Topic: Mechanisms for Peacefully Resolving Border Disputes
Country: Switzerland
Delegate Name: Kyra Pritchard
School: Kalamazoo Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Switzerland position papers GLIMUN 2014 committees
We, the state of Switzerland, strongly believe that mediation is always the best when it comes to disputes about borders. However, international involvement should only become a factor in border disputes and cross-border disputes when it can not be solved peacefully between the two or more states in question.
Mediation involves sitting down the leaders of the involved states, with a state that is neutral on the border dispute, and discussing a way to settle whether or not this can be solved peacefully. This must be done, as Article 2 states, peacefully and without threatening political or territorial sovereignty. Among the means of mediation, the issue may be passed onto the Security Council for further inspection of the dispute. It is their duty to overlook the conflicts between countries, and in turn, provide recommendations for them, including sending in a representative to watch over the two countries in question. They can even put sanctions on the countries in order to keep peace. I, expressed only as a delegate of Switzerland, believe that if the problem is not solved through mediation, that a representative should be sent in to watch over the conflict area, and if problems arise, economic sanctions be set on the states involved. However, depending on the development of the country (or countries) involved, other means will be used, such as involvement of the Department of Political Affairs, European Union, or African Union.
Mediation is preferred when it is a border dispute, and economic sanctions when it is a cross-border dispute that could endanger citizens of the countries involved. However, the sanctions must be formulated to affect the government more so than the citizens, as many of the countries may fall into economical downfall if the sanctions aren’t placed readily.
