| Volume 2010 No. 1

 

 

 

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Education Workshop, Asmara, Eritrea

EUCLID Workshop in Asmara, Eritrea (Photo Album)

Euclid Education Program, Asmara, Eritrea

Euclid High Steward Meets Eritrea Foreign Minister

Building Capacity to Combat Global Terrorism

Nuclear Energy Trade Off

FEATURE Articles

SPECIAL SECTIONS

Cultural Diplomacy

National Holidays

ACADEMIC PAPERS

EU: More An Economic Power Than A Political Power

Desertification in Eritrea

Religious Diplomacy

Multiculturalism: The Case of the Netherlands

Japan's Role in International Organizations

More Academic Papers

Online Payment and Contributions

Exclusive Interview with Ambassador Toihiri (Union of the Comoros)

By Glenville Ashby. New York, NY. 02/22/2010

- The Union of Comoros is comprised of four islands located off the coast of East Africa. It is a member of the African Union, the Organization of Islamic States, the Indian Ocean Commission and the Arab League. It has also been referred to as the sole electoral democracy in the Arab world.

comoros1.jpg

On February 22, in an exclusive interview for the Diplomatic Monitor, I sat down with its Ambassador, H.E. Ambassador Mohamed.

The Diplomatic Monitor: On behalf of the staff of Diplomatic Monitor and faculty at EUCLID, I wish to thank you for your time and accommodation. Firstly, can you give us an insight into your involvement in the field of politics and diplomacy?

 

H.E. Ambassador Toihiri: I am glad to have you in my office today. First, I am not a diplomat. I was a teacher since 2006. The new president, when he was elected decided to appoint me to this position. So I am here since 2007. I have tried to be quiet but we do have a problem with France over the island of Mayotte. They think that this island is French but I think belongs to Comoros. The first thing I did was to put this question before the United Nations to be discussed last year. This is very important that this question be addressed.

 

The Diplomatic Monitor: Wasn't there a referendum in Mayotte in respect to its status. Are the people in Mayotte not deciding for themselves who they want to be with? Who ultimately is the determinant of that decision? Is it not the people of Mayotte?

 

H.E. Ambassador Toihiri: What France is doing there is not very fair. Mayotte must be in Comoros. They stay in Mayotte...Look, France is very rich and they are helping this island with money and everything… so if you ask if you want to be Comorian or French. Well.....

 

The Diplomatic Monitor: Okay, so we understand why the people of Mayotte want to stay with France, but what is France getting from this relationship?

 

H.E. Ambassador Toihiri: Well, it is strategic. We told the French after independence that they must go home and return as a foreigner. So they stay in Mayotte, it is their home. From there, they can monitor everything going on in the other islands. [Continued]

 

 

 

 

GREECE: Crisis Will Not Shake Fundamentals of Greek Diplomacy...  [Article]

GLOBAL ECONOMICS: Indicators are all positive, but the recovery is jeopardized by the sustainability of government support and the looming risk of a sovereign debt crisis.

VANUATU: Vanuatu backs Pacific Forum bid for New Caledonia. Vanuatu has told New Caledonia it would support it becoming a full member of Pacific Islands Forum [Article]

 

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