Milan MUN 2016 Committee:
Security Council
Topic: Stabilizing the Conflict Zones in the Middle East
I.
Introduction:
Since the year 1945, The Middle East (ME) has seen a substantial rise in conflict, in fact, according to the Armed
Conflict Database (ACD) there have been over 60 substantial uprisings and or wars in the Middle East. Most
conflicts were internal, which meant that it did not pose a threat at an International level, however, in recent years,
there has been a rise in international disputes with countries present in the ME. To fully understand the conflicts
and therefore, stabilize them, two important aspects that need to be considered: the International Situation and the
Local Situation. In the past ten years, the United States along with Russia and other European powers have been
constantly more involved in foreign affairs, especially in Middle Eastern countries such as Iran and Syria. On the
other hand, the local situation is far more complicated. The ACD states that out of the 64 conflicts in the ME, 30
have been due to uprisings of rebel groups. These riots later led to a full-scale Civil War between the government
and different opposition forces.. The main causes of conflict have been discussed throughout the years. However,
many Historians have come up empty on who to blame. To accurately find a solution, military use must end, and a
more diplomatic approach must be put into action.
II. Countries & Organizations:
Russia: Russia in recent years has become one of the leading countries involved in the solution to the end of the
conflict. It has supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian Civil War. It has also helped the army by
supplying weapons to a high quantity and by sharing critical naval facilities and air force facilities within the Middle
Eastern countries. Russia like many other nations believes that only a political solution can end all the conflict
occurring in the Middle East. However, it is using its armed forces to fight against terrorist groups to achieve peace.
United States: Unlike Russia, the United States has accused President Al-Assad of widespread atrocities within the
country of Syria. The US blames the Syrian President for condemning the lives over 200,000 civilians. Despite its
difference with and Russia, the country has nevertheless involved itself in foreign affairs, especially with Syria and
Iraq. The US government supports armed rebel groups in Syria and the Kurds fighting against the so-called Islamic State. USA,
UK, France, Turkey and many others support the Free Syrian Army (in the Syrian Civil War) considering these
groups as democratic forces. The United States of America has also been involved in several disputes with Iraq
and Iran. The United States invaded Iraq in 2003 considering erroneously the Iraqi government a threat for
the world. Since then the situation in the country deteriorated with the extension of the Islamic State inside
Iraq.
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia, a radical Islamic Sunni State, has the intention to create Sunni States all over the
Middle East. It believes that President Assad cannot be part of a solution to the conflict and must hand over
power to a transitional administration or be removed by force. Saudi Arabia is a major provider of military and
financial assistance to several rebel groups, including those with radical Islamist ideologies. President Salaman
bin Abdulaziz was appointed one year ago; he was not able to do much for the stabilization of conflicts in the ME.
Saudi Arabia however, has been accused of selling weapons to ISIS. There have been many shocking revelations
showing SA transactions with terrorist groups.
Iran: Syria and Iran are the closest allies in the ME. Iran is assisting the Syrian government by providing
weapons, military advisers, oil transfers and lines of credit. The Shia government in Iran supports the Shias in Syria
against the Sunni rebel groups.
Iran however, has proposed a peaceful transition in Syria that would culminate in free, multi-party elections.
Turkey: The Turkish government would like to extend its influence in the Middle East and supports terrorist
groups in Syria against the government forces. Turkish troops entered into Syria and are involved in fights
against the Kurdish movements in Syria linked to the Kurdish opposition forces inside Turkey.
France and UK: These two countries lost their influence in the ME area with the creation of pan Arab in the
governments after WW2. The removal of strong governments would help them to reestablish their influence.
Protagonists without an official State status: Three important protagonists in the area are the Palestinians, the
Kurds and the Islamic State in the Levant.
The question of Palestine remains an open question for the UN. Even if the Palestinian authorities in the Gaza
strip, in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem have been recognized by 138 UN member states, officially a
Palestinian state does not yet exist. Israel does not recognize this authority and keeps a very hard course
concerning the Palestinian opposition forces within and outside its borders.
Kurdish minorities are present in all the Middle East states. They live in vast areas of East turkey, in Syria, in
Iraq and Iran. The political requests are not homogeneous and differ according to the position of the parties in
the country the Kurds live in.
Islamic State in the Levant (ISIL, ISIS, Daesh): Radical Islamist terrorist organisations occupied areas in Iraq
and in Syria and proclaimed their state. As the radical groups supporting this state change and transform
themselves it is not easy to understand their positions. ISIL is responsible for different terror attacks in Europe
and in North Africa, It receives financial and military support by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states and
indirectly from Turkey and the US, France and the UK (it is difficult for the Western sponsors to understand
which group is “democratic” and which “terrorist”. The ISIL has lost some important stronghold in Syria
(Aleppo) and are under pressure in Iraq (Mosul), but it remains a considerable force.
Concerning Islamic radicalism the ISIL competes with Jabhat Fateh al-Sham formerly known as the al-Nusra
Front (a branch of Al-Qaeda in Syria).
III. Overview:
Out of the conflicts found in the Middle East, some have been known to have a significant impact both locally and
internationally. To find a solution to the issue, we must first analyze a prime example of conflict. As seen in the last
five years, the search for stability in the Middle East has proven to be a hard task for powers across the world.
But the question is not if the fighting can end,but rather if the political forces involved in such conflicts rise and
demand an end and take action to do so. The Root of Conflict in the Middle East is based on bad politics
and bad political decisions. According to Judy Dempsey, a researcher for Carnegie Europe, to gain
Stability in the ME both Europe and the US need to do their best in finding a more diplomatic outcome for the
situation. However, what is the real problem? What is the cause and issue with these Middle Eastern countries?
Lastly, What threat do these conflicts pose to the world and the locals living in war-torn countries? The Syrian
Civil War, The Iraq War, and the Yemen Civil War are three examples which have stood out in the last ten years.
These models help researchers find the issue and cause of Middle Eastern conflicts.
The Syrian conflict is an ongoing event which has brought researchers and historians to discuss the methods in
which it was caused. The Syrian Civil War began in 2011, when many protesters marched towards the capital of
Damascus, demanding democratic reforms and the release of political prisoners. Protests soon turned violent
when on the 20th of March, protesters burned down a Ba'ath Party (leading party)Headquarters and other
buildings. This continuous protest marked the beginning of the shocking number of death of both law
enforcement officers and protesters. Revolts got larger when on the 7th of April, the protesters demanded
democratic reforms, the release of political prisoners, the increase in freedom, the abolition of the emergency law
and an end to corruption. After that day, the emphasis soon turned towards the overthrowing of President Bashar
Al-Assad.. By May 2011, 1,000 civilians had died, 150 soldiers were killed in action, and over 2,000
protesters were detained. This event marked the begging of what was going to become one of the deadliest and
most dangerous conflicts ever seen in the last decades. As mentioned previously to find a solution we must look
at the root and cause of the conflict. The issue began when the government only partially accepted the requests of
the opposition and did not resign. This consequently led to the upset of the public and the anger of the
people. Many researchers believe that 80% of the conflicts in the Middle East occur due to badly organized
government or due to a highly unsuccessful leadership. Therefore, to fully solve this issue, the UN member states
need to be more involved in the aiding of leadership in these ME countries.
Another example which needs to be closely analyzed is the Iraq War, an ongoing conflict taking place in Iraq.
The conflict began in 2003 when the United States along with UK and other forces invaded Iraq claiming they
wanted to search and destroy weapons of mass destruction. These were never found. President George Bush said:
“to disarm Iraq, to free its people, and to defend the world from grave danger.” The primary objective, however,
was the well-known manhunt for Al Qaeda group leader Osama Bin Laden. In November 2011, the U.S.
Senate voted in favor for a resolution to formally end the war by bringing its authorization by Congress
to an end. The issue of Iraq War began because of continuous terrorist acts in the US, such as the horrible public
event of September 11, 2001. There were multiple terrorist threats in the US after that date, therefore the US
along with the UK allied together in hopes to bring an end to the threat that the Iraqi government and
paramilitary forces posed to the world. President George Bush saw the Iraqi government as a deadly force
which had to be stopped before another event like 9/11 would occur. The country was involved in a chaos that still
persists. Now a vast coalition force tries to reconquer Mosul, a major city occupied by ISIL.
The last example is the Yemeni civil war, the most recent conflict in the Middle East. The Yemeni Civil War began
in 2015 when Mr. Hadi had unsuccessfully led the country causing more harm than good. The president struggled
to deal with multiple problems including attacks from Al Qaeda, un-cooperation from military officers who were
still loyal to previous president Mr. Saleh, corruption unemployment and food shortages. Many ordinary Yemenis including Sunnis - supported the Houthis, a religious-political group of Shia worshippers (supported by
Iran)who manipulated and exploited the president’s weaknesses. In September 2014 they entered the capital,
Sanaa, setting up street camps and roadblocks. In January 2015, the Houthis reinforced their takeover of Sanaa,
surrounding the presidential palace and other key points and efficiently placing Mr. Hadi and his cabinet
ministers under house arrest. The Houthis and security forces loyal to Mr. Saleh attempted to take control of
the entire country, forcing the president to flee abroad. Alarmed by the rise of a military group, Saudi Arabia
and eight other mostly Sunni Arab states began an air campaign aimed at restoring Mr. Hadi's government. The
forces received aid from the US, UK & France. Like the other two conflicts, the Yemeni Civil War began due to lack
of proper authority and leadership. The president was forced to flee in times of danger due to the powerful military
forces which opposed it. The President was unable to make proper changes and therefore, please the population.
Wars in Middle East
In conclusion, all three of these examples have a similarity. The government was unstable, and the military forces
with opposing it are far too powerful for the government. There are multiple conflicts in the ME,which have had a
significant impact in the world, however, by analyzing just three, we can understand the root of the issue and
therefore, begin tackling the problem. However, we cannot only assume that the government is the issue, but we
must also try along with the aid of the US and Russia and especially the UN, find a diplomatic solution rather than
using military troops.
IV. Key Vocabulary:
Cease Fire: A temporary cease to war or fight by both sides
UN Amendments: Amendments proposed by the United Nations with aim to resolve issues
War Crimes: Crimes committed by countries or terrorist groups such as but not limited to: Civilian casualties,
use of chemical weapons, etc.
Middle East: Location of Topic, found below Russia. 16 countries present, e.g.: Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel,
Syria, Turkey, etc.
Occupied Territories: Territories which have been illegally occupied by other countries
Conflict: War or temporary argument between two sides or more. This can turn violent if troops are deployed.
V. Past Resolutions & Treaties:
In the last few years, multiple treaties have been made in hopes to bring an end to the issue of the constant conflict
in the Middle East. There have been a few treaties which were essential to today’s progress of battle:
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action: The JCPOA was originally drafted in 2015 in hopes to ensure that Iran’s
nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful. This plan was considered successful as The International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) has verified that Iran has implemented its key nuclear-related measures described in the
JCPOA. The United States submitted the plan, P5 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom & the
United States) plus the European Union, provided essential support. This marked Iran as an ally to many countries
including European ones.
Oslo Accords: On September 13, 1993, the Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) Negotiator Mahmoud Abbas signed a Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements at the White House in the United States of America. Both sides agreed that a Palestinian Authority
would be established and assume governing responsibilities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip over a five-year
period. This plan was considered to be successful up until 2001 when Bill Clinton ended his second term at the
White House. There were only a few countries involved, including the USA, Israel, and Palestine.
Arab Peace Initiative: The Arab Peace Initiative was endorsed initially by the Arab League in 2002 at the Beirut
Summit and re-endorsed at the 2007 Arab League summit. The initiative calls for improving relations between the
Arab regions and Israel, in exchange for a full withdrawal by Israel from the occupied territories of the Palestinian
refugee problem based on UN Resolution 194. This initiative failed to succeed due to lack of cooperation from
Israel. There were over 14 Middle Eastern countries.
The Geneva, Vienna and Astana talks concerning Syria: The recent talks in Astana could lead to the
rewriting of a new constitution for Syria. In January and February 2014, the Geneva II Conference on Syria
took place, organized by Lakhdar Brahimi, then UN envoy to Syria. On 30 October 2015, further talks
started in Vienna involving officials from the US, the EU, Russia, China and various regional actors such as
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and, for the first time, Iran. Peace talks with rebel leadership continued in
Astana, Kazakhstan in 2017.
VI. Past Solutions:
Many countries and organizations have desperately tried in recent years to find a solution which could satisfy both
sides. However, most amendments or treaties proposed by the UN have been unsuccessful or have taken a
noncooperative approach with other countries. As mentioned previously, various accords have been passed.
However, few of them have had a proper impact. The UN along with all EU powers is constantly trying to find a
diplomatic solution to resolve this ongoing issue of stabilizing conflict zones in the Middle East.
VII. Possible Solutions:
The solution to conflicts in the ME have to be done by firstly solving political disputes between countries such as
USA and Russia. Once the situation between countries has been transformed into allies, the United States, and its
allies need to prepare a more diplomatic approach to the end of these wars. A few example of solutions would be:
- European countries need to have one goal in mind, and that is to end conflicts in the ME, this must be done
through the help of France and Germany along with other non-European countries.
- The USA and the Russian Federation need to make an agreement on the future of Assad, and the UN must aid in
the choosing of a new leader if this is part of the agreement
- Saudi Arabia needs to be diplomatically convinced on stopping they're selling of arms and weapons to terrorist
groups such as ISIL
- UN along with other NGO’s need to be more involved in the creation of a permanent cease-fire
- USA and Russia must consider the extent of real democracy and must ask what the people of the ME want,
according to such ideas, the government must be willing to collaborate with the UN and especially EU and
NonEU countries, including China and USA.
VIII. Sources
http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=56418
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-germany-idUSKCN0UX1NG
https://www.state.gov/j/cso/
https://books.google.it
http://www.charneyresearch.com/classification/conflict-resolution-stabilization/
http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/rethinking-the-u.s.-military-role-in-the-middle-east
https://theglobalobservatory.org/2014/12/united-nations-peacekeeping-peacebuilding-stabilization/
https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/eastern-mediterranean/syria/steps-toward-stabilisingsyria-s-northern-border
http://www.globalissues.org/article/119/the-middle-east-conflict-a-brief-background
http://www.jstor.org/stable/20451780?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/content/99/1/208.full
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/06/
the_real_root_cause_of_the_conflict_in_the_middle_east.html
http://www.thedebate.org/thedebate/iraq.asp
http://www.globalresearch.ca/syria-ceasefire-agreement-in-astana-turkey-russia-iranestablish-a-trilateral-mechanism/5571989