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.