Chapter 73
Political pressure groups and leaders: United Movement and Fronts of Azawad or MFUA; Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Kaye or MPGK
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH chancery : 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David P. RAWSON embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako telephone: [223] 22 54 70 FAX : [223] 22 37 12
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Economy - overview: Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export. Nonetheless the government has successfully implemented an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform, and the 50% devaluation of the African Franc in January 1994, has pushed up economic growth. Several multinational corporations increased gold mining operations in 1996 and the government projects that Mali will become a major Sub-Saharan gold exporter in the next few years.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.8 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.2% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $600 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 49% industry: 17% services: 34% (1995)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 12.7% (1995 est.)
Labor force: total: 2.666 million (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 80%, services 19%, industry and commerce 1% (1981)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues : $730 million expenditures: $770 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: minor local consumer goods production and food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1994)
Electricity - capacity: 84,100 kW (1990)
Electricity - production: 235 million kWh (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 28 kWh (1991 est.)
Agriculture - products: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: total value: $320 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: cotton, livestock, gold partners: mostly franc zone and Western Europe
Imports: total value : $422 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, construction materials, petroleum, textiles partners: mostly franc zone and Western Europe
Debt - external: $2.8 billion (1995)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 541.69 (January 1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992) 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
@Mali:Communications
Telephones: 11,000 (1982 est.)
Telephone system: domestic system poor but improving; provides only minimal service domestic: network consists of microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio relay in progress international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 430,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 11,000 (1992 est.)
@Mali:Transportation
Railways: total: 641 km; (linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes) narrow gauge: 641 km 1.000-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 14,776 km paved : 1,773 km unpaved: 13,003 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 1,815 km navigable
Ports and harbors: Koulikoro
Airports: 24 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m : 7 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 8 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,976,414 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 1,129,765 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $66 million (1994)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.2% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
MALTA
@Malta:Geography
Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Geographic coordinates: 35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total : 320 sq km land: 320 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 140 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone : 25 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Dingli Cliffs 245 m
Natural resources: limestone, salt
Land use: arable land: 38% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland : NA% other: 59% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified : Biodiversity, Desertification
Geography - note: the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors
@Malta:People
Population: 377,177 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years : 21% (male 41,207; female 39,041) 15-64 years: 67% (male 127,553; female 126,355) 65 years and over: 12% (male 18,202; female 24,819) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.68% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 12.47 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 7.34 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years : 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.44 years male: 75.16 years female: 79.87 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%
Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 88% male: 88% female: 88% (1985)
@Malta:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Malta
Data code: MT
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Valletta
Administrative divisions: none (administered directly from Valletta)
Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution: 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994) head of government : Prime Minister Dr. Alfred SANT (since 28 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dr. George VELLA (since 29 October 1996) cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held NA April 1994 (next to be held by NA April 1999); following House of Representatives elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term election results: Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current total: 69 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections : last held 26 October 1996 (next to be held by October 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - MLP 50.7%, NP 46.5%; seats by party - NP 34, MLP 31 (MLP 35, NP 34 after adjustment)
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders: Nationalist Party or NP [Edward FENECH ADAMI]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]
International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC (observer), NAM, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Albert Borg Olivier DE PUGET chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612 FAX : [1] (202) 387-5470 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Charles N. PATTERSON, Jr. embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta telephone : [356] 235960 FAX: [356] 223322
Flag description: two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red
Economy
Economy - overview: Significant resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, industry (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism; the state-owned Malta drydocks employs about 3,800 people. In 1995, over 1.1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of $12,600 places Malta in the range of the less affluent EU countries. The island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.7 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $12,600 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 34% services : 61% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 3% (1996)
Labor force: total : 148,085 (September 1996) by occupation: public services 37%, other services 28%, manufacturing and construction 25%, agriculture 2% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3.7% (September 1996)
Budget: revenues : $1.66 billion expenditures: $1.69 billion, including capital expenditures of $633 million (1996 est.)
Industries: tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: -5% (1996 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 405,000 kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 1.41 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs
Exports: total value: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, clothing and footware, printed matter partners: Italy 32%, Germany 16%, UK 8%
Imports: total value: $3 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: food, petroleum, machinery and semimanufactured goods partners: Italy 27%, Germany 14%, UK 13%, US 9%
Debt - external: $134 million (1996)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1 - 0.3677 (January 1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776 (1994), 0.3821 (1993), 0.3178 (1992)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Malta:Communications
Telephones: 191,876 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: automatic system satisfies normal requirements domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands international : 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 189,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1996 est.)
Televisions: 300,000 (1996 est.)
@Malta:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total : 1,582 km paved: 1,471 km unpaved: 111 km (1993 est.)
Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Merchant marine: total : 1,128 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,806,358 GRT/31,554,713 DWT ships by type: bulk 314, cargo 353, chemical tanker 32, combination bulk 27, combination ore/oil 13, container 43, liquefied gas tanker 2, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 224, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 3, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 31, roll-on/roll-off cargo 37, short-sea passenger 22, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 12 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 46 countries among which are Greece 478, Croatia 52, Switzerland 48, Russia 46, Italy 44, Norway 37, Turkey 28, Germany 23, UK 22, and Ukraine 20 (1996 est.)
Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m : 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Armed Forces, Maltese Police Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49 : 99,032 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 78,710 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $65.5 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.7% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe ______________________________________________________________________
MAN, ISLE OF
(British crown dependency)
@Man, Isle of:Geography
Location: Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland
Geographic coordinates: 54 15 N, 4 30 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total : 588 sq km land: 588 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 113 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: cool summers and mild winters; humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley
Elevation extremes: lowest point : Irish Sea 0 m highest point: Snaefell 620 m
Natural resources: lead, iron ore
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures : NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA% (extensive arable land and forests)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is a bird sanctuary
@Man, Isle of:People
Population: 74,504 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 6,681; female 6,427) 15-64 years: 65% (male 24,225; female 24,102) 65 years and over : 17% (male 5,198; female 7,871) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.86% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 12.48 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 11.89 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years : 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.36 years male: 73.79 years female : 81.09 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun : Manxman, Manxwoman adjective: Manx
Ethnic groups: Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Briton
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends
Languages: English, Manx Gaelic
Literacy: NA
@Man, Isle of:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Isle of Man
Data code: IM
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Government type: NA
National capital: Douglas
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Tynwald Day, 5 July
Constitution: 1961, Isle of Man Constitution Act
Legal system: English law and local statute
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor His Excellency Sir Timothy DAUNT (since NA 1995) head of government: President of the Legislative Council Sir Charles KERRUISH (since NA 1990) cabinet : Council of Ministers elections: the queen is a hereditary monarch; lieutenant governor appointed by the queen for a five-year term; president of the Legislative Council elected by the Tynwald for a NA-year term; election last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: Sir Charles KERRUISH elected president of the Legislative Council; percent of legislative vote - NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (a 10-member body composed of the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by the House of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Keys - last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA 1996) election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 24
Judicial branch: High Court of Justice, justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor
Political parties and leaders: there is no party system; members sit as independents
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown dependency)
Flag description: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used
Economy
Economy - overview: Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy. The government's policy of offering incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of GDP. Banking now contributes about 45% to GDP. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to EU markets.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $780 million (1994 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,800 (1994 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 7% (1992 est.)
Labor force: total: 33,189 (1991) by occupation: manufacturing 11%, construction 11%, transport and communication 6%, retail distribution 9%, professional and scientific services 17%, public administration 7%, banking and finance 8%
Unemployment rate: 1% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $333.7 million expenditures: $333.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)
Industries: financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: NA kW
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Exports: $NA commodities: tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb partners : UK
Imports: $NA commodities : timber, fertilizers, fish partners: UK
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: recipient : ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Manx pound (£M) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Manx pounds (£M) per US$1 - 0.6023 (January 1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992); the Manx pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Man, Isle of:Communications
Telephones: 41,000 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 4
Televisions: NA
@Man, Isle of:Transportation
Railways: total : 52 km (27 km electrified)
Highways: total: 640 km paved: 320 km unpaved: 320 km
Ports and harbors: Castletown, Douglas, Peel, Ramsey
Merchant marine: total: 106 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,679,710 GRT/4,450,358 DWT ships by type: bulk 21, cargo 9, chemical tanker 6, combination bulk 1, container 14, liquefied gas tanker 9, oil tanker 22, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 16, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3 note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 11 ships, Switzerland 2, South Africa 1, Denmark 1, and Netherlands 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
MARSHALL ISLANDS
@Marshall Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 168 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 181.3 sq km land: 181.3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein
Area - comparative: about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 370.4 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea : 12 nm
Climate: wet season from May to November; hot and humid; islands border typhoon belt