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| Names: |
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conventional long form: |
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Lao
People's Democratic Republic |
conventional short form: |
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Loas |
local long form: |
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Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
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local short form: |
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None |
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| Digraph:
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LA |
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| Type: |
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Communist state |
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| Capital: |
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Vientiane |
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| Administrative divisions: |
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16 provinces (khoueng, singular and
plural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular
and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak,
Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang,
Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*,
Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang |
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| Independence: |
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19 July 1949 (from
France) |
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| National
holiday: |
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National Day, 2 December
(1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic
Republic) |
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| Constitution: |
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promulgated 14 August
1991 |
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| Legal
system: |
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based on traditional customs,
French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist
practice |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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| Executive
branch: |
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chief of state: |
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President
NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (since 25 November 1992) |
head of government: |
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Prime
Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991)
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cabinet: |
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Council of
Ministers; appointed by the president, approved by the
Assembly |
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Legislative
branch: |
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unicameral |
National Assembly: |
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elections
last held on 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (85
total) number of seats by party NA |
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Judicial
branch:
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Supreme People's Court |
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Political
parties and leaders:
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Lao People's Revolutionary
Party (LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president; other
parties proscribed |
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Other
political or pressure groups: |
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non-Communist political groups
proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in
1975 |
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Member of:
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ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer),
CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL,
IOC, ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in US:
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chief of mission: |
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Ambassador
HIEM PHOMMACHANH |
chancery: |
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2222 S
Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
Telephone: |
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[1] (202)
332-6416 , 6417
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Fax: |
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[1] (202)
332-4923 |
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US
diplomatic representation: |
chief of mission: |
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Ambassador
Victor L. TOMSETH |
embassy: |
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Rue
Bartholonie, Vientiane |
mailing address: |
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B. P. 114,
Vientiane; American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546
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telephone: |
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[856] (21)
212581, 212582, 212585 |
Fax: |
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[856] (21)
212584 |
Flag: |
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three
horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and
red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
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