r RND (party of the government) [Ali Bazi SELIM]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD,
AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Deputy
Permanent Representative Mahmoud Mohamed ABOUD (acting)

chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal
and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East
50th Street, New York, NY 10022

telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010

FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to
Comoros

Flag description: green with a white crescent in the center of the
field, its points facing downward; there are four white five-pointed
stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the
crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam;
the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -
Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of
France, but claimed by Comoros); the design, the most recent of
several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on
7 June 1992

Comoros Economy

Economy - overview: One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is
made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation links,
a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural
resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes
to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and
a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance.
Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the
leading sector of the economy. It contributes 40% to GDP, employs
80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The
country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main
staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government is
struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize
commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services,
to diversify exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high
population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if
the goal of 4% annual GD