You are on page 1of 24

LAS:-League-of-Arab-States - Comoros

Topic A
The Situation Regarding The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
Aja Two Crows and Gabe Sarnoff
New West Charter School

Introduction
In 2010, President Ikililou Dhoinine of the Union of the Comoros said humankind was
facing one of the most difficult times; peace had never been so threatened in all regions and
countries, ("General Assembly of the United Nations- Comoros"). He could not have been
more correct. Since the rise of ISIL in 2014, the group has grossly violated many mandates of
the UN Charter and defied the Arab Charter on Human Rights which states, Everyone has a
guaranteed right to freedom of belief, thought and opinion, ("Council of the League of Arab
States, Arab Charter on Human Rights"). ISIL, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate and Salafi extremist
group, rose from the instability of the Assad Regime in Syria during the Syrian Civil War
(2011-). ISIL continues to wreak havoc in the middle east as they fight Syrian and Iraqi Kurdish
Forces, the Syrian Government, Syrian Opposition Forces and the Combined Joint Task Force
Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTFOIR). From ISILs reign of terror in Syria and Iraq, human
rights violations, refugees, political instability and the difficult task of distributing humanitarian
aid have become major crises, not only for the Arab League but for the entire globe. Many Arab
League nations in the region and the European Union have taken in millions of refugees in 2015
alone ("Irregular Migrant, Refugee Arrivals in Europe Top One Million in 2015"). The ISIL
conflict has highlighted the strenuous sectarianism in the Muslim world between Sunnis, the
majority (85%-90%), and Shiites, the minority (an estimated 10%), ("Sunnis and Shia in the
Middle East"). It also shows the aftershock of years of political instability and western
interventions. Issues in solving the conflict rise from the danger of entering ISIL territory
because of their brutality and the difficulty of creating solutions that are mutually beneficial to
nations with different ideologies. However, it is the resolve of the Union of the Comoros to

work as a united front with the League of Arab States in the defeat of ISIL and the restoration of
the Levant.
Comoros History
As a peace loving nation, the Union of the Comoros has taken steps to fight terrorism on
a national, regional, and global level. President Ahmed Sambi (2006-2011) and other Comoran
religious leaders have publicly rejected extremist activities reported the United States in the
Country Reports on Terrorism 2010. The Country Reports on Terrorism 2010 also reported that
President Sambi requested the return of the Peace Corps and sought support from the U.S. to
boost the economy and education as a means of countering terrorism at its roots. The Union of
the Comoros created an anti-terrorist unit set up on the authority of the Prime Minister in order to
obtain all the information necessary to prevent terrorist acts and for coordinating operations to
suppress such acts. Additionally, the Minister of Finance, Budget and Privatization has given
firm and clear instructions to banks regarding the strict monitoring of money transfers to prevent
and track down any terrorist financing. This is why executives from the Central Bank are
members of the anti-terrorist unit. On a regional level, the Union of the Comoros joined the
Partnership for Regional East African Counterterrorism (PREACT), funded by the United States
of America. It is a program designed to . . .build the counterterrorism capacity and capability of
member countries to thwart short-term terrorist threats, counter violent extremism, and address
longer-term vulnerabilities, ("Programs and Initiatives"). Comoros has also been a chair for the
East African Standby Brigade, an [African Union] body for peacekeeping and intervention
missions, reported the Country Reports on Terrorism 2010. Additionally, the Union of the
Comoros is also a member of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group

(ESAAMLG), (United States) and with this continued focus on anti-money laundering incentives
the Government of Comoros pledges to stop any Comorian money from going to ISIL.
Current Situation Regarding ISIL
ISIL continues to be a growing and destructive force in the Middle East. In resolution
2249, the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms ISILS gross, systematic and
widespread abuses of human rights, as well as its destruction and looting of cultural heritage,
(Security). While it may seem like a straightforward fight against ISIL, there is a divide
between nations who support the Assad regime and those who do not. This division impedes a
unified fight against ISIL and has increased fighting between the Asaad government and rebel
groups inside of Syria, turning the UNs focus away from the fight against ISIL. Comoros
strongly supports the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States in their firm belief of
removing Bashar al-Assad from power in Syria but does recognize that the divide this issue
creates is counterproductive to the international peace effort. The international community has
recently recognized this as well. Resolution 2254, which was passed by the Security Council on
December 18th, 2015, showed the United Nations recognition of unity as a number one priority
and outlined a plan in which differences were set aside to allow for a unanimous agreement
(Labbot and Ellis). In the resolution there was no mention of the Asaad regime, implying the
need for immediate action against ISIL rather than disputes over the Syrian government. The
resolution calls for a ceasefire between the regime and the rebel fighters (Labbot and Ellis) so
that all fighting can be directed towards ISIL. Comoros strongly supports this resolution, but
still sees a regime change in Syria as a fundamental necessity in the stabilization of the Middle
East.

Proposed Actions and Solutions


The Union of the Comoros hopes to implement a multi-faceted solution that will benefit and
cooperate with the ideals of the nations of the League of Arab States. The solutions are meant to
combat the situation in the present and future to ensure that coming generations do not have to
deal with this perpetual crisis. These solutions and proposed actions are meant to be unbiased
and neutral to qualm sectarianism.
While eradicating ISIL is not an action under our direct control, our contributions to the
well-being of those directly affected by ISIL and the Syrian Conflict must be an essential
component of any collaborative solution. The European Union Commissioner for Humanitarian
Aid and Crisis Management, has indicated that the number of people in need of humanitarian aid
in Iraq and Syria has increased by 400% over the past year. The Arab League must collaborate
with NGOs, who have an unmatched ability to effectively get aid into war-torn areas, and
support and invest in credible and reliable NGOs in an effort to lessen the disastrous effects
caused by the conflict and the terrorist group ISIL. Our model should be similar to that of the
United States, who recently donated 419 million US dollars of aid to help Syrian refugees
(Morello), most of which went to the U.N. Childrens Fund and the U.N. High Commissioner for
Refugees with aims of improving refugee camps in Syria (Morello). Unfortunately, the Union of
the Comoros is not financially able to contribute to the humanitarian crisis, but it strongly
encourages other nations to help to the full extent of their capabilities.
Education is the key to a future without the influence of religious extremism or, at least, a
future where the influence of extremism is abhorred. A quality education can play a critical
role in helping young people distance themselves from extremism (Fink et al. 1) and resist its

lure. Although education is not sufficient alone in combatting terrorism, and ISIL specifically, it
is hugely important in establishing a culture of diversity and freedom of thought, which can
effectively counter a culture of extremism. The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation
explains that enhancing the logic, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills of young
people teaches them to challenge ideas [and] construct rational thoughts (Fink et al. 4). If
young people who are exposed to extremism can differentiate for themselves what is rational and
what is not, they will be less susceptible to radicalization. The importance of schools for
children, specifically those affected by conflict and displacement, is not only in their ability to
teach adolescents how to think critically but also in their capacity to create a community in
which students can thrive. Along with counter-extremist education, schools can engage the
youth through activities such as sports, music, art, and drama. These programs help children
develop positive interests and promote a sense of self-worth and self-confidence (Fink et al. 3).
The Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation identifies sports in specific, which instills a
sense of identity and belonging to its participants (Fink et al. 3). Extremist groups prey on youth
who lack these two qualities by advertising their organizations as conduits of brotherhood and
camaraderie, so establishing sports and other extracurriculars along with anti-extremist education
can be effective in deterring the youth from joining radical Islamic groups. Of course, it is easy
to observe from the outside and say that education is the solution, but implementing these
educational programs and reforms in affected territories will be a long and arduous process.
Organizations such as the Reach Out to Asia (ROTA), which reconstructs fragile education
systems in crisis countries like Syria, should be endorsed and funded by the Arab League. In
conflict areas consistent and sustained NGO support and funding will be needed in order to

rebuild schools, develop educational programs, and provide empowerment opportunities for
children and families affected by the conflict.
The refugee crisis is one of the largest issues the League of Arab States faces. With more
than 6.8 million displaced people (2015) in total and the total refugees in Europe recently
exceeding 1 million, the Syrian Arab Republic is being depleted of their population. The Union
of the Comoros understands that the only way to solve the refugee crisis is to eliminate ISIL and
build a better Syrian Arab Republic, but there must be temporary placement for those who need
sanctuary. The Union of the Comoros believes that it is important that refugees are provided
opportunities to stay within the Middle East region. Though the Comoros understands that the
Gulf States do not legally recognize the concept of refugeehood (Kinninmont), the Comoros
especially encourages our allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to accept refugees
with the attached stipulation of a temporary Visa that expires five years after arrival. The
Comoros also encourages not only the Gulf States but Lebanon, Jordan and other Arab League
nations to accept refugees with temporary visas to limit the refugees impact on the national
economy. The Comoros also seeks continued support from the UNHCR, who has already led
the agency for protection, camp coordination and camp management, NFIs and shelter, in Syria,
(2015). The Union of the Comoros firmly believes that this is a viable solution to the current
refugee crisis.
There have been talks of a Saudi-led Arab League joint military force and Comoros
believes that this force should be utilized to combat ISIL. Though it is important for the military
force to go to places like Libya, the force is an invaluable resource that needs to be used in Iraq
and Syria. This force of 40,000 troops would support Operation Inherent Resolve and

humanitarian aid workers. In addition, the Union of the Comoros believes that this joint force
should also be used immediately to attempt to free the Yazidi people in Iraq who are enslaved
by ISIL. The specifics may have to be debated by the League, but it is evident that the state of
affairs cannot stand, and the League must take swift action against ISIL.
The Union of the Comoros believes that ISIL must be combatted not only through
military intervention but also through an intelligence coalition. If the nations of the league pool
their immense resources, the combined work should yield some helpful information. This
coalition could also be utilized to assure the accuracy of any Arab League airstrikes, ensuring
minimal civilian casualties. The coalition could also work on ascertaining the movements of
ISIL across the Middle East and Africa and work to end the practice of money laundering as a
means to illicitly fund terrorist groups such as ISIL. It is crucial to create this intelligence
alliance as it will foster cooperation between states and yield helpful information.
Many issues caused ISILs rise, but political instability contributed the most. The Union
of the Comoros believes the establishment of a genuine republic in Syria and the mending of the
Iraqi government will help in the dismantling and eradication of the terrorist group ISIL. The
Union of the Comoros recommends the League to advise and mediate in the forming of an
interim government in Syria and the strengthening of democracy in Iraq.
Conclusion
The Union of the Comoros condemns the blatant exhibition of lawlessness and the
spectacle of terror created by ISIL. The Comoros is dedicated to the eradication of ISIL and the
restoration of peace in the Middle East. The Comoros believes that it is necessary to be a
coordinated force against terrorism and that it is highly important to . . . consolidat[e] peace,

while trying to resolve crises as they ar[i]se, (Comoros). The Union of the Comoros believes
that the crisis must be resolved through the implementation of a joint Arab League task force, the
creation of an Arab League intelligence unit, the further support of humanitarian aid to refugees
and other peoples and the creation of a better Syrian Arab Republic. The Union of the Comoros
believes these actions are the necessary steps towards a safe and prosperous future.

Works Cited
"Comoros, General Debate, United Nations, Main Body, Main Organs, General Assembly." UN
News Center. UN, 26 Sept. 2014. Web. 24 Jan. 2016.
"Council of the League of Arab States, Arab Charter on Human Rights."University of Minnesota
Human Rights Library. University of Minnesota. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.
Fink, Naureen, et al.. "The Role of Further Education Colleges in Preventing Violent Extremism:
Next Steps." PsycEXTRA Dataset (n.d.): n. pag. The Role of Education in Countering
Violent Extremism. Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, Dec. 2013. Web. 25
Jan. 2016.
"General Assembly of the United Nations- Comoros." UN General Assembly General Debate of
the 66th Session. 23 Sept. 2011. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.
"Irregular Migrant, Refugee Arrivals in Europe Top One Million in 2015."International
Organization for Migration. International Organization for Migration, 22 Dec. 2015.
Web. 17 Jan. 2016.
Kinninmont, Jane. "Why Arent Gulf Countries Taking in Syrian Refugees?" Chatham House.
Chatham House, 8 Sept. 2015. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.
Labott, Elise, and Ralph Ellis. "U.N. Security Council Approves Peace Plan for Syria CNNPolitics.com." CNN. Cable News Network, 19 Dec. 2015. Web. 24 Jan. 2016.
Morello, Carol. "U.S. Gives $419 Million More to Aid Syrian Refugees." Washington Post.
Washington Post, 21 Sept. 2015. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.
"Programs and Initiatives." U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State. Web. 20 Jan.
2016.

"Security Council 'Unequivocally' Condemns ISIL Terrorist Attacks, Unanimously Adopting


Text That Determines Extremist Group Poses 'Unprecedented' Threat." UN News Center.
UN, 20 Nov. 2015. Web. 24 Jan. 2016.
"Sunnis and Shia in the Middle East." BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation, 19 Dec.
2013. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
United States of America. United States State Department. Office of the Coordinator for
Counterterrorism. Country Reports on Terrorism 2010. Washington: GPO, 2011. Web.
12 Jan, 2016.
"2015 UNHCR Country Operations Profile - Syrian Arab Republic."UNHCR News. UNHCR,
2015. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.

LAS:-League-of-Arab-States - Comoros
Topic B
Economic Diversification
Aja Two Crows and Gabriel Sarnoff
New West Charter School

Introduction
Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said in 2009 We stand at a
crossroads. One direction leads to an abyss. The other direction leads to a more sustainable, more
prosperous, more stable world, (United Nations). Mr. Ban was talking about the global
dependence on oil. Today, many Gulf nations rely on their vast supply of fossil fuels, but are
only beginning to see the negative consequences that are produced by this overreliance. Fossil
fuels are finite, and will eventually run out (Nelder). They boost greenhouse gas emission which
is incredibly dangerous for the livelihood of the planet. The Gulf States that rely on oil must
deal with the strenuous task of diversifying their economy to limit their dependence on oil.
However, the positive to this is that States with undiversified economies can model themselves
after other countries who have had successful diversification plans, but they must act now
(Kuruvilla, 67). Countries like Malaysia, that increased investments in human capital (. . .
intangible collective resources possessed by individuals and groups within a given population,
(Huff) and technology can be a model for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Gelb,
13). The GCC States like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have also made
efforts to diversify their economy, and the Union of the Comoros commends them on their
efforts. Economic diversification is incredibly important for the GCC currently because it would
reduce exposure to the tempestuous and uncertain global fossil fuel market, create jobs in the
private sector, boost efficiency and sustainable growth and create a non-dependent economy
(Callen, 4). The Comoros firmly believes that the League of Arab States can work as a cohesive
entity and create many solutions to end the economic diversity crisis.

Comoros History
The Union of the Comoros sympathizes with other nations struggling with undiversified
economies because our country has faced many issues with stabilizing the economy and keeping
it healthy. The BBC Comoros country profile reports more than 20 successful coups in Comoros
which almost destabilized the government and put it in danger of total fragmentation. Our
government still feels that aftershock of separatists groups trying to make Anjouan a sovereign
nation (African Development Bank Group, 1). The political instability of the Comoros has led to
the country being one of the poorest in the world, said the CIA World Factbooks Comoros
profile. The Union of the Comoros suffers from a Gini Coefficient of 64.3; this indicated a
significant gap between the rich and the poor on the islands (Inter-American Development Bank,
3). Even so, manifestations of severe poverty like famine and homelessness are rare, and a vast
majority on the islands have . . . adequate food, clothing, shelter, and, to some extent, water,
(Comoros: Poverty). The Union of the Comoros suffers from an undiversified economy as it
relies heavily on agricultural exports like Vanilla and Cloves, said MITs the Observation of
Economic Complexity. After the peaceful election of President Ikililou Dhoinine has made
immense efforts to strengthen the economy and pull the Comoros out of poverty. In 2009, the
Poverty Reduction Strategy was adopted and replaced a 2005 version (International Monetary
Fund, 12). The key parts of the strategy include Stabiliz[ing] the economy by building a
foundation for strong equity . . . Strengthen[ing] profitable sectors, including institution building
and participation of private economic operators . . . Strengthen[ing] governance and social
cohesion . . . Improv[ing] the health of citizens . . . Promot[ing] education and vocational
training . . . Promot[ing] environmental sustainability and civil society, (Faulwetter). In the

IMF (International Monetary Fund) 2011 two year review of the plan, a positive move for better
conditions was reported, but significant work was recommended to improve further the country
(International Monetary Fund, 5). The Comoros has sustained an IMF Extended Credit Facility
for three years as of 2014. The Comoros has also used the donations from UN agencies, France,
the European Union (EU), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Gulf countries to support
different Comorian organizations (The World Bank, 12). The World Bank reports positive
growth of the GDP since the bottoming out of 2007 (The World Bank, 12). The GDP is at
2.5% (Global). In a 2014 address to the General Assembly President, Ikililou Dhoinine called
for global cooperation in developing recently decolonization small island nations. The Comoros
has worked to develop transportation and agriculture; the Islamic Development Bank approved
17 projects for a total of 15.9 million dollars as of 2010. The Comoros has made an immense
effort to create a regional discussion on the topic of economic diversification. The Union of the
Comoros sympathizes with other countries in a similar situation and in a 2014 address to the
General Assembly President Ikililou Dhoinine called for global cooperation in developing
recently decolonization small island nations (Comoros: His).
Current Situation Regarding Economic Diversification
In the past five decades, the Middle Eastern oil producers have had the least
manufacturing and industrial share in their Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Nonetheless, oil and
gas production continues to account for more than 60 percent of GDP in almost every
resource-based economy in the Middle East (Why). That being said, Middle Eastern nations
immediate monetary gain from oil is one that cannot be relied upon in the long term. For one,
the oil market is extremely volatile. Supply, consumption, financial markets, and government

policies are all critical factors in the price of oil, but these factors are subject to rapid and
sudden change, leading to a volatile market (Murphy) that should not be so heavily relied upon.
Not only is the market itself unreliable, but oil is on an inevitable path to eradication. Bill
Powers, director of Arsenal Energy Inc. claims that Renewables, especially rooftop solar, will
take a leading role in a distributed power revolution now underway, (Ahmed). Mark Lewis,
Deutsche Bank's former head of energy research, projects that the unsustainable fossil fuel
industry could be wiped out by the renewable energy industry in the next two decades (Ahmed).
It is not a question whether or not the renewable energy industry will take over the fossil fuel
industry; it is a matter of when.
Currently, we are seeing the signs of this dismal future that is in store for the oil industry.
Rentier states are facing rising budget deficits that are forcing them to decrease their dependence
on oil revenues (Al-Khatteeb). This is why the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the
Gulf (GCC), in particular, has taken actions to diversify its member nations economies. Many
have used money made from oil to modernize infrastructure, create employment, and improve
social indicators, while the countries have been able to accumulate official reserves, maintain
relatively low external debt, and remain important donors to poor countries, (Fasano and Iqbal).
Of course, particular countries within the GCC went about economic diversification in different
ways. For example, Bahrain and Kuwait modernized and enhanced their stock exchange
systems; Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman made impressive strides in the
privatization of various industries; and virtually all GCC countries enhanced their vocational
training and education enterprises to increase human capital (Mahdi). These are all positive

steps towards diversification, but there is still a long way to go. For example, Saudi Arabia still
relies on oil proceeds as seventy percent of its budget (Mahdi).
Proposed Actions and Solutions
The Union of the Comoros proposes a multi-faceted solution in which countries diversify
their exports, privatize the oil industry, increase educational opportunities for their citizens, and
build up industries other than oil. First off, the Union of the Comoros proposes that nations with
high oil profits invest their earnings in other industries to reduce their reliance on oil. Of course,
this can be only done on a state by state basis because of the array of different economies that
League of Arab States (LAS) members have. Therefore, countries should be held responsible for
creating comprehensive plans detailing the industries they plan to build up. The LAS cannot
establish a policy for all nations, but instead can work together in sharing information to allow
individual member states to set up their own plans. Governments attempting to build up other
industries must first invest in the infrastructure that would make this diversification possible.
The facilities need to be constructed so that industries can be developed. Fortunately for many
LAS nations, specifically those in the GCC, oil provides a stream of money that can be invested
into this infrastructure. Not only will this infrastructure enable the enhancing of various
industries, the building of the infrastructure itself creates jobs for a nations citizens.
Government officials need to work together with investors and private companies in order to
combine the regional know-how of the government and the procedural know-how of investors
and companies (Rice).

After establishing other industries, member countries need to reduce their dependence on
the oil industry. This can be done through privatization, but needs to be done with care.
Because of the debt that many Middle Eastern countries are in, makes them less inclined to want
to privatize their oil companies, seeing as oil currently provides a direct line of profit to many
oil-based nations. Nonetheless, many nations, specifically the GCC, have expressed their desire
to privatize their oil industries in order to build a sustainable economy, develop a local labor
force, and raise the standards of living for the population, (Kuruvilla, 79). These two factors
create a quandary for many nations who know privatization will be better for the long term, but
are under the constant pressure of their national debts. This is why the Union of the Comoros
proposes a system of phased privatization. The reason that it does not recommend an immediate
privatization is because a delayed one would not only reduce the risks for the governments, but
also for potential investors. If State Owned Enterprise (SOE) has a monopoly over the market,
which current oil companies in the Middle East tend to have, an immediate transition to
privatization will be unlikely to be efficient for the business or the economy (Kuruvilla, 65).
With a delayed privatization effort, governments will have time to establish regulatory
frameworks, contract designs and tariff structures (Kuruvilla, 68). It will also give time for the
government to train its local citizens better to reduce its reliance on foreign labor.
Due to the apparent instability of the Middle East, the Union of the Comoros proposes a
short-term management contract for the time being. This contract is considered a safer option
that is a win-win-win for the population at large, the government and the investor, (Kuruvilla,
77). It is a five-year contract that is essentially a precursor to a longer partnership between the
government and the private company. The short term contract would enable benefits of

privatization: higher capital, efficiency and investment value. It would also give nations time to
establish a competitive market so that privatization does not result in one company having a
monopoly over the market. During this transitionary period from SOE to a private company,
there are many routes for a nation to take based on what is driving its privatization. This is why
the Union of Comoros proposes a task-force containing a variety of economic advisors who can
help nations with the complicated task of privatization. Every nations process of privatization is
going to be different, so rather than trying to establish a universal method each country needs to
find what works within their economic structure. That being said, the Union of Comoros wants
to reiterate the point that immediate privatization is not as desirable as a phased one in which
operational management is first transferred to private companies, but part ownership remains in
the hands of the government for the time being. Over time, full privatization will take place.
On top of privatization, education plays a crucial role in economic diversification. For a
state to adequately diversify, it needs a local labor force capable of facilitating and being
employed by this diversification. Currently, countries such as Saudi Arabia are forced to rely too
heavily on foreign labor (in Saudi Arabia 35 percent of the total workforce in the private sector is
from foreign countries (Kuruvilla, 74). By educating the local citizens, the workforce will be
enabled to contribute more heavily to the national economy. To effectively diversify an
economy, a nation must build up its human capital which tends to be lower in Middle Eastern
countries due to lack of education. Thus, the Union of Comoros considers education as an
integral part of the attempt to diversify its member nations economies. Alfred Marshall, who
was heavily relied upon during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a British economist,
writes:

There is no extravagance more prejudicial to growth of national wealth than that


wasteful negligence which allows genius that happens to be born of lowly parentage
to expend itself in lowly work. No change would conduce so much to a rapid
increase of material wealth as an improvement in our schools, and especially those of
the middle grades, provided it be combined with an extensive system of scholarships,
which will enable the clever son of a working man to rise gradually from school to
school till he has the best theoretical and practical education which the age can give
(qtd. in Gylfason)
Alfred Marshall provided a solution for the Middle East a hundred years ago;
nonetheless, it is one that should be respected and followed in our current project. He points out
that by investing money in schools and children (scholarships), those children will grow up to
contribute positively to the economy (Book). They can be relied upon to find jobs outside of
the oil industry and diversify the economy. Not only should education be enhanced from the
bottom up by bettering the adolescent education system, but one should be established to give
better vocational training for adults. Nations wishing to diversify hopefully have the intention of
improving the lives of their citizens. If they continue to rely on foreign labor, they will not be
increasing the employment rate and in turn, will be hurting their people. Countries should take
money gained from oil and invest it into both vocational and adolescent educational facilities and
programs to counter this.
The Union of the Comoros encourages the GCC countries to invest in their country. This
can build their human capital and raise the quality of life in their country. Because of the surplus
of money in GCC states, the Union of the Comoros believes it would be best for them to invest

in social welfare programs much like the ones of the United States of America like
unemployment pensions, elderly pensions, and healthcare. The Comoros also believe that
investing in government structures like ports may be helpful. The Comoros thinks that GCC
countries should invest in themselves to give their people a brighter future and help them lessen
the economic diversity issue.
Conclusion
The Union of the Comoros empathizes with the GCC countries struggling with economic
diversification issues. However, we understand that hope is not lost because most of them have
to total ability to pull themselves out of the situation. The Comoros firmly believe that through
the development of infrastructure, the establishment of other industries, the establishment of a
short-term management contract and the investment in education the GCC countries can
successfully diversify their countries. The Union of the Comoros is confident that these methods
will bring a more economically stable future to the GCC nations.

Works Cited
African Development Bank Group. Union of the Comoros Country Strategy Paper. 2011. Web.
Ahmed, Nafeez. "The Inevitable Demise of the Fossil-Fuel Empire." The Guardian. Guardian
News and Media, 10 June 2014. Web. 22 Jan. 2016.
Al-Khatteeb, Luay. "Gulf Oil Economies Must Wake up or Face Decades of Decline." The
Brookings Institution. The Brookings Institution, 2015. Web. 28 Jan. 2016.
"Book Four: The Agents of Production: Land, Labour, and Capital and Organization." Principles
of Economics by Alfred Marshall. Marxists Internet Archive. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.
Callen, Tim, et al. "Economic Diversification in the GCC: Past, Present, and
Future."International Monetary Fund. Web. 12 Dec. 17 Jan. 2016.
"Comoros Country Profile." BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation, 03 Jan. 2016. Web.
04 Feb. 2016.
"Comoros: His Excellency Ikililou Dhoinine, President." UN News Center. UN, 26 Sept. 2014.
Web. 14 Jan. 2016.
"Comoros: Poverty and Growth in a Traditional Small Island Economy." The World Bank. The
World Bank. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.
"Comoros." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 05 Feb. 2016.
"Comoros." OEC. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Web. 04 Feb. 2016.
Fasano, Ugo and Zubair Iqbal. "GCC Countries: From Oil Dependence to Diversification, Ugo
Fasano and Zubair Iqbal." International Monetary Fund. International Monetary Fund,
2003. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.

Faulwetter, Kali. "Poverty Reduction in the Comoros." Poverty Reduction in the Comoros. The
Borgen Project RSS2, 24 June 2013. Web. 05 Jan. 2016.
Gelb, Alan "Economic Diversification in Resource Rich Countries."International Monetary
Fund. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.
"Global Economic Prospects." The World Bank. The World Bank. Web. 05 Jan. 2016.
Gylfason, Thorvaldur. "Natural Resources, Education, and Economic Development:
International Macroeconomics."Centre for Economic Policy Research. Web. Oct. 2000.
17 Jan. 2016.
Huff, Richard. "Human Capital." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 15
May 2015. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.
Inter-American Development Bank. The Union of the Comoros Country Poverty Assesment.
2011. Web.
International Monetary Fund. Union of the Comoros: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
Review of the Second Year of Implementation . 2013. Web.
Kuruvilla, Thomas, et al. Preparing for Privatization in the Middle East. Arthur D. Little. Feb.
2011.
Mahdi, Wael. "Saudi Arabia Cuts Dependence on Oil Amid Crude Price
Slump."Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg L.P., 28 Dec. 2015. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.
Murphy, Cait. "Why Oil Prices Are So Volatile." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 1 Sept. 2009. Web.
02 Feb. 2016.
Nelder, Chris. "The End Of Fossil Fuel." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 24 July 2009. Web. 05 Jan.
2016.

Rice, John. "Why Infrastructure Is Key to a Stable Middle East." World Economic Forum. World
Economic Forum, 23 May 2015. Web. 02 Feb. 2016.
The World Bank. International Development Association and International Finance Corporation
Country Partnership Strategy for the Union of Comoros for the Period. 2014. Web.
United Nations. Secretary-General's Remarks to the General Assembly Informal Thematic
Dialogue on Energy Efficiency, Energy Conservation and New and Renewable Sources of
Energy. United Nations. United Nations, 18 June 2015. Web. 30 Jan. 2016.
"Why Should Resource-based Economies Diversify?" Al Jazeera English. Aljazeera Publishing,
25 Jan. 2015. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.

You might also like