Part 51
Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia former: Malayan Union Digraph: MY Type: constitutional monarchy note: Federation of Malaysia formed 9 July 1963; nominally headed by the paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral Parliament; Peninsular Malaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, where governors are appointed by Malaysian Pulau Pinang Government; powers of state governments are limited by federal Constitution; Sabah - self-governing state, holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government; Sarawak - self-governing state, holds 27 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government Capital: Kuala Lumpur Administrative divisions: 13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) and 2 federal territories* (wilayah-wilayah persekutuan, singular - wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan* Independence: 31 August 1957 (from UK) National holiday: National Day, 31 August (1957) Constitution: 31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963 Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Paramount Ruler JA'AFAR ibni Abdul Rahman (since 26 April 1994); Deputy Paramount Ruler SALAHUDDIN ibni Hisammuddin Alam Shah (since 26 April 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since 16 July 1981); Deputy Prime Minister ANWAR bin Ibrahim (since 1 December 1993) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the Paramount Ruler from members of parliament Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlimen) Senate (Dewan Negara): consists of a 58-member body, 32 appointed by the paramount ruler and 16 elected by the state legislatures House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat): elections last held 21 October 1990 (next to be held by August 1995); results - National Front 52%, other 48%; seats - (180 total) National Front 127, DAP 20, PAS 7, independents 4, other 22; note - within the National Front, UMNO got 71 seats and MCA 18 seats Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Peninsular Malaysia: National Front, a confederation of 13 political parties dominated by United Malays National Organization Baru (UMNO Baru), MAHATHIR bin Mohamad; Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), LING Liong Sik; Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, LIM Keng Yaik; Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), S. Samy VELLU Sabah: National Front, Tan Sri SAKARAN, Sabah Chief Minister; United Sabah National Organizaton (USNO), leader NA Sarawak: coalition Sarawak National Front composed of the Party Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), Datuk Patinggi Amar Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud; Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Datuk Amar James WONG Soon Kai; Sarawak National Party (SNAP), Datuk Amar James WONG; Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS), Datuk Leo MOGGIE; major opposition parties are Democratic Action Party (DAP), LIM Kit Siang and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Fadzil NOOR Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Abdul MAJID bin Mohamed chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 328-2700 FAX: (202) 483-7661 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador John S. WOLF embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; APO AP 96535-5000 telephone: [60] (3) 248-9011 FAX: [60] (3) 242-2207 Flag: fourteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US
@Malaysia, Economy
Overview: The Malaysian economy, a mixture of private enterprise and a soundly managed public sector, has posted a remarkable record of 8%-9% average growth in 1987-93. This growth has resulted in a substantial reduction in poverty and a marked rise in real wages. Despite sluggish growth in the major world economies in 1992-93, demand for Malaysian goods remained strong, and foreign investors continued to commit large sums in the economy. The government is aware of the inflationary potential of this rapid development and is closely monitoring fiscal and monetary policies. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $141 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 8% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $7,500 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1993) Unemployment rate: 3% (1993) Budget: revenues: $19.6 billion expenditures: $18 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.4 billion (1994 est.) Exports: $46.8 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: electronic equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles partners: Singapore 23%, US 15%, Japan 13%, UK 4%, Germany 4%, Thailand 4% (1991) Imports: $40.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, food, petroleum products partners: Japan 26%, Singapore 21%, US 16%, Taiwan 6%, Germany 4%, UK 3%, Australia 3% (1991) External debt: $18.4 billion (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 13% (1992); accounts for 43% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 8,000,000 kW production: 30 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,610 kWh (1992) Industries: Peninsular Malaysia: rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging and processing timber Sabah: logging, petroleum production Sarawak: agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging Agriculture: accounts for 17% of GDP Peninsular Malaysia: natural rubber, palm oil, rice Sabah: mainly subsistence, but also rubber, timber, coconut, rice Sarawak: rubber, timber, pepper; deficit of rice in all areas Illicit drugs: transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe, and the Third World despite severe penalties for drug trafficking Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-84), $170 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.7 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $42 million Currency: 1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen Exchange rates: ringgits (M$) per US$1 - 2.7123 (January 1994), 2.5741 (1993), 2.5474 (1992), 2.7501 (1991), 1.7048 (1990), 2.7088 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year
@Malaysia, Communications
Railroads: Peninsular Malaysia: 1,665 km 1.04-meter gauge; 13 km double track, government owned Sabah: 136 km 1.000-meter gauge Sarawak: none Highways: total: 29,026 km (Peninsular Malaysia 23,600 km, Sabah 3,782 km, Sarawak 1,644 km) paved: NA (Peninsular Malaysia 19,352 km mostly bituminous treated) unpaved: NA (Peninsular Malaysia 4,248 km) Inland waterways: Peninsular Malaysia: 3,209 km Sabah: 1,569 km Sarawak: 2,518 km Pipelines: crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km Ports: Tanjong Kidurong, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port Kelang, Sandakan, Tawau Merchant marine: 183 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,935,210 GRT/2,913,808 DWT, bulk 29, cargo 69, chemical tanker 6, container 26, liquefied gas 6, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 39, passenger-cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 2, vehicle carrier 2 Airports: total: 113 usable: 104 with permanent-surface runways: 33 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 7 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 18 Telecommunications: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; international service good; good coverage by radio and television broadcasts; 994,860 telephones (1984); broadcast stations - 28 AM, 3 FM, 33 TV; submarine cables extend to India and Sarawak; SEACOM submarine cable links to Hong Kong and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, and 2 domestic
@Malaysia, Defense Forces
Branches: Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police, Sarawak Border Scouts Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,942,387; fit for military service 3,001,972; reach military age (21) annually 182,850 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.2 billion, 3% of GDP (1994 est.)
@Maldives, Geography
Location: Southern Asia, in the Indian Ocean off the southwest coast of India Map references: Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 300 sq km land area: 300 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 644 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 35-310 nm as defined by geographic coordinates; segment of zone coincides with maritime boundary with India territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August) Terrain: flat with elevations only as high as 2.5 meters Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 3% other: 84% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies natural hazards: low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea Note: 1,200 coral islands grouped into 19 atolls; archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
@Maldives, People
Population: 252,077 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 3.61% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 43.59 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 7.45 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 53.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.67 years male: 63.24 years female: 66.17 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.26 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian Ethnic divisions: Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, African Religions: Sunni Muslim Languages: Divehi (dialect of Sinhala; script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1985) total population: 92% male: 92% female: 92% Labor force: 66,000 (est.) by occupation: fishing industry 25%
@Maldives, Government
Names: conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives Digraph: MV Type: republic Capital: Male Administrative divisions: 19 districts (atolls); Aliff, Baa, Daalu, Faafu, Gaafu Aliff, Gaafu Daalu, Haa Aliff, Haa Daalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Laviyani, Meemu, Naviyani, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Waavu Independence: 26 July 1965 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965) Constitution: 4 June 1968 Legal system: based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); election last held 1 October 1993 (next to be held NA); results - President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM was reelected with 92.76% of the vote cabinet: Ministry of Atolls; appointed by the president Legislative branch: unicameral Citizens' Council (Majlis): elections last held on 7 December 1989 (next to be held 7 December 1994); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (48 total, 40 elected) Judicial branch: High Court Political parties and leaders: no organized political parties; country governed by the Didi clan for the past eight centuries Member of: AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: Maldives has no embassy in the US, but does have a UN mission in New York; Permanent Representative to the UN Ahmed ZAKI US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there consular agency: Midhath Hilmy, Male telephone: 2581 Flag: red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag
@Maldives, Economy
Overview: The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and shipping. Agriculture is limited to the production of a few subsistence crops that provide only 10% of food requirements. Fishing is the largest industry, employing 25% of the work force and accounting for over 60% of exports; it is also an important source of government revenue. During the 1980s tourism became one of the most important and highest growth sectors of the economy. In 1988 industry accounted for about 5% of GDP. Real GDP is officially estimated to have increased by about 10% annually during the period 1974-90. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $140 million (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: 6% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $620 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: NEGL% Budget: revenues: $95 million (excluding foreign transfers) expenditures: $143 million, including capital expenditures of $71 million (1993 est.) Exports: $56.3 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: fish, clothing partners: US, UK, Sri Lanka Imports: $173.6 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: consumer goods, intermediate and capital goods, petroleum products partners: Singapore, Germany, Sri Lanka, India External debt: $148 million (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 24% (1990); accounts for 6% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 5,000 kW production: 11 million kWh consumption per capita: 50 kWh (1990) Industries: fishing and fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, some coconut processing, garments, woven mats, coir (rope), handicrafts Agriculture: accounts for almost 25% of GDP (including fishing); fishing more important than farming; limited production of coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; most staple foods must be imported; fish catch of 67,000 tons (1990 est.) Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $28 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $125 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $14 million Currency: 1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari Exchange rates: rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1 - 11.105 (January 1994), 10.957 (1993), 10.569 (1992), 10.253 (1991), 9.509 (1990), 9.0408 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year
@Maldives, Communications
Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA (Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the city) Ports: Male, Gan Merchant marine: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 38,848 GRT/58,496 DWT, cargo 12, container 1, oil tanker 1 Airports: total: 2 usable: 2 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: minimal domestic and international facilities; 2,804 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@Maldives, Defense Forces
Branches: National Security Service (paramilitary police force) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 55,369; fit for military service 30,919 Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
@Mali, Geography
Location: Western Africa, between Mauritania and Niger Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 1.24 million sq km land area: 1.22 million sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: total 7,243 km, Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: the disputed international boundary between Burkina and Mali was submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 1983 and the ICJ issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both sides agreed to accept; Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 25% forest and woodland: 7% other: 66% Irrigated land: 50 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of safe drinking water; poaching natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban Note: landlocked
@Mali, People
Population: 9,112,950 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.78% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 51.79 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 20.36 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -3.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 106.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.91 years male: 44.29 years female: 47.57 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 7.33 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Malian(s) adjective: Malian Ethnic divisions: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5% Religions: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1% Languages: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 17% male: 26% female: 9% Labor force: 2.666 million (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 80%, services 19%, industry and commerce 1% (1981) note: 50% of population of working age (1985)
@Mali, Government
Names: conventional long form: Republic of Mali conventional short form: Mali local long form: Republique de Mali local short form: Mali former: French Sudan Digraph: ML Type: republic Capital: Bamako Administrative divisions: 8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou Independence: 22 September 1960 (from France) National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22 September (1960) Constitution: new constitution adopted in constitutional referendum in 12 January 1992 Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992); election last held in April 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); Alpha KONARE was elected in runoff race against Montaga TALL head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar KEITA (since March 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: elections last held on 8 March 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (total 116) Adema 76, CNID 9, US/RAD 8, Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa 6, RDP 4, UDD 4, RDT 3, UFDP 3, PDP 2, UMDD 1 Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) Political parties and leaders: Association for Democracy (Adema), Alpha Oumar KONARE; National Congress for Democratic Initiative (CNID), Mountaga TALL; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally (US/RDA), Mamadou Madeira KEITA; Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa; Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), Almamy SYLLA; Union for Democracy and Development (UDD), Moussa Balla COULIBALY; Rally for Democracy and Labor (RDT); Union of Democratic Forces for Progress (UFDP), Dembo DIALLO; Party for Democracy and Progress (PDP), Idrissa TRAORE; Malian Union for Democracy and Development (UMDD) Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Siragatou Ibrahim CISSE chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-2249 or 939-8950 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William H. DAMERON III embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V., Bamako mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako telephone: [223] 225470 FAX: [223] 228059 Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
@Mali, Economy
Overview: Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with about 70% 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 live as nomads and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in agriculture and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. In consultation with international lending agencies, the government has adopted a structural adjustment program for 1992-95, aiming at GDP annual growth of 4.6%, inflation of no more than 2.5% on average, and a substantial reduction in the external current account deficit. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - 5.8 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: -6.1% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $650 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $376 million expenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.) Exports: $330 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: cotton, livestock, gold partners: mostly franc zone and Western Europe Imports: $682 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, construction materials, petroleum, textiles partners: mostly franc zone and Western Europe External debt: $2.6 billion (1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -1.4% (1992 est.); accounts for 13.0% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 260,000 kW production: 750 million kWh consumption per capita: 90 kWh (1991) Industries: small local consumer goods and processing, construction, phosphate, gold, fishing Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP; most production based on small subsistence farms; cotton and livestock products account for over 70% of exports; other crops - millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $349 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.02 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $92 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $190 million Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 592.05 (January 1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989) 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
Railroads: 642 km 1.000-meter gauge; linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes Highways: total: 15,700 km paved: 1,670 km unpaved: gravel, improved earth 3,670 km; unimproved earth 10,360 km Inland waterways: 1,815 km navigable Airports: total: 33 usable: 27 with permanent-surface runways: 8 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 11 Telecommunications: domestic system poor but improving; provides only minimal service with radio relay, wire, and radio communications stations; expansion of radio relay in progress; 11,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT
@Mali, Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,803,301; fit for military service 1,027,780 Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $41 million, 2% of GDP (1989)
@Malta, Geography
Location: Southern Europe, in the central Mediterranean Sea, 93 km south of Sicily (Italy), 290 km north of Libya Map references: Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 320 sq km land area: 320 sq km comparative area: 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 depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs Natural resources: limestone, salt Land use: arable land: 38% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 59% Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989) Environment: current issues: fresh water very scarce; increasing reliance on desalination natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity Note: the country comprises an archipelago, with only the 3 largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors
@Malta, People