Position Paper (Policy Statement) – a brief overview which clearly outlines the delegate’s strategy vis-a-vis the committee issues and the country that is being represented. It indicates to Chairpersons whether or not the student is on track. It is a valuable early warning sign if something is amiss. More importantly, whether the position paper is demanded or not, its use will serve as an important organizer from which the delegate may maintain consistent direction.
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Example I.
Policy statement
Committee: United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
Delegation: The Swiss Confederation
Delegate: Michaela Dorčíková, Martin Hudoba, Juraj Majcin
The Swiss Confederation concerning the issue: Crisis in Mali
It was exactly ten years ago that Switzerland joined the United Nations as the one hundred and ninetieth member state. The United Nations and Switzerland share the same values and pursue the same goals: the promotion of peace and security, sustainable development, the protection and promotion of human rights and the provision of emergency relief to victims of conflicts.
Switzerland recognized Mali as an independent state in 1960 and the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1961. For over 30 years Mali has been a priority country for Swiss development cooperation (SDC). We support various projects in the areas of healthcare, sustainable management of natural resources, decentralisation and we continuously provide food aid.
The Malian coup d’état quickened the political crisis and Switzerland is tracking the current situation with deep concern. Following the events connected with the military coup, the SDC has suspended a part of its programmes in view of the current instability in the region. This essentially concerns its activities in the north of the country where the security situation is especially tense. In the next three years our objective will be to contribute to the creation of a society and institutions capable of promoting dynamic local economies and ensuring basic education.
We condemn the human rights abuses, the international law violations and the destruction of cultural sites that we can see in the northern part of Mali.
As Switzerland traditionally defends dialogue, we call upon negotiation process to seek a sustainable political solution with the North. If all our diplomatic efforts fail, we are ready to support an international military force that would assist the Malian army in recuperation of sovereignty over their own country, which is partially under the control of terrorist groups, fundamentalists and separatists. This intervention should be performed by ECOWAS and the African Union with significant support from the United Nations community.
In today’s world we face pressing global challenges which threaten entire regions. Climate change, food security, water scarcity, migration, organised crime, terrorism and the proliferation of weapons. In an increasingly interconnected world, we have to search for global solutions which enjoy regional and national support. It is not enough to simply maintain the status quo. We have to find solutions today for the challenges we will face tomorrow.
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Example II.
Policy Statement
Committee: Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL)
Delegation: The Swiss Confederation
Delegate: Michaela Dorčíková
The Swiss Confederation concerning the issue: The Future of Nuclear Energy
The question of the nuclear energy invades the international forum since the United Nations was established. It is brought to debates always after the tremendous tragedies, as nuclear blasts at Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the accidents in Chernobyl and Fukushima surely were.
Economic development and new technologies necessitated an increase of energetic requirements which has led to enhanced construction of nuclear facilities. Today, the primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of nuclear installations lies with national governments. The International Atomic Energy Agency assists the safe, secure and peaceful uses of atomic energy.
Nuclear energy is Switzerland’s second major electricity source, with five stations accounting of about 33% of the country’s output but it needs to be emphasised that in our country nuclear energy is used solely for peaceful purposes, e.g. for producing electricity and for application in medicine, industry and research. In May 2011, the Swiss government decided to abandon plans to build new nuclear reactors. The country’s five existing reactors will be allowed to continue operating, but will not be replaced at the end of their life span. The last will go off in 2034.
Switzerland recognises the fact that the nuclear power is the most efficient source of energy, but we cannot forget it is also the most destructive one. Not only nuclear stations present a serious problem of long-term waste disposal (up to 250,000 years), but they also pose threats to the environment, biological diversity, evolution and mankind. Because the consequences are transnational, they must be debated globally.
Considering the transboundary effects of nuclear accidents, all states should have a common interest that the IAEA Safety Standards are implemented worldwide. In order to support the states in achieving this objective, we propose to strengthen the global system for nuclear safety based on the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS).
Whilst the situation in each country deserves individual analysis, we must strengthen support for the IAEA. We strongly urge states to consider lessons learned from accidents and adopt appropriate measures to apply the highest possible safety standards.
Bearing in mind the reality of today’s world Switzerland demands an effective diplomatic solution which can possibly improve the current situation.