Topic: Situation in the Middle East
Country: Malaysia
Delegate Name: Lukas Sznewajs
School: Roeper School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Malaysia position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
The issue that addresses the international community in the Middle East is not one of humanitarian aid or conflict resolution, as every member state on the Council can agree that aid and peace are necessary and beneficial to citizens of the world. Malaysia believes that planning humanitarian assistance for the people of the Middle East in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and other war-torn nations is essential to our mission of peace and strongly supports these efforts, however, the United Nations cannot safely and reliably provide and deliver aid until violence can be reliably controlled. Less than two months ago, all UN aid in Syria and Iraq was suspended until a cease-fire could be agreed upon and implemented; this was the result of a dozen UN aid workers being killed and supplies for 78,000 civilians destroyed in the bombing of humanitarian aid trucks in Syria, which were commissioned by this Council. Fingers have been pointed in all directions by nations on this Council, and Malaysia believes that we, as nations of the international peacekeeping community, have a duty to the civilians whose lives have been destroyed in the Middle East to bring peace to the region. Thus, the discussion and establishment of a ceasefire, mediated by the United Nations, between warring parties in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria should be the focus of the nations on this committee. The eradication of extremism, which uses Islam to divide and destroy communities and lives, instead of to unite as it is intended, is imperative to bringing about peace not only in the Middle East, but throughout the entire world.
Malaysia has a unique position on this Council; as a long-time American ally, an Islamic nation, a successful and rapidly developing nation, and a strong supporter of many Russian policies across the world, we are the only nation on this Council that has the relations and reputation to mediate the discussion of conflict resolution. By initiating this minimally-biased conversation, Malaysia hopes to bring a foreseeable end to the bloodshed throughout the Middle East, and to eventually begin the process of rebuilding the area, which has seen countless lives lost to gruesome war over the past decades. Malaysia welcome the United States’ enthusiasm and desire to end the violence that has destroyed the lives of so many people, and hopes that both the US and Russia might be willing to compromise to a reasonable extent so that progress towards peace might be employed.
Malaysia strongly condemns the indiscriminate bombing of civilians, the violation of cease-fires (particularly those that intended to provide aid to civilians), and the threat of death or destruction of aid efforts that has characterized the nature of assistance in the Middle East in recent years. Malaysia calls upon fighting parties to temporarily put aside regional conflicts so that the lives of innocent people in war-torn and blood-stained areas (who have no way to escape) might be saved from senseless and gruesome attacks. Peace efforts, whether temporary or permanent, must be made to assist the civilians who have been caught in conflict. It is entirely unacceptable that civilians are dying from hunger, thirst, disease, heat, or violence when they have done nothing wrong.
Malaysia will extend its position of nonalignment in the fight against extremism regarding the broader, NATO-Russian conflict, but will continue to support the elimination of ideologies which threaten the safety of those across the region and world. Islam is a religion of peace, and these extremist groups are using Islamophobia, which is incredibly pervasive in non-Islamic culture, to fuel their calls to fight against foreign intervention. Malaysia strongly encourages nations to explore education on the peaceful and nonviolent nature of Islam, particularly in nations which accept refugees or have a history of extremism and Islamophobia. As our ambassador to the UN said on 5 May 2016 to this Council:
“Throughout the Holy Qur’an, the message of peace, justice and honorable conduct features prominently and constitutes the very essence of Islam. Indeed, the very definition of Islam is peace. To illustrate, allow me to quote from verse 224 of Chapter Two in the Quran, where Allah says:
‘And make not Allah’s (name) an excuse in your oaths against doing good, or acting rightly, or making peace between persons; for Allah is One Who heareth and knoweth all things.’
Meanwhile, on justice, Allah says, in verse 8 from Chapter Five:
‘O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.’
In light of such clear commands in the Qur’an, we strongly denounce the terrorists’ claims that their barbarity is sanctioned by Islam.”
This COuncil has a responsibility to provide civilians with assistance and to protect them from carnage, and the only way to do this is to find peace.
