UNITED
NATION
SAINT MARY'S ACADEMY MODEL UNITED NATIONS (SMAMUN) 2006
DIRECTOR'S
WELCOME NOTE
It gives me great pleasure in welcoming you all to one of the most powerful committees of SMAMUN 2006. In Security Council, you will face challenges & crisis that your fellows delegates may not.
My name is Ahmed Munir & I will direct the proceedings of this committee. I am a recent graduate of A levels from Saint Mary's Academy. In my extra-curricular life at saint Mary's, SMAMUN has been an extremely happening part of it for the last two years during which i have attend LUMUN 2004 & 2005 & also organized SMAMUN 2005, in which I was also privilege to direct this powerful committee. I hope you will enjoy your time in UNSC engaging in diplomatic & fiery discussions!
If you have any queries about any such thing, please feel free to contact me via e-mail. I am looking forward to meet you guys at the conference & hopefully at help sessions, which will help you guys a lot!
Regards
Ahmed Munir
e-mail: [email protected]
The supreme body of the International System, the United Nations Security Council is unique amongst all other bodies of the UN, in that its resolutions carry the full weight of international law, and are binding upon all members. Naturally, this gives the Council a key role as the arbiter of last resort in international conflict. Owing to this role, the Council has dealt with the full spectrum of issues over the length of its existence – from issues of decolonization, to military intervention, to the creation of new States; all happen as a direct result of the actions of the Council.
Bearing that in mind, the challenges facing the current members are significant. There is instability and the rising threat of extremist ideologies in the Middle East, especially focused around Iraq and the country’s on-going civil and ethnic strife. Latin America is also undergoing change, though of a more orderly nature, as old government systems and hierarchies are shaken up, leaving the political landscape open for re-interpretation and re-invention. Driven by years of growth and prosperity, Asia is becoming ever-more assertive though the region is not safe from upsets and has not yet shaken off the ghosts of its past. These changes, set against the backdrop of UN reform, international terrorism and shifting patterns of global power, mean that the Security Council stands on the brink of a decision about its future that will push it towards ever greater prominence, or leave it behind as a reminder of the way the world worked in the twentieth century.
Under the Charter, the functions and powers of the Security Council are:
· To maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations;
· To investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction;
· To recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
· To formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;
· To determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken;
· To call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression;
· To take military action against an aggressor;
· To recommend the admission of new Members;
· To exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in "strategic areas";
· To recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of Justice.
Topic A: Open Agenda on the Near East
Conflicts and threats in the Near East were at the forefront of international attention for the greater part of the last century, and despite past Security Council efforts tensions have not lessened over the last few years. Historical problems in this relatively small region of the world are extremely complicated and are deeply rooted in political, ideological, economic, and religious differences. The international community has long been familiar with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has divided and overwhelmed the Near East for more than sixty years; hardly a week goes by without new reports of civilian casualties in the area. As the Lebanon-Israel war seems to be unstoppable at this moments & UN have not played its part that well in this crisis yet!
The use of an Open Agenda as a committee topic area is a Model United Nations Security Council tradition valued for the way in which it allows the committee to imitate the real Security Council as realistically as possible. In the past delegates have been expected to prepare themselves to discuss any pertinent world security issues, and to propose agenda topics at the opening session. This being said, the Open Agenda on the Near East at SMAMUN 2006 will differ in that while it will still allow delegates to discuss the most current international peace and security issues, it will do so within a focused regional framework. Delegates will be provided with a study guide detailing the historical background of the region, but will be expected to follow regional developments closely up until the September 2006 conference.
Central Asia has managed to survive in the international community largely overlooked. Poor human rights records and little or no evidence of the true practice of democracy may one day lead to regional or worldwide conflicts if these nations serve as models of ‘successful’ regimes thanks to their survival, if they harbor terrorists, etc. How can countries better act collectively when dealing with these regimes? How can they promote change without resorting to armed conflict? As the ideas of freedom and democracy become more and more pervasive in the world today, the focus of the world shifts to those few countries that remain under the ironfisted rule of dictators worldwide. The Security Council will address these important issues through case studies. President Islam Karimov currently rules Uzbekistan. Typically, no observers have been sent to Karimov’s elections because they are held in an environment that makes a mockery of democracy. Reports indicate that Karimov has ingrained extensive torture policies during his 11-year tenure as president. Claims have also surfaced about the boiling of prisoners as a means of execution. In May of 2005, the military quash of riots in a city named Andijan massacred hundreds of Uzbeks. This topic will also look into Tajikistan, whose government and leader have been constantly consolidating power since the mid-1990s. Every other country in the region is also deemed “Unfree” by Freedom House, a respected institution that surveys political and civil rights worldwide. And the threat international world could face if these countries collaborate with Iran & other members of axis of evil & hatred. The possibilities of discussing several different dictatorships are endless. Additionally, all the veto powers have major interests in the region, with Russia and China vying for greater influence. The proximity of the conflict in Afghanistan, as well as rising tensions with neighboring Iran, will provide for vibrant and dramatic debate.
Over the past 57 years, Peacekeeping has adapted a new shape. Upon it's inception at end of Cold War, UN Peacekeeping was limited to unarmed or lightly armed forces principally meant for peaceful presence during the transitions of powers in stages after major conflicts. Therefore, they were not expected to engage in combat. The end of Cold War saw a marked shift in role of UN Peacekeeping as the missions became more complex & larger. The UN Charter gives Security Council the power to maintain international peace & security so that's why, the international community looks forward to this committee to organize peacekeeping missions. New missions aim to help countries who are reconciling major internal conflicts to create conditions of self-sustaining peace. The track record is mixed as El Salvador & Mozambique were successful but Haiti has been much more difficult. Compounding some recent challenges in terms of manpower & resources faced by the UN, have been some major failures to act, most notably in massacre in Srebrenica 1995(Bosnia & Herzegovina) & the genocide in Rwanda 1994. Some changes took place in UN peacekeeping after Brahimi Report of March 2000. Yet, even after some reforms, challenges faced by UN Peacekeeping are many like fragile balance between ongoing peace missions, scarce money & material & high demand for more interventions. In this topic, the case studies shall be Republic of Sudan. The ongoing Darfur crisis in Sudan is as complex as it's ethnic, economic & political sources & causes. UN peacekeepers played some role in establishing peace & detecting genocide. Further UN efforts to expand the peacekeeping force were hampered by United States, which could not agree to use International Criminal Court (ICC) because of conflicts of interests. Furthermore, in a meeting of African League, African States rejected foreign intervention, describing Darfur as purely African affair. Rcent developments include attack of Ethiopia, death of Vice President who was a ray of hope. Hopefully, a new last peace will emerge soon for Sudan.
Points To Consider in Topic Area C:
* Will you let your own personal views on peacekeeping conflict with your presentation of your nation's view of peacekeeping?
* In terms of national interest (discounting issues of practicality) is your country in favor of maintaining/decreasing/increasing UN peacekeeping
* When practicalities are considered (i.e. cost, distance, domestic conditions), is your nation's answer to step 2 changed?
* Are there any legal issues keeping your country from becoming involved in peacekeeping operations?
* What is nature of limitation of peacekeeping (i.e. UN rules of engagement)?
* What happens if a UN peacekeeping operation fails?