Economic and Social Commission for

Western Asia (ESCWA): Post-Arab Spring

Reconstruction
Chair: Teja Ganti

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction

Dossier

1.Bahrain
BahrainisanislandcountrynearthewesternshoresofthePersianGulf.Bahrainis
surroundedbySaudiArabiatothewest,Irantothenorth,andQatartothesoutheast.
ThecountryisunderconstitutionalmonarchyheadedbyKing,ShaikhHamadbinIsaAl
Khalifa.In2011,theHumanRightsWatchdescribedthecountryshumanrights
situationasdismalandwascriticizedfortheircrackdownontheArabSpringuprising.
ShiaBahrainisaredividedintotwogroupsBahranaandAjamwhiletheSunni
BahrainisarealsodividedintotwogroupsArabsandHuwala.Thegovernmentis
mainlycontrolledbySunniArabs.

2.Egypt
EgyptisaMediterraneancountryborderedbytheGazaStripandIsraeltothe
northeast,Sudantothesouth,andLibyatothewest.ModernEgyptisconsideredtobea
regionalsuperpowerwithsignificantcultural,political,andmilitaryinfluence.The
UnitedStatesCommissiononInternationalReligiousFreedomhasplacedEgyptunder
awatchduetothenatureandextentofviolationsofreligiousfreedomtoleratedbythe
government.Egyptactivelypracticescapitalpunishment(deathpenalty),although
officialsdonotreleasefiguresondeathsentencesandexecutions.Egyptseconomy
reliesonagriculture,media,petroleumimports,andnaturalgas.Theyhavedeveloped
anenergymarketbasedoncoal,oil,naturalgas,andhydropower.

3.Iraq
IraqisaWesternAsiancountryborderedbyTurkeytothenorth,Irantotheeast,
Jordantothesouthwest,andSaudiArabiatothesouth.Themainethnicgroupsarethe
ArabsandtheKurdsand95%ofthepeopleareeitherShiaorSunniMuslims.
TransparencyInternationalranksIraqsgovernmentastheeighthmostcorrupt
governmentintheworld.Theyarealsotheworldsseventhmostpoliticallyunstable
country.Intermsofhumanrights,IraqhasnothadagoodrelationshipwithitsKurdish
people.Duringtheuprisingsinthe1990s,theKurdshavefledtheirhomelandanda
noflyzonehasbeenestablishedovernorthernIraq.Iraqseconomyisdominatedbyits
oilsector,providingfor95%offoreignexchangeearnings.Theyranksecondbehind
SaudiArabiaforthenumberofoilreservestheyhave.

4.Jordan
Jordanisrelativelyasmallcountrywithapopulationof9.5million.92%ofthe
populationpracticeSunniIslam.ItisconsideredoneofthesafestArabcountriesthey
havegenerallybeenhospitableandaccepttherefugeesfromallconflicts.Theirskilled
workforceanduppermiddleincomefamiliesmarkJordanasahighhuman
developmentarea.JordanisaconstitutionalmonarchywheretheKingholdswide
executiveandlegislativepowers.JordanisanallyoftheUnitedStatesandtheUnited
KingdomandisonlyoneoftwoArabcountriestohavesignedatreatywithIsrael.The
countryhasawelldiversifiedeconomytradeandfinance,transportationand
communication,andminingandmanufacturing.However,Jordanistheworldssecond
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poorestcountryintermsofwaterresourcespercapita,whichcontinuestobe
exacerbatedbytheSyrianrefugeecrisis.

5.Kuwait
Kuwaithasseenitsshareoftremendouschangeoverthepastfewdecades.Inthe1980s,
theyexperiencedastockmarketcrashthatledtogeopoliticalinstabilityandcontinued
economiccrises.KuwaitwasinvadedbyIraqin1990until1991whenUnitedStates
militaryinterventionbroughtthattoanend.Currently,theyareaconstitutionalemirate
withahighincomeeconomy.Theyhavetheworldssixthlargestoilreserves,which
werefoundedin1938.Inthissmallcountry,only30%ofthepopulationiscomposedof
Kuwaiticitizenswhile70%ofthepopulationiscomposedofexpatriates.Amongthe
Arabworld,KuwaithasthehighestHumanDevelopmentIndexandhastheregions
highestGlobalGenderGap.

6.Lebanon
Lebanonisaparliamentarydemocracywhichimplementsasystemcalled
confessionalism.Thismeansthattheydistributepoliticalandinstitutionalpower
amonggroupsofpeoplewithsimilarreligiousbeliefs.Thisissupposedtodeter
sectarianconflictandtofairlyrepresentthe18recognizedreligiousgroupsin
government.LawinLebanonisslightlydifferentfromthecivillawsystembasedonthe
French.Islamicpersonalstatuslawsthatdealwithmarriage,divorce,inheritance,and
willsfallunderSharialaw.FornonMuslims,thesethingsfallundernationalcivil
jurisdiction.Overall,LebanondoesnotmaintainanynegativerelationswithotherArab
nations,buthashadtensionswithLibya,Palestine,Syria,andIraqinthepast.
Lebanonseconomyreliesheavilyongoldcoinproduction.Oilhasbeenrecently
discoveredinlandandintheseabedbetweenLebanon,Cyprus,Israel,andEgypt.
Lebanonsdependenceontourismandbankingsectorsleavetheeconomyvulnerableto
politicalinstability.

7.Libya
LibyaisthefourthlargestcountryinAfricaandisthe16thlargestcountryintheworld.
TheyhaveaunicamerallegislativebodycalledtheCouncilofDeputies(Houseof
Representatives).Thecountryhaditsfirstfreeparliamentaryelectionsinover40years
onJuly7,2012.Inthemid1900s,LibyamaintainedaproWesternstanceandhasclose
relationswiththeUnitedStates,UnitedKingdom,France,andItalywhileestablishing
fulldiplomaticrelationswiththeSovietUnionin1955.Libyahasnotactively
participatedinArabcausesliketheArabIsraelidisputeorthepoliticalinstabilities
goingonaroundthe1950sand1960s.However,afterthecoupin1969,Muammar
Gaddafisactionsandrulehavestrainedwesternrelations.Theircurrenteconomyrelies
heavilyonoil,whichaccountsof80%ofGDPand97%ofexports.Libyaiscategorized
asanuppermiddleincomeeconomybytheWorldBank.Theyfacemanystructural
problemsinthecountryincludinglackofinstitutions,weakgovernance,andchronic
structuralunemployment.

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8.Mauritania
Mauritaniaisthe11thlargestAfricancountry.About20%ofMauritaniansliveonless
than$1.25perdayandthecountryasawholesuffersfrommultiplehumanrightsissues
likeslaverywhere4%oftheofthepeoplearebeingenslavedagainsttheirwill.The
currentgovernmentisseenascorruptandhasrestrictedaccesstoanygovernment
information.AmnestyInternationalhasaccuseditoftortureagainstpoliticalenemies
withinthestate.Amajorityofthecountryspopulationstillreliesonagricultureand
livestockfortheirliving,despitebeingrichinnaturalresources.Althoughtheyhave
recentlyfoundoilinthecountry,ithashadlittleeffectontheeconomybecause
extractionofthisoilwillbeincrediblyexpensiveintheharshenvironmentofthe
Taoudenibasin.

9.Morocco
Moroccoisaconstitutionalmonarchywithanelectedparliament.Thekinghasmostof
theexecutiveandlegislativepowers,especiallyoverthemilitary,foreign,andreligious
affairs.Beforethe2011constitutionalreforms,thekinghadtoomanypowersandthe
legislativebodyhadlimitedpowers.ThelegislativebodyiscomposedoftheAssemblyof
RepresentativesofMoroccoandtheAssemblyofCouncillors.Since1993,the
governmentdecidedtoprivatizedifferentsectorsoftheeconomy.ThishelpedMorocco
achievethehighestqualityoflifeaheadofSouthAfricaforsometime.Theeconomyhas
beengrowingaround4%peryearsince2000.Thegovernmenthaspassedalaw
encouragingpeopletolookfordifferentwaystodiversifytheenergysupplythrough
renewableresources.In2008,56%ofelectricitywasprovidedbycoal,sotheywantedto
changethat.Theyhavestartedtobuildlargesolarenergyfarmstolessendependenceon
fossilfuelsandplansonhopefullyonedaysellingelectricitytocountriesinEurope.

10.Oman
Omanisanabsolutemonarchy.ThismeansthatSultanQaboosbinSaidalSaidhas
completepoweroverhispeople.Sharialawisthesourceofalllegislation,thereareno
checksandbalancesinthegovernment,andthejudgesareappointedbytheSultan.
Tortureiscommonlypracticedbystatepenalinstitutionsandisusedagainstpolitical
opponents.CensorshipisacommonfactorinthecountrybecausetheSultanhasthe
finalsayinwhobecomesajournalistandwhatgetssaidinthenews.However,the
UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramhasrankedOmanasthemostimprovednation
intheworldinthelast40years.Asignificantportionofitseconomyreliesontourism
andtradeoffish,dates,andcertainagriculturalproduce.Theyhavemodestoilreserves,
ranking25thglobally.Omanisahighincomeeconomyandranks74thmostpeaceful
countryintheworld.OmanisoneofthefewArabcountriestostillhavefriendlyties
withIran.

11.Qatar
QatarisasovereigncountryinSouthwestAsiaborderedbySaudiArabiatothenorth.It
isasmall,highincomeeconomywiththe3rdlargestnaturalgasreservesintheworld.
AccordingtotheUnitedNations,QataristhemostadvancedArabstateforhuman
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development.Althoughtheyareasmallcountry,theyhavevastamountofpowerand
influenceintheworld.TheyhavesupporteddifferentrebelgroupsduringtheArab
SpringfinanciallyandhaveagrowingpresenceinmediathroughAlJazeeraMedia
Network.43%oftheeconomyreliesonliquefiednaturalgasand43%relieson
petroleumoils.Thecountryhasa0.1%unemploymentrate.Qatarisanabsolute
monarchyruledbytheAlThanifamily.Sharialawisthemainsourceoflegislateinthe
country.Floggingandstoningarestatepunishmentstocriminalsinthecountry.The
countryalsoretainstheuseofthedeathpenaltyagainstthosewhoposeathreatto
nationalsecurity.QatarhasthelowestilliteracyrateintheArabworld.

12.SaudiArabia
SaudiArabiaistheworldslargestoilproducerandexporter,controllingtheworlds
secondlastoilreservesandthesixthlargestgasreserves.ItistheonlyArabcountryto
bepartoftheG20majoreconomies.However,theireconomylacksanydiversification
ofserviceorproduction.Theyhavethefourthhighestmilitaryexpenditureandthe
worldssecondlargestarmsimporter.TheEconomistranksitthefifthmost
authoritariangovernmentoutof167othergovernmentsintheworld.Therearenofree
electionsorpoliticalpartiesinthecountryandtherearenojurytrials.Amnesty
InternationalandHumanRightsWatchhaveaccusedthemofhavingtheworsthuman
rightsrecordsintheworld.Womenhaveveryfewrights,homosexualsarediscriminated
against,thereisnofreedomofreligion,andpeoplecanfacereligiousdiscrimination.
TheUnitedStatesareastrategicallyofSaudiArabiabutrelationshavestrainedsince
9/11.

13.Sudan
SudanisborderedbyEgypttothenorth,Ethiopiatotheeast,andChadtothewest.The
dominantreligioninSudanisIslam.Sudanhasagovernmentsimilartothatofthe
UnitedStates.Theyhaveafederalpresidentialrepresentativedemocraticpublicwhere
thepresidentistheheadofstate,headofgovernment,andcommanderinchiefofthe
military.ThelegalsystemisbasedonSharialaw.Stoning,crucifixion,andflogging
remainasjudicialandcapitalpunishments.Sudanhasnothadagoodrelationshipwith
anyofitsneighboringcountriesorwiththeinternationalcommunityforitsradical
Islamicstance.TheircurrentpresidentiswantedbytheICCforwarcrimesandcrimes
againsthumanity.Sudanranks172outof180countriesintermsoffreedomofthe
press.Sudanwasexperiencinga9%economicgrowthperyearin2007beforeSouth
Sudan,where80%oftheoilfieldsare,gainedindependence.

14.Syria
InSyria,thepresidentistheheadofthestateandtheprimeministeristheheadofthe
government.Theirconstitutionthatwasadoptedin2012transformedSyriaintoa
semipresidentialrepublic.AuthoritiesinSyriaareaccusedofarrestingdemocracyand
humanrightsactivists,censoringwebsites,detainingbloggers,andimposingtravel
bans.AlthoughSyrianlawissupposedtopreventgenderinequality,thereare
widespreadreportsthatmanywomenandgirlsarebeingrepressed.Minorityreligious
groupsarealwaysunderthethreatofattackinSyria.Morethan60%ofSyriaseconomy
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reliesonsomesortofpetroleumoilextractionorexportation.Thecountryisfacing
facesforeigntradebarriers,decliningoilproduction,highunemployment,risingbudget
deficits,andincreasingpressureonwatersupplies.

15.Tunisia
Tunisiaisarepresentativedemocracyandarepublicwiththepresidentastheheadof
stateandaprimeministerastheheadofgovernment.TheconstitutionofTunisia
mandatesthatthepresidentsreligionshallbeIslam.Theirlegalsystemisheavily
influencedbytheFrenchcivillawSharialawwasabolishedin1956.Humanrightsafter
theTunisianrevolutionhasstillbeenacontroversialissue.AnumberofSalafistgroups,
ultraconservativeSunniMuslims,haveemergedandhavesometimesviolently
repressedgroups.Tunisiahasbeenliberalizingandprivatizingtheeconomytooffsetthe
corruptnatureofpoliticiansofthepast.Theyareanexportorientedeconomywiththe
EuropeanUnionbeingitsprimarycustomer.

16.UnitedArabEmirates
UAEwasestablishedin1971andisafederationofsevenemiratesAbuDhabi,Ajman,
Dubai,Fujairah,RasalKhaimah,Sharjah,andUmmalQuwain.Eachemirateisruled
byanabsolutemonarch.TheUAEsoilreservesaretheseventhlargestintheworldand
itsnaturalgasreservesarethe17thlargest.Thecountryremainsextremelyrelianton
bothoftheseresources.Theyrankpoorlyinfreedomindicesmeasuringcivilliberties
andpoliticalrights.DiplomaticrelationswithPakistanhavealwaysremainedstrong
andPakistanisUAEsbiggesttradepartner.Sharialawisthelawthejudicialsystemis
basedonandallowfordiscriminationagainstwomen.Flogging,stoning,andapostasy
arelegalpunishmentsthatcanbeadministeredtopeoplewhocommitacrime.Dubai
wastheonlyemiratethathadaneconomicrecessionthispastdecade,butwasbailed
outbyAbuDhabi.

17.Yemen
Yemenhasbeeninastateofpoliticalcrisissince2011afteraseriesofprotestsbrokeout
inthestreetsagainstpoverty,unemployment,corruption,andthepresidentsplanto
makehimselfpresidentforlife.TheHouthishavetakenoverthecountryafterthe
revolutionandcalleditagloriousrevolution.Yemen,likeotherconservativeMuslim
states,exercisesextremeformsofpunishment.Theytorturecriminals,practice
inhumanetreatment,andhavearbitraryarrests.Homosexualisalsoillegalinthestate
andispunishablebydeath.SlaveryisstillbeingpracticedinYemenandtheyarealso
notdoinganythingtostrengthentheirmeasuresagainsthumantrafficking.90%ofthe
countryseconomyreliesonpetroleumoilsandnaturalgas,however,mostYemenisare
employedintheagriculturalsector.

18.Greece
Greeceisaunitaryparliamentaryrepublic.Thepresidentoftherepublicischosenby
parliamentforafiveyearterm.Thegovernmenthasseparationofpowerslikethe
UnitedStatesandfollowsasimilarsystem.Womenssuffragewasevenaddedtothe
1952constitution.Greecefaceditsmostseverecrisisin2009asaresultofinternational
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andlocalfactors.ThisdisasterreacheditsmaximumwhentheEUbailedoutGreecein
2011with$173billionontopofthe$123billionalreadyinstalled.77.3%ofelectric
energyinGreeceiscontrolledbygovernmentownedcompanycalledDEI.In2012,
renewableenergycountedfor13.8%ofthecountrystotalenergyconsumption.

19.Turkey
Turkeyisaparliamentaryrepresentativedemocracyandhasastrongsenseof
secularism.Inadditiontothis,thereareseparationofpowersforthebranchesof
government.Theconstitutionisthelawofthelandandhasthelegalframeworkto
governthecountry.Thepresidentistheheadofthestateandtheprimeministeristhe
headofthegovernment.Thereisuniversalsuffrageinthecountryandhasbeensince
1933.HumanrightshavealwaysbeenacontroversialissueinTurkeytheEuropean
CourtofHumanRightshasmademorethan1,600judgmentsonTurkeyshumanrights
violationsoftorture,womensrights,Kurdishrights,andpressfreedom.Turkeyhas
alwayshadacloserelationwithwesternnations,specificallytheUnitedStatesand
UnitedKingdom.Thecountryhastheworlds18thlargestnominalGDP.Thebiggest
contributortotheGDPistheirautomotiveindustry.

20.Iran
Iranisamajorregionalandmiddlepower.Theyhaveoneofthelargestfossilfuels
reservestheyhavethelargestnaturalgassupplyintheworldandthefourthlargestoil
reserves.Itsgovernmentisaparliamentarydemocracywithatheocracygovernedby
Islamicjurists.Theirsupremeleaderisresponsiblefordelineationandsupervisionof
thegeneralpoliciesoftheIslamicRepublicofIran.Theleaderappointstheheadof
IransjudiciarywhothenappointstheheadoftheSupremeCourt.Iranisconsidereda
StateSponsorofTerrorismbytheUnitedStates,althoughwecametoanagreement
withthemonJuly14,2015toallowthemtocontinuetheirresearchonnuclearenergy.
ThisagreementstoppedtheoilembargoonIranandimprovedtheircountrydrastically.

21.Afghanistan
AfghanistanisanIslamicrepublicconsistingofthreebranchesofgovernmentjudicial,
executive,andlegislative.Theirgovernmentfacesalotofcorruption,withbribery
moneyaloneequivalentto23%ofthenationsGDP.Afghanistansstrongest
internationalalliesaretheUnitedStates,UnitedKingdom,Germany,andTurkey.They
alsomaintaingoodrelationswithmostothercountriesintheworld,especiallytheir
neighboringcountries.Theeconomyisoneoftheworstintheworldduetoalackof
internationalinvestmentandyearsofwars.Currently,theirpercapitaGDPisaround
$1,900with42%ofthepopulationlivingonlessthan$1aday.Thetransportation
systemandagriculturearethebackbonetotheireconomy.Afghanistanhasthepotential
togenerateabout$10billionperyearfromitsmineraldepositsthroughmining
operations.

22.Pakistan
Pakistanisafederalparliamentaryrepublicconsistingoffourprovinces.Itistheonly
Muslimnationtohavenuclearweapons.Afterthecountrysindependence,theyfaced
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manyproblemsliketerrorism,overpopulation,poverty,andcorruptionforalongtime.
However,theyhavethe18thlargestmiddleclassintheworldandthehighestperforming
stockexchangeinAsia.Pakistantrieshardtomaintainpositiverelationshipswithall
nationsacrosstheglobe.Theirforeignpolicymainlyfocusesontheeconomyand
securityagainstterrorism.TheyhaveclosetieswithIranandTurkey.Energyfrom
nuclearpowercomefromthreelicensespowerplants.Theelectricitygeneratedby
nuclearpowerplantsaccountforalmost5.8%oftotalelectricityproduced.

23.India
Indiaistheworldslargestdemocraticnation.Theyhaveamultipartysystemwithsix
ofthembeingrecognizedasnationalparties.AlthoughIndiastandsongoodtermswith
mostnations,theyhaveaverytenserelationshipwithPakistanafterhavinggonetowar
fourtimes.TheyhaveastrategicrelationwithRussiaanddefenserelationswithIsrael
andFrance.AccordingtotheInternationalMonetaryFund,Indiahastheseventh
largesteconomyat$2.183trillion.Indiahasthelargesttelecommunicationsindustry
andthesecondfastestgrowingautomotiveindustryintheworld.Despiterecent
economicgrowth,Indiastillhasthelargestconcentrationofpeoplelivingbelowthe
WorldBanksinternationalpovertyline.

24.Russia
Russiaisafederationandasemipresidentialrepublicwherethepresidentisthehead
ofthestateandtheprimeministeristheheadofthegovernment.Russiaseconomy
ranksasthetwelfthlargestbynominalGDP.Theirextensivemineralandenergy
resourcesarethelargestintheworld,makingthemaleadingproducerofoilandnatural
gas.Oil,naturalgas,metals,andtimberaccountfor80%ofRussianexportsabroad.
Theyarethethirdlargestelectricityproducerintheworldandhavebuilthydropower
plantsalongsidetheVolgariver.Russiamaintainsstrongandpositiverelationswith
otherBRICcountrieswithIndiabeingthelargestcustomerofmilitaryequipment.The
westernnationscriticizeRussiafornothavingproperhumanrightsmanagementsfor
LGBTrights,mediafreedom,andcensorship.

25.Serbia
Serbiaisaparliamentaryrepublicwiththegovernmentdividedintothreebranchesof
government.Whentheyfirstcreatedtheconstitution,itwasthemostprogressiveand
mostliberaloneinEurope.Thepresidentistheheadofthestateandappointsaprime
ministerwiththeconsentofparliament.Serbiaiscurrentlyfocusedonbecomingpartof
theEuropeanUnionandisinprocessofaccession.Theyhaveanemergingmarket
economyinthemiddletoupperclassrange.Servicesaccountfornearly60%ofthe
countrysGDPwhilethemanufacturingindustryaccountsfornearly30%ofthe
countrysGDP.Serbiawentintoamoderatelybadrecessionin2009andisstill
recoveringfromitseffects,althoughthecountryisexperiencingaround2%GDP
growth.Serbiaisheavilydependentonforeignsourcesofnaturalgasbutisanet
exporterofelectricity.Theircurrentoilproductionisenoughtofulfill43%ofthe
countrysoilrequirements.

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26.Hungary
Hungaryisademocraticparliamentaryrepublicwithahighincomeeconomyandahigh
HumanDevelopmentIndex.Theprimeministeristheheadoftheparliamentwhilethe
presidentservesastheheadofthestate.Ontheforeignrelationsfront,Hungaryhas
alwaysstrivedtoadoptwesternidealsandjoinorganizationswithwesternnations.
However,in2015,theybuiltaborderfenceonthesouthernbordertopreventrefugees
fromenteringthecountry.Thiswasmetwithinternationalcriticism,especiallyfromthe
westernnationstheyweretryingtoimpress.Hungaryisanexportorientedeconomy
withaheavyemphasisonforeigntradetheyarethelargestelectronicsproducerin
CentralEuropeandEasternEurope.

27.Uzbekistan
UzbekistandeclaredindependencefromtheSovietUnionin1991andisademocratic,
unitary,constitutionalrepublic.Theireconomyreliesoncommodityproductionlike
cotton,gold,uranium,andnaturalgas.AlthoughtheUnitedStatesandUzbekistan
startedrelationsoffonapositivenote,theirtieshavestrainedheavilyinthepastover
useofmilitarybasesandpoliticalagendas.ThesamehasbeenthecaseforUzbekistan
andotherwesternnations.NGOsandothergovernmentalbodiesaroundtheworldhave
raisedconcernsoverUzbekistanscivilrightsissuesstatingthatthemostbasiconesare
beingviolatedbythecountry.Therearewidespreadreportsclaimingthatthereare
arbitraryarrests,censorship,andviolenceoverthepastdecade.

28.Turkmenistan
After69yearsintheSovietUnion,Turkmenistandeclaredindependencein1991.
However,theleaderwhotookofficeaftertheirindependencewasstillcommunistand
practicedauthoritarianrule.In2006,whenthenextpresidenttookover,widespread
changesweremadetoeducationandculture.Intheirframework,thepresidentisboth
theheadofthestateandtheheadofthegovernment.Intermsofforeignrelations,they
havedeclaredpermanentneutralityinallaffairsandwasrecognizedbytheUnited
Nationsin1995.Turkmenistanhasbeenwidelycriticizedfortheirhumanrights
violationsandhasimposedtravelrestrictionsonitscitizens.Thereisheavy
discriminationagainstminoritygroupsinthecountryandsomeuniversitiesareeven
forbiddentoacceptapplicantswithoutTurkmensurnames.TheTurkmengovernment
alsopracticescensorshipandhasbannedallsatellitedishesafterlaunchinga
governmentsponsoredcommunicationsatellite.Thecountrypossessesthefourth
largestnaturalgasreserves.62%ofitsexportsarefromnaturalgasandoil.However,
thecountryfaces60%unemployment.

29.Armenia
Armeniaisasemipresidentialrepresentativedemocraticrepublicwherethepresident
istheheadofthestateandtheheadoftheparliament.Thegovernmentwasbasedoffa
westernstyleparliamentarydemocracyasthebasis.TurkeyandAzerbaijanaretheonly
twocountriesintheworldthatArmeniahasaproblemwiththeymaintaingood
relationswithalmosteverycountryintheworld.Specifically,therearetensionsbetween
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theTurksandArmeniansovertheArmenianGenocide.FreedomHouseratesArmeniaa
46outof100forhumanrightsissuesandconsidersthecountrytobepartlyfree.The
economyreliesheavilyoninvestmentandsupportfromArmeniansabroad.Armenia
hasdevelopedamodernindustrialsectorandtradesmanufacturedgoodswith
neighboringcountriesinexchangeforrawmaterials.ForeigncompanieslikeIntelare
buildingaresearchcenter,attractingforeigninvestorstoinvestinthecompany.

30.Croatia
Croatiaisaunitarystateusingaparliamentarysystemofgovernance.Thecountry
declaredindependencein1991afterthebreakupofYugoslavia.Thepresidentinthe
headofthestateandappointsaprimeministerwithconsentfromparliament.Their
internationalaimsincludebuildingstrongerrelationswithneighboringcountriesand
improvingCroatiaseconomyandthecountryitself.Croatiacurrentlyhasahighincome
economywitharealGDPgrowtharound6%.Theservicesectoraccountedfor66%of
theGDPfollowedbytheindustrialsectorwith27.2%.Croatiaplansonjoiningthe
SchengenAreaby2017whichisanareaof26Europeancountriesthathaveabolished
passportandanyothertypeofbordercontrolattheirmutualborders.

31.Georgia
GeorgiaisarepresentativedemocracysemipresidentialrepublicwiththePresidentas
theheadofstateandthePrimeMinisteristheheadofthegovernment.Theprime
ministerisappointedbythepresident.Theymaintainpolitical,economic,andmilitary
relationswithmanycountrieslikeJapan,SouthKorea,Ukraine,andIsrael.However,
GeorgiasclosetieswiththeUnitedStatesandtheEuropeanUnionhavestrainedtheir
relationswithRussia.Humanrightsarepartoftheconstitutionandhaveapublic
defenderelectedbytheParliamenttoensuretheserightsareenforced.Therehasonly
beenoneincidentwhereGeorgiamightveviolatedhumanrightsissues,buthasbeen
cleanotherwise.LikemostotherSovietsatellitecountries,Georgiafacedahuge
economicmeltdownafterthefalloftheSovietUnion.However,thingshavesignificantly
changedfrom1995andtheywereoneofthefastestgrowingeconomiesin2007.Their
economyreliesheavilyontransportofmateriallikenaturalresources.

32.Azerbaijan
Azerbaijanisaunitarysemipresidentialrepublic.Theirconstitutiondoesntdeclarean
officialreligionandalltheirmajorpoliticalforcesaresecularist,butthemajorityofthe
countryspopulationisShiiteMuslim.Therulingpartyinthecountryhasbeenaccused
ofwidespreadcorruption,authoritarianism,andhumanrightsviolations.Although
theirconstitutioncallsforfreedomofspeech,itisdeniedinpractice.Thegovernment
activelytriestocensorthemediabysilencinganyoppositionandcriticism.Noforeign
broadcastsareallowedwithinthecountry.Azerbaijanhasahighlevelofhuman
development,higheconomicrateofdevelopmentandliteracy,andalowunemployment
rate.Theyareconsideredthemostimportantspotsintheworldforoilexploration
becausetwothirdsofthecountryisrichinoilandnaturalgas.

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33.Bulgaria
BulgariaisaparliamentarydemocracyinwhichthemostpowerfulpositionisthePrime
Minister.Theyhaveuniversalsuffrageforcitizensatleast18yearsold.Bulgarias
judicialsystem,alongwithotherinstitutions,remainsoneofthemostcorruptand
inefficientinEurope.BulgariahasstrongtieswithRomaniaandGreeceforeconomic
anddiplomaticcollaboration.Theprivatesectoraccountsfornearly80%ofthe
countrysGDPandhasbecomeanemergingmarketwithanuppermiddleincome
range.Bulgariascoreslowintermsoninnovation,competitiveness,andhighvalue
exportsbecausetheyhaveoneofthelowestR&DbudgetsinEurope.Theywerehitfairly
hardduringtheeconomiccrisisin2009andarestilltryingtorecoverfromthemess.

34.Romania
Romaniaisasemipresidentialrepublicwherethepresidentiselectedbypopularvote
whothenappointsaprimeminister.Romaniahasalwayswantedstrongtiestothe
UnitedStatesandotherWesternnations.TheymaintainongoodtermswithHungary
becauseofthelargeHungarianminorityinRomania.Theyhaveoneofthefastest
growingeconomiesintheEUandarecategorizedasanuppermiddleincomecountry.
GermanyandItalyarethecountryslargesttradingpartnerswithcars,software,
clothingandtextiles,andindustrialmachinerybeingthemainexports.Romaniaisanet
exporterofelectricalenergy.Approximatelyathirdoftheproducedenergycomesfrom
hydroelectricpower.Withoneofthelargestreservesofcrudeoilandshalegas,itisthe
oneofthemostenergyindependentcountriesintheEU.

35.Albania
After1998,Albaniabecameaparliamentarydemocracywiththepresidentasthehead
ofthestatewhoalsoappointstheprimeminister.Overthepastfewdecades,Albania
hassuccessfullytransformedfromasocialistcentrallyplannedeconomytoa
freemarketcapitalism.AlbaniaandCroatiahavediscussedthepossibilityofbuildinga
nuclearpowerplantatalakeneartheborderofMontenegro.ItaliancompanyEnelhas
alsoannouncedplanstobuildacoalfiredplanttodiversifyelectricitysourcesbecause
100%oftheelectricityisgeneratedbyageinghydroelectricpowerplants.Agricultureis
thelargestsectorintheeconomy.Itemploysnearly48%ofthepopulationanduses
nearlyaquarterofallthelandinthecountry.Tourismisthenextlargestsectorandhas
seenahugeincreaseinforeigninvestment.

36.BosniaandHerzegovina
BosniaandHerzegovinaisaliberaldemocracy.Ithasseverallevelsofpolitical
structuringwhichdividesthecountryintotwoentitiesRepublikaSrpskaandthe
FederationofBosniaandHerzegovina.TheRepublikacovers49%ofthelandandthe
Federationcovers51%.Theseentitieswereestablishedbythetwowarringsidesatthe
time,whichwassolvedthroughtheDaytonAccord.EUintegrationisoneofthemain
politicalobjectivesofBosniaandHerzegovinaandarecurrentlytryingtobecomepartof
theEU.TheyhavehadfairlystablerelationswithCroatia,Serbia,andMontenegroafter
the1995DaytonAccord.Bosniafacesthedifficulttaskofrebuildingawartorn
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EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction

countryseconomy.Thecountryisthemostliberatedintermsoffreedomofthepressin
theregion,ranking43rdinternationally.

37.Israel
Israeloperatesunderaparliamentarysystemasademocraticrepublicwithuniversal
suffrage.Theprimeministeristheheadofthegovernmentandelectedbymembersof
parliament.IsraelhashadalonghistoryofconflictwithotherArabnations.Asofnow,
onlythreeArabnationshavenormalizedrelationswithIsrael:Egypt,Jordan,and
Mauritania.UnderIsraelilaw,Lebanon,Syria,SaudiArabia,Iraq,Iran,Sudan,and
Yemenareconsideredenemies.Israeldoesnotsendoutalotofforeignaidtocountries
astheyareoneofthelowestrankedcountriesamongOECDnations.Theyarethemost
advancedcountryinSouthwestAsiaandtheMiddleEastineconomicandindustrial
development.Israelistheleadingcountryindevelopmentofsolarenergyandisaleader
inwaterconservationandgeothermalenergy.In2015,Israellocatedmassiveoil
reservesintheoccupiedGolanHeights.

38.Kazakhstan
KazakhstanoperatesasarepublicunderthePresident.ThePresidentappointsallother
governmentofficialsandiselectedforfiveyearterms.ThenationofKazakhstanwas
formedintheaftermathofthefalloftheSovietUnionandhasfunctionedunderan
authoritariangovernmentsincethen.Thecountryisatamediumlevelofdevelopment,
butsuffersfromalackofpoliticalfreedom,whichispreservedbythestabilitythe
countrycurrentlyhasandthestrongrelationsitharborswiththenationofRussia.The
countryseconomyreliesuponitspetrochemicalindustrytofunction.Thenation
currentlyfacesseverecriticismonitslevelsofcorruptionanditspoorhumanrights
record.

39.Tajikistan
Tajikistanoperatesasapresidentialrepublic.ThedirectlyelectedPresidentappointsall
othergovernmentofficialsandiselectedforsevenyearterms.ThenationofTajikistan
wasformedintheaftermathofthefalloftheSovietUnionandhasfunctionedunderan
authoritariangovernmentsincethen.Thecountryisatamediumlevelofdevelopment,
butsuffersfromalackofpoliticalfreedom,whichispreservedbythestabilitythe
countrycurrentlyhasandthestrongrelationsitharborswiththenationofRussia.The
countryseconomyreliesuponitsremittancesfromworkersinRussiafor47%ofits
GDP.Thenationcurrentlyfacesseverecriticismonitslevelsofcorruptionanditspoor
humanrightsrecord.

40.Kyrgyzstan
KyrgyzstanisaunitaryrepublicthatoperatesunderaPresident.Thedirectlyelected
Presidentappointsallothergovernmentofficialsandiselectedforsixyearterms.The
nationofTajikistanwasformedintheaftermathofthefalloftheSovietUnionandhas
functionedunderanauthoritariangovernmentsincethen.Thecountryisatamedium
levelofdevelopment,butsuffersfromalackofpoliticalfreedom,whichispreservedby
thestabilitythecountrycurrentlyhasandthestrongrelationsitharborswiththenation
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EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
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ofRussia.Thecountryseconomyreliesuponitsmineralsindustrytofunction.The
nationcurrentlyfacesseverecriticismonitslevelsofcorruptionanditspoorhuman
rightsrecord.

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direct all inquiries and comments to our Secretary-General.
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