sion broadcast stations: 4 (1997)

Televisions: 1.05 million (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 38.6 km
narrow gauge: 38.6 km 1.000-m gauge
note: there is a 67 km mass transit system with 42 stations

Highways:
total: 3,017 km
paved: 2,936 km (including 148 km of expressways)
unpaved: 81 km (1997 est.)

Ports and harbors: Singapore

Merchant marine:
total: 875 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,734,146
GRT/31,442,482 DWT
ships by type: bulk 142, cargo 132, chemical tanker 51, combination
bulk 6, combination ore/oil 6, container 154, liquefied gas tanker
27, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil
tanker 291, refrigerated cargo 8, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11,
short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 30
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 22
countries among which are Japan 41, Denmark 35, Sweden 28, Thailand
28, Hong Kong 26, Germany 19, Taiwan 19, and Indonesia 11 (1998 est.)

Airports: 9 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force,
Police Force

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,042,587 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 757,940 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $4.244 billion (FY98/99)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 5.1% (FY98/99)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: two islands in dispute with Malaysia

Illicit drugs: transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to
the US, Western Europe, and the Third World; also a money-laundering
center

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@Slovakia
--------

Introduction

Background: After centuries under foreign rule, mainly by
Hungary, the Slovaks joined with their neighbors to form the new
nation of Czechoslovakia in 1918. Following the chaos of World War
II, Czechoslovakia became a communist nation within Soviet-ruled
Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989, and
Czechoslovakia once more was an independent country turning toward
the West. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully
on 1 Jan