Topic: UN's Role of Addressing Sectarian and Ethnic Conflict within a Nation
Country: Saudi Arabia
Delegate Name: Eric Brichetto
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Saudi Arabia position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
Sectarian and ethnic violence are serious hindrances towards peace for a country. Indeed, a country with such violent ongoing disputes occurring within its borders finds itself in a somewhat poor position for international activities; furthermore, such violent conflicts have a tendency to spill into that country’s neighboring nations, thereby spreading and magnifying the problem rather than solving or containing it. Sectarian and ethnic violence has been occurring for many centuries; it is a problem brought about by civilization, and it is the duty of civilization to eliminate the problems it causes in working towards everlasting harmony. This is particularly true in light of the disturbing increase in such acts of violence in recent years: ‘The Troubles’ of Northern Ireland, the Ku Klux Klan of the United States, and the Moscow market bombing in Russia in August 2006, to name a few. As a symbol of civilization and cooperation, it is the duty of the United Nations to put an end to such violence.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not believe in interfering in the affairs of other countries. As such, the Kingdom does not support the United Nations taking action to resolve disputes inside countries’ borders, as this would be in violation of their sovereignty. However, the Kingdom would support programs and dialogue to reduce tensions among peoples and settle disputes between countries (particularly border disputes). These could include financial incentives, humanitarian aid, new lucrative partnerships with other countries, and/or access to useful technological innovations from other countries – within certain limits, of course. Although the Kingdom fully supports efforts for international security and peace, and though She is proud to be a founding member of the United Nations, She believes that the United Nations should not attempt to resolve conflicts inside its member nations – it should not try to fix other countries’ problems, if you will. Instead, the Kingdom believes that the United Nations should make efforts to help countries deal with their problems *without* imposing themselves on those nations. Should disputes arise, Saudi Arabia believes that the dispute should become the concern of the involved country and only that country. Be that as it may, the Kingdom feels that aid should be readily accessible to that country, should the nation require it.
Saudi Arabia feels that Her position will be supported by those who hold similar views on the United Nations’ right to interfere in the affairs of other countries. Although the Kingdom does not necessarily support the policies of the following nations, She would expect understanding and support from such countries as Zimbabwe, Iran, Angola, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and possibly the People’s Republic of China, who feel that there are certain inalienable rights that all nations have and that the United Nations has little right to violate those rights.
It must be made clear that there is a possibility in any conflict that the United Nations will make tensions escalate if it attempts to step in and soothe them. This was recognized at a 1994 United Nations seminar organized by UNRISD and UNDP, which came to the conclusion that third-party intervention in ethnic conflicts to come up with and enforce external solutions is generally unsuccessful. At most, the United Nations should serve as a mediator and facilitator for negotiations between conflicting countries or ethic groups.
