gebim       cisterns, (rendered "pits," Jer. 14:3; "locusts," Isa. 33:4), a       small place north of Jerusalem, whose inhabitants fled at the       approach of the Assyrian army (Isa. 10:31). It is probably the       modern el-Isawiyeh.
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Gibeon       hill-city, "one of the royal cities, greater than Ai, and all       the men thereof were mighty" (Josh. 10:2). Its inhabitants were       Hivites (11:19). It lay within the territory of Benjamin, and       became a priest-city (18:25; 21:17). Here the tabernacle was set       up after the destruction of Nob, and here it remained many years       till the temple was built by Solomon. It is represented by the       modern el-Jib, to the south-west of Ai, and about 5 1/2 miles       north-north-west of Jerusalem.                A deputation of the Gibeonites, with their allies from three       other cities (Josh. 9;17), visited the camp at Gilgal, and by       false representations induced Joshua to enter into a league with       them, although the Israelites had been specially warned against       any league with the inhabitants of Canaan (Ex. 23:32; 34:12;       Num. 33:55; Deut. 7:2). The deception practised on Joshua was       detected three days later; but the oath rashly sworn "by Jehovah       God of Israel" was kept, and the lives of the Gibeonites were       spared. They were, however, made "bondmen" to the sanctuary       (Josh. 9:23).                The most remarkable incident connected with this city was the       victory Joshua gained over the kings of Palestine (Josh.       10:16-27). The battle here fought has been regarded as "one of       the most important in the history of the world." The kings of       southern Canaan entered into a confederacy against Gibeon       (because it had entered into a league with Joshua) under the       leadership of Adoni-zedec, king of Jerusalem, and marched upon       Gibeon with the view of taking possession of it. The Gibeonites       entreated Joshua to come to their aid with the utmost speed. His       army came suddenly upon that of the Amorite kings as it lay       encamped before the city. It was completely routed, and only       broken remnants of their great host found refuge in the fenced       cities. The five confederate kings who led the army were taken       prisoners, and put to death at Makkedah (q.v.). This eventful       battle of Beth-horon sealed the fate of all the cities of       Southern Palestine. Among the Amarna tablets is a letter from       Adoni-zedec (q.v.) to the king of Egypt, written probably at       Makkedah after the defeat, showing that the kings contemplated       flight into Egypt.                This place is again brought into notice as the scene of a       battle between the army of Ish-bosheth under Abner and that of       David led by Joab. At the suggestion of Abner, to spare the       effusion of blood twelve men on either side were chosen to       decide the battle. The issue was unexpected; for each of the men       slew his fellow, and thus they all perished. The two armies then       engaged in battle, in which Abner and his host were routed and       put to flight (2 Sam. 2:12-17). This battle led to a virtual       truce between Judah and Israel, Judah, under David, increasing       in power; and Israel, under Ish-bosheth, continually losing       ground.                Soon after the death of Absalom and David's restoration to his       throne his kingdom was visited by a grievous famine, which was       found to be a punishment for Saul's violation (2 Sam. 21:2, 5)       of the covenant with the Gibeonites (Josh. 9:3-27). The       Gibeonites demanded blood for the wrong that had been done to       them, and accordingly David gave up to them the two sons of       Rizpah (q.v.) and the five sons of Michal, and these the       Gibeonites took and hanged or crucified "in the hill before the       Lord" (2 Sam. 21:9); and there the bodies hung for six months       (21:10), and all the while Rizpah watched over the blackening       corpses and "suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on       them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night." David       afterwards removed the bones of Saul and Jonathan at       Jabeshgilead (21:12, 13).                Here, "at the great stone," Amasa was put to death by Joab (2       Sam. 20:5-10). To the altar of burnt-offering which was at       Gibeon, Joab (1 Kings 2:28-34), who had taken the side of       Adonijah, fled for sanctuary in the beginning of Solomon's       reign, and was there also slain by the hand of Benaiah.                Soon after he came to the throne, Solomon paid a visit of       state to Gibeon, there to offer sacrifices (1 Kings 3:4; 2 Chr.       1:3). On this occasion the Lord appeared to him in a memorable       dream, recorded in 1 Kings 3:5-15; 2 Chr. 1:7-12. When the       temple was built "all the men of Israel assembled themselves" to       king Solomon, and brought up from Gibeon the tabernacle and "all       the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle" to Jerusalem,       where they remained till they were carried away by       Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:13).
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:
Gebim, grasshoppers; height
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:
Gibeon, hill; cup; thing lifted up
From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]:
Gabon       Gabon:Geography       Location: Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator,    between Congo and Equatorial Guinea       Map references: Africa       Area:    total area: 267,670 sq km    land area: 257,670 sq km    comparative area: slightly smaller than Colorado       Land boundaries: total 2,551 km, Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km,    Equatorial Guinea 350 km       Coastline: 885 km       Maritime claims:    contiguous zone: 24 nm    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm    territorial sea: 12 nm       International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial    Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay       Climate: tropical; always hot, humid       Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and    south       Natural resources: petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron    ore       Land use:    arable land: 1%    permanent crops: 1%    meadows and pastures: 18%    forest and woodland: 78%    other: 2%       Irrigated land: NA sq km       Environment:    current issues: deforestation; poaching    natural hazards: NA    international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine    Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,    Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,    Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94       Gabon:People       Population: 1,155,749 (July 1995 est.)       Age structure:    0-14 years: 34% (female 193,859; male 194,761)    15-64 years: 61% (female 347,839; male 359,997)    65 years and over: 5% (female 30,218; male 29,075) (July 1995 est.)       Population growth rate: 1.46% (1995 est.)       Birth rate: 28.34 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)       Death rate: 13.72 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)       Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)       Infant mortality rate: 92.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)       Life expectancy at birth:    total population: 55.14 years    male: 52.31 years    female: 58.06 years (1995 est.)       Total fertility rate: 3.93 children born/woman (1995 est.)       Nationality:    noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)    adjective: Gabonese       Ethnic divisions: Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings    (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans and Europeans    100,000, including 27,000 French       Religions: Christian 55%-75%, Muslim less than 1%, animist       Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira,    Bandjabi       Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)    total population: 61%    male: 74%    female: 48%       Labor force: 120,000 salaried    by occupation: agriculture 65.0%, industry and commerce 30.0%,    services 2.5%, government 2.5%       Gabon:Government       Names:    conventional long form: Gabonese Republic    conventional short form: Gabon    local long form: Republique Gabonaise    local short form: Gabon       Digraph: GB       Type: republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties    legalized 1990)       Capital: Libreville       Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue,    Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo,    Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem       Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France)       National holiday: Renovation Day, 12 March (1968) (Gabonese Democratic    Party established)       Constitution: adopted 14 March 1991       Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;    judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the    Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted       Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal       Executive branch:    chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967);    election last held on 5 December 1993 (next to be held 1998); results    - President Omar BONGO was reelected with 51% of the vote    head of government: Prime Minister Paulin OBAME Nguema (since 9    December 1994)    cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister in    consultation with the president       Legislative branch: unicameral    National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held on 5    December 1993 (next to be held by 1998); results - percent of vote by    party NA; seats - (120 total) PDG 62, Morena-Bucherons/RNB 19, PGP 18,    National Recovery Movement (Morena-Original) 7, APSG 6, USG 4, CRP 1,    independents 3       Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)       Political parties and leaders: Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG, former    sole party), Jaques ADIAHENOT, Secretary General; National Recovery    Movement - Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons/RNB), Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE,    leader; Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre-Louis AGONDHO-OKAWE,    President; National Recovery Movement (Morena-Original), Pierre    ZONGUE-NGUEMA, Chairman; Association for Socialism in Gabon (APSG),    leader NA; Gabonese Socialist Union (USG), leader NA; Circle for    Renewal and Progress (CRP), leader NA; Union for Democracy and    Development (UDD), leader NA; Rally of Democrats (RD), leader NA;    Forces of Change for Democratic Union, leader NA       Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24,    G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS    (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,    NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,    WIPO, WMO, WTO       Diplomatic representation in US:    chief of mission: Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA    chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007, Suite 200    telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000       US diplomatic representation:    chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph C. WILSON IV    embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville    mailing address: B. P. 4000, Libreville    telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, 74 34 92    FAX: [241] 74 55 07       Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue       Economy       Overview: Notwithstanding its serious ongoing economic problems, Gabon    enjoys a per capita income more than twice that of most nations of    sub-Saharan Africa. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil    was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now    accounts for 50% of GDP. Real growth was feeble in 1992 and Gabon    continues to face the problem of fluctuating prices for its oil,    timber, manganese, and uranium exports. Despite an abundance of    natural wealth, and a manageable rate of population growth, the    economy is hobbled by poor fiscal management. In 1992, the fiscal    deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and Gabon failed to settle arrears on    its bilateral debt, leading to a cancellation of rescheduling    agreements with official and private creditors. Devaluation of its    Francophone currency by 50% in January 1994 did not set off an    expected inflationary spiral but the government must continue to keep    a tight reign on spending and wage increases.       National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $5.6 billion (1994    est.)       National product real growth rate: 1.9% (1994 est.)       National product per capita: $4,900 (1994 est.)       Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1994 est.)       Unemployment rate: NA%       Budget:    revenues: $1.3 billion    expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $311    million (1993 est.)       Exports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est)    commodities: crude oil 80%, timber 10%, manganese 6%, uranium 2%    partners: US 38%, France 26%, Japan, Germany       Imports: $832 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)    commodities: foodstuffs, chemical products, petroleum products,    construction materials, manufactures, machinery    partners: France 42%, African countries 23%, US, Japan       External debt: $3.3 billion (1993 est.)       Industrial production: growth rate -3% (1991)       Electricity:    capacity: 315,000 kW    production: 910 million kWh    consumption per capita: 757 kWh (1993)       Industries: food and beverages, lumbering and plywood, textiles,    cement, petroleum refining, mining - manganese, uranium, gold,    petroleum       Agriculture: cash crops - cocoa, coffee, palm oil; livestock raising    not developed; importer of food; small fishing operations provide a    catch of about 20,000 metric tons; okoume (a tropical softwood) is the    most important timber product       Economic aid:    recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $68 million;    Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments    (1970-90), $2.342 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $27 million       Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes       Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1    - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),    282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)    note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF    100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since    1948       Fiscal year: calendar year       Gabon:Transportation       Railroads:    total: 649 km single track (Transgabonese Railroad)    standard gauge: 649 km 1.437-m gauge       Highways:    total: 7,500 km    paved: 560 km    unpaved: crushed stone 960 km; earth 5,980 km       Inland waterways: 1,600 km perennially navigable       Pipelines: crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km       Ports: Cape Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Owendo, Port-Gentil       Merchant marine:    total: 1 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,281 GRT/12,665 DWT       Airports:    total: 69    with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1    with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1    with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7    with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1    with paved runways under 914 m: 28    with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 8    with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 23       Gabon:Communications       Telephone system: 15,000 telephones; telephone density - 13/1,000    persons    local: NA    intercity: adequate system, comprising cable, microwave radio relay,    tropospheric scatter, radiocommunication stations, and 12 domestic    satellite links    international: 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations       Radio:    broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0    radios: NA       Television:    broadcast stations: 3 (repeaters 5)    televisions: NA       Gabon:Defense Forces       Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, National    Gendarmerie, National Police       Manpower availability: males age 15-49 272,025; males fit for military    service 138,197; males reach military age (20) annually 10,516 (1995    est.)       Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $154 million, 2.4% of    GDP (1993)