Malta

Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has become a freight transshipment point, financial center, and tourist destination. It is an official candidate for EU membership.

party to:

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

• the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited;
• numerous bays provide good harbors;
• Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

0-14 years:

19.7% (male 40,609; female 37,882)

15-64 years:

67.5% (male 135,047; female 133,207)

65 years and over:

12.8% (male 21,215; female 29,539) (2002 est.)

at birth:

1.09 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.72 male(s)/female

total population:

0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

noun:

Maltese (singular and plural)

adjective:

Maltese

conventional long form:

Republic of Malta

conventional short form:

Malta

local short form:

Malta

local long form:

Repubblika ta' Malta

chief of state:

President Guido DE MARCO (since 4 April 1999)

head of government:

Prime Minister Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 6 September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 4 April 1999)

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 1999 (next to be held by April 2004);
• following legislative 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;
• the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

election results:

Guido DE MARCO elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - 54%

• Constitutional Court;
• Court of Appeal;
• judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

• Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO];
• Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT];
• Nationalist Party or PN [Edward FENECH ADAMI]

chief of mission:

Ambassador George SALIBA; note - newly-appointed Ambassador John LOWELL is expected to present his credentials in early 2003

consulate(s):

New York

FAX:

[1] (202) 387-5470

telephone:

[1] (202) 462-3611, 3612

chancery:

2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission:

Ambassador Anthony H. GIOIA

embassy:

3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta VLT 01

mailing address:

P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta, CMR 01

telephone:

[356] 2561-4000

FAX:

[356] 2124-3229

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

• tourism;
• electronics, ship building and repair, construction;
• food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco

general assessment:

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)

total:

1,742 km

paved:

1,677 km

unpaved:

65 km (1997)