MOP

Exchange rates:

patacas (MOP) per US dollar - 8.011 (2007), 8.0015 (2006), 8.011 (2005), 8.022 (2004), 8.021 (2003)

Communications
Macau

Telephones - main lines in use:

177,851 (2008)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

856,200 (2008)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services domestic: termination of monopoly over mobile-cellular telephone services in 2001 spurred sharp increase in subscriptions with mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 190 per 100 persons in 2008; fixed-line subscribership appears to have peaked and is now in decline international: country code - 853; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; HF radiotelephone communication facility; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

160,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2006)

Televisions:

49,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mo

Internet hosts:

263 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

300,000 (2007)

Transportation
Macau

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 384 km paved: 384 km (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Macau

Military
Macau

Military branches:

no regular military forces; defense is the responsibility of China (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 121,825 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 100,826 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 4,601 female: 4,171 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of China

Transnational Issues
Macau

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for drugs going into mainland China; consumer of opiates and amphetamines

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

@Macedonia

Introduction
Macedonia

Background:

Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991, but Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations. The United States began referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations continue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue. Some ethnic Albanians, angered by perceived political and economic inequities, launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won the support of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population and led to the internationally-brokered Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of minorities. Fully implementating the Framework Agreement and stimulating economic growth and development continue to be challenges for Macedonia, although progress has been made on both fronts over the past several years.

Geography
Macedonia

Location:

Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Geographic coordinates: