Position paper for Syrian Arab Republic
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures |
| Paper text: | |
| Topic: Consolidation of Peace Through Disarmament
For the past 13 years, Syria has fought a long and bloody civil war. Throughout this conflict various nation-states have intervened to advance their agendas. These interventions have only prolonged the internal conflict and further disrupted our country. This has also occurred outside of Syria, where military interventions throughout the globe have destabilized regions creating conditions that have resulted in the spread of non state actors such as the Islamic State. . In order to promote peace and stability, it is our belief that nations should be more restrained with their military forces to prevent unnecessary conflict around the globe. It is our hope that the committee will address these needless actions which disrupt the efforts for peace. Alongside direct military intervention, foreign powers often distribute armaments to non state actors to advance their agendas. The proliferation of weapons in this manner empowers non-state actors who will often go on to destabilize and disrupt countries. It is our belief that the committee should see to strengthen the measures in place to minimize the spread of weapons. | |
| Committee: | GA First |
| Topic: | Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction |
| Paper text: | |
| Over the past 11 years, Syria has made great strides to become compliant under OPCW
protocols. In late 2013 our chemical weapons stockpile was dismantled with surveillance by
members of the UN and international community.
Although we have dismantled our chemical weapons stockpile, we cannot help but feel outraged as the international community continues to doubt our commitment to following international law. Because of the West's failure to accept our status as compliant, we fear what steps the international community may take because of these false beliefs. Countries have been invaded over false allegations of weapons of mass destruction, and just this year our proud nation was attacked due to a nation misidentifying a building within our borders. In order to ensure the accuracy and improve confidence in the international investigations over alleged chemical weapons stockpiles and infrastructure, we will be suggesting to the assembly language that directs the findings of any international investigation to the UN Security Council for final confirmation of accuracy. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Agriculture development, food security and nutrition |
| Paper text: | |
| The global community should have a commitment to aid agricultural development and
the agricultural sector at large. Making up over 4% of the world GDP and employing over a
billion people worldwide, it is necessary to the economic health and nutritional needs of a global
community. Threats to this industry are threats to nations as a whole, and therefore, individual
nations must have proper agricultural infrastructure and resources.
Agricultural production and exports make up a great deal of Syria's economy- and with the diminishment of reliable crude material production, this industry will rise to be even more important for the economic health of the nation. Having been ravaged and exploited by regional conflict and civil war, the agricultural industry in Syria is also in need of serious restructuring. On top of this, drought and climate change poses a threat to this particular sector. We understand how a myriad conditions can negatively affect a nation's agricultural production and further understand that different nations require different solutions to these conditions. Syria recognizes the importance of agricultural infrastructure in developing a healthy economy and it is the state's official position that each nation should be supported by the global community in their agricultural efforts. | |
| Committee: | GA Second |
| Topic: | Development cooperation with middle-income countries |
| Paper text: | |
| Economic development within middle-income countries is burdened by cost, conflict, and
environmental restrictions. The strength of necessary national industries and infrastructures are
crucial in developing healthy economies and elevate a nation's standing on the global stage.
Middle income nations, such as Syria, struggle with losses of human capital, decimation of
infrastructure, as well as economic and political instability. The cooperation between nations that
fit into this criteria is vital in building a strong economy and enhancing quality of life for all
citizens.
In the interests of Syria in particular, we welcome the emergence of middle income countries, particularly insofar as they include non-Western states and offer alternative sources of cooperation, trade, and aid. We believe that practices such as technology transfer, lending aid, and renewed trade relations would benefit all countries involved. Syria notes the effect of international cooperation on individual economies, and that it lends to mutual economic growth. The state welcomes global cooperation on development efforts among middle-income nations. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Rights of indigenous peoples |
| Paper text: | |
| Syria supported the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
(UNDRIP), and it upholds legal equality for all its citizens. Article 9 of our 2012 Constitution
affirms "the protection of cultural diversity of the Syrian society with all its components and the
multiplicity of its tributaries, as it is a national heritage that promotes national unity within the
framework of the territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic."
Syria is a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional country, and we value the contributions from all Syrians, regardless of their faith, language, ethnicity, or other characteristics. At the same time, however, we uphold, as stated above, the promotion of national unity and territorial integrity. Both of these, as is well known, have been threatened by a devastating conflict spurred by Islamic radicals, outside powers, and, unfortunately, some groups residing in Syria itself. Our priority, particularly in light of this conflict, is rebuilding our national unity and state institutions. As in other committees, Syria will emphasize the principle of state sovereignty. As such, we recognize that other countries can establish additional measures that go beyond the UNDRIP. We, however, will oppose the imposition of any requirements upon us, particularly regarding special political rights for indigenous peoples and minority groups, as these can contribute to separatism and undermine national unity. We will uphold the position that states should be the ones to determine who their indigenous peoples are and any special provisions they will be granted. | |
| Committee: | GA Third |
| Topic: | Literacy for life |
| Paper text: | |
| Syria welcomes a productive discussion and action on the topic "Literacy for Life". We
acknowledge our country's shortcomings in this area, primarily produced by a decade of terrorist-
inspired conflict. A recent UNESCO report noted that only a slight majority of Syrian youth aged
15-24 had the minimum expected life skills in literacy, numeracy, and life skills. Youth in rural
areas, devastated by conflict and still lacking numerous forms of infrastructure, fare particularly
poorly. We also recognize gender disparities, and highlight the need for people to acquire skills
beyond basic literacy, including functional ability with technology.
An obvious need for us is rebuilding our schools and training teachers, as well as providing students with access to technology, as many students in Syria lack computers or reliable access to the Internet. We welcome international efforts to assist countries like Syria that have clear needs to improve their educational system. We have worked with international NGOs to improve our educational outcomes, and are eager to learn of successes elsewhere that could be applied to Syria. We welcome discussions on the theme of "literacy for life," emphasizing in the latter part of this phrase with respect to the development of functional life skills. However, we emphasize the need to uphold state sovereignty and the need for states to have control over their educational establishment, including the language of instruction and the content of the curriculum. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment |
| Paper text: | |
| A clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a right, this much is indisputable. What
is up for debate is what exactly a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is, as this may
differ from nation to nation. Each country faces different ecological challenges, and Syria
stands firmly against one size fits all solutions to determining what a clean, healthy and
sustainable environment is and so stands neutral on the topic of advancing it. The people of
developing nations are some of the most overworked in the world, and their home countries
are some of the most polluted, and so for them the goals of an environment that is clean for all
requires a lot more work than typical and so upholding the same goals to them as you would to
a more developed nation would be placing an undue burden upon then. This is why we need
tailor-made solutions for each nation to have specific goals to help promote a clean
environment for all of mankind.
There needs to be a balance between ideal ecological treatment and the concrete needs of low- and middle- income countries. To prevent modern-day Green imperialism, accommodations must be made, which is what we are proposing. The country of Syria believes in specialized solutions rather than one-size-fits all box options, and this starts by sitting down with climate scientists and market researchers and experts from member states to first determine what a clean environment is? Making a demand without establishing all of the facts is something Syria rallies against, including here. Of course a right to a clean environment is something this nation is in favor of, but what a clean environment is in the context of each member state or region needs to be laid out so that marketing can be better made. Additionally, a right to a clean environment needs to be promoted without stepping on the toes of the developing world. Wealthy nations make it easy for themselves to say everyone deserves a clean and healthy environment while their lifestyle contributes to the worsening of the environment for the global poor. Until there is environmental justice and the west begins to change their ways, there will be no healthy and clean environment for all. There must be a way for this balance to be struck, for the UN to come together to figure out what a clean and healthy environment is, and how it can be promoted in an equitable way. Finding a way for all of these moving pieces to come together is what this committee is for, and it is important that a course be chartered forth to preserve this beautiful world; the whole world, not just the developed nations; for the future of mankind. | |
| Committee: | GA Plenary |
| Topic: | Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel |
| Paper text: | |
| As a member state of the United Nations, Syria of course supports the UN in its
peacekeeping duties. We as a nation are strong advocates for international cooperation and
foreign aid in times of crisis, as Syria has benefited from during the prolonged attacks by
insurgents over this past decade. That being said, Syria also is an advocate for national
sovereignty and ensuring that UN affiliated individuals aren't being inserted where their
presence is either unnecessary or unwanted by parties.
Syria believes strongly in the idea of consent and that for the UN to be deployed into, say, an active warzone, that all involved parties need to have it made clear that aid is being delivered so that there is zero confusion and no unnecessary loss of life. The work that is done by the United Nations in providing humanitarian relief is by far one of the most wonderful things humanity has accomplished. The ability to quickly get food and medical supplies into areas where natural disasters have occurred or there is civilian suffering is an awe-inspiring yet now fairly mundane one, but this ability is under threat. As of recent, there has been an uptick in attacks on UN aid convoys and accusations of groups violating international law by improperly using UN logos and dressings to appear affiliated when they are not, and Syria believes both need to come to an end. This is alarming, and frankly disgusting, that this has continued to go on so long without enough pushback from member states. There needs to be equal treatment for all that violate the rights of UN affiliated peoples, and these cases must be pursued. That's why Syria would strongly push for investigations into accusations of attacks on UN workers. In the meantime, while those investigations are pending, Syria believes in slowing the insertion of UN workers, as we believe it ridiculous to continuously send people in to be slaughtered. If countries are unwilling to respect international law, then they must be punished, whether or not they are allied with major power players. In 2016, the Syrian government allegedly attacked UN workers, and we have spent the near decade since apologizing and making up for it. We believe that this alleged incident should have never occurred, and wish to tie it back to the original idea of requiring approval by the nation to send in UN workers. Had all parties been informed and up-to-date on the matter, something like this could have been avoided. Syria is strongly in favor of protecting UN workers and affiliated groups, and is eager to propose solutions as to how they can be protected and what steps can be taken to punish those that have harmed them. | |
| Committee: | WHA |
| Topic: | Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health |
| Paper text: | |
| We are not participating in this committee | |
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