Russia's Position on Syrian Civil War: Model United Nations

Committee: Security Council

Topic: Syrian Civil War

Country: Russian Federation

Delegates: Hour Sopheana, Kuch Darika and  Uk Dararath

The Syrian Civil War has become more complex with international involvements within Syrian sovereignty. It has put dangers to humanity in Syria and posed serious concerns for Middle East and international security. The civil war was escalated by rebel groups who called for President Bashar al-Assad to step down from power. It has become a full-scale civil war in 2011, millions of Syria’s citizens have been killed and wounded by the exchanges of fire between the government and rebel groups backed by the U.S. and some western countries. The international military interventions destroyed the country brutally and forced millions of the people to leave the country, creating migrations to neighboring as well to European countries. The United Nations has made efforts in upholding ceasefire agreements and putting the war to an end. Unfortunately, the efforts have been proven ineffective. Russia has been working to end the conflict and restore the country by supporting and assisting the coalition between the Syrian government and opposition groups through negotiation.

The civil war in Syria was caused by the demonstration of rebel groups in Syria who was opposing to the government Assad. The situation in Syria then escalated into a full-scale civil war in 2011 that had killed over 450,000 Syrians and another one million were fatally injured. It has been ongoing for six years and has not come to an end yet. This has created consequences of instability and insecurity within the country, the region including the flow of refugees into neighboring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan and international problems such as proxy war. These three countries faced the most serious refugee crisis in the region. In 2016, number estimated at 4.5 million of refugees fled from Syria and half of them are children. This war has caused the most remarkable refugee crisis in the world due to over 12 million of Syria’s citizens were displaced from their homes. The unfolding civil war in Syria illustrated the threat to peace, stability, and security in the region, which has gotten the attention of the international community. It is one among many issues in the world right now since this war has violated the international law and Human Rights. It is of international concerns as well due to the fact that this civil war has not been stopped, which poses not only regional but also global threat. The United Nations Security Council has also make its efforts in solving this bloody war, however, none of the resolutions had been proven effective. For instance, the talk in early 2014, which known as Geneva II, went down in only the second round since the Syrian government refused the further discussion on opposition demands. The United Nations Security Council has called for the implementation of the 12 Geneva Communiques, which expected a transitional governing body with full executive powers. The United Nations has requested the Syrian government and opposition delegations to attend intra-Syria negotiations that guided by Security Council resolution 2254 (2015) focusing on matter of governance in Syria. There is also a meeting between Russia, Turkey and Iran on ceasefire in Astana of Kazakhstan in the end of 2016 and the meeting been holding since. Such efficient proves, Russia is willing to further extend commitments and collaboration to work with other states through United Nations and other arenas to end the conflicts and restore the peace and stability in Syria.

Russian Federation does concern on the issue of civil war in Syria. Russian Federation would like to propose many resolutions on the Syrian as follows:

• Ceasefire must be immediately implemented. Military fights in Syria must be postponed and all parties are required to go for peaceful negotiations. 

• International community needs to create a platform for peaceful negotiations between the government and opposition groups on ending the conflict.

• All parties need to negotiate to draft a new constitution with assistance from international community to restore Syria. The new constitution should reform the electoral, governmental and parliamentary systems and laws. 

• The rapid, safe, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aids to Syria should be put in one among prioritized tasks. 

***This article is published here in the purpose of sharing the format of the position paper. We are aware that there are many rooms to improve for this paper.

Russia's Position on North Korea Nuclear Program: Model United Nations

Committee: Security Council

Topic: North Korea Nuclear Programme

Country: Russia Federation

Delegates: Hour Sopheana, Kuch Darika, Uk Dararath 

The development of Korean Nuclear Program has posed significant threats to the world. Recently, North Korea has been conducting several nuclear missiles tests and pursuing and advancing the nuclear program although there have been adoptions of resolutions in 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2016 including urging for dismantling its nuclear program and strengthening sanctions from UNSC. The missile tests by North Korea have affected peace and stability in Northeast Asia as well as global.  Realizing the North Korean nuclear program is the security concerns; Russia works collaboratively in United Nations Security Council to seek for a peaceful solution where it can make sure to serve global peace and stability.

North Korea claimed that it possessed nuclear weapons in 2007. The tension had started even before the claim. North Korea withdrew himself from the treaty of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT) in 1985. The problem escalated and became world remarkable attentions that required careful and serious actions. Series of missile tests have been conducted by North Korea. The first test was in 2006, namely a weapon for “peace”. This test was taken underground, in the tunnel of a mountainous site in the northeast. The second test was also taken underground but no radiation was leaked. Moreover, this nuclear bomb was much bigger than the first one as it was estimated to yield to 2-8 kilotons. In 2013, the third uranium test was launched again near Punggye-ri. This showed that Uranium test could make a remarkable great leap forward in North Korea’s nuclear program. Another test called the Hydrogen bomb was launched in 2016. The bomb was largely more powerful than atomic bombs. Recently, North Korea also fired four missiles into water in Japan’s coast but has not caused any damage but security concerns. All the tests have forced UNSC to take actions because not only Northeast Asia but also the whole world have been at risk of safety with the danger of North Korea Nuclear program and testing. The North Korean nuclear testing have called for international community attention as it could be a devastation if the warheads targeted one region or place in the globe. To deal with North Korea, Russia has been taking some measures in order to stop North Korea from testing its weapons. For instance, Russia has put economic sanctions on North Korea when the country launched the latest ballistic missile test in early February 2017 by banning the sale of helicopters and ships. Russia also supported UNSCR on condemning North Korea; We have taken actions including the closing of subsidiary organizations, branches and representative offices of North Korean banks, joint ventures with the participation of North Korean banks, and the prohibition of equity participation in the ownership or correspondent relations with North Korean banks. Russia also considered banning imports from North Korea such as coal, iron, iron ore, gold, titanium and vanadium ore as well as rare-earth minerals. However, these sanctions were proven to be ineffective since testing has been still being conducted. Furthermore, the on-going issues of North Korea nuclear program has been still on track as there have been contradictions and complications in the relation of North Korea and Russia on economic interests. Also, the United Nations Security Council Resolutions could not effectively force North Korea to stop from its ambition of advancing nuclear weapons. Therefore, we propose measures that could make North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.

Russia is looking forward to further discussion and cooperation for collective actions to address the North Korean nuclear program issues. It is necessary for each member states to cooperate with each other to discuss about any peaceful activities or solutions relevant to the act. The solution should reflect the issues of North Korean nuclear program and minimize any negative impacts to the people. Moreover, Russia would like to propose the Article 41 of the United Nations, which gives the Security Council the power to decide what nonmilitary measures to use or to use economic sanctions in response to the threats to the global peace and security. Likewise, we would also like to raise the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2270, which we believe it would protect the vessels from getting near to the territory of Democratic People's Republic of Korea and prevent the sale or supply of aviation fuel to Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Russia is willing to work collaboratively to solve this global issue and we are aware that Russia cannot do alone successfully but with all enthusiastic participation from all member states.

***This article is published here in the purpose of sharing the format of the position paper. We are aware that there are many rooms to improve for this paper.