Afghanistan

Topic: Afghanistan
Country: Austria
Delegate Name: Ian Magenta
School: Saline High School

The recent events in Afghanistan have been troubling for those countries working to bring peace and security to the region. With an increase in Taliban-related violence over the past months, the threats to International Security Assistance Forces have increased.

The 2009 elections in Afghanistan have also been troubling as low security and voting fraud lead to the investigation of the election. The runoff election that resulted was canceled by Abdullah Abdullah because his demands for changes to the electoral commission had not been met. Hamid Karzai has been declared the President of Afghanistan.

Over the last few decades, Austria has remained mainly neutral on most foreign policy decisions but we have begun to reassesses this. Austria continues to support to the European Union as an active member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations as we have participated in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan since 2002. Austria also deployed 93 soldiers to the Afghan city of Kunduz in 2005. This was for the purpose of supporting the parliamentary and provincial elections going on there. Another 1,100 Austrian troops have been stationed in Afghanistan on peacekeeping missions.

Austria would like to see the continued push for peace in Afghanistan but, again, stresses its tradition of neutrality. However, Austria’s neutrality is not just a tradition: it is a constitutional law. Austria has only slightly expanded this over the years and the deployment of more of our troops at this time would be out of the question.

Topic: Afghanistan
Country: China
Delegate Name: Karly Lawniczak
School: Royal Oak High School

The People’s Republic of China believes the maintenance of stability in Afghanistan should be the focus of International efforts. We extend hope that the Afghan national security forces, together with the Unites Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, and the International Security Assistance Force (ISFA), will do everything in their power to maintain stability in Afghanistan and guarantee the safety of the lives and property of the Afghan people.

We also hope the Afghan Government and international community will continue to work together to provide national and social stability as soon as possible. PR China would like to acknowledge the great achievements made in Afghanistan in concern with the current international counter-narcotics effort. We would like to applaud the progress that Afghanistan has made in this effort, which has greatly contributed to domestic reconstruction and the peace process. PR China would like to endorse the further development of this sector and increase the investments in Afghanistan’s economy, agriculture, education and health in order to reduce the factors currently destabilizing the Afghan society.

As a friendly neighbor, PR China would like to offer any assistance, within our capabilities, in the participation of the reconstruction to achieve lasting peace and stability. PR China believes that to secure this lasting peace, steps towards economic development must be made. The International Community should increase the investment into economic reconstruction, raising the Afghan standards of living.

PR China would like to extend our support to the UNAMA for the purpose of increasing communication between the United Nations and ISFA, and the Afghan Government. We would also like to further advance the role that the ISFA plays in monitoring and coordination.

PR China looks forward to embarking on the road to peace, stability, and development with Afghanistan.

Topic: Afghanistan
Country: Croatia
Delegate Name: Michael Jennings
School: Flint Southwestern Classical Academy

The country of Afghanistan is a country in strife. The opium trade that was suppressed during the Taliban’s violent regime has once again has taken its place as the staple of the Afghan economy. Afghanistan now supplies 92% of the opium in the world. 8,200 metric tons of opium is shipped out of Afghanistan annually. This high profit industry has given the wealth to many criminal syndicates in the country. The government that is friendly to the west has been rife with corruption and more recently voter fraud. After election monitors in the southern region of Afghanistan already showed signs of rigging the run off election on the 7th of November. Finally, the overthrown Taliban government has gained strength in the rural regions of Afghanistan. Afghanistan was ranked 173rd out of the 177 candidates by the human development index.

The Republic of Croatia has been very successful as a member of the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) having 295 members serving in Afghanistan and pledging to raise the number to 550 soldiers over the next year. Croatia has suffered no casualties while severing time in the region. While the need for new strategy to deal with multitude of issues that have arisen in Afghanistan is necessary. The Republic of Croatia is very displeased to hear of the voting fraud of Hamid Karzai and is willing to protest his government’s actions by with holding further aid until fair and equal elections can done. The Republic of Croatia would like to see an extension of the Peace Support Operation in Afghanistan. Instead of focusing on the current stability of the region, the ISAF must treat this PSO (Peace Support Operation) like every other one in the past fifty years. It must concern itself with the future of the region as well. We must bring Afghanistan into the post-modern world. We must deal with the blight of corruption that has tormented the region since it’s monarchist independence in the 1950’s by educating the future generations of Afghani leaders. We must foster the cultivation of legal crops among the majority agrarian population of the Afghan culture. Concerning the resurgence of the Taliban, Croatia can talk with experience being a relatively new nation and a successfully integrated nation from the PSO I its region in the 1990’s. The ISAF must respect and honor the culture of the Afghans, and show that we are not the stereotypical west they have been lied to about all their lives.

The Republic of Croatia has been seeking entry into the European Union for quite some time, and is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It has several friends in the Security Council including Austria, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France. The Republic of Croatia does not look to antagonize any nation on the council and wants to have a productive session.

Topic: Afghanistan
Country: France
Delegate Name: Joseph LoCascio
School: Roeper School

The Republic of France’s commitment to the Afghan people has a history of stalwart enthusiasm, and we have utilized our recent and current leading positions within the European Union, NATO, and other heavily involved organizations to do whatever we can to benefit Afghanistan.

Recent news has disturbed France greatly. The withdrawal of United Nations humanitarian forces from Afghanistan in response to the growing peril there must scream to the international community that something in our planning needs to be improved. France, the nation with the second most troops abroad in international peacekeeping missions, is, unfortunately, unable to send more forces. She has much confidence in the military efforts of her allies, but other approaches must be looked at. The issue, we must conclude from the present chaos, is not one which can be easily solved by an influx of guns into the nation, though, we admit, the stability a United States surge could provide is more than valuable.

So what do these more pointed and specific measures entail? Training Afghani security forces is vital. Paying the home-grown Afghani troops more so that they do not defect to the Taliban is necessary. More money is needed. Paris has been very generous and we are willing to be even more so, but France cannot do it all by herself. It would be irresponsible to not encourage other nations to follow our lead. Regional organizations must also be more involved.

Economic aid towards infrastructure means the fraud in the elections the world was so appalled by may not be allowed to have posterity. The humanitarian aspect of the issue, also, is more important than many seem to realize. Though the United Nations’ efforts mentioned above were effective, they were not nearly effective enough. We must establish security and then proceed to waste no time in bolstering those humanitarian efforts.

France is eager to work with the international community to solve this issue of such immense importance in the lives of so many people.

Topic: Afghanistan
Country: Libya
Delegate Name: Canei Pugh
School: Flint Southwestern Classical Academy

On the topic of the possible corruption in the government of Afghanistan, Libya feels that saying that a government is corrupt is a highly subjective matter. First, to discuss corruption implies that the accuser is free from such a charge. Who in the world today could claim such a thing? Certainly not anyone in the West with their Corporate handlers running all aspects of their social and political lives. Outsiders looking in can only understand what they find in the words of others. Just because a few citizens of Afghanistan are complaining about the way the government is being run doesn’t make the government corrupt. Let us examine the United States over the last eight years Several people complained about the way President SATAN ran the country but no one in the west ever dared to accuse him of being corrupt.

Honestly, different systems work for different countries and people should not be so quick to judge solely based on what has been proven effective for them. That would be similar to saying because I look good in purple, everyone should wear purple.

Our proposed solution is that every country should handle their own internal affairs, if Afghanistan asks for intervention from other countries then those countries who can afford to help out should, other wise they should not be required to do anything. But most certainly, this body does not want to get involved in the business of micro managing every nation state on the planet.

Topic: Afghanistan
Country: Mexico
Delegate Name: Nick Paauwe
School: Forest Hills Central High School

The United Mexican States would like to affirm its position on the issue of the security and safety of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Our main goal on this Security Council is to assure that the rebuilding and reclamation of this nation is done with correct and proper care. Currently the nation is experiencing fraud and fowl play in its federal elections and local government elections. We the United Mexican States would like to along with fellow Security Council Members assist this struggling nation in regaining proper self governance and state sovereignty. The Mexican state hopes that a binding resolution could be put into effect that could solve these issues of fraud and corruption.

This United Mexican States would like to see to it that the nations security forces are evaluated and readied for combat. We hope to see a solidification to the nations electoral system. Making sure that they have a firm foundation from which this nation may proceed into the twenty first century.

The nation of Afghanistan is currently undergoing intense and radical changes, due to this fact the countries government has become very unstable, fragile and susceptible to corruption. It is our main goal to see to it that this nations security is not destroyed, for if this nations security is compromised it could lead to a local spread and downfall of neighboring states. We hope that this security council can join together and work hand in hand to solve this challenge and secure the future of this great nation.

Only through diplomacy can we achieve true security.

Topic: Afghanistan
Country: Russia
Delegate Name: Christina Li
School: Forest Hills Central High School

We, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation reaffirm our commitment to Afghanistan as it pursues security, stability, and prosperity. Russia and surrounding Central Asian countries recently opened a route/airspace for the US and NATO to transport non-lethal supplies to Afghanistan, saving $133 million in navigation costs. We provided 30 million USD of assistance to Afghanistan under the Bonn Agreement and over 200 million USD of assistance in supporting infrastructures, such as the Afghan Armed Forces. Russian interest in Afghanistan stems from our concern of opiate trafficking, which poses a major threat on “human security”; as well as its corrosive effect on security and governance in Afghanistan. For any Russian counternarcotics measure to be successful, there must be improved general functionality of the state, stable governance, and security. Russia believes that the lack of these same conditions were the cause of the recent election fraud and increase in resurgent Taliban violence. BBC inspectors found parties selling 1000 voter registration tickets for $10. Out of 7,000 polling stations that were supposed to open on election day, only 6,200 did because of violence. We strongly condemn the Taliban and its attempts to disrupt the electoral process and destabilize the situation in Afghanistan, exemplified by the recent terrorist attack in Kabul.

We believe that in this session, the security council must focus on the challenges to stability. Russia supports long-term strategies, such as development in economic sectors, etc. However, we also would like to reaffirm the role of the security council to address the immediate situation we have on hand, which is electoral fraud and Taliban resurgence. We believe that in order to counter the Taliban, we must extend ISAF security to the most dangerous regions- breeding grounds for terrorists. We need to decide on punishment for propagators of election fraud.

Russia’s newly improved relations with the west- the “reset” dynamic- is inspired by Russian support of US-NATO efforts. We hope to continue to work with Western countries to write a United Nations resolution that will extend the foundation that we have set for Afghanistan.

Russia does not see any countries that are likely to oppose our position. We believe that it is in the best interest of the world to find a solution to peace and stability in Afghanistan. We see the challenge as everybody’s varying opinions on what the best solution is.

Nevertheless, the Russian Federation once again states our determination to ensure that Afghanistan cannot be a safe haven for violent extremists who threaten the Afghan people as well as the people of other nations.

Topic: Afghanistan
Country: Turkey
Delegate Name: Catherine Gray
School: Royal Oak High School

Turkey would like this committee to focus on how to help Afghanistan rebuild their country. Turkey has involved itself in humanitarian activities in Afghanistan far beyond educational programs, regardless of who ruled the country. By providing aid we hope to help provide internal security and help the development of their country economically, politically and socially. We are looking to expand our aid assistance, as much as we can. On November 1,2009 Turkey took over the Kabul command of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) a NATO (North Atlantic Trade Organization) led international security force. Turkey will not leave the vicinity of Kabul nor, engage in combat. We will not like to engage ourselves in any anti-terrorism, anti-drug operations or mine clearing missions, that is not within our power. Turkey would like to provide troops for reconstruction efforts like the construction of power generating stations, water wells, roads and bridges. While we are in Afghanistan our first priority is to provide a safe environment in which the Afghan government can run the country. Turkey respects the Afghan government. Our number of troops in Afghanistan will increase from 900 to around 1,700. Turkey wants their troops to serve as more than a military mission, but provide health, cultural and other nonmilitary services to the country. By May Turkey plans to train and equip 450 Afghan soldiers. We extend support to all re-construction and educational efforts. We would like to help build a strong foundation to secure the future for all Afghan people, assist in the rebuilding process of their fallen infrastructure.

Topic: Afghanistan
Country: Uganda
Delegate Name: Christiaan Tahyar
School: Cranbrook Kingswood

Despite continued efforts in the wake of the attack on the World Trade Center the Taliban and other violent extremists have yet to be pacified. Following the invasion of Afghanistan and its subsequent occupation the United Nations has begun efforts to reconstruct The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. A successful reconstruction would be beneficial, as it would stabilize Afghanistan and the surrounding regions. The tribal divisions of the country, local drug lords and a resurfacing of the Taliban have made this attempt at reconstruction difficult. The missions of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) have made a discernible difference despite the challenges in front of them. Along with a democratic system in question it appears that a continued stay is the only logical course of action.

The Republic of Uganda has so far made no significant contribution to the reconstruction-taking place in The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The Republic of Uganda feels that securing the peace in any major restructuring of a nation is vital. Violent religious extremists pose a threat to all nations. The Taliban in particular is very dangerous and draws the majority of its strength from the uneducated rural people in and around Afghanistan. A continued military presence is obviously required if Afghanistan is to be stabilized. Thus more troops are required but this puts a strain on the military of any Nation involved. The Republic of Uganda believes that perhaps the private sector along with support from the UN is the solution that will provide the manpower needed to create a stable and free Afghanistan. We urge further discussion of this pressing issue in the Security Council to reach a resolution that will benefit all parties.

Topic: Afghanistan
Country: United Kingdom
Delegate Name: John Lee
School: Cranbrook Kingswood

•The United Kingdom believes that stability within Afghanistan is a crux to international peace and the fight against world wide terror. To this effect, the United Kingdom has deployed several thousands of troops within the country in tandem with the forces supplied by other members of the international community. We believe that if the United Nations moves in a coordinated and effective fashion, our ultimate goal for stability in Afghanistan can be achieved.

The United Kingdom believes in the continuation of coordinated efforts by the international community along with the Afghan government to work in all spectrums to provide security for its people. United Nations military forces, Afghan domestic security forces, along with other NGOs should and will continue to maintain peace in an unstable country afflicted by terrorist elements.

Throughout its long history, the United Kingdom has been committed to maintaining worldwide peace. This goal also encompasses the fight against global terrorism and those factions who perpetrate those acts without credible rational or reason. Thus, the United Kingdom has deployed thousands of military personnel to Iraq and Afghanistan, where we believe a military commitment is both justified and necessary.

The United Kingdom, as a country with a long democratic tradition, has sought to uphold democracy in those countries where it is endangered or non-existent. The 2009 elections in Afghanistan have shown that a valid democratic system has not yet embedded itself within Afghanistan. The accusations of voting fraud have led the United Kingdom to reevaluate the state of democracy in Afghanistan and we therefore hope to take measures (in tandem with other members of the international community), to streamline and legitimize the democratic process.

Topic: Afghanistan
Country: United States
Delegate Name: Dalton Allan
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy

Conditions in Afghanistan threaten to destabilize the region and provide a safe haven for international terrorism training and planning. The United States of America, like the rest of the world, has a vital interest in addressing the current and potential security threats posed by extremists in Afghanistan. Both the United States and Afghanistan remain targets of al Qaeda and other groups of jihadist terrorist attacks. These groups seek to re-establish their old sanctuaries in Afghanistan under the direct encouragement of the Taliban and related organizations. Therefore, a core objective of the United Nations Security Council should be to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and to prevent their return to Afghanistan. Achieving this objective is essential to international security and stability in the region.

Specifically, the United States will work to disrupt terrorist networks in Afghanistan in order to interfere with any planned international terrorist attacks. The United States seeks to promote a more capable, accountable, and effective government in Afghanistan to serve the Afghan people and function with limited international support. Toward this end, the U.S. seeks to develop increasingly self-reliant Afghan security forces to lead the counterinsurgency and counterterrorism fight as well as to improve the living conditions for the Afghan people. The U.S. plans to triple the number of civilian experts in Afghanistan by the end of the year. Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew reported that these civilian personnel are focused on “improving Afghan governance; providing security, justice, jobs and services; and giving the Afghan people a meaningful alternative, as much as possible, to the Taliban’s recruiting.” The U.S. must engage the Afghan people in ways that demonstrate our commitment to promoting a capable Afghan government and economic progress. Job creation in the agricultural sector is imperative as an alternative to Taliban recruitment in rural areas and among under-employed youths. Such a focus on civilian issues will strengthen to relationship between the Afghan people and their government.

The United States has no intention of withdrawing from Afghanistan and abandoning the Afghan people. We consider this mission critical to international security. The United States appreciates the contributions, both military and nonmilitary, of the international coalition in Afghanistan and is particularly mindful of the sacrifices made by allied troops in the region. We pay tribute to all that they have achieved and have sacrificed for the common good.

There are no easy solutions or quick remedies to the problems in Afghanistan. The danger of failure of the mission there is real, with grave implications for the region and the entire world. The momentum that the Taliban has gained recently must be reversed, and the international community must work together to disrupt extremists and destroy their safe havens. The United States is committed to working with our partners in the region and the international community to address this challenging but critical security goal.

Most Respectfully Submitted,

Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy

The United States of America

Topic: Afghanistan
Country: Vietnam
Delegate Name: Andrew Stinavage
School: Mattawan High School

The major issue at hand in Afghanistan is the legitimacy of the recent presidential elections. This is a critical factor in future U.S. involvement, and it is an additional issue to the litany of problems such as the resurgence of violence over the last year, underdeveloped infrastructure, rampant corruption, and illicit drug trafficking.

Afghanistan and the issues plaguing it, have the potential to destabilize the region and to affect peace and security globally. If the UN mission is not successful, Pakistan and subsequent South Asia will be increasingly under assault from fundamentalist groups. In addition, Afghanistan will ultimately become a failed state and a base of operations once more for international terrorist groups seeking to attack governments worldwide. While the process will be difficult, placing Afghanistan on the path of growth and development will then provide the region and the world with a contributing member to the community and deny terrorist groups a place to plan, train, and carry out terrorist activities.

Vietnam proposes at this critical stage in Afghanistan’s development process, the long-term commitment of international donors to Afghanistan and would support an international conference to re-assess the assistance needs of Afghanistan in the post –election period. In addition, Vietnam would like to emphasize our view that protection of civilians and the improvement of the living conditions of the Afghan people must be accorded top priority.

Many of the Security Council’s members have played a role in Vietnam’s past both positively and negatively including France, United States, Russia, and China. That being mentioned, I would expect to work with my traditional allies as well as my major trade partners including China and the United States. Also, I would expect to be allies with Japan who is a member of the regional organization, ASEAN plus Three.