Topic: Improving Political Conflict Resolution Mechanisms
Country: Czech Republic
Delegate Name: Noah Attal
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Czech Republic position papers GLIMUN 2012 committees
One of the soul reasons the United Nations was created was to avoid tragedies like that of World War I and World War II. The organization has been successful in keeping major powers out of direct warfare for 55 years, and has spent untold resources in the vital task of conflict prevention. The Czech Republic as a member of the European Union and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe remains committed to the United Nations core principals, sending more than 3,000 peacekeeping troops and observers to conflict zones in Africa, the Balkans and Asia. This support emanates from the bitter memories of the Prague Spring (1968) and the ongoing internal violence in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War.
Although conflict resolution has improved dramatically since then, the Czech Republic notes several inefficiencies and issues with conflict resolution mechanisms. Namely the Czech Republic would look favorably at preventive conflict resolution development. Support for preventative measures can save the UN from ever needing to use peacekeepers in conflict zones. A clear success of this was in Tajikistan in 1992 one the UN should look to duplicate.
However unfortunately all conflicts cannot be prevented and the UN must also take conflict resolution measures. These measures have been fairly effective in countries that have requested or accepted UN aid and assistance, but there are those countries that it is not in their best political interest to allow UN interference in domestic conflict. They resort to wielding national sovereignty in one hand against the international communities and murdering their people with the other. It is a fine line between defense of sovereignty and defense of humanity. The Czech Republic strongly urges harsh punishment in the UN to those who oppress peaceful protests and terrorize their people.
The Czech Republic believes in the end that each conflict is unique and must judged on a situation-to-situation basis. Regardless the Republic would urge to improve conflict resolution in the UN but seeks a focus on preventative measures. The Republic also is hopeful that compromise will be found on the topic of national sovereignty in committee.
