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| Malta | Communications | Back to Top |
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)
| Malta | Culture | Back to Top |
Malta's cultural determines stem largely from its history of foreign domination and the predominance of the Roman Catholic church. Folk traditions have evolved mainly around the festa to celebrate the patron saint of a village, marked by processions and fireworks. Good Friday also is celebrated with colourful processions in several villages. Imnarja, the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, which takes place on June 29, is the principal folk festival; it is highlighted by folksinging (ghana) contests and fried-rabbit picnics at Buskett. The annual Carnival is celebrated at Valletta with vigorous dancing displays that include the Parata, a sword dance commemorating the Maltese victory over the Turks in 1565, and Il-Maltija, the Maltese national dance. Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Malta, and Ta' Qali National Stadium is the site of valuable local and international matches.
Valletta is the centre of many of Malta's cultural institutions: the National Museum of Archaeology, the National Museum of Fine Arts, the War Museum, the Manoel Theatre (one of Europe's oldest theatres still in operation), and the Foundation for International Studies. The National Library of Malta dates from the late 18th century and houses a large collection as well as the archives of the Knights Hospitalers. The Folk Museum and the Museum of Political History are located at Vittoriosa. Until the early 1990s, Maltese radio and television stations had been operated exclusively by the Malta Broadcasting Authority, but a change in legislation has opened the way for privately operated broadcasting stations. There are two daily newspapers in Maltese and one in English.
| Malta | Defence | Back to Top |
Military branches: Armed Forces (including land forces, an air squadron, a maritime squadron, and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 98,953 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 78,783 (2001 est.)
| Malta | International Disputes | Back to Top |
none
| Malta | Economy | Back to Top |
Manufacturing for export, ship construction and repair, and tourism are Malta’s chief industries. Major manufactures include processed food and beverages, textiles and clothing, furniture and wood products, printing and publishing, tobacco products, transportation equipment (particularly ships), machinery, rubber and plastic goods, and chemicals. Tourism is increasingly valuable; the nation had 1.2 million visitors in 1999. Shipping-related industries are vital to Malta’s economy. These industries include shipbuilding facilities, naval construction and repair facilities, and transshipment centers.
Economic plans professed to build on a tripod basis of industry, agriculture, and tourism. In fact, industrial growth lagged behind these plans, resulting in the successful establishment of only a few multinational corporations (mainly producing textiles). From 1971 the government increasingly took over weak enterprises, sometimes closing them. Since 1987 new development has concentrated on manufacture of industrial components, including computer parts, instruments, and other high-tech goods, as well as a large mixture of consumer products (toys, cosmetics, detergents, processed foods) and more orthodox goods such as lace, silver filigree, pottery, glassware, and canework. Foreign investment in manufacturing is promoted and facilitated by the Malta Development Corporation.
Major 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, manufacturing (particularly electronics and textiles), and tourism. Malta is privatizing state-controlled firms and liberalizing markets in order to prepare for membership in the European Union. the island is separated politically over the question of joining the EU. The sizable budget deficit remains a key concern.
| Malta | Government | Back to Top |
Under its 1964 Constitution, Malta became a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth. Queen Elizabeth II was sovereign of Malta, and a governor general exercised administrator authority on her behalf, while the actual direction and control of the government and the nation's affairs were in the hands of the cabinet under the leadership of a Maltese prime minister.
On December 13, 1974, the Constitution was revised, and Malta became a republic within the Commonwealth, with administrator authority unconditional in a Maltese president. The president appoints as prime minister the leader of the party with a majority of seats in the unicameral House of Representatives. The president also nominally appoints, upon recommendation of the prime minister, the individual ministers to head each of the government departments. The cabinet is selected from among the members of the House of Representatives. This body consists of between 65 and 69 members elected on the basis of proportional representation. Elections must be held at least every five years. Candidates for any vacancies are determined by the majority of votes obtained by a candidate during the previous elections.
Malta's judiciary is independent. The chief justice and 16 judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister. Their mandatory retirement age is 65. There is a civil court, a commercial court, and a criminal court. In the latter, the presiding judge sits with a jury of nine. The court of appeal hears appeals from decisions of the civil court and of the commercial court. The court of criminal appeal hears appeals from judgments of conviction by the criminal court. The highest court, the Constitutional Court, hears appeals in cases involving violations of human rights, interpretation of the constitution, and invalidity of laws. It also has jurisdiction in cases concerning disputed parliamentary elections and electoral corrupt practices. There also are inferior courts presided over by a magistrate.
The Local Councils Act, 1993 (Act XV of 1993) was published on June 30, 1993 subdividing Malta into 54 local councils in Malta and 14 in Gozo. Councils are elected every 3 years by inhabitants who are registered as voters in the Electoral Register. Elections are held by means of the system of proportional representation using the single transferable vote. The Mayor is the head of the Local Council and the representative of the Council for all effects under the Act. The administrator Secretary, who is appointed by the Council, is the administrator, administrative, and financial head of the Council. All decisions are taken collectively with the other members of the Council. Local Councils are responsible for the general upkeep and embellishment of the locality, local wardens, refuse collection, and carry out general administrative duties for the central government such as collection of government rents and funds, and answering government-related public inquiries.
| Malta | History | Back to Top |
Malta was an valuable cultic center for earth-mother worship in the 4th millennium B.C. Recent archeological work shows a developed religious center there long before those of Sumer and Egypt. Malta's written history began well before the Christian era. Originally the Phoenicians, and later the Carthaginians, accomplished ports and trading settlements on the island. During the second Punic War (218 B.C.), Malta became part of the Roman Empire. During Roman rule, in A.D. 60, Saint Paul was shipwrecked on Malta at a place now called St. Paul's Bay.
The people of Malta rose against French rule, which lasted 2 years, and with the help of the British evicted them in 1800. In 1814, Malta voluntarily became part of the British Empire. Under the United Kingdom, the island became a military and naval fortress, the headquarters of the British Mediterranean fleet. During World War II, Malta survived relentless raids from German and Italian military forces (1940-43). In recognition, King George VI in 1942 awarded the George Cross "to the island fortress of Malta--its people and defenders." President Franklin Roosevelt, describing the wartime time, called Malta "one tiny bright flame in the darkness." Malta obtained freedom on September 21, 1964.
| Malta | Introduction | Back to Top |
Malta, independent republic in the Commonwealth of Nations, consisting of a small group of islands—Malta, Gozo, Kemmuna, Kemmunett, and Filfla—located in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. The area of the largest island, Malta, is 246 sq km (95 sq mi); of Gozo, 67 sq km (26 sq mi); and of Kemmuna, 3 sq km (1 sq mi). The combined area of Kemmunett and Filfla is 0.3 sq km (0.12 sq mi). The total area is 316 sq km (122 sq mi). The capital and leading port of the nation is Valletta (population, 1999 estimate, 7,100). The population of Malta (2001 estimate) is 394,583. The overall population density is 1,247 persons per sq km (3,231 per sq mi).
| Malta | Land | Back to Top |
N/A
| Malta | Legal | Back to Top |
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations vote: 18 years of age; universal administrator branch: 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 NA 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; % of House of Representatives vote - 54% 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; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September 2003) election results: % of vote by party - PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD 1.2%; seats by party - PN 35, MLP 30 Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
| Malta | organization | Back to Top |
C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
| Malta | People | Back to Top |
The Maltese are predominantly Roman Catholic and speak a language similar in vocabulary to Arabic, although its alphabet and grammatical structure are derived from Latin. Both Maltese and English are official languages. Italian is widely spoken. Education is free and compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 16. The University of Malta (1592) in Msida had around 5,000 students in 1994.
Malta is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with about 1,160 inhabitants per square kilometer (3,000 per sq. mi.). This compares with about 21 per square kilometer (55 per sq. mi.) for the United States. colonised since past history times, Malta was first colonized by the Phoenicians. consequently, Arabs, Italians, and the British have determined Maltese life and culture to varying degrees. Most of the foreign community in Malta, predominantly active or retired British nationals and their dependents, centers around Sliema and surrounding modern suburbs. There also is a growing North African Muslim community of about 2,250 (2001) married to Maltese nationals. Roman Catholicism is accomplished by law as the religion of Malta; full liberty of conscience and freedom of worship is guaranteed, and a number of faiths have places of worship on the island. Malta has two official languages--Maltese (a Semitic language) and English. The literacy rate has reached 93%, compared to 63% in 1946. Schooling is compulsory until age 16.
| Malta | Politics | Back to Top |
Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Edward FENECH ADAMI]
| Malta | Provinces | Back to Top |
none (administered directly from Valletta)
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| Malta | Time | Back to Top |
| Malta | Currency and General Information | Back to Top |
| Countries Currency Unit | EUR/Unit | Units/EUR | |
| DZD | Algeria Dinars | 0.0148829 | 67.1910 |
| USD | United States Dollars | 1.14878 | 0.870489 |
| ARS | Argentina Pesos | 0.392070 | 2.55056 |
| AUD | Australia Dollars | 0.612775 | 1.63192 |
| ATS | Austria Schillings ** | 0.0726728 | 13.7603 |
| BSD | Bahamas Dollars | 1.14878 | 0.870489 |
| BBD | Barbados Dollars | 0.577276 | 1.73227 |
| BEF | Belgium Francs ** | 0.0247894 | 40.3399 |
| BMD | Bermuda Dollars | 1.14878 | 0.870489 |
| BRL | Brazil Reals | 0.494341 | 2.02289 |
| GBP | United Kingdom Pounds | 1.63585 | 0.611301 |
| BGL | Bulgaria Leva | 0.513841 | 1.94613 |
| CAD | Canada Dollars | 0.720981 | 1.38700 |
| CLP | Chile Pesos | 0.00175065 | 571.216 |
| CNY | China Yuan Renminbi | 0.138787 | 7.20526 |
| CYP | Cyprus Pounds | 1.72183 | 0.580778 |
| CZK | Czech Republic Koruny | 0.0323821 | 30.8813 |
| DKK | Denmark Kroner | 0.134586 | 7.43021 |
| XCD | East Caribbean Dollars | 0.425474 | 2.35032 |
| EGP | Egypt Pounds | 0.249597 | 4.00646 |
| EUR | Euro | 1.00000 | 1.00000 |
| FJD | Fiji Dollars | 0.513766 | 1.94641 |
| FIM | Finland Markkaa ** | 0.168188 | 5.94573 |
| FRF | France Francs ** | 0.152449 | 6.55957 |
| DEM | Germany Deutsche Marks ** | 0.511292 | 1.95583 |
| XAU | Gold Ounces | 346.905 | 0.00288263 |
| GRD | Greece Drachmae ** | 0.00293470 | 340.750 |
| HKD | Hong Kong Dollars | 0.147291 | 6.78928 |
| HUF | Hungary Forint | 0.00411741 | 242.871 |
| ISK | Iceland Kronur | 0.0114863 | 87.0603 |
| INR | India Rupees | 0.0235735 | 42.4205 |
| IDR | Indonesia Rupiahs | 0.000117239 | 8,529.58 |
| IEP | Ireland Pounds ** | 1.26974 | 0.787564 |
| ILS | Israel New Shekels | 0.243985 | 4.09862 |
| ITL | Italy Lire ** | 0.000516457 | 1,936.27 |
| JMD | Jamaica Dollars | 0.0241290 | 41.4438 |
| JPY | Japan Yen | 0.00866390 | 115.421 |
| JOD | Jordan Dinars | 1.62044 | 0.617117 |
| LBP | Lebanon Pounds | 0.000759272 | 1,317.05 |
| LUF | Luxembourg Francs ** | 0.0247894 | 40.3399 |
| MYR | Malaysia Ringgits | 0.302509 | 3.30569 |
| MXN | Mexico Pesos | 0.127522 | 7.84178 |
| NZD | New Zealand Dollars | 0.506007 | 1.97626 |
| NOK | Norway Kroner | 0.129838 | 7.70191 |
| NLG | Netherlands Guilders ** | 0.453780 | 2.20371 |
| PKR | Pakistan Rupees | 0.0191783 | 52.1423 |
| PHP | Philippines Pesos | 0.0225604 | 44.3255 |
| XPT | Platinum Ounces | 586.983 | 0.00170363 |
| PLN | Poland Zlotych | 0.279714 | 3.57509 |
| PTE | Portugal Escudos ** | 0.00498798 | 200.482 |
| ROL | Romania Lei | 0.0000348578 | 28,688.01 |
| RUR | Russia Rubles | 0.0369151 | 27.0892 |
| SAR | Saudi Arabia Riyals | 0.306343 | 3.26431 |
| XAG | Silver Ounces | 5.34978 | 0.186923 |
| SGD | Singapore Dollars | 0.623260 | 1.60447 |
| SKK | Slovakia Koruny | 0.0239453 | 41.7618 |
| ZAR | South Africa Rand | 0.101476 | 9.85451 |
| KRW | South Korea Won | 0.000872331 | 1,146.35 |
| ESP | Spain Pesetas ** | 0.00601012 | 166.386 |
| XDR | IMF Special Drawing Rights | 1.43439 | 0.697159 |
| SDD | Sudan Dinars | 0.00441838 | 226.327 |
| SEK | Sweden Kronor | 0.110764 | 9.02819 |
| CHF | Switzerland Francs | 0.682133 | 1.46599 |
| TWD | Taiwan New Dollars | 0.0329162 | 30.3802 |
| THB | Thailand Baht | 0.0264319 | 37.8331 |
| TTD | Trinidad and Tobago Dollars | 0.187709 | 5.32739 |
| TRL | Turkey Liras | 0.000000877233 | 1,139,947.58 |
| VEB | Venezuela Bolivares | 0.00124867 | 800.850 |
| ZMK | Zambia Kwacha | 0.000275553 | 3,629.07 |