Background Notes

Britain
• Constitutional monarchy, Led By Gordon Brown, Prime Minister
• Member of EU, G-12, Created NATO and is member.
• Permanent Security Council Member
• Close Allies with United States, went to war with Taliban after 9/11
• No enemies
• Current Events- Prime Minister Elections coming up, Giving money to the rebuilding and reconstruction of Afghanistan,

China
• Communist party-led state, Led by Hujin Tao
• Permanent Security Council Member at UN
• Not a member of G-12 or NATO
• Opened up diplomatic relations with many countries once Beijing was recognized as capital in the 1970’s
• Good relations with all countries even beginning to be Russia (Soviet Tensions in 1980’s)
• Current Issues- Human Rights Problems, restrictions on most freedoms (free speech, religion, press, privacy) Lots of torture.

Egypt
• Republic, Democracy, Led by Mohamed Hosni Mubarak
• Member of Arab League (Headquarters in Cairo)
• Egypt is a key member in the search for peace in the Middle East and Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
• Supports Iraqi government, therefore big target for al-Qaeda (terrorist attack in 2005)
• Good allies with Israel, Russia, United States and China. Unfriendly with most Palestinian countries
• Current Issues- terrorist attack, tension between Muslims and Christians in Egypt, Supports UN peacekeeping missions

France
• Republic, President: Nicolas Sarkozy, Prime Minister: Francois Fillon\
• Permanent UN Security Council Member, NATO, G-12, WTO, EU
• No enemies, troops in Afghanistan
• Great allies with US and good relations with other countries
• Current Issues- Muslims living in small cities of France, Working on ceasefire in Gaza Strip, trying to make resolutions with Iraq

Germany
• Federal Republic, President: Horst Koehler, Chancellor: Angela Merkel (More Power)
• Member of EU, NATO, WTO
• Very Prosperous, good allies with other EU members and US
• Friendly with countries in Middle East, no real enemies.
• Current Issues: Pollution, economic decline. Unemployment

Turkey
• Republic Parliamentary Democracy, Prime Minister: Recep Tayyip Erdogan
• Member of NATO, urging for EU acceptance (EU application)
• Good allies with US. Friendly with other countries, no enemies.
• Current Issues: Tensions with Iraq rising due to Kurds vs. Turks, Human rights problems

Russia
• Federation, Prime Minister: Dmitri Medvedev.
• Permanent UN Security Council, member of G-12
• Kind of allies with Iran, not allies with any other country.
• Current Issues: Failing democracy, capitalism, economy and decreasing oil prices. Disparity in wealth between Russian citizens

Israel
• Parliamentary Democracy, Leader: Benjamin Netanyahu (Prime Minister)
• Not a member of anything, only UN
• Great allies with US, Britain. Friendly with China and Egypt. The Arab and Muslim countries are enemies with Israel. Iran would like to see Israel destroyed
• Current Issues- Many wars with surrounding Arab countries in the past. The current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Lots of terrorist groups, Hezbollah and Hamas, are battling to destroy Israel. Hamas controls the Gaza Strip.

United States
• Representative Democracy, President Barack Obama
• Permanent Security Council Member, NATO, G-12
• Allied with Israel, Britain, France, Turkey, Germany.
• Enemies with Iran, and unfriendly with Pakistan, Syria due to terrorists
• Current Issues: Dependence on foreign oil giving the Middle Eastern countries leverage on the US. Concerned about Human rights issues, climate control. Military troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Saudi Arabia
• Monarchy with Council of Ministers and Consultative Council: King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud.
• Member of OPEC and Arab League
• Allies with other Arab League members, friendly with US, endorses peace between Isreal-Palestine.
• Current Issues: Human rights issues, restrictions on free speech, press, religion. Largest supply of oil, strategic position on trading with US and western countries.

Syria
• Republic, under authoritarian military controlled by one party (Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party)
• Leader: Bashar al-Assad, president.
• Member of Arab League
• Neutral relationship with US and EU countries due to terrorist support. Allied with Arab League nations, enemies with Israel.
• Current Issues: Funding Hezbollah, crumbling economy. Golan Heights occupied by Israel. Oil production decline.

Iran
• Islamic Republic, Leader: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
• Member of OPEC, IAEA
• Enemies: United States, Israel. Neutral with other Middle Eastern countries and the EU
• Kind of Allies with Russia
• Current Issues- Give weapons and money aid to Hamas, Lebanese Hezbollah, and Taliban. Many nuclear allegations from Western countries about making nuclear weapons.

Pakistan
• Parliamentary Democracy, President: Asif Zardari
• Not Member of any coalition
• Supported Afghanistan with cooperation after the Soviet troops withdrew. Good relations with US (ally), China, Iraq. Fights against Taliban.
• Current Issues: Kashmir Mountains dispute with India. Possesses nuclear weapons. Unstable government.