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 country 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).
none (administered directly from Valletta)
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 approximately 5,000 students in 1994.
The islands' ethnic and linguistic composition reflects the heritage of many rulers. A European atmosphere predominates as a result of close association particularly with southern Europe. About 95 percent of the islanders are Maltese-born, and the remainder includes mostly persons of English and Italian descent. During the 20th century, the increasing rate of Anglo-Maltese marriages added a new dimension to the ethnic structure of the population.
The islands became a Phoenician colony about 1000 bc. In 736 bc they were occupied by the Greeks, who called the colony Melita, and later the islands passed successively into the possession of Carthage and Rome. At the division of the Roman Empire in ad 395, Malta was awarded to the Eastern Roman Empire. The islands were occupied by Arabs in 870. A Norman army conquered the Maltese Arabs in 1090, and Malta was later made a feudal fief of the kingdom of Sicily. In 1530 Holy Roman Emperor Charles V granted Malta to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, who ruled the islands until the 19th century. After a famous and unsuccessful siege by the Ottoman Empire in 1565, the Knights fortified Valletta so strongly that it became one of the greatest Mediterranean strongholds.
The earliest archaeological remains date from about 3800 BC. Neolithic farmers lived in caves like those at Dalam (near Birzebbuga) or villages like Skorba (near Nadur Tower) and produced pottery that seems related to that of contemporary eastern Sicily. An elaborate cult of the dead of Stone Age or Copper Age culture evolved about 2400 BC. Initially centring around rock-cut collective tombs such as those at Ggantija (near Xagra) and Hagar Qim (near Zurrieq), it culminated—probably through contacts with the cultures of the Cyclades and Mycenae—in the unique underground burial chamber (hypogeum) at Hal Saflieni (near Raal Gdid). This culture came to a sudden end about 2000 BC, possibly as a result of invasions. The culture that replaced it, of southern Italian flavour, is evidenced today only by fragmentary remains.
A constitution effective on November 1, 1961, gave Malta internal self-government. In the campaign preceding the first election under the new constitution, the Labour Party called for independence outside the Commonwealth; the Nationalists, the other major party, which advocated independence within the Commonwealth, won the election, and their leader, George Borg Olivier, became prime minister. Malta became independent on September 21, 1964, and a United Nations member on December 1.
Malta's cultural influences 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 important 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 Island measures about 17 miles at its longest distance from southeast to northwest and about 9 miles at its widest distance from east to west. The main physical characteristic of Malta is a well-defined escarpment that bisects it along the Victoria Lines Fault running along the whole breadth of the island from Point ir-Raeb (west of Nadur Tower) to the coast northeast of Gargur. The highest areas are coralline limestone uplands that constitute a triangular plateau, Ta' Zuta (829 feet [253 metres]), to the west. The uplands are separated from the surrounding areas by blue clay slopes, while undercliff areas are found where the coralline plateau has fallen and forms a subordinate surface between the sea and the original shore. The total shoreline is 85 miles.
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 (especially ships), machinery, rubber and plastic goods, and chemicals. Tourism is increasingly important; the country 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, however, 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 variety of consumer products (toys, cosmetics, detergents, processed foods) and more traditional goods such as lace, silver filigree, pottery, glassware, and canework. Foreign investment in manufacturing is encouraged 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 (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Malta is privatizing state-controlled firms and liberalizing markets in order to prepare for membership in the European Union. However, the island is divided politically over the question of joining the EU. The sizable budget deficit remains a key concern.
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)
Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Edward FENECH ADAMI]
constitution of 1964, substantially amended in 1974, Malta is a democratic republic. The head of state is the president, who is appointed by parliament to serve a term of five years. Legislative authority is vested in the House of Representatives, composed of at a minimum of 65 members elected to five-year terms by universal adult suffrage on the basis of proportional representation. A variable number of extra seats are awarded to the party with the majority of the popular vote in order to ensure a majority in the legislature. The head of government is a prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of parliament and responsible to the legislature. The prime minister is assisted by a cabinet.
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive 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; percent 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: percent 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
International organization Member
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
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.)
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