French President Nicolas Sarkozy is bringing together the leaders of the countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea in a Mediterranean Union of copperation between southern European countries and their Muslim brethren (and Israel) to the south. The New York Times reports on the proposal, which is not being completely warmly received. France and Egypt are scheduled to take the co-presidency upon establishment. The article also mentions the possibility of a Black Sea Union which would include Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and others.
One question I have about the article is about the number 17, which the Times states is the number of countries bordering the Mediterranean and potentially part of the union. They also mention Jordan in the article, which is not a bordering country. I count 21: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Malta, Algeria, and Morocco. Maybe the five Adriatic Sea-bordering countries aren't counted and Jordan is? How do you think the number 17 came to be? Post your comments below...
Comments
They got 17 through the utter ignorance of geography on the part of the NY Times journalist who wrote the article. American schools are not renowned for teaching geography. Most other nations indeed teach it extensively.
Hi Florin! Thanks for your post! However, don’t point the finger at American ignorance as the U.K.’s The Economist, along with numerous other sources state seventeen…
http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11632813
I think Florin is right.
If we take Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro as one (former Yugoslavia), there are 17 contries !
It should be 22 – you missed out Palestine (Gaza).
My guess is that they arrived at 17 because they didn’t include the smaller states, that wouldn’t contribute to an economic union (Monaco, Malta, B&H, Montenegro, and Cyprus), but I suspect it’s just as likely to be an error.
Palestine (Gaza) is not a state and should not be considered
There are 43 members of the Mediterranean Union, 27 of which are part of the EU like Cyprus, Italy, Spain, France, Malta, Slovenia and Greece. The other member states are Croatia,B&H, Montenegro, Albania, Turkey and Monaco as far as Europe is concerned and Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Jordan (though not bordering the Mediterranean) in Asia and Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania (no border on the Mediterranean)in Northern Africa. Libya borders the Mediterranean but has not joined the Mediterranean Union because of political reasons.
Matt Rosenberg is right with the number of 21
independent states bordering the Mediterranean not including Palestine and Gibraltar.
Now, why would Jordan and Mauritania join? Some complicated political reason I assume?