Transnational Issues United Arab Emirates
Disputes - international:
because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment
of the boundary with Saudi Arabia is still unknown; boundary
agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire
border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves,
but contents of the agreement and maps showing the alignment have
not been published; UAE engage in direct talks and solicit Arab
League support to resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of Lesser
and Greater Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island
Illicit drugs:
the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its
proximity to southwest Asian drug producing countries; the UAE's
position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money
laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@United Kingdom
Introduction United Kingdom
Background:
Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the
19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary
democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith,
the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface.
The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously
depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the
dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern
and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of
the UN Security Council, a founding member of NATO, and of the
Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy; it
currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental
Europe. A member of the EU, it chose to remain outside the Economic
and Monetary Union for the time being. Constitutional reform is also
a significant issue in the UK. The Scottish Parliament, the National
Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were
established in 1999, but the latter is suspended due to bickering
over the peace process.
Geography United Kingdom
Location:
Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the
island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North
Sea, northwest of France