Topic: Mechanisms for Peacefully Resolving Border Disputes
Country: Albania
Delegate Name: Elizabeth Szeles
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Albania position papers GLIMUN 2014 committees
Borders are one of the few foundations to a nation’s identity. So it is not that surprising that many countries both feel very strongly about their borders and that the world is in constant disagreements over them. Mainly, there are two types. Border disputes occur when disagreement over exactly where a borders runs between nations, and border conflicts deal with how the border is maintained or used.
Conflicts should be handled between the countries it involves, unless human rights are violated, in which case international involvement by the UN should be prompted immediately.
Albania believes that in cases of border disputes with increasing military buildup, an outside intervention is absolutely necessary. The UN Charter states in Chapter One Article Two, “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.” If these disputes over borders approach violent conflict, or violations of human rights, the UN must intervene and mediate the conflict in a peaceful manner. Albania stresses the deployment of UN Peacekeepers to separate the aggravated parties. Albania also heavily supports use of the International Court of Justice to settle the border dispute; like it has on many occasions as in 2012 it resolved the border dispute between Niger and Burkina Faso. A trail given both states may fairly present their cases, and no obstruction done on either party.
Albania has experience in this issue. The recent establishment of Kosovo as a nation is very important to us as Albanians. For too long has Serbia abused the territory with its rule, ruling with the minority ten percent, with Albanians occupying the other ninety percent. When the Kosovo citizens took to protest, Serbia responded violently. Only with outside intervention did we arrive at this point today. NATO defended Kosovo with military support and the UN at one point took administration of the territory. Even today, part of Kosovo is watched by NATO peacekeepers, keeping the peace between us and Serbia.
