Topic: The Question of Kurdistan
Country: Benin
Delegate Name: Ryan Bills
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Benin position papers GLIMUN 2014 committees
The unfair treatment of the kurds is some thing that the Republic of Benin feels is a great injustice. We feel that them not getting what was promised after world war 1 is deplorable on the part of those in charge. Our position then is thus, the Republic of Benin fully sympathizes with the plight of the Kurds. As an African country that ourselves have dealt with years of colonial oppression, we understand the feeling of a people disrespected. However, we feel that we must look at this reasonably. Perhaps the carving out of a new country could be seen as wishful thinking, but the fact that there is an Iraqi Kurdistan that will be holding a referendum for independence is definitely a promising situation dependent upon the United Nations. They should make every effort to officially recognize Iraqi Kurdistan as a sovereign nation.
This being said, we do find the denial of Kurd citizenship and rights in Middle Eastern countries deplorable. It is the United Nations' policy to support human rights and this is no exception. We stand to the fact that all Kurds should be granted citizenship in any country to which they reside and if any nation does not comply then perhaps more United Nation attention should be paid with a sovereign Kurdistan. In any case, we fully stand behind the rights of these people.
We recognize that the situation in the Middle East is very touchy. We could not hope for anything but a slow recovery between these people and their respective countries. We recommend that a committee of representatives from these countries and Kurd representatives be mediated by the United Nations. We believe with one less conflict could help the gradual recovery of stability in the middle eastern region.
