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 transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May of 2004.

party to:

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, 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:

18.1% (male 36,891; female 34,912)

15-64 years:

68.5% (male 137,259; female 134,611)

65 years and over:

13.4% (male 22,691; female 30,487) (2004 est.)

at birth:

1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.74 male(s)/female

total population:

0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

noun:

Maltese (singular and plural)

adjective:

Maltese

conventional long form:

Republic of Malta

conventional short form:

Malta

local long form:

Repubblika ta' Malta

local short form:

Malta

chief of state:

President Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004)

head of government:

Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004)

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 29 March 2004 (next to be held by April 2009);
• 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:

Eddie FENECH ADAMI elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes

• 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 [Lawrence GONZI]

chief of mission:

Ambassador John LOWELL

chancery:

2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 462-3611, 3612

FAX:

[1] (202) 387-5470

consulate(s):

New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William GRANT

embassy:

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

mailing address:

P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta, CMR01

telephone:

[356] 2561 4000

FAX:

[356] 21 243229

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:

• country code - 356;
• 2 submarine cables;
• satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

total:

2,254 km

paved:

1,972 km

unpaved:

282 km (2000)