Topic: The Question of Kurdistan
Country: Guatemala
Delegate Name: Brandon Buxton
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Guatemala position papers GLIMUN 2014 committees
Throughout the past ten years, infinite change has occurred in the Arab world. Part of this change has been reflected in the state of the Kurdish people. However, with the rise of ISIL, the Kurds have once again been subjugated and put on the defensive within their own territories. Kurdistan is again facing a tremendous threat from those that seek to destroy it.
In an era of such change, there is constant uncertainty within the Middle East. No state in the area is truly "secure" and free from threat. Large, established nations are falling and are under attack from inside and out.
Kurdistan, as a part of multiple sovereign states, presents another challenge in Arab diplomacy. Guatemala believes it would not be prudent to, in such an era of uncertainty, seek the establishment of Kurdistan as an independent state. Even if such a state was established, it would be extremely vulnerable to attacks and incursions. Such a solution is inadequate to solve the pressing question of Kurdistan.
Instead, Guatemala believes that the success of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG, the governing body of Iraqi Kurdistan) in the Republic of Iraq should be exported to other states in which the Kurdish people are present. Within Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurds are granted a great deal of self autonomy and self government. This includes, but is not limited to, their own Prime Minister, defense forces, control over natural resources, and diplomatic corps. Iraqi Kurdistan is still part of Iraq, and presents a compromise that other states could reproduce to the benefit of all citizens.
The Republic of Guatemala wholeheartedly embraces the possibility of a multi-state, semi-sovereign nation for the Kurdish people. By establishing semi-autonomous nations in states with Kurds, the Kurdish people will be provided with an opportunity at self rule, and the rights due them as a cultural group respected.
