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Newsletter, Venkateshwara College Model United Nations.
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The CommuneResolving, Reaffirming, Reassuring Day 2: Closing Issue
Page 2 - The Perils of
Proliferation: Terrorists
Organizing Technologies
Page 3 - Nuclear Affair in the
North & South Korea
Page 4 - The Changing Agenda
Page 5 - Syria: Lost in Repartee
Page 6 - ECOSOC: The
Decisions of the Few, for the
Good of Many
Page 7 - From Theory of
Analytical Hierarchy to
Devaluation of Currency:
ECOSOC
Page 8 - Photographs
Head of International
Press
Twesh Mishra
Editor
Sonika Chandok
Reporters
Security Council
Geetika Nagpal
Aishwarya Chaurasia
General Assembly
Prashant Jha
Anushri Saxena
ECOSOC
Dhruv Sood
Charumati Haran
Photographers
Paritosh Anand
Karan Chadha
Tanmay Chakraborty
Message from
Deputy Secretary
GeneralWhen we started off with Bliss-
MUN 2012, our sole endeavour
was to enrich the participants in
all aspects. Today, after over a
month of vigorous and tumul-
tuous journey, we can safely de-
clare that BlissMUN 2012 was one
of the most notable MUN confer-
ences in Delhi. If overlooking the
minor logistical glitches, there
were no shortcomings in the quality of debate and the enriching ex-
perience, that was promised. A special thanks to Siddharth Soni and
Nishesh Bhasin for being there when we needed them the most.
The International Press Team
The CommuneResolving, Reaffirming, Reassuring
Amongst the most precarious
challenges which the very ex-
istence of Human kind faces today,
Global Terrorism tops the list.
And one point to which the dele-
gates present in the General As-
sembly’s meeting of UN held on
September 28, 2012 agreed unan-
imously was need to restrict the
proliferation of Ballistic missile
technology amongst the non-state
actors(focus-
ing princi-
pally on
Terrorist or-
ganizations).
The perils
which will be
posed to the
International
community
once terror-
ist organiza-
ti o n s
manage to
get hold of
these termi-
nal weapons’ know-hows is un-
thinkable. The concept of State
backed terrorist organizations got
once again flamed when Israel put
direct accusations on Syria and Iran
for helping flourish terrorist groups
such as
Hezbol-
lah and
Hamas.
F r a n c e
v o i c e d
its con-
c e r n
over the
issue by quoting the instance of
Hezbollah possessing the design of
Chinese Cruise missiles. This inci-
dent has certainly forced countries
to think over safeguarding not only
their armaments and weapons but
also the technologies involved in
making them, as passing of either
of them in to the hands of non-
state players is fatal. Representa-
tive of Arms Control Association
pointed out the need to recognise
Global Terrorist Groups in order to
take action against them. The rep-
resentative said “the definition of
a terrorist organization changes
from nation to nation as Hamas is
an accepted organization in Iran”.
United States of America blamed
political corruption prevalent in
the country for the proliferation of
war technologies amongst non-
state players.
While delegates of all the countries
were involved mainly in counting
the reasons and threats of Missiles
technologies being passed to the
anti-social elements, the ideas of
representative of Arms Control As-
sociation (ACA) appeared reason-
able to curb the same. The
representative of ACA advised all
countries to safeguard not only
their present war machineries but
also the outdated MIRVs and
weapons which can be duplicated
by non-state actors if not secured.
The repre-
s e n t a ti v e
also urged to
secure the
retransfer of
end prod-
ucts of war
or defence
operations.
The un-
manned war
v e h i c l e s
should be
d e s i g n e d
with ultra-
security so
that it cannot be hijacked.
What makes the procurement of
Ballistic missiles by terrorist groups
more dangerous is the capability of
these missiles to carry out chemi-
cal, biological and nuclear warfare
which can prove lethal for exis-
tence of the planet. Representa-
tives of different countries must
work in an agreement to address
the issue so that the sense of secu-
rity can be instilled.
Prashant Jha, Reporter,
General Assembly
Karan Chadha, Photographer UNGA
The Perils of Proliferation: Terrorists
Organizing Technologies
Page 2
The CommuneResolving, Reaffirming, Reassuring
The Korean peninsula has long suffered from the
decisions made by the economically developed
countries. The victorious allies of the Second World
War first politically sliced it into two parts - Demo-
cratic Peoples' Republic of Korea in the North and the
Republic of Korea.
A stark contrast in their ideologies, the north being
communist and the south capitalist, differences were
bound to happen that led to full-scale battle. The war
stretching from 1950 to 1953 cost millions of innocent
lives and a relentless exploitation of natural re-
sources.
Political scholars criticized the role of the then bi-
polar blocs of the United States of America and the
USSR; let alone the vested interests of their func-
tionaries - the NATO and the Warsaw Pact respec-
tively in mounting up the tensions between the two
states and thus reaffirming the division between the
two.
Despite bringing the war to an end, the peace treaty
signed at Panmunjom could not reunify the Korean
peninsula.
While North Korea went ahead with becoming a nu-
clear-capable state with the help of Russia and China;
concerns were raised citing its national instability and
unpredictability. North Korea was also suspected of
exporting nuclear-facilitating resources to other coun-
tries particularly the Middle East.
Keeping the past timeline of North Korea in mind, it
will not be wrong to say that North Korea is sur-
rounded by hostile neighbors and becoming a nuclear
state is only in the interest of it’s national security. Al-
though, having declared that, it should not be com-
plaining if South Korea also attempts at building their
nuclear arsenal.
Conclusively, any future prospects of solidarity and re-
unification between the two states seem slim as with
their very first nuclear test in 2006, North Korea
stands as a constant threat to its southern counter-
part. Moreover, presence of nuclear weapons in the
any of the two states would only escalate the amount
of distress between them and worsen the present sit-
uation. It is important that enforced foreign interven-
tion s is withdrawn immediately allowing the two for
conducting rational talks
and consequently zeroing
in on mutually agreed res-
olutions.
Anushri Saxena, Reporter,
General Assembly
Tanmay Chakraborty,
Photographer
Nuclear Affair in the
North & South Korea
UNGAPage 3
The CommuneResolving, Reaffirming, Reassuring
Day two of MUN saw further development in the
agenda of the committee. The delegate of United
States of America requested a moderated caucus to
discuss the various solutions possible to point of con-
tention between Palestine and Israel. Azerbaijan
quoted Security Council resolution 456, 1979 which
states that claims of Israel over occupied territories
are illegal and have got no legal validity. Israel must
withdraw from the occupied land. It said that no so-
lution can be reached until Israel is ready to negotiate
which it isn’t. Israel agreed to the fact that Israel is not
allowing entry to Jerusalem because of the change in
foreign policy of Palestine towards Israel. It said that
it will negotiate only when Palestine is ready to have
bilateral agreement. United Kingdom said that Israeli
government must recognise Palestine as an independ-
ent state. Finally the committee agreed that creation
of two states is the only possible solution.
The moderated caucus was
further extended by Pales-
tine to discuss the human
right violation continuously
going on in Palestine. The
delegate of Palestine began
by stating that their rights
can be protected only
when it gets the member-
ship of UN because it will be only then that it can get
access to legal ratification. Syria started by saying that
it is a pity that terrorism is supported in Syria, while
in countries like USA, Portugal and France it is highly
condemned and confronted. Further the UN security
general reports that at the end of December 2011,135
Palestinian children were tortured, blindfolded and
beaten. At this point
Portugal said that it is
shocked that Syria is
speaking about human
right violation when in
its own country viola-
tion has reached its
zenith. USA made a
point that violence has
happened both in Israel
and Palestine. So all the
blame should not go to
Israel alone. Azerbaijan
said that over 60% of
Palestinian owned
structure was demol-
ished due to lack of law and order in the part of Syria.
UK again made a point that human rights are violated
because of sensitivity of the area and not because of
either party. The moderated caucus ended with Syria
saying that it does not allow intervention of the west
to settle disputes because it believes that terrorist like
al-Qaida is funded by West. USA defended itself by
stating that they fund only those people in Syria who
wants an independent regime.
Syria and USA raised the motion to discuss Economic
situation in state of Palestinian occupied territories.
Azerbaijan said that Israeli government must recog-
nise Palestine as an independent state and let it de-
cide its economic condition. Egypt said that Palestine
has the potential of attaining economic stability in fu-
ture. To some extent Israel has got justice, its high
time that Palestine must get the same.
Aishwarya Chaurasia, Reporter, Security Council
Paritosh Anand, Photographer
The Changing Agenda
UNSCPage 4
The CommuneResolving, Reaffirming, Reassuring
The Security Council on the second day was marked
by an overflow of hypocrisy. Countries which them-
selves engage in human rights violation were seen
blaming others of this defiance of international law.
The committee saw Syria which has itself been ac-
cused by the Secretary General previously of torturing
and reportedly executing prisoners and failing to pro-
tect civilians fleeing the war-ravaged country in record
numbers, accusing Israel of human rights violation.
Syria insisted that it was against the denial of inalien-
able and human rights to Palestinian refugees by Is-
rael whereas its own civilians are denied the basic
human rights.
Further, the delegate of Syria insistently blamed and
condemned Israel for the use of white phosphorus
munitions by Israel in the Gaza War which is in direct
insubordination of the Chemical Weapons Convention
which has been ratified by Israel banning its use. This
allegation brings into question the credibility of Syria
to make this accusation when the U.N. chief himself
has accused the Syrian forces of indiscriminately
shelling densely populated areas and especially urged
President Bashar Assad's government to end the
fighting.
Israel was left speechless when Syria presented a
UNHRC Report which stated that the white phospho-
rus shelling continued for hours and hence can’t be
claimed to have been conducted for
the purpose of creation of a smoke
screen, as Israel had been vehemently
claiming till present.
Where on one hand, Syria remains
woefully ignorant of the human rights
violations in its own country, on the
other hand, Portugal came out in sup-
port of the ‘extremist’ organisations in
Syria.
Syria claimed that the civilian rebel
groups in their country were in fact ex-
tremist organisations which sought to
spread anti-government feelings in the
country. The open support of these or-
ganisations by Portugal led Syria to re-
spond with the demand for the
expulsion of Portugal from the council
due to violation of Article 6 of the UN
Charter.
Portugal expressing distrust of Israel
claimed that the complaints by Arabs
in Israel against Israeli officers are not
even registered. Furthermore, Arabs are punished
harsher than Jews on committing the same crimes.
Towards the culmination of the conference the com-
mittee tried to come to a consensus regarding the sta-
tus of Palestine as a “state”
and means to ensure eco-
nomic stability in the Pales-
tinian occupied territory.
Geetika Nagpal, Reporter,
Security Council
Paritosh Anand,
Photographer
Syria: Lost in Repartee
UNSCPage 5
The CommuneResolving, Reaffirming, Reassuring
It was satisfying to see that today’s ECOSOC session
was more focused on discussion of ground level issues
affecting common man rather than high level interna-
tional politics. Russia and USA agreed on the need for
psychological counseling for victims. Australia was
quick to raise the point that often the UN peacekeep-
ing force itself is accused of human rights violations.
There was also discussion about specific, necessary
goods and making them more widely available during
times of unrest. Unsurprisingly, oil prices, oil produc-
ing nations and political unrest in these nations were
a concern common for all nations. Nigeria raised the
issue of mistrust between nations, sometimes caused
by terrorism, which harmed trade and cultural ties.
Many nations agreed that there was a need for shar-
ing of intelligence information. Technical issues like
methods of quantitative risk assessment were also
discussed.
It is interesting to observe that the India has so far re-
mained largely non-committal on the issue of high
tariffs imposed by devel-
oped nations on products
of developing nations. Nei-
ther has it strongly sup-
ported the African nations,
LDCs and others in making
the same demand. India’s
economic reforms in the
1990s also included lower-
ing of tariffs. At one time, India took active part in the
movement of developing nations that alleged that
WTO mandate of abolition of tariffs had not been fol-
lowed through by developed nations So far, it appears
that India is eager to encourage collaboration with
other nations while keeping such points aside. India
is in a precarious political and economic situation at
present. Its concerns about the preference of foreign
investors for a stable environment are perfectly justi-
fied. Another important motion moved by the dele-
gate of India was the revival of human and physical
capital after terrorist attacks and natural disasters
with special emphasis on employment.
Thus, we observe in today’s session of the ECOSOC
that old issues and rivalries are being put aside to take
up new problems. Perhaps this can be attributed to
the increasing globalization and to the governments’
realizing that they need each others’ support to take
action on global issues. On the other hand, we ob-
serve that the failure of countries to coordinate their
economic policies can lead to problems, even when
they all share similar goals. The hard-earned money
of millions of people, their hopes, their dreams and
their ambitions – in essence, what people can make
of their lives - depends on these decisions of their
governments.
Charumati Haran,
Reporter, ECOSOC,
Tanmay Chakraborty, Photographer
ECOSOC: The Decisions of the Few, for the Good of Many
ECOSOCPage 6
The CommuneResolving, Reaffirming, Reassuring
Page 7
In the fall of 1962, USA President John F. Kennedy got
into a rift with USSR. President Nikita Khrushchev
made unsuccessful attempts to overthrow the Cuban
regime famously known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The world was petrified that the two of the world’s
most powerful countries will indulge in a war that was
never seen before. But for the betterment of the
world the Cold War never turned hot.
USSR broke apart in 1991 and the Russian federation
took over its seat in the Security Council still not losing
its relevance in world politics. USA was declared as
the sole superpower but the tensions were still in-
evitable.
Till the lapse of the session of Day One of the Eco-
nomic and Social Council the Russian Federation, The
People's Republic of China had a separate block from
that of the United Kingdom and the United States,
each having their own allies. Both blocks expressed
their stance, alleged and defended the policies of
their respective countries citing examples like USSR
leaving nuke suitcases in Afghanistan and Syrian
peace talks stalled by the Russian Federation.
But today at Day Two, there was a remarkable change
of events when allies reformulated their opinion. The
theory of Analytical Hierarchy along with the Delphi
method put forward by the delegate of United States
of America was severely criticized by the delegate of
United Kingdom. United States of America defended
the Social Nets policy of the Russian Federation even
after the delegate of
United Kingdom men-
tioned about its’ failure
in countries like Geor-
gia. Another sudden
change of events, led to
the formation of a
block consisting of the
African Union of Na-
tions led by Nigeria
who accused the
wealthy developed
countries of not back-
ing them substantially
and declaring unfair
trade policies against
them. Flabbergasted,
by this statement The
French, English and American Ambassadors made ex-
cruciating remarks stating that funds provided to the
African Nations were lost due to their own follies. A
third of a day was over, but debates were still concen-
trating on the problems rather than focusing on
meaningful solutions.
Just before the commencement of lunch session,
some solutions were put forward like devaluating cur-
rencies and early warning systems. What was needed
was that countries leave aside their differences and
work on solutions collec-
tively as one world com-
munity in order to tackle all
upcoming impediments.
Dhruv Sood,
Reporter, ECOSOC
Tanmay Chakraborty,
Photographer
From Theory of Analytical Hierarchy to Devaluation of
Currency: ECOSOC
ECOSOC
The CommuneResolving, Reaffirming, Reassuring