Tbsb mun 2016, security council
Topic a: question of kurdish people’s right to self-determination30187905651500The current Middle-Eastern territory presents the United Nations, in particular the Security Council, with multiple dilemmas. While the UN system promises to respect the territorial integrity of its member states, it is also strongly committed to allow for the self-determination of people. Whereas the violence between Sunni and Shia Muslims, the oldest and greatest divide in the history of Islam, monopolizes the media outlets, no successful and inclusive understanding can be reached without addressing the third regional ethnic group: The Kurds. United States Ambassador Samantha Power writes that “the Kurds are a stateless people scattered over Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Iraq. Some 25 million Kurds cover an estimated 200,000 square miles. The Kurds are divided by two forms of Islam, five borders, and three Kurdish languages and alphabets. The major powers promised them a state of their own in 1922, but when Turkey refused to ratify the Treaty of Sevres…, the idea was dropped.” Furthermore, Kurdish resistance movements have inflexibly opposed the established governments for the past decades. With the ever-increasing violence and bloodshed in Iraq and Turkey, it is vital that the Middle East, and undeniably all United Nations member states, strive in unity to resolve the question of Kurdish People’s self-determination in order to avoid advanced ic background:In the early 7th century, the Kurds were conquered by the Muslim Arabs, officially marking the first of the list of invaders (successful or not) of the region, followed by Seljuk Turks in the 11th century, the Mongols in the 13th, medieval Persians and the Ottoman Turks in the 16th and, most recently, the United States of America in its 2003 invasion of Iraqi territory. The self-claimed “Kurdish regions” of Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria sit in the north central area of the Middle East. These are populated by the Kurds, one of the indigenous people of the Mesopotamian plains, who have politically and violently strived and fought for a secure and stable homeland, one which was officially acknowledged as their own. Due to its hotspot location, in the border between conflictant Middle Eastern nations, they have been home both to ethnic battle grounds as well as diplomatic coexistance. The beginning of recent conflict arose with the turn of the 19th century, when nations theoretically owning a share of the region decided to advocate and protest for their national homelands after being subjugated by the Ottoman Empire for hundreds of years. After the end of World War I, with the imput of Woorow Wilson, former President of the United States of America, the 1920 Treaty of Sèvres was introduced to manage the territory after the Ottoman Empire’s collapse. In this treaty, a proposed autonomous state was to be assigned, the Kurdistan. Nonetheless, this treaty was rejected and replaced by the Treaty of Lausanne, in 1923, leading to the international recognition of the new Republic of Turkey as the successor state of the defunct Ottoman Empire. It did not oblige Turkey to grant Kurdish autonomy. It further caused the splitting of the territory between Turkey, Syria and Iraq, forcing the Kurdish to disperse themselves amongst neighbouring countries, becoming minorities and being supressed by the strict leaders of their 3361690171640500nations.Before two years had passed, in 1925 Turkey, a Kurdish uprising against their governmental authority was heavily suppressed and disregarded, followed by a similar situation in 1946 Iran,where the Mahabah Republic was set up with the support of the Soviets, but was quickly and promptly crushed by the sovereign government. Northern Iraqi Kurd Mustafa Barzani, frustrated by the prohibition of their languages and traditional costumes, founded the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), dedicated to the resurfacing of a creation of an autonomous Kurdistan. After strengthening their party, the KDP revolted against the government of Abdul Kaim Kassem. Abd al-Karim Qasim, the military leader at the time, iniciated an intensive military campaign against Kurdish forces, the Peshmerga, currently responsible for retaining the Islamic State and their infringements on human rights. -5715032385000Although the Iraqi government achieved the suppression of the 1946 riot, tension between the two groups would continue for years until 1970, when a peace agreement was signed between the Iraqi government and the Kurds from the same region granting them a slice of self-rule in the independent state of Iraqi Kurdistan. This passive interaction, however, was short-lived, as the KDP began their search for profitable lands in order to enrichen their nation and people, seeing the opportunity of seizing Kirkuk, an oil-rich providence, traditionally Kurdish. Backed by the United States and their ally, Iran, the KDP attacked Iraqi troops but soon were impeded by the Baghdad government’s agreeance to increase Iranian control of the Shatt al-Arab river, thus ending western support and further demolizing their rebellion by starving them of necessities. Moreover, in 1975, Jalal Talabani, then leader of the KDP, leaves to form the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). This was the beginning of decades of conflict between the two parties.The year of 1978 was when struggle started to arise in Turkey. The Turkish government continued mistreatment and carelessness regarding their Kurdish population amounted to the creation of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) by Abdullah Ocalan, seeking Kurdish independence. The leftist party has Marxist-Lenist roots and armed conflict with the Turkish government began in 1984, focused on civilian as well as governmental targets, but ultimately gave up on this quest.-67945571500From 1980 to 1988, the Iran-Iraq war caused friction between the Iraqi government and the KDP and PUK, as they refused to support Saddam Hussein and the local government. This agreeance with Iranian forces, as Hussein deemed it, was met with the start of the Al-Anfal campaign. Refugees from this demoralizing and harsh campaign, consistent of chemical weapons and decimation of thousands of villages, fled to Turkey, where the PKK remained popular.Iraqian forces were dangerously weakened after the Persian Gulf War in 1990, instigating Kurdish revolt, which was fundamentally encouraged by the United States of America. Nevertheless, Iraq crushed this rebellion, which did not receive any sort of aid from the United Nations forces. In 1991, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 688, which pathed a way to a No Fly Zone in northern Iraq however also included clauses demanding the end of Iraqi repression and ensuring humanitarian aid for both refugees and civilians in northern Iraq; these were later attacked in the Iraqi government in 1992 and 1995. Soon after, Iraqi Kurdistan found themselves at peace, ruled independently, governed by the PUK and the PKK. The internal tension between the parties, including their fighting during the 1990s for autonomous control, is still used as an argument against Kurdish independence. 302641045085000In 2003, the famous US-led invasion of Iraq benefited the Kurds in several sides, as they were provided with a more leniant government as well as political representation in the Iraq Governing Council (IGC).Iran and Turkey both initiate offensive attacks against northern Iraq in 2007, targeting the rebel Iraqi Kurdistans, which were increasing in number. Turkey focuses on air strikes and ground attacks, as the Iranian government begins shelling their rebel bases.-61539109363100During elective procedures in independent Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani is reelected president for his last permitted term (due to accusations of avoiding any changes in the constitution), and parliament confirms a temporary alliance of political parties forming a government, effectively joining the PKK and the PUK. Yet, 25 of 111 seats are won by a newly-formed opposition party, the Gorran Movement for Change. Taking into consideration the fragility of the government, mainly caused by the friction between the two governing parties, the introduction of a third group promised to cause even more controversy. Iraqi Kurdistan was further subjected to air strikes by Turkey in 2011, who later proceeded to pursuit Kurdish groups in Syria, particularly the People’s Protection Union (YPG), a military branch of the Democratic Union Party (PYD). Syria has contacted and sent letters to the UN Secretary General and the Security Council chairman, as these are considered by their government as attacks against its sovereignty.The alliance between the United States and the YPG has caused considerable distress between the country and Turkey, who deems the group as dangerous considering their ties to the PKK. This animosity created between allies further complicates the fight against terrorism in the region. 279400068199000The Kurdistan region was hit by an economic crisis in 2015. Despite an increase in overall production, oil revenues have decreased significantly since 2014 due to lower oil prices, disputes with the central government and the rapid expansion of the Islamic State. In June 2015, Exxon Mobil, the largest exporter by volume, evacuated its staff and left its facilities in the care of peshmerga. In early December 2015, peshmerga reportedly repelled an IS attack on those facilities, though the prospect of such attacks poses a deterrent to foreign investment. 17% of the central government’s budget is earmarked for distribution to the KRG, but no funds have been disbursed since February 2014. A US-mediated agreement in 2014 would have resolved the conflict between the oil ministries of the KRG and the GOI, but this too collapsed over allegations of under payment. Erbil’s independent contracts sold for less than market price due to its poor quality. According to some estimates, the debt of the Kurdish government reached USD$18 billion by January 2016. Many government workers (including teachers, soldiers and other employees) have not been paid for 3 months from as of October 2015. The President of the Kurdistan region Barzani however announced that increased oil sales are about to balance the Kurdish budget. In October 2015, large-scale riots by government employees broke across the Kurdistan region, with several fatalities.sources for further research:(The material presented below does not necessarily reflect neutral points of view. The chairs expect delegates to analyze sources critically, keeping in mind the possible presence of bias.) b: question of iranian nuclear proliferationtopic backgroundAfter hiding a clandestine uranium enrichment programme for 18 years and thus breaching the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a lot of attention is focused on Iran and its rights to nuclear powers are questioned. This has generated an atmosphere of distrust and skepticism amongst the international community, which now worries about pending questions regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran insists on its right to run a “peaceful nuclear industry”, but Iran’s intentions are misbelieved by many countries, fearing the possibility of a nuclear arms race in one of the world’s most ambiguous and volatile regions. The Security Council holds a major responsibility in settling this issue to reach the most amicable solution possible.What is the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and how does it affect the countries involved?The NPT has the objective of preventing the spread of nuclear weapons or nuclear technology and encourages the cooperation of nations towards the peaceful uses of nuclear forces. In a broader perspective, one of its main aims is to promote nuclear disarmament. The treaty recognizes the following states as nuclear-weapon states: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China (also the P5 members of the United Nations Security Council). India, Pakistan and North Korea are believed to possess nuclear weapons, and Israel is ambiguous and dubious in relation to its ownership of nuclear weapons. The NPT non-nuclear weapon states agree to never obtain nuclear weapons and the NPT nuclear weapon states agree, in exchange, to share the benefits of peaceful nuclear technology and try their best to seek nuclear disarmament. The NPT is reviewed every 5 years in Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The NPT consists of 3 pillars:First pillar: non-proliferationArticle I of the NPT addresses that nuclear weapon states do not transfer weapons or devices to any other nation, or in any way encourage any non-nuclear weapon state to acquire or manufacture them. Article II pledges that non-nuclear weapon states to not acquire nuclear weapons or accept assistance in the manufacture of such devices. Under Article III, the non-nuclear weapon states accept IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards to ensure that their activity regarding nuclear weapons serve only peaceful intentions.Second pillar: disarmamentThe second part of the NPT consists of nations acting in goodwill to pursue negotiations on compelling measures to cease the nuclear arms race and towards nuclear disarmament. This second pillar is representative of the collaboration that must occur amongst countries so that the goals of disarmament are achieved.Third pillar: peaceful use of nuclear energyThe NPT also consists of a third part, which encompasses the rights of all Parties involved to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and to benefit internationally from this area. This, however, must abide with their non-proliferation obligations stated in previous sections of the NPT. The third pillar allows the transfer of nuclear technology/materials to NPT signatory countries, if interests reside within the intentions of development of civilian nuclear energy programs in such countries. This is allowed as long as countries demonstrate that nuclear energy is not being used for the manufacture of nuclear weapons. Since very few countries are willing to end their use of nuclear energy, the third pillar creates space for controlled flexibility of its use while still making conditions difficult for the development of nuclear weapons.United States-NATO weapons sharingDuring the period of treaty negotiation, NATO had a secret nuclear weapons dealing with the United States. This dealing consisted of the US providing nuclear weapons to be stored in other NATO states. It is argued that this is a violation of Articles I and II of the NPT. The US has defended itself by claiming that the nuclear weapons were controlled while in storage in the NATO states, and that they underwent no transfer or any control over them was intended "unless and until a decision were made to go to war, at which the treaty would no longer be controlling", so there is no breach of the NPT. It is estimated that the US still provides around 180 tactical B1 nuclear bombs to be used by Germany, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands and Turkey under this agreement with NATO states. Countries not involvedIndia, Israel, Pakistan and South Sudan have never signed the treaty. Israel is internationally ambiguous upon the matter of its possession of nuclear weapons (policy of deliberate ambiguity), whilst India and Pakistan have publicly revealed their nuclear weapon programs. India is estimated to have enough fissile material for more than 150 warheads. India had a “no first use” policy, meaning it could only use its nuclear weapons in the case that it was first attacked by an opponent using them too. However, India’s former NSA Shivshankar Menon shifted this policy from “no first use” to “no first use against non-nuclear weapon states” in 2010. India claims that the NPT creates a group of “nuclear haves”. Like India, Pakistani officials argue that the NPT is discriminatory. -1797050004745355377825“NPT Nuclear Map”Source: Lessons – TES Teach0“NPT Nuclear Map”Source: Lessons – TES Teach2736853843655“Time to Look Beyond the NPT: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Map”Source: Pressenza; International Press Agency0“Time to Look Beyond the NPT: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Map”Source: Pressenza; International Press Agency-17970540703500Iran & weapons of mass destructionIran is not acknowledged to currently possess any weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear weapons. It has signed treaties which disavow these, including the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Iran is aware of the threats imposed by weapons of mass destruction, since over 100,000 Iranian troops and civilians were victims of the effects of chemical weapons during the 1980s Iran-Iraq War. Public and religious decree (fatwa) was made against the development of nuclear weapons in Iran. Later versions of this fatwa forbid only the use of these weapons but does not address their production. Iran’s program for uranium enrichment has been claimed to be for peaceful purposes only. The IAEA has declared that the nuclear material in Iran has not been diverged or transported, but feels like it “must have confidence in the absence of possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program”.Iranian involvement with the NPT Iran is part and has signed the NPT, but was found in nonconformity with it after breaching a series of its articles. It contravened and infringed the NPT through its safeguard agreements, while the status of its nuclear program remains in dispute. IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei noted that Iran had, over an extended period of time, failed to meet its obligations in compliance to the NPT. This was done by Iran failing to disclose its uranium enrichment program. After international efforts were made to suspend Iran’s procedure, the matter was then taken to the United Nations Security Council in 2006, which passed a resolution addressing this suspension. Despite this, Iran continued its enrichment program with no regards to international agreements made. The agreement would be that Iran stopped its nuclear program in return for the lifting of Western sanctions upon it.Iran has claimed that its program is for energy-production purposes only, which is permitted under the NPT. However, the US and European powers have questioned Iran’s intentions, stating it has sought to develop nuclear weapons, and is, therefore, breaching the NPT, making it subject to full-scale international punishments. There has been debate going on regarding the political and economic impacts of the deal, since it would affect oil prices, regional stability, global stability, etc. Iran holds the second-largest proved crude oil reserves in the Middle East. Nonetheless, the country’s abilities to market these reserves internationally has been restricted due to the sanctions imposed by the EU and USA to curtail its nuclear program. Iran’s crude oil exports, which contribute to around 80% of its total export income and almost 60% of all government revenue has almost halved since 2011, and the decline in oil prices means the decrease in revenue could be much worse. The form of imposed by the US and the EU could have a significant implication for Iran’s economy and the global crude oil market, which is already currently oversupplied. Even though oil production has increased significantly in Iran, demands for it have not increased as much. The Iran nuclear deal could mean even more oil is supplied to the market without such an increase for demand. This might perhaps increase the competition for market share in global crude oil markets, which might cause Saudi Arabia to follow a more aggressive approach on oil pricing (it is hugely involved with the commodity), as it is not favourable of the US and other powers to ease sanctions on Iran. The right to nuclear weaponsDespite all economic and political debate on the issue, the central discussion revolves around the question of a right of a country possessing nuclear powers. It is argued that, no matter what the Iranian nuclear program is aimed at, it should have the right to have nuclear weapons just as much as the US or Britain do, both in terms of the principles of NPT and the fairness of the international order that created it. Iran’s nuclear program was initiated with the help of the US under the “Atoms for Peace” program. However, international opposition to this grew and the US began to block deals on nuclear technology between Iran and other countries, fearing the threats of its nuclear expansion. The current deal indicates that after close monitoring and reduction of Iranian nuclear activity, when the sanctions on Iran are finally lifted, billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian assets overseas will be unfrozen. It is claimed that the NPT has lost its moral authority in being a political treaty in which the great powers get to choose who has the right to some things and not to others. Moreover, 5 official nuclear powers have previously breached primary aim of the NPT, which is to limit nuclear proliferation. It is also argued that while Iran has been subject to collective amounts of punishments imposed upon them, India, Israel and Pakistan, which are not NPT members, have “received the blessings of the Security Council”. Iran’s nuclear weapons program as a threat to the United States of America and its interestsA nuclear-armed Iran would allow for it to invigorate its aggressive foreign policy, which would lead to greater friction with the international community. Iran already holds enough nuclear power to hit US and allied troops stationed in the Middle East and parts of Europe, therefore its possible expansion of nuclear weapons could aggravate this threat.Iran is seen as “one of the world’s leading state sponsors of terrorism”. If Iran could potentially share its nuclear powers with such groups, such as Hezbollah, Hamas and others, this would pose a terribly hostile atmosphere to the United States and the West.A nuclear armed Iran poses a threat to the United States of America’s closest allies in the Middle East.Iranian military posture has led to increase in arms purchase by its neighbours. A nuclear-armed Iran could spark an arms race which would further destabilize this volatile region.Measures Iran has agreed on:Reduce the number of its installed centrifuges;Limit uranium enrichment to 3.67% for 15 years;Reduce its current stockpile of uranium;Cease enrichment of uranium for 15 years;Allow the IAEA to regularly access all nuclear facilities and suspected sites;Allow inspectors to access uranium mines and perform surveillance in uranium mills for 25 years.Measures the P5 have agreed on:Suspend US and EU sanctions against Iran once the IAEA has checked Iran has successfully fulfilled its commitment;Lifting all past UN Security Council sanctions on the Iranian nuclear issue;The creation of a new UNSC resolution urging full implementation and retaining some provisions that are weapons-related;The UNSC has unanimously adopted 4 resolutions imposing sanctions on Iran for its nuclear proliferation activities;Since July 2012, the EU has banned all imports of Iranian oil;US Treasury has “blacklisted” Iranian companies involved in proliferation or terrorist activity to make banking transactions more difficult for them on a global scale.Reflection questions for delegatesHow will different deals regarding the Iranian nuclear issue with different approaches help bring a peaceful solution to the issue?How harshly should Iranian violations of the treaty be dealt with?Should nations cooperate in favour of sanctions against Iran or should a consensus regarding the right of nuclear weapons possession be reached?Bibliography & sources for further research(The material presented below does not necessarily reflect neutral points of view. The chairs expect delegates to analyze sources critically, keeping in mind the possible presence of bias) ................
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