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BBS was one of the
three top schools at this event (in this authors' humble opinion). This opinion
comes from the quality of debate, amount of time speaking, and overall ability
to influence events, and quality of resolutions.(click here
to read ALL BBS resolutions)
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A curious thing
happened in the General Assembly. The pariah nations of the world, Iraq, Iran,
Cuba, Libya etc. ended up having the most floor time. This resulted from a
number of factors, including the failure of the EC and American block countries
to come up with any consensus resolutions on the three key issues. Ironically,
three resolutions written by BBS students representing more moderate countries
came very close to getting floor time in the GA floor only to have other
resolutions debated instead. Of some fifty resolutions written, three of the top
six came from BBS authors.
This thrust most BBS delegates in the role of
the opposition, attacking, in this case, other countries that wanted a license
to harm their own people in one way or another. They needed to kill resolutions
formented by these countries. Of the three resolutions debated, two died, both
due, in large part, to the efforts of BBS students, and, as one MUN director
remarked, "Killing a bad resolution sometimes is the best good possible."
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Algeria-Faye al Tukhaim
Algeria
(click
here to read the ambassador's briefing book) criticized the Iraqi proposed
plan because Algeria thought the "UN" passport idea wouldn't
work. Australia-Shahad Dashti
Australia (click here
to read the ambassador's briefing book) justified its position on East Timor
in the Security Council and condemned Indonesia for its human rights abuses. It
also questioned how serious Iraq would be about helping refugees since Iraqi
policies cause so many people to flee.
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Bhutan-Faisal al Shatti
Bhutan (Click here
to read the ambassador's briefing book)made several speeches attacking
Resolutions 101 and 102. Bhutan also testified to the Security Council on its
position (pro-India) when China threatened to expand the India-Pakistan war into
the Himalayas. Costa Rica-Huda
al Mousa
Costa Rica (click here
to read the ambassador's briefing book) spoke on a number of issues as well
as acting as an important second author on Canada's resolution on refugees.
Costa Rica particularly attacked resolutions that "do nothing." Eritrea-Saad al Ghawas
Eritrea (click here
to read the ambassador's briefing book) spoke on several issues besides
acting as a major force in merging resolutions. Eritrea went through and
attacked every clause of Iraq-China's resolution 103, which failed. Eritrea also
signed a peace treaty with its neighbor, Ethiopia, ending one of the stupider
conflicts of the 1990s.
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Guatemala-Najwa al
Bishir
Guatemala (click here
to read the ambassador's briefing book) in its opening speech spoke of the
desire of poor countries to obtain high technology. The resolution on which
Guatemala assisted Nigeria would've helped poor countries with exactly this
issue. Unfortunately, the Iraq-China resolution debated lacked that funding, and
Guatemala attacked it for ignoring the poor countries.
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Kuwait-Reem
Behbehani
Kuwait (Click here
to read the ambassador's briefing book) attacked Iraq on the POW issue in
one of the most powerful opening speeches. Since Iraq co-sponsored all three
resolutions under debate, Kuwait did its best to bring down all three of them.
The logic Kuwait offered: If Iraq lied about previous agreements, how could
anyone trust them now? Kuwait especially condemned the refugee resolution
written by Iraq since Iraq's policies actual increase the number of refugees
fleeing from oppression.
Nigeria-Adel al Omar
Nigeria (click here
to read the ambassador's briefing book)did most of the writing on one of the
best two resolutions on technology. Nigeria condemned the Iraqi-China sponsored
resolution for its its encouragement of government monopolies on technology
which would cause higher prices and, thereby, keep high technology away from the
poor. Uganda-Shadi Suwayeh
Uganda (click here
to read the ambassador's briefing book) underwent an intense grilling in the
Security Council as it tried to explain its continued support for rebels
fighting against the government of DR Congo.
BBS students played a
strong role in the Security Council. Often times it seemed the entire debate
revolved around two of BBS's most prominent debaters Russia (Moh'd Fakhraldeen)
and Canada (Nabil al Khalid). In general, one could characterize the course of
events as one in which Canada and America took the lead in trying to get the UN
to take action while Russia and China resisted on the principles of national
sovereignty. As often happens in the real SC, this resulted in a lot of work
going towards a resolution that falied due to a veto or passed, watered down,
over a grudging absention.
The following list was on the SC agenda, but
only those underlined were actually debated:
1. The impending crisis
between Russia/Chechnya/Dagestan-vetoed by Russia
2. The ongoing issue of
Peacekeeping/UN involvement in East Timor-passed by in Mohammad FD's
absence.
3. The continuing crisis in DR Congo and surrounding States
(there has been a call by peacebroker, Frederick Chiluba - President of Zambia,
for UN Peacekeeping in DR Congo)-passed with Russian abstention.
4.
Ongoing issues in Kosovo-vetoed by Russia
5. Redefinition of UN SC
involvement in humanitarian/human rights issues
6. Instability in South
Asia (Afghanistan/Pakistan/India) possibly including issue of the Nuclear threat
to peace and stability and/or State sponsored terrorism
7. The continuing
war in Ethiopia/Eritrea and resulting regional instability-treaty signed but by
the nations involved
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Front with face covered: Najwa; Row 1, l to r: Ms. Gillian, Shadi, Reem, Adel, Huda, Mustafa, Faisal. Row 2: Saad, Nabil, Moh'd, Shadi, Faye.
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