lular: 35,000 (2001)

Telephone system: general assessment: limited system of cable and
open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone
communications stations (improvements being made) domestic: mostly
cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed domestic satellite
telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
and 2 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios: 410,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (2002)

Televisions: 98,000 (2001)

Internet country code: .mr

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (2001)

Internet users: 7,500 (2001)

Transportation Mauritania

Railways: 704 km standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge note: owned and
operated by government mining company (2001)

Highways: total: 7,720 km paved: 830 km unpaved: 6,890 km (2000)

Waterways: note: ferry traffic on the Senegal River

Ports and harbors: Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso

Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)

Airports: 26 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to
2,437 m: 6 (2001)

Airports - with unpaved runways: 5 914 to 1,523 m: Military Mauritania

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National
Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 644,294 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 312,276
(2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $37.1 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.7% (FY01)

Transnational Issues Mauritania

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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Malta

Introduction

Malta

Background: 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. Over the last 15 years, the island
has become a freight transshipment point, financial center, and tourist
destination. It is an official candidate for EU membership.

Geography Malta

Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of
Sicily (Italy)

Geographic coordinates: 35 50