TED ANTALYA

MODEL UNITED

NATIONS

2017

GENERAL ASSEMBLY – I

CHAIR REPORT

LETTER OF THE SECRETARIAT

DISTINGUISHED PARTICIPANTS, ESTEEMED MUN DIRECTORS,

It is our utmost honor and pleasure to genially invite you to participate in the

second TED Antalya Model United Nations Conference which will take place

from 27 to 30 April 2017, in Antalya, Turkey.

As many of you know, TAMUN'16 was a great success for which we worked very

hard and we intend to make TAMUN'17 even better. With participants from all

over Turkey, we expect to provide you with more in depth debates, more

culturally diverse discussions and an even deeper sense of satisfaction on the

outcome. We invite you to enjoy Antalya's hospitality, our conference venue and

our school campus along with the energy and motivation of our TAMUN'17

Executive Board. We are eager to make the conference a huge success.

Our main aim is to raise awareness among high school students on the tough

problems the world faces today and to use diplomacy to shape the solutions. The

MUN experience will provide the basis for our Future Leaders, something we as

TAMUN want to be a part of. The TAMUN'16’s theme was “The consensus for

the new generation”, TAMUN'17’s theme will be “Designing our Future”. Foreseeing where we are headed and the (irreversible) damage we are causing, it

is time to take precautions now! We will have five General Assembly committees,

an ECOSOC committee, a Historical Committee, and a Security Council. Please

bear in mind that only experienced delegates should attend the Historical

Committee and the Security Council, since their formats are very different from

General Assembly committees and students should be very familiar with the

procedures of GA committees first.

We have worked hard to present TAMUN’17’s participants a productive and satisfying conference experience which you will never forget. We are looking

forward to seeing you there. May we never forget that the strength we need to

make any change comes with unity, thus, it’s time for us to DEDICATE OURSELVES TO BEING UNITED.

Mete Erdoğan Tayga Eraybar Taylan Adem Ulusoy

Secretary General Secretary General President of the General Assembly

Mehmet Durmaz Can Araz

Deputy Secretary-General Deputy Secretary-General

TOPIC I: PREVENTING THE PLACEMENT AND USAGE OF

WEAPONS IN OUTER SPACE AND PROHIBITING THE USE

OF ANTI-SATELLITE WEAPONS.

CHAIR: İMGE DOĞA ÖZDEN

Dearest Delegates;

As the president chair of General Assembly Committee 1, I am honored to welcome

you all to the 2nd annual TED Antalya Model United Nations Conference. My name is

İmge, and I’m 11th grader International Bachaloria student in TED Ankara College.

It is my second year in TED Ankara College High School Politics& Diplomacy Club

and TAMUN’17 will be my first ever chairing experience. I’m hoping for not only

educative but also fairly entertaining sessions in our committee, since most of the

delegates attending to TAMUN will be beginners, I personally believe that me and my

co-chairs Baran and Uygar are responsible for your first impressions to the

astonishing world of MUN.

If you have any qıuestions in your minds, not only during the conference but also

before the arrival, please do not hasitate to receive our contact information from the

dearest organization team of the TAMUN’17 (which you can contact from the website

tamun.net) and ask anything you would like to about the prosedure, the chair reports

and the topics.

I can’t wait to meet you all and wish you an efficient process of preperation.

I. INTRODUCTION:

With the technological improvements in every area, including space opened a

new page for countries to explore the outer space. This need of exploration led to the

implementation of certain international space laws and states to implement national

regulatory for the use of space. Officials define “outer space” as “the void that exists

between celestial bodies”. The United Nations opened a sub-branch, UNOOSA,

United Nations Office of Outer Space, to implement such law and control them

regularly. In order to protect and preserve outer space, including the aforementioned

celestial bodies, international space law was implemented. This law consists of several

treaties, conventions, which the Member States have ratified. It mostly addresses the

safety of the orbit, prohibition of such damage via biological or nuclear weaponry,

rescue of astronauts and freedom of exploration.

The flaws of the issue of outer space start with nations breaking the

international law, militarization of space, anti-satellite programs, and the lack of

utilization of space despite the law. In this chair report, you will be provided with the

overview of the issue, the countries and bodies that tackles the issue and outer space

as a whole, the aforementioned flaws and their depictions, treaties and conventions on

outer space legislations for you to understand the issue better and know the already

existing actions/steps, key term definitions and the problems on breaking the

legislations on outer space and international space law, that human kind has faced

throughout the history, including incidents. In the end of the chair report, you will

find appendix and relative links that may help you take your research further.

I. OVERVIEW:

1.1 Relevant Actors and Bodies

China

The People's Republic of China plays a crucial role when it comes to space

laws. China's space program has existed since the 1050s and is directed by the China

National Space Administration (CNSA). The national space law was initially drafted

in the 1990s contains two ministerial regulations: the measures to be taken for the

Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space and the Interim Measures of

Licensing the drafted and accepted Projects of Launching Civil Space Objects (CSO).

The accepted projects of China are listed as launching "Space Transportation

Systems", "Satellites" and "Space Station and Manned Space Flight". Space

Transportation System is mostly about launching objects to the space orbit, whereas

Satellites aim to provide various data including meteorology, disaster prevention, and

oceanology. PRC's space laws are mostly towards international cooperation in space

and are outlined in a White Paper submitted in 2011.

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)

This sub-branch of the United Nations aims to provide cooperation in the use and

exploration of space whilst keeping it utilized. The Office assist the Member States to

establish legal frameworks for governing space and helps every country to use space

technology above their capacity. It also serves as the secretariat of the UN committee:

United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). It also

implements the responsibilities under international space law.

UNOOSA currently has a 24-hour hotline and emergency programs and is

responsible for preparation of reports and publications on several fields of space and

its laws. It was established in 1958, initially created as a small expert unit.

The United States of America

U.S domestic space law has existed since 1958. Formerly, known as National

Aeronautics and Space Act (NASA Act). This act has created the NASA. The 1984

Commercial Space Launch Act is responsible for facilitating commercial space

launch, such as providing commercial human spaceflight etc. Most of the domestic

space law of the U.S. government has the basic rules of the international space law

and the five treaties and agreements.

The U.S. is well known for its previous attempts on launching various satellites, space

objects and even commercial flights to space. It is one of the most dedicated countries

when it comes to using high technology for the exploration of space.

Russian Federation

Soviet Russia is known to make the first steps of exploring the outer space. The

current Law of Russian Federation aims to provide regulations for space activities

and potential explorations with technology and space science. Space activity is

defined as any activity immediately connected with operations to explore the outer

space and use of it. It includes a navigation via satellites and any kind of usage of

space technology.

In addition to their National Space Law, Russian Federation is also ratified and have

full accession to the international space law and makes their research and launching

any kind of space object. Despite the dedication to the international space law, in 2014

May, Russian Federation launched into space a space object, 2014-28E, which was

part of a communication satellite. However, in November, the object moved to a new

orbit and reconnected with the rocket that launched it. This action was not in the

agreement of that specific object. This made some professionals think whether it was

a weapon.

European Union

European Commission, with cooperation o the European Space Agency is

responsible for managing the space policy in EU. The policy mainly divides into 4

sections. Earth observation system (Copernicus), Satellite programs

(EGNOS/Galileo), space explorations and space research. None of the aims contradict

with the international space law and treaties. The applications of these sections can be

shortened as urban planning, tourism, health, navigation, transportation, rescue

operations, aviation, traffic control etc. European Union's main aim on constantly

improving space explorations is to maintain access to space.

National space law of EU is composed of the Treaty on the Functioning of the

European Union- Article 189 (space policy). Despite the fact that EU has a

mechanical law system, which hardly gives lacking points, one of the challenges is

commercial and innovation ones. Europe shall achieve an independent technology

and security to maintain an independent and free access to space to explore.

ISWI

International Space Weather Initiative is an international cooperation program

that aims to have a progress on the space weather, mainly by achieving free access to

analyzing, instrument deploying and interpreting. It also aims to communicate the

results to the public. ISWI’s aim is to share the explorations upon space weather to

the public, students, professionals, and it gives workshops in several countries to

actually achieve this goal. It currently has several satellites and space objects in the

orbit, which all are approved, licensed and inspected under the discretion of

UNOOSA.

Norway

According to the National Space Law in Norway, Act of launching objects from

Norwegian territory etc. into outer space, is it forbidden to launch any kind of objects

into outer space from any Norwegian territory, aircraft or areas in which no

sovereignty of any nation exists yet launching is done by a Norwegian, without the

permission from the Ministry of Norway. If done so, the "launcher" is given a

punishment of specific amount of fine or getting in prison for maximum 3 months.

Norway is currently using 2 main satellites, which are AISSat-1 and AISSat-2.

These satellites are responsible for detecting the location of ships. AISSat-1 was the

first ever satellite to monitor in real time.

1.2 Evaluation of Other Issues

Anti-Satellite Weapon (ASAT)

ASAT is a space weapon designed to destroy satellites, mainly for military

purposes. Initially, United States of America and USSR were using missiles since the

1950s. There are approximately 950 operating satellites in the orbit of the Earth,

providing information to us upon different subjects, whether it is communication,

traffic, economy etc.

There are so many risks of these ASAT weapons. Starting from the

environmental damage it will cause in the space by creating a mass of space debris.

Although in 1967, Outer Space Treaty was signed by all countries, which prohibits

the launching of space weapons, the probability never disappeared. However, it does

not specifically prohibit attacks on satellites, it just prohibits nuclear and biological

weapons that can cause damage to the Earth orbit. In 2008, Russian Federation and

PR China drafted a treaty, the Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons

in Outer Space. It is not fully accepted and is still in the investigation and passing

process yet if it is to be signed, it would make a huge change on limiting ASAT

weapons.

Finally, with the 2010 EU Code of Conduct, which was drafted by the EU

itself, put a huge step of limiting these weapons, by suggesting refraining any

international damage to space yet nations being responsible for prevention of

harming. Also, development of ASAT weapons would not be strained, but they would

be prohibited to use. In order to achieve a peaceful atmosphere whilst working in a

unity, humankind should increase global security and take nuclear weapons off alert,

for a sustainable future.

Militarization of Space

The militarization of space is any kind of placement or launching of arms or

military technology in space. The United States and the Soviet Union can be given as

examples, initially launching missiles in the mid 20th centuries. This issue has been a

critical issue on the agenda of UN DISEC. Excluding the weaponry, space has

already been militarized since the firs launching of a satellite. Militaries are using

satellites to give/take commands, communicate, detect location etc. in which they are

not breaking any treaties.

Since the beginning of this debate, professionals are insisting on a

international treaty concerning only prevention of these arms that may lead to

militarization and destruction of space orbit. One of the most controversial issues on

this topic is the “defense” mechanism. Missile defense allows the “launcher” to

develop technologies under any kind of title of “defense”, and by doing so; it can

intentionally step into dominance in space.

Utilization of Outer Space

Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPOUS) is one of the most

important sub-bodies on governing and inspecting the exploration of the outer space

whilst taking its beneficial sides such as; peace, security, scientific development. It

encourages space programs, explorations, research, enhancing of tourism, economy,

and security, and studies legal problems due to the outer space. In order to utilize the

outer space, some precautions shall be taken. The number and directions of satellites

should be reported, no unidentified object without permission should be launched

and no object should be harmed in this process. These steps require international

cooperation and the international space law needs to be fulfilled.

Financing of Space Activities and Investments

Space activities can be several things such as space explorations, space in-flight

in order to enhance space tourism, launching satellites etc. These kinds of jobs

require a budget and the scale can sometimes show high numbers. This is where

investments and financing from big companies, public and governments take place.

Private investments are one of the most popular ways of financing these activities.

Once the required equipment is settled, the remained fund goes directly for the

exploration that will be started in the space debris. Mutual funds are also a way to

invest in space activities. The investment yields money from distribution and will go

directly to the activity. In order to maintain the exploration in space and use that

technology for the world, and our investments are a must.

Use of Space Technology

Space technology is the technology developed from the space science, and may

include objects such as satellites, space stations, space equipment and spacecraft. In

this very moment we are living in, space technology is already been used in most of

the places we live. For example, in 2016, NASA scientists cooperated with a company

to develop a hearth to turn waste products into raw petroleum. By maintaining the

explorations to space, discovering the undiscovered, we, day by day, start using space

technology in our daily lives and make our lives easier. Indeed, it takes time,

dedication, economical factors, yet it is worthy when it is about our world, slowly

losing its sustainable sources.

Space Mining

Space mining is exploitation of some materials, preferably raw, from different

space objects. Minerals, metals, certain gasses can be obtained from the asteroids in

space. The products obtained from space mining can and are used in modern

industry, and even food production. Some elements, like Phosphorus, can be obtained

as well, and can be a good source to build solar-power satellites. The mining can be

done to the surface of the space object, which would damage the object less, or it can

be a shaft mining, and can go through the object, thus has the bigger chance of

causing severe damage to the object or can even destroy it.

There have been several big proposed projects since the exploration of outer

space, yet the hype has been increasing since the mid 2012s. Nearly 4 big projects

have been proposed to NASA, which required approximately $1 million for each

project. Even if these projects would have come to life, certain regulations would be

done, according to the Outer Space Treaty, the Moon Agreement etc.

1.3 Treaties and Initiatives

Outer Space Treaty (1967):

It is largely based on usage and exploration of outer space without damaging it

and keeps it utilized. It is responsible for providing the basic framework of

international space law, including its exploration, not associated with one Member

State but be free for usage of all States, not placing any kind of nuclear weaponry or

such mass destruction arms in orbit and such.

Currently, 104 countries are ratified to the Treaty yet 24 countries, such as

Colombia, Central African Republic, Iran, Jordan, and Rwanda, have signed yet did

not ratify the Treaty. The Treaty bans biological, nuclear and chemical weapons et no

other space weapons are banned.

Rescue Agreement (1968):

The legal Subcommittee and mainly aims to detect every astronaut and it makes

States take full responsibility of the astronaut of that nation to rescue and assist, with

the responsibility of returning them to the State. It can be easily seen as a “rescue

plan” for the objects and astronauts in the space with giving the Member States full

responsibility of their launching objects and astronauts.

Liability Convention (1972):

It is a Convention on International Liability for damage caused by space objects.

It provides that the launching State of a space object shall take full responsibility of

paying compensation for damage caused by that specific object. The Convention also

holds a light for the settlement of claims for that damage.

It is specified that if that object is launched to the orbit by two states, which work

together, both Member States are responsible and liable for the damage. Currently,

89 Member States have ratified the Convention, 22 have signed yet not ratified.

Moon Agreement (1979):

This agreement mainly focuses on celestial bodies being protected and not

disrupted by any kind of man-made objects and such. It also suggests that the Moon

and its resources are the common heritage of the mankind, thus shall be protected as

an international unity rather that having national laws upon them.

Most of the Economically Developed Countries such as The United States of

America, People's Republic of China, the United Kingdom, Russian Federation and

Germany have not ratified to the Agreement.

1.4 Key Terms

Outer Space: According to the written reports, outer space is the near vacuum

between celestial bodies that contains all of the planets, stars, galaxies and other

objects.

Celestial Body: According to the Astronomists, the definition of a celestial body is any

natural body outside the Earth’s atmosphere. This definition is applicable for Moon,

Sun, any kind of asteroids.

International Space Law: According to the UNOOSA reports, international space law

or space law, is described as the body of law upon space. It comprises of international

agreements, treaties, conventions and several passed resolutions.

ITSO: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization is an organization,

which aims to ensure providing public telecommunications services, including voice,

data, and video. It currently has 149 Member States.

IMSO: International Mobile Satellite Organization is an organization whose purpose

is ensuring the safety and security of certain public satellite communication services

provided by mobile satellite communication systems.

ITU: The International Telecommunication Union is a specialized agency of the

United Nations, whose primary aim is to ensure the maintenance of information and

communication technologies.

APSCO: Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization is a forum, which aims to

promote and strengthen developments on space exploration and take effective action

on the protection of outer space. It currently has 10 projects on satellites.

II. SPECIFIC ANALYSIS ON RELEVANT CONFLICTS AND

PROBLEMS

Cosmos 954

Cosmos 954 was a Soviet nuclear-powered satellite, which has the aim of

surveillance. The satellite crashed in the Territories of Northwest and scattered a

large amount of radioactivity over a 124 000 square kilometer are, mostly in the

northern areas of Canada. The aftermath was the cleaning of it by USA and Canada.

Although the cleaning process was done by 1078, only 0.1% of COSMOS 954's power

source could have been recovered. The lesson we have all learned from Cosmos 954

accident is that we are obliged to obtain a federal nuclear emergency preparedness

and a response plan to overcome such accidents that may occur in the future. The

crash raised international policy questions.

USA 193

In December 2006, US operatives have launched a disabled spy satellite, USA 193.

The governments of China and Russia have seriously criticized the operation since it

contained hydrazine fuel, which could harm the orbit it is launched. Russia claimed

that it was a cover to test anti-satellite technology under the U.S defense program yet

the U.S government has objected such claim. The satellite malfunctioned hours after

the deployment. The object made it to the space orbit yet lost connection after so.

Two years later, it was detected and according to the officials, it was expected to

crash onto Earth within weeks. The destruction project was approved by February

2008, and in the same month, an SM-3 missile was fired and destroyed the toxic

satellite.

Project A119

In 1958, U.S Air Forces developed a plan, which was a top- secret file at the time,

“Study of Lunar Research Flights”. It was to launch a nuclear bomb on the Moon.

The project was never proceeded, mainly because of the negative comeback from the

public. It was also seen as the militarization of space, which would also break the

International Space Law. The canceled project can be seen as a "power show"

between the U.S government and Soviet Union. Since the Cold War, the Soviet Union

had seemed to step further in the "Space Industry" and U.S Air Force demanded its

superiority. The consequences would be inevitable if the project came to life. As it

was a nuclear bomb, it would damage most of the lunar orbit, causing nearly half of

the Moon to be gone and the remains of the explosion to strike to the Earth orbit and

crash onto Earth. It would also spread radioactivity to the orbit.

China Anti-Satellite Missile Test

The test was conducted in January 2007; a Chinese meteorology satellite was

crushed and destroyed by a vehicle also sent by the People's Republic of China. It

caused a lot of tension between nations because it would violate the basic

international space law, which China had a big part constructing it. However, China

claimed that they have formally informed the United States of America, Japan, the

United Kingdom and other related countries about the test that they will perform.

The vehicle that was used to destroy the satellite was said to have the same program

and construction as nuclear weaponry. Some nations had negative responses,

considering the tests militarization of space. The remains of the satellite also form

space debris, which stays there many years and pollutes the space. Exactly a year

later, the debris that existed as a result of the test of China passed close by the

International Space Station. This could damage the station and caused an

unsettlement between nations if it did so.

III. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

As mentioned and defined in the report, outer space is a controversial issue

considering that it does not belong to one nation yet it could be used as every single

one of them. The main requirement that should be taken into consideration is to not

to violate international space law or any national space law. The main problems that

will draw the path will be the problems that the report states in the evaluation of

other issues. The legislations on outer space do not fully cover those issues and they

are vital problems to be conducted to solve the issue. NGOs, UN-cooperative bodies,

UNOOSA, UN-Space, and also National Space Systems plays a huge role in the issue.

IV. USEFUL LINKS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

http://www.apsco.int/

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2690/1

www.unoosa.org/pdf/gadocs/A_55_20E.pdf

https://www.uakron.edu/dotAsset/4acf6020-02f6-4cd8-aa19-416a0303ad10.pdf

V. BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/nationalspacelaw/index.html

http://swfound.org/media/95017/li-china_space_law_regulation-nov2012.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty

Heaps, Leo (1978). Operation Morning Light : Terror in our Skies : The True Story

of Cosmos 954. New York: Paddington Press Ltd. ISBN 0-7092-0323-3.

http://uscode.house.gov/download/annualhistoricalarchives/pdf/2010/2010usc51.pdf

http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/space-law#international

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=cellar:a690199a-1cae-4392-acc8-

007ee1a6db58

https://books.google.com.tr/books?id=VxqnITyrnHMC&pg=PA77&lpg=PA77&dq=n

orway+on+space+legislation&source=bl&ots=itm6KtHme1&sig=qcuu5dZa1dJzaWE

qK3Ky3TxCKrM&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=norway%20on%20spa

ce%20legislation&f=false

http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/resources/fact-sheets/critical-issues/5448-outer-

space

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/Emerging_Space_Report.pdf

TOPIC II: Strengthening security and cooperation in the

Mediterranean region.

CHAIR: Uygar Eğilmez

Dear Delegates

First of all I would like to introduce myself. My name is Uygar Eğilmez and I

am from TED Bursa College. I am studying IB in 10th grade. TAMUN will be

my first chairing experience however I will show my efforts on being an effective

chair as much as I can.I might look serious in the debating sessions, however

trust me, besides diplomatic and serious talks, I am not going to miss any

entertainment in our committee.

From my last experiences about my chairs, I would like to be fair for all

delegates. For the beginners I am planning to create a friendly environment in

our committee as an example every delegate should communicate with every

delegate without hesitation. Considering debates, I am expecting you to have

satisfying, and passionate speeches while following your countries policies.

Respect among countries will be our first priority in our committee. The topic

“Strengthening security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region” is a

broad topic that might be hard to understand whole issues on agenda. However,

this report will be very useful for you all delegates in order comprehend the issue

and the topic.

Introduction

Mediterranean region which is included in our topic has been existed since the

born of the human kind. The region of Mediterranean is full of loam, water

sources and most importantly petrol. The ancient world was influenced by

Greek's philosophical concepts, and cultural ideas from Ancient Egypt,

Mesopotamia, Persia and Asia Minor. It was the location of all of the Seven

Wonders of the World. The first Olympiad was held here in 776 B.C.E... In

trade, it was the final destination of the Silk Road, goods delivered from the Far

East were distributed in the whole Mediterranean area by the commercial

network of the Phoenicians and the Carthaginians. It was the birthplace of

Christianity in the Ancient Kingdoms of Judah and Israel. The region was also

the starting point of the Renaissance, the humanistic movement that opened the

way out of the Dark Ages into modern times. At its’ centre were flourishing

conurbations, Rome, Florence, Venice,

Athens, Constantinople, Jerusalem and Cairo. The Mediterranean was home to

great thinkers and artists: Aristotle, Plato, Cicero, Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci,

Michelangelo, Galileo, to name just some.

Also until the geographical discoveries, MediterraneanSea was the only sea for

overseas trades. Today, the importance of Mediterranean have never changed.

From Jerusalem to Spain, the importance of the region have brought lots of

problems with it.

During the first half of the twentieth century the Mediterranean was at the

center of the expansion of the Kingdom of Italy, and was one of the main areas of

battle during World War II between the Axis and the Allies. Post-world war

period was marked by increasing activity in the Eastern Mediterranean, where

naval actions formed part of ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict and Turkey

had occupied the northern part of Cyprus. Cold War tensions split the

Mediterranean into pro-American and pro-Soviet factions, with Turkey, Greece,

Spain, Italy and France being NATO members. Syria was socialist and a pro-

Soviet regime, offering the Soviets a port for their navy from an agreement in

1971. Yugoslavia was Communist but in neither the Soviet nor American camps.

Egypt tilted towards the Soviets during the time of Nasser but then turned

towards American influence during the time of Sadat. Israel and Egypt both

received massive American military aid. American naval power made the

Mediterranean a base for the United States Sixth Fleet during the Cold war.

Today, the Mediterranean Sea is the southern border of the European

Union and represents one of the largest area by Trade in the World. The Maltese

prime minister described the Mediterranean Sea as a "cemetery" due to the

large amounts of migrants who drown there.

(Mediterranean region)

Due to the culture, economy, language

and religion, we can separate the

whole Mediterranean as Eastern and

Western Mediterranean.

Parties Involved

1- Eastern Mediterranean

The Eastern Mediterranean denotes the countries geographically to the east of

the Mediterranean Sea (Levantine Sea basin).

The Eastern Mediterranean is not only separated because of the geographic

reasons, they also have analogous shared cuisine, culture and history. Most of

the eastern countries are known by their oil resources and strategical points. The

wars haven’t been ending because of religion, race diversity and economic

reasons over these soils. These particular wars and conflicts endangers the

possibility of cooperation and strengthening security in Mediterranean region

generally.The countries and territories of the Eastern Mediterranean include:

Cyprus

Greece

Lebanon

Syria

Palestine

Israel

Turkey

Egypt

Jordan

Libya

Cyprus Conflict

Cyprus, owing to its strategic position, was throughout its history colonized by

some of the most influential colonial powers in the Eastern Mediterranean. In

1878 Britain was the last power to occupy Cyprus, taking over the island from

the Ottoman Empire. The Cypriots, Greeks and Turks alike, had for centuries

co-existed peacefully in mixed villages, towns and places of work.

The sparks between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots became a blaze in

December 1963 when the people start to act violently in the capital of Cyprus

which is Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN

peacekeepers in 1964, the violence continued

across the whole island which effected mostly

Turkish side. In 1974, Government-

sponsoredattempt to overthrow the elected

president of Cyprus was met by military

intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island.

In 1983, by the help of Turkish army, Turkish Cypriots established a new

republic “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” however it is only recognized

by Turkey. A UN supported agreement plan which has been named by the

former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called “Annan Plan” failed in 2004. 10

years later, in 2014, the leaders of two communities resumed formal discussions

under UN apices aimed at reuniting the divided island. Talks were suspended

until May 2015. New selected Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı

restarted discussions with the Greek president Anastasiadis.The debate on

Cyprus conflict is still ongoing by the help of UN.

Syrian Civil War and Refugee Crisis

Arab spring or Arab summer have started in Tunisia and spread throughout

mostly Arabic countries. The result of Arab Spring was brutal. Libyan dictator

Gaddafi have been assassinated. Egypt government have overthrown by coup

d’état. Huge amount of protests occurred in Yemen and Civil War occurred. In

Bahrain, more than 100 people have been killed in the protests against

government and lastly the Syrian Civil war was the biggest destruction of that

transitional period.

The ongoing civil war was started by the protests of the civilians of Syria because

of the release of prisoned politicians by Bashar al-Assad. One year ongoing

protests set the scene for civil war. War wasn’t against just Assad, extremist

groups showed up in the warfare. Syria became a playground for ISIL, FSA,

Kurdish Groups, Hezbollah, and International Forces which includes NATO and

Russian forces.

More than 400.000 people died in Syrian Civil war

and more than 4.5 people migrated throught

neighbour countries as Lebanon, Jordan and

Turkey. Humanitarian support was sufficient

enough at the first stages of war. Yet, approximately

3 million refugees have become a trouble for

Turkey’s economy and social standards. Camps near borders couldn’t hold that

much refugees so Turkish government decided to free refugees that they could

spread around all Turkey and they could be beneficial for Turkish economy.

Also they could pass through Europe and the monkey on one's back, was going

to decrease. Nevertheless, Europe was assertive about the number of refugees

that they are going to take. So, more than 6000 refugees have died in the Aegean

Sea while trying to pass through Greek islands illegally.

Palestine and Israel Conflict

In 1947, the United Nations (U.N.) proposed a Partition Plan for Palestine titled

“United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 (II) Future Government of

Palestine.” The resolution noted Britain’s planned termination of the British

Mandate for Palestine and recommended the partition of Palestine into two

states, one Jewish and one Arab, with the Jerusalem-Bethlehem area protected

and administered by the United Nations.

Jewish leadership accepted the Partition Plan but Arab leaders rejected it. The

Arab League threatened to take military measures to prevent the partition of

Palestine and to ensure the national rights of the Palestinian Arab population.

One day before the British Mandate expired, Israel declared its independence

within the borders of the Jewish State set out in the Partition Plan. The Arab

countries declared war on the newly formed State of Israel beginning the 1948

Arab-Israeli War.

After the war, which Palestinians call the

Catastrophe, the 1949 Armistice

Agreements established the separation

lines between the combatants: Israel

controlled some areas designated for the

Arab state under the Partition Plan, Transjordan controlled the West Bank and

East Jerusalem, and Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip.

Since 1949 Israel soils have increased two times than the expected. Gaza have

been occupied by Israel more than 4 times in 21thcentury.Second, Israel’s

continued military occupation and confiscation of privately owned land in the

West Bank, and control over Gaza, are extremely oppressive, with Palestinians

having minimal control over their livesThousands of Palestinian men, women,

and children are held in Israeli prisons. Few of them have had a legitimate trial;

Physical abuse and torture are frequent. Palestinian borders (even internal ones)

are controlled by Israeli forces. Periodically men, women, and children are strip

searched; people are beaten; women in labor are prevented from reaching

hospitals food and medicine are blocked from entering Gaza, producing an

escalating humanitarian crisis. Israeli forces invade almost daily, injuring,

kidnapping, and sometimes killing inhabitants.

2- Western Mediterranean

Western Mediterranean region includes

European and North African countries

apart from Egypt. Mediterranean Sea is

connected to the Atlantic Ocean by

the Strait of Gibraltar which is linked to UK

so the Brexit decision will have influence on

that region too.On the other hand, the

region is more silent and secured than

Eastern coasts, however due to historic

reasons, some diplomatic conflicts are still progressing and will progress between

countries.

The Western Mediterranean Countries are:

Libya

Malta

Tunisia

Algeria

Morocco

Gibraltar

Spain

France

Monaco

Italy

Slovenia

Croatia

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Montenegro

Albania

Refugee Crisis between Italy and Tunisia

More than 106,000 migrants have attempted to make the perilous boat crossing

to Europe from Libya to Italy this year. They are

fleeing war, persecution and poverty in the

Middle East and Africa, and are willing to risk

everything for the dream of a better life in

Europe. Unscrupulous Libyan smugglers, taking

advantage of their desperation, charge anywhere

from $750 to $3500 apiece for a place on a boat

they say is headed to Italy. But in most cases the

vessels are unseaworthy and overstuffed. The

smugglers provide barely enough fuel to make it to

international waters, and then abandon the boats, and

their passengers, to their fate. If it were not for a multi-national rescue effort

made up of international navies, humanitarian aid agencies, commercial vessels

and various coast guards, most of those migrants would die. As it is, at least

2,726 have died this year already, more than the total for all of 2015.

http://time.com/refugee-rescue/

Rising Tension for Ceuta and Melilla

Ceuta and Melilla are the only land borders

of European Union in North Africa. These

little parts of Spain are located in the coast of

Morocco. In 2002 Moroccan and Spanish

army forces clashed in the Parsley Island

which near Ceuta. After 5 years of

diplomatic negotiations between Morocco and Spain, Spain’s King Juan Carlos

reignited Moroccan claims of sovereignty.But in fact, the tiny Spanish territory

that lies just 18 miles across the water from Gibraltar in North Africa. While

Morocco claims Ceuta as its own, Spain has no intention of giving up the exclave.

The exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla also had security problems due to the

immigrants who want to migrate to Europe throughMelilla and Ceuta. In order

to prevent this African refugee accumulation across the borders of these cities,

Spain have used 20 feet barbed-wire fencing and high-tech camera security

which cost over 30 million euros over borders. Also to sustain the security, Spain

has been using few helicopters around borders.The citizens of Ceuta and Melilla,

are now living in fortress. About 75,000 people live behind the fences in both

towns, eating Moroccan fish, fruit and vegetables.

BREXIT’s Effect On Gibraltar

British Overseas Territory located on the southern end of the Iberian

Peninsula. It has an area of 6.7 km2 (2.6 sq mi) and shares its northern

border with Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region.

At its foot is a densely populated city area, home to over

30,000 Gibraltarians and other nationalities.

The sovereignty of Gibraltar is

a major point of contention in

Anglo-Spanish relations as

Spain asserts a claim to the

(BBC)

territory. Gibraltarians overwhelmingly rejected proposals for Spanish

sovereignty in a 1967 referendum and again in 2002. Under the Gibraltar

constitution of 2006, Gibraltar governs its own affairs, though some powers, such

as defence and foreign relations, remain the responsibility of the British

government.

If there is one place in UK that definitely don’t want to leave European Union,

that will be Gibraltar. From %96 votes against Brexit, the UK and EU are trying

to find a solution for “The Rock of Gibraltar” by the reason of Gibraltar’s

economy is depended on tourism, gambling, financial services and shipping

hinged on European citizens.

Proposed Solutionsfor the Whole Mediterranean Region

All States of the Mediterranean region that have not yet done so to adhere to all

the multilaterally negotiated legal instruments related to the field of

disarmament, should create the necessary conditions for strengthening peace

and cooperation in the region.

Security and stability in the Mediterranean also depend on the conduct of an

implacable campaign against the illicit trade in small arms, which exacerbates

conflicts and encourages terrorism and transnational crime. All Mediterranean

member states should strengthen their cooperation about fighting for Terrorism

and extremist or nationalist groups without any discrimination.

All Mediterranean member states must be wilful in order to work cooperatively

about finding and maintaining human needs pursuant to human rights by the

help of UNHRC. Also respect and greater understanding among cultures will

contribute to the human rights implemention for refugees, enhancing peace,

security and cooperation among Mediterranean countries.

Mediterranean countries might find solution to terrorism and illegal activities

through strengthen further their cooperation in combating terrorism, in all its

forms and

Manifestations, which poses a serious threat to peace, security and

stability in the region and therefore to the improvement of the

current political, economic and social situation.

All countries should investigate and prosecute trafficking gangs who exploit

refugees and migrants, and put people’s safety above all else.

“Financially broke” is how Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for

Refugees, described UN agencies in September 2015. Wealthy countries quite

simply aren’t keeping their high-profile promises to fund aid for refugees

abroad.

For example, the UN has received less than half the funding it needs to support

Syria’s 4 million refugees. This is now forcing 80% of refugees living outside

camps in Jordan to do dangerous, degrading jobs or send their children out to

beg.

Prospects for closer Euro-Mediterraneancooperation in allspheres can be

enhancedbypositivedevelopmentsworldwide, in particular in Europe, in

theMaghreb (NorthwestAfrica) and in theMiddle East.

Bibliography

http://www.iai.it/sites/default/files/iaiwp1542.pdf

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26116868

http://ifamericaknew.org/cur_sit/invasions-articles.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Mediterranean_region#L

ate_Middle_Ages

http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/Mediterranean-Region-

Map.htm

http://www.hillmanwonders.com/mediterranean_cruise/z_maps/map_

medi_divider.gif

http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/highcom/london.nsf/hcrcl07_en/hcrcl07_e

n?OpenDocument

http://time.com/refugee-rescue/

https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/new/images/stories/PDF/statistics/2009/A

bstract%20of%20Statistics%20Report%202009%20Website.pdf

http://www.unhcr.org/protection/operations/5592bd059/sea-route-

europe-mediterranean-passage-age-refugees.html

http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/51/ares51-50.htm

TOPIC III: Measures to prevent sectarian violence in conflict

zones

CHAIR: Baran Bedirhan Bıçak

INTRODUCTION

Sectarian violence and sectarian strife is a form of social violence inspired

by sectarianism, that is, between different denominations of one particular type

of ideology or religion within a nation or community. Religious apartheid often

plays a role in sectarian violence. Moreover sectarian violence is between two or

added unofficial groups which have different ideology or belief.

Historical Development

In Christianity the Reformation movement of the 16th century was

Protestantism, a new type of Christianity, sweep across Western Europe. The

various leaders of these emerging groups had beliefs and ideologies which were

not in keeping with the practices and belief systems of the traditional Catholic

Church of Rome. There was considerable public support for this movement in

Scotland, once a predominantly Catholic country. Protestantism was later

adopted by the state as Scotland’s national religion with various strands and

movements emerging over time.

The 17th and 18th century saw conflict between the Jacobite followers of

Catholic King James VII and the forces of King William and Queen Mary, who

took the throne in 1688 and were not Roman Catholics. In the 19th century the

prospect of Jacobite invasion declined, yet sectarian conflict continued as a result

of immigration of those who fled famine in Ireland.

In Islam this sectarian conflict has roots in the political turmoil arising out of

differences over the succession to Muhammad. Abu Bakr, a companion of

Muhammad, was nominated by Umar and elected as the first Sunni Rightly

Guided Caliph. However another group felt that Ali, the cousin and son

of Muhammad, had been designated by Muhammad and is considered by Shia

as the first Imam.

Timeline

Egypt’s sectarian strife started as far back as 1798, sparked by anger among the

majority Muslim population against a Christian businessman who was thought

to have financially supported French occupation forces. The following is a record

of the most important sectarian clashes in Egypt over the last 40 years.

6 November 1972

A group of Muslims stormed into a church in the Greater Cairo governorate of

Qalluibia and torched it, in the first serious sectarian crisis to hit this country in

modern times.

4 January 2000

At least 20 Christians killed in the southern village of Al Kosheh on New Year’s

Eve after a financial dispute between a Muslim and a Christian shopkeeper in

the village.

7 January 2010

Seven people killed by shooting outside a church in the southern town of Nagaa

Hamady after a Coptic Christmas Eve Mass.

1 January 2011

At least 21 people killed and more than 70 injured in the coastal city of

Alexandria in a bombing outside a Christian church as worshippers leave a New

Year service.

5 March 2011

Christian homes in the southern Cairo village of Soul are attacked by a mob of

Muslims who set fire to the Saint Mina and George Coptic Church.

30 September 2011

Clashes erupt between Muslim and Christian residents in the village of Al

Marinab in the southern Egyptian governorate of Aswan.

9 October 2011

Around 25 people killed and more than 300 injured in the centre of Cairo after

a protest over an attack on a church erupts into the worst violence since the 18-

day popular uprising against Egypt’s former ruler Hosni Mubarak in February.

In Iraq according to the UN reports over 6000 Iraqi civilians have been killed in

sectarian violence during the months of May and June alone. Average deaths per

day due to sectarian violence have risen to 100 per day, a jump of 77% from

January. UN officials as well as the Iraqi and American governments, along with

Shia Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and other religious leaders call for peace. An

overwhelming amount of the killings occurred in Baghdad. On the day the UN

report was released, 53 Shia were killed in a bombing in Kufa.

Sectarian Violence among Christians

Europeans wars of religion

In Europe there were two different types of beliefs in Christian community they

were Orthodox and Catholics. However in 17th and 18th centuries new type of

Christianity was formed in Western Europe which was Protestantism. Following

the onset of the Protestant Reformation, a series of wars were waged in Europe.

The wars called the Thirty Years War.

The Thirty Years War was a series of wars in Central Europe between 1618 and

1648, in which most of the European states were involved. It is one of the longest

and destructive wars of European history. At first, while in the Protestant and

Catholic city states that constituted the Holy Roman Empire, it gradually turned

into a broader conflict involving many of the great powers of Europe, a

continuation of the Franco-Habsburg conflict for European dominance over

religion.

Sectarian Violence among Muslims

The regional power struggle between Shias and Sunnis is evident throughout the

Middle East and has occurred in countries such as; Pakistan, Iraq, Syria,

Bahrain, Lebanon etc. This conflict dates back more than a thousand years and

stems from religious differences between the two sects. Moreover, Shia and

Sunni leadership capitalize on these differences to increase both their and their

groups’ sphere of power, prestige and influence.

Sectarian violence in Pakistan

Sectarian violence in Pakistan is attacks against people and places in Pakistan

motivated by antagonism toward the target's sect, usually religious groups.

Targets in Pakistan include the Sunni, Shia, Sufi, and the small Ahmadi, Hindu

and Christian religious groups.

The large majority victims have been members of the Shia sect of Islam who

comprise approximately 15 percent of the country’s population. Data from the

South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), shown in the graphic below, demonstrate

that there has been an upward trend in the number of individuals killed and

injured in sectarian attacks in Pakistan from 1989 to the 2014. In addition to

that in Pakistan where over 2000 people have been killed and 3500 injured in

sectarian attacks in the past five years.

What is noteworthy about the sectarian attacks in recent years is that they have

become increasingly deadly. In fact, the number of total sectarian incidents has

decreased.

Sectarian violence in Iraq

Sectarian violence in Iraq or the First the Iraqi Civil War is a recurrent

phenomenon throughout the history of the region, since the modern borders

of Iraq were mostly demarcated in 1920 by the League of Nations. When the

country was established immediately home to a variety of religious and cultural

groups with different beliefs and ideologies.

The most serious risks to Iraq's internal instability come from the overlapping

and interacting effects of renewed ethnic or sectarian conflict, on the one hand,

and an irreversible breakdown of the current constitutional order, on the other

hand either of these conflicts could arise along any of the major ideological

differences in Iraq between Shia-Sunni, Arab-Kurd, or

Intra-Shia.

Although Shia versus Sunni violence was the main driver of the calamitous 2003

to2008 civil war in Iraq, the risk of renewed conflict between these two sectarian

groups has lessened because they are no longer significantly intermingled in

population centers, making it difficult for one to attack the other. Also, when

terrorist attacks have occurred against Shia civilians often pilgrims conducted

by al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), the principal Shia groups have remained calm,

probably because they believe that the Sunnis cannot reverse their defeat in the

civil war. Nevertheless, it is possible that a highly successful al-Qaeda in Iraq

(AQI) campaign could encourage Shia rage to a point that regenerated or

impromptu militias would conduct large-scale retaliatory attacks against

perceived al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) safe havens in Sunni populated areas.

Potential Arab versus Kurd violence is also a major concern. The continuing

tensions between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the central

government in Baghdad over the contested territories could spark Arab Kurd

violence on a border that has had a temporary peace since the overthrow of the

Baghdadis regime in 2003. The establishment of the joint patrols by Kurdish

militias known as "Peshmerga" and Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) achieved in the

final days of the U.S. military presence in Iraq has greatly helped reduce

tensions.

Sectarian violence in Syria

Syria and its 22.5 million people are currently undergoing a destructive,

debilitating civil war that threatens to destroy the idea of non-sectarian, non-

ethnic Syrian citizenship; a vicious armed struggle that has exacerbated

sectarian divides and threatens to destroy the Syrian state.

The map above is mainly about the ethnic division in Syria. In Syria, the

country’s minority is Alawites, roughly 12 percent of the population, generally

supports the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as do the

country’s Christians which is the ten percent of the population and most Druze.

Opposition to the regime comes primarily from the country’s Sunnis, who make

up roughly 65 percent of the population. The Kurds, the remaining ten percent,

tend to be less interested in who runs the country than they are in securing their

own autonomy.

The Syrian conflict, which has aggravated divisions in the Islamic world with

Shia Iran supporting the Assad regime and Sunni nations, such as Saudi Arabia

supporting the opposition due to these ideological divisions the northern part of

the Syria has been struggling with civil war since 2011.

Syrian opposition groups formed the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and seized control

of the area surrounding Aleppo and parts of southern Syria. Over time, some

factions of the Syrian opposition split from their original moderate position to

pursue an Islamist vision for Syria, joining groups such as al Nusra Front and

ISIL. In the north, Syrian government forces largely withdrew to fight the FSA,

allowing the Kurdish YPG to move in and proclaim de facto autonomy. In 2015

the YPG joined forces with Arab, Assyrian, Armenian and some Turkmen

groups, to form the Syrian Democratic Forces, while most Turkmen groups

remained with the FSA. The factions receive substantial support from members

of the international community. Russia and Hezbollah militarily engage in

support of the government, while beginning in 2014, a coalition of NATO began

launching airstrikes against ISIL.

Sectarian violence in Myanmar

Background

The Rohingya, a highly persecuted Muslim group numbering over one million,

face discrimination both from their neighbors and their nation and are not

officially considered citizens by Myanmar’s government. Buddhist nationalist

groups, including the anti-Muslim 969 Movement, regularly call for boycotts on

Muslim shops and the expulsion of Muslims from Myanmar, and encourage

attacks on Muslim communities.

Violence and tensions between Buddhist and Muslim communities continue in

Myanmar's Rakhine State. Tens of thousands of Rohingya have fled the country,

and the UN estimates that around 120,000 Rohingya remain internally displaced

in Rakhine. Following an attack on a security post along the Bangladeshi border

in October 2016 that killed nine police officers, there has been a significant

uptick in violence in Rakhine. The army responded by cracking down on

unarmed Muslim civilians, causing thousands to flee and more than forty

people to be killed.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

First of all in religions there are different communities such as; in Islam there

are two major communities and they are Shias and Sunnis or in Christianity

there are Protestantism, Catholicism and Orthodoxy. Despite their belief in the

same religion plus every community lives in a different place, there is sectarian

violence between them. Hence countries such as Iraq or Myanmar should find a

common point between two groups.

UN has already founded neutral areas in some countries such as in Syria there is

an UN protected city for Christians. However we need more neutral areas

especially in borders.

In education we should not give a religious education. Since it might cause,

children have prejudice to other religion.

Furthermore we should give lessons of “How a person should be” in order to

make children who are the future of us, more respectful to other ideologies or

religions.

Bibliography

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14546763

http://www.npr.org/2007/02/12/7280905/chronology-a-history-of-the-shia-

sunni-split

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nehginpao-kipgen/resolving-myanmars-

sectar_b_4314247.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/sectarian-violence/