TED ANTALYA
MODEL UNITED
NATIONS
2017
GENERAL ASSEMBLY – I
CHAIR REPORT
LETTER OF THE SECRETARIAT
DISTINGUISHED PARTICIPANTS, ESTEEMED MUN DIRECTORS,
It is our utmost honor and pleasure to genially invite you to participate in the
second TED Antalya Model United Nations Conference which will take place
from 27 to 30 April 2017, in Antalya, Turkey.
As many of you know, TAMUN'16 was a great success for which we worked very
hard and we intend to make TAMUN'17 even better. With participants from all
over Turkey, we expect to provide you with more in depth debates, more
culturally diverse discussions and an even deeper sense of satisfaction on the
outcome. We invite you to enjoy Antalya's hospitality, our conference venue and
our school campus along with the energy and motivation of our TAMUN'17
Executive Board. We are eager to make the conference a huge success.
Our main aim is to raise awareness among high school students on the tough
problems the world faces today and to use diplomacy to shape the solutions. The
MUN experience will provide the basis for our Future Leaders, something we as
TAMUN want to be a part of. The TAMUN'16’s theme was “The consensus for
the new generation”, TAMUN'17’s theme will be “Designing our Future”.
Foreseeing where we are headed and the (irreversible) damage we are causing, it
is time to take precautions now! We will have five General Assembly committees,
an ECOSOC committee, a Historical Committee, and a Security Council. Please
bear in mind that only experienced delegates should attend the Historical
Committee and the Security Council, since their formats are very different from
General Assembly committees and students should be very familiar with the
procedures of GA committees first.
We have worked hard to present TAMUN’17’s participants a productive and
satisfying conference experience which you will never forget. We are looking
forward to seeing you there. May we never forget that the strength we need to
make any change comes with unity, thus, it’s time for us to DEDICATE
OURSELVES TO BEING UNITED.
Mete Erdoğan
Secretary General
Tayga Eraybar
Secretary General
Mehmet Durmaz
Deputy Secretary-General
Taylan Adem Ulusoy
President of the General Assembly
Can Araz
Deputy Secretary-General
TOPIC I: PREVENTING THE PLACEMENT AND USAGE OF
WEAPONS IN OUTER SPACE AND PROHIBITING THE USE
OF ANTI-SATELLITE WEAPONS.
CHAIR: İMGE DOĞA ÖZDEN
Dearest Delegates;
As the president chair of General Assembly Committee 1, I am honored to welcome
you all to the 2nd annual TED Antalya Model United Nations Conference. My name is
İmge, and I’m 11th grader International Bachaloria student in TED Ankara College.
It is my second year in TED Ankara College High School Politics& Diplomacy Club
and TAMUN’17 will be my first ever chairing experience. I’m hoping for not only
educative but also fairly entertaining sessions in our committee, since most of the
delegates attending to TAMUN will be beginners, I personally believe that me and my
co-chairs Baran and Uygar are responsible for your first impressions to the
astonishing world of MUN.
If you have any qıuestions in your minds, not only during the conference but also
before the arrival, please do not hasitate to receive our contact information from the
dearest organization team of the TAMUN’17 (which you can contact from the website
tamun.net) and ask anything you would like to about the prosedure, the chair reports
and the topics.
I can’t wait to meet you all and wish you an efficient process of preperation.
I. INTRODUCTION:
With the technological improvements in every area, including space opened a
new page for countries to explore the outer space. This need of exploration led to the
implementation of certain international space laws and states to implement national
regulatory for the use of space. Officials define “outer space” as “the void that exists
between celestial bodies”. The United Nations opened a sub-branch, UNOOSA,
United Nations Office of Outer Space, to implement such law and control them
regularly. In order to protect and preserve outer space, including the aforementioned
celestial bodies, international space law was implemented. This law consists of several
treaties, conventions, which the Member States have ratified. It mostly addresses the
safety of the orbit, prohibition of such damage via biological or nuclear weaponry,
rescue of astronauts and freedom of exploration.
The flaws of the issue of outer space start with nations breaking the
international law, militarization of space, anti-satellite programs, and the lack of
utilization of space despite the law. In this chair report, you will be provided with the
overview of the issue, the countries and bodies that tackles the issue and outer space
as a whole, the aforementioned flaws and their depictions, treaties and conventions on
outer space legislations for you to understand the issue better and know the already
existing actions/steps, key term definitions and the problems on breaking the
legislations on outer space and international space law, that human kind has faced
throughout the history, including incidents. In the end of the chair report, you will
find appendix and relative links that may help you take your research further.
I.
OVERVIEW:
1.1 Relevant Actors and Bodies
China
The People's Republic of China plays a crucial role when it comes to space
laws. China's space program has existed since the 1050s and is directed by the China
National Space Administration (CNSA). The national space law was initially drafted
in the 1990s contains two ministerial regulations: the measures to be taken for the
Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space and the Interim Measures of
Licensing the drafted and accepted Projects of Launching Civil Space Objects (CSO).
The accepted projects of China are listed as launching "Space Transportation
Systems", "Satellites" and "Space Station and Manned Space Flight". Space
Transportation System is mostly about launching objects to the space orbit, whereas
Satellites aim to provide various data including meteorology, disaster prevention, and
oceanology. PRC's space laws are mostly towards international cooperation in space
and are outlined in a White Paper submitted in 2011.
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
This sub-branch of the United Nations aims to provide cooperation in the use and
exploration of space whilst keeping it utilized. The Office assist the Member States to
establish legal frameworks for governing space and helps every country to use space
technology above their capacity. It also serves as the secretariat of the UN committee:
United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). It also
implements the responsibilities under international space law.
UNOOSA currently has a 24-hour hotline and emergency programs and is
responsible for preparation of reports and publications on several fields of space and
its laws. It was established in 1958, initially created as a small expert unit.
The United States of America
U.S domestic space law has existed since 1958. Formerly, known as National
Aeronautics and Space Act (NASA Act). This act has created the NASA. The 1984
Commercial Space Launch Act is responsible for facilitating commercial space
launch, such as providing commercial human spaceflight etc. Most of the domestic
space law of the U.S. government has the basic rules of the international space law
and the five treaties and agreements.
The U.S. is well known for its previous attempts on launching various satellites, space
objects and even commercial flights to space. It is one of the most dedicated countries
when it comes to using high technology for the exploration of space.
Russian Federation
Soviet Russia is known to make the first steps of exploring the outer space. The
current Law of Russian Federation aims to provide regulations for space activities
and potential explorations with technology and space science.
Space activity is
defined as any activity immediately connected with operations to explore the outer
space and use of it. It includes a navigation via satellites and any kind of usage of
space technology.
In addition to their National Space Law, Russian Federation is also ratified and have
full accession to the international space law and makes their research and launching
any kind of space object. Despite the dedication to the international space law, in 2014
May, Russian Federation launched into space a space object, 2014-28E, which was
part of a communication satellite. However, in November, the object moved to a new
orbit and reconnected with the rocket that launched it. This action was not in the
agreement of that specific object. This made some professionals think whether it was
a weapon.
European Union
European Commission, with cooperation o the European Space Agency is
responsible for managing the space policy in EU. The policy mainly divides into 4
sections.
Earth
observation
system
(Copernicus),
Satellite
programs
(EGNOS/Galileo), space explorations and space research. None of the aims contradict
with the international space law and treaties. The applications of these sections can be
shortened as urban planning, tourism, health, navigation, transportation, rescue
operations, aviation, traffic control etc. European Union's main aim on constantly
improving space explorations is to maintain access to space.
National space law of EU is composed of the Treaty on the Functioning of the
European Union- Article 189 (space policy). Despite the fact that EU has a
mechanical law system, which hardly gives lacking points, one of the challenges is
commercial and innovation ones. Europe shall achieve an independent technology
and security to maintain an independent and free access to space to explore.
ISWI
International Space Weather Initiative is an international cooperation program
that aims to have a progress on the space weather, mainly by achieving free access to
analyzing, instrument deploying and interpreting. It also aims to communicate the
results to the public. ISWI’s aim is to share the explorations upon space weather to
the public, students, professionals, and it gives workshops in several countries to
actually achieve this goal. It currently has several satellites and space objects in the
orbit, which all are approved, licensed and inspected under the discretion of
UNOOSA.
Norway
According to the National Space Law in Norway, Act of launching objects from
Norwegian territory etc. into outer space, is it forbidden to launch any kind of objects
into outer space from any Norwegian territory, aircraft or areas in which no
sovereignty of any nation exists yet launching is done by a Norwegian, without the
permission from the Ministry of Norway. If done so, the "launcher" is given a
punishment of specific amount of fine or getting in prison for maximum 3 months.
Norway is currently using 2 main satellites, which are AISSat-1 and AISSat-2.
These satellites are responsible for detecting the location of ships. AISSat-1 was the
first ever satellite to monitor in real time.
1.2 Evaluation of Other Issues
Anti-Satellite Weapon (ASAT)
ASAT is a space weapon designed to destroy satellites, mainly for military
purposes. Initially, United States of America and USSR were using missiles since the
1950s. There are approximately 950 operating satellites in the orbit of the Earth,
providing information to us upon different subjects, whether it is communication,
traffic, economy etc.
There are so many risks of these ASAT weapons. Starting from the
environmental damage it will cause in the space by creating a mass of space debris.
Although in 1967, Outer Space Treaty was signed by all countries, which prohibits
the launching of space weapons, the probability never disappeared. However, it does
not specifically prohibit attacks on satellites, it just prohibits nuclear and biological
weapons that can cause damage to the Earth orbit. In 2008, Russian Federation and
PR China drafted a treaty, the Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons
in Outer Space. It is not fully accepted and is still in the investigation and passing
process yet if it is to be signed, it would make a huge change on limiting ASAT
weapons.
Finally, with the 2010 EU Code of Conduct, which was drafted by the EU
itself, put a huge step of limiting these weapons, by suggesting refraining any
international damage to space yet nations being responsible for prevention of
harming. Also, development of ASAT weapons would not be strained, but they would
be prohibited to use. In order to achieve a peaceful atmosphere whilst working in a
unity, humankind should increase global security and take nuclear weapons off alert,
for a sustainable future.
Militarization of Space
The militarization of space is any kind of placement or launching of arms or
military technology in space. The United States and the Soviet Union can be given as
examples, initially launching missiles in the mid 20th centuries. This issue has been a
critical issue on the agenda of UN DISEC.
Excluding the weaponry, space has
already been militarized since the firs launching of a satellite. Militaries are using
satellites to give/take commands, communicate, detect location etc. in which they are
not breaking any treaties.
Since the beginning of this debate, professionals are insisting on a
international treaty concerning only prevention of these arms that may lead to
militarization and destruction of space orbit. One of the most controversial issues on
this topic is the “defense” mechanism. Missile defense allows the “launcher” to
develop technologies under any kind of title of “defense”, and by doing so; it can
intentionally step into dominance in space.
Utilization of Outer Space
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPOUS) is one of the most
important sub-bodies on governing and inspecting the exploration of the outer space
whilst taking its beneficial sides such as; peace, security, scientific development. It
encourages space programs, explorations, research, enhancing of tourism, economy,
and security, and studies legal problems due to the outer space. In order to utilize the
outer space, some precautions shall be taken. The number and directions of satellites
should be reported, no unidentified object without permission should be launched
and no object should be harmed in this process. These steps require international
cooperation and the international space law needs to be fulfilled.
Financing of Space Activities and Investments
Space activities can be several things such as space explorations, space in-flight
in order to enhance space tourism, launching satellites etc. These kinds of jobs
require a budget and the scale can sometimes show high numbers. This is where
investments and financing from big companies, public and governments take place.
Private investments are one of the most popular ways of financing these activities.
Once the required equipment is settled, the remained fund goes directly for the
exploration that will be started in the space debris. Mutual funds are also a way to
invest in space activities. The investment yields money from distribution and will go
directly to the activity. In order to maintain the exploration in space and use that
technology for the world, and our investments are a must.
Use of Space Technology
Space technology is the technology developed from the space science, and may
include objects such as satellites, space stations, space equipment and spacecraft. In
this very moment we are living in, space technology is already been used in most of
the places we live. For example, in 2016, NASA scientists cooperated with a company
to develop a hearth to turn waste products into raw petroleum. By maintaining the
explorations to space, discovering the undiscovered, we, day by day, start using space
technology in our daily lives and make our lives easier. Indeed, it takes time,
dedication, economical factors, yet it is worthy when it is about our world, slowly
losing its sustainable sources.
Space Mining
Space mining is exploitation of some materials, preferably raw, from different
space objects. Minerals, metals, certain gasses can be obtained from the asteroids in
space. The products obtained from space mining can and are used in modern
industry, and even food production. Some elements, like Phosphorus, can be obtained
as well, and can be a good source to build solar-power satellites. The mining can be
done to the surface of the space object, which would damage the object less, or it can
be a shaft mining, and can go through the object, thus has the bigger chance of
causing severe damage to the object or can even destroy it.
There have been several big proposed projects since the exploration of outer
space, yet the hype has been increasing since the mid 2012s. Nearly 4 big projects
have been proposed to NASA, which required approximately $1 million for each
project. Even if these projects would have come to life, certain regulations would be
done, according to the Outer Space Treaty, the Moon Agreement etc.
1.3 Treaties and Initiatives
Outer Space Treaty (1967):
It is largely based on usage and exploration of outer space without damaging it
and keeps it utilized. It is responsible for providing the basic framework of
international space law, including its exploration, not associated with one Member
State but be free for usage of all States, not placing any kind of nuclear weaponry or
such mass destruction arms in orbit and such.
Currently, 104 countries are ratified to the Treaty yet 24 countries, such as
Colombia, Central African Republic, Iran, Jordan, and Rwanda, have signed yet did
not ratify the Treaty. The Treaty bans biological, nuclear and chemical weapons et no
other space weapons are banned.
Rescue Agreement (1968):
The legal Subcommittee and mainly aims to detect every astronaut and it makes
States take full responsibility of the astronaut of that nation to rescue and assist, with
the responsibility of returning them to the State. It can be easily seen as a “rescue
plan” for the objects and astronauts in the space with giving the Member States full
responsibility of their launching objects and astronauts.
Liability Convention (1972):
It is a Convention on International Liability for damage caused by space objects.
It provides that the launching State of a space object shall take full responsibility of
paying compensation for damage caused by that specific object. The Convention also
holds a light for the settlement of claims for that damage.
It is specified that if that object is launched to the orbit by two states, which work
together, both Member States are responsible and liable for the damage. Currently,
89 Member States have ratified the Convention, 22 have signed yet not ratified.
Moon Agreement (1979):
This agreement mainly focuses on celestial bodies being protected and not
disrupted by any kind of man-made objects and such. It also suggests that the Moon
and its resources are the common heritage of the mankind, thus shall be protected as
an international unity rather that having national laws upon them.
Most of the Economically Developed Countries such as The United States of
America, People's Republic of China, the United Kingdom, Russian Federation and
Germany have not ratified to the Agreement.
1.4 Key Terms

Outer Space: According to the written reports, outer space is the near vacuum
between celestial bodies that contains all of the planets, stars, galaxies and other
objects.

Celestial Body: According to the Astronomists, the definition of a celestial body is any
natural body outside the Earth’s atmosphere. This definition is applicable for Moon,
Sun, any kind of asteroids.

International Space Law: According to the UNOOSA reports, international space law
or space law, is described as the body of law upon space. It comprises of international
agreements, treaties, conventions and several passed resolutions.

ITSO: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization is an organization,
which aims to ensure providing public telecommunications services, including voice,
data, and video. It currently has 149 Member States.

IMSO: International Mobile Satellite Organization is an organization whose purpose
is ensuring the safety and security of certain public satellite communication services
provided by mobile satellite communication systems.

ITU: The International Telecommunication Union is a specialized agency of the
United Nations, whose primary aim is to ensure the maintenance of information and
communication technologies.

APSCO: Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization is a forum, which aims to
promote and strengthen developments on space exploration and take effective action
on the protection of outer space. It currently has 10 projects on satellites.
II.
SPECIFIC ANALYSIS ON RELEVANT CONFLICTS AND
PROBLEMS
 Cosmos 954
Cosmos 954 was a Soviet nuclear-powered satellite, which has the aim of
surveillance. The satellite crashed in the Territories of Northwest and scattered a
large amount of radioactivity over a 124 000 square kilometer are, mostly in the
northern areas of Canada. The aftermath was the cleaning of it by USA and Canada.
Although the cleaning process was done by 1078, only 0.1% of COSMOS 954's power
source could have been recovered. The lesson we have all learned from Cosmos 954
accident is that we are obliged to obtain a federal nuclear emergency preparedness
and a response plan to overcome such accidents that may occur in the future. The
crash raised international policy questions.
 USA 193
In December 2006, US operatives have launched a disabled spy satellite, USA 193.
The governments of China and Russia have seriously criticized the operation since it
contained hydrazine fuel, which could harm the orbit it is launched. Russia claimed
that it was a cover to test anti-satellite technology under the U.S defense program yet
the U.S government has objected such claim. The satellite malfunctioned hours after
the deployment. The object made it to the space orbit yet lost connection after so.
Two years later, it was detected and according to the officials, it was expected to
crash onto Earth within weeks. The destruction project was approved by February
2008, and in the same month, an SM-3 missile was fired and destroyed the toxic
satellite.
 Project A119
In 1958, U.S Air Forces developed a plan, which was a top- secret file at the time,
“Study of Lunar Research Flights”. It was to launch a nuclear bomb on the Moon.
The project was never proceeded, mainly because of the negative comeback from the
public. It was also seen as the militarization of space, which would also break the
International Space Law. The canceled project can be seen as a "power show"
between the U.S government and Soviet Union. Since the Cold War, the Soviet Union
had seemed to step further in the "Space Industry" and U.S Air Force demanded its
superiority. The consequences would be inevitable if the project came to life. As it
was a nuclear bomb, it would damage most of the lunar orbit, causing nearly half of
the Moon to be gone and the remains of the explosion to strike to the Earth orbit and
crash onto Earth. It would also spread radioactivity to the orbit.
 China Anti-Satellite Missile Test
The test was conducted in January 2007; a Chinese meteorology satellite was
crushed and destroyed by a vehicle also sent by the People's Republic of China. It
caused a lot of tension between nations because it would violate the basic
international space law, which China had a big part constructing it. However, China
claimed that they have formally informed the United States of America, Japan, the
United Kingdom and other related countries about the test that they will perform.
The vehicle that was used to destroy the satellite was said to have the same program
and construction as nuclear weaponry. Some nations had negative responses,
considering the tests militarization of space. The remains of the satellite also form
space debris, which stays there many years and pollutes the space. Exactly a year
later, the debris that existed as a result of the test of China passed close by the
International Space Station. This could damage the station and caused an
unsettlement between nations if it did so.
III. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
As mentioned and defined in the report, outer space is a controversial issue
considering that it does not belong to one nation yet it could be used as every single
one of them. The main requirement that should be taken into consideration is to not
to violate international space law or any national space law. The main problems that
will draw the path will be the problems that the report states in the evaluation of
other issues. The legislations on outer space do not fully cover those issues and they
are vital problems to be conducted to solve the issue. NGOs, UN-cooperative bodies,
UNOOSA, UN-Space, and also National Space Systems plays a huge role in the issue.
IV.
USEFUL LINKS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

http://www.apsco.int/

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2690/1

www.unoosa.org/pdf/gadocs/A_55_20E.pdf

https://www.uakron.edu/dotAsset/4acf6020-02f6-4cd8-aa19-416a0303ad10.pdf
V.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/nationalspacelaw/index.html

http://swfound.org/media/95017/li-china_space_law_regulation-nov2012.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty

Heaps, Leo (1978). Operation Morning Light : Terror in our Skies : The True Story
of Cosmos 954. New York: Paddington Press Ltd. ISBN 0-7092-0323-3.

http://uscode.house.gov/download/annualhistoricalarchives/pdf/2010/2010usc51.pdf

http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/space-law#international

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=cellar:a690199a-1cae-4392-acc8007ee1a6db58

https://books.google.com.tr/books?id=VxqnITyrnHMC&pg=PA77&lpg=PA77&dq=n
orway+on+space+legislation&source=bl&ots=itm6KtHme1&sig=qcuu5dZa1dJzaWE
qK3Ky3TxCKrM&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=norway%20on%20spa
ce%20legislation&f=false

http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/resources/fact-sheets/critical-issues/5448-outerspace

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/Emerging_Space_Report.pdf
TOPIC II: Strengthening security and cooperation in the
Mediterranean region.
CHAIR: Uygar Eğilmez
Dear Delegates
First of all I would like to introduce myself. My name is Uygar Eğilmez and I
am from TED Bursa College. I am studying IB in 10th grade. TAMUN will be
my first chairing experience however I will show my efforts on being an effective
chair as much as I can.I might look serious in the debating sessions, however
trust me, besides diplomatic and serious talks, I am not going to miss any
entertainment in our committee.
From my last experiences about my chairs, I would like to be fair for all
delegates. For the beginners I am planning to create a friendly environment in
our committee as an example every delegate should communicate with every
delegate without hesitation. Considering debates, I am expecting you to have
satisfying, and passionate speeches while following your countries policies.
Respect among countries will be our first priority in our committee. The topic
“Strengthening security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region” is a
broad topic that might be hard to understand whole issues on agenda. However,
this report will be very useful for you all delegates in order comprehend the issue
and the topic.
Introduction
Mediterranean region which is included in our topic has been existed since the
born of the human kind. The region of Mediterranean is full of loam, water
sources and most importantly petrol. The ancient world was influenced by
Greek's philosophical concepts, and cultural ideas from Ancient Egypt,
Mesopotamia, Persia and Asia Minor. It was the location of all of the Seven
Wonders of the World. The first Olympiad was held here in 776 B.C.E... In
trade, it was the final destination of the Silk Road, goods delivered from the Far
East were distributed in the whole Mediterranean area by the commercial
network of the Phoenicians and the Carthaginians. It was the birthplace of
Christianity in the Ancient Kingdoms of Judah and Israel. The region was also
the starting point of the Renaissance, the humanistic movement that opened the
way out of the Dark Ages into modern times. At its’ centre were flourishing
conurbations,
Rome,
Florence,
Venice,
Athens, Constantinople, Jerusalem and Cairo. The Mediterranean was home to
great thinkers and artists: Aristotle, Plato, Cicero, Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci,
Michelangelo, Galileo, to name just some.
Also until the geographical discoveries, MediterraneanSea was the only sea for
overseas trades. Today, the importance of Mediterranean have never changed.
From Jerusalem to Spain, the importance of the region have brought lots of
problems with it.
During the first half of the twentieth century the Mediterranean was at the
center of the expansion of the Kingdom of Italy, and was one of the main areas of
battle during World War II between the Axis and the Allies. Post-world war
period was marked by increasing activity in the Eastern Mediterranean, where
naval actions formed part of ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict and Turkey
had occupied the northern part of Cyprus. Cold War tensions split the
Mediterranean into pro-American and pro-Soviet factions, with Turkey, Greece,
Spain, Italy and France being NATO members. Syria was socialist and a proSoviet regime, offering the Soviets a port for their navy from an agreement in
1971. Yugoslavia was Communist but in neither the Soviet nor American camps.
Egypt tilted towards the Soviets during the time of Nasser but then turned
towards American influence during the time of Sadat. Israel and Egypt both
received massive American military aid. American naval power made the
Mediterranean a base for the United States Sixth Fleet during the Cold war.
Today, the Mediterranean Sea is the southern border of the European
Union and represents one of the largest area by Trade in the World. The Maltese
prime minister described the Mediterranean Sea as a "cemetery" due to the
large amounts of migrants who drown there.
(Mediterranean region)
Due to the culture, economy, language
and religion, we can separate the
whole Mediterranean as Eastern and
Western Mediterranean.
Parties Involved
1- Eastern Mediterranean
The Eastern Mediterranean denotes the countries geographically to the east of
the Mediterranean Sea (Levantine Sea basin).
The Eastern Mediterranean is not only separated because of the geographic
reasons, they also have analogous shared cuisine, culture and history. Most of
the eastern countries are known by their oil resources and strategical points. The
wars haven’t been ending because of religion, race diversity and economic
reasons over these soils. These particular wars and conflicts endangers the
possibility of cooperation and strengthening security in Mediterranean region
generally.The countries and territories of the Eastern Mediterranean include:

Cyprus

Greece

Lebanon

Syria

Palestine

Israel

Turkey

Egypt

Jordan

Libya
Cyprus Conflict
Cyprus, owing to its strategic position, was throughout its history colonized by
some of the most influential colonial powers in the Eastern Mediterranean. In
1878 Britain was the last power to occupy Cyprus, taking over the island from
the Ottoman Empire. The Cypriots, Greeks and Turks alike, had for centuries
co-existed peacefully in mixed villages, towns and places of work.
The sparks between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots became a blaze in
December 1963 when the people start to act violently in the capital of Cyprus
which is Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN
peacekeepers in 1964, the violence continued
across the whole island which effected mostly
Turkish
side.
sponsoredattempt
president of
In
to
1974,
overthrow
Cyprus was
Governmentthe
met by
elected
military
intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island.
In 1983, by the help of Turkish army, Turkish Cypriots established a new
republic “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” however it is only recognized
by Turkey. A UN supported agreement plan which has been named by the
former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called “Annan Plan” failed in 2004. 10
years later, in 2014, the leaders of two communities resumed formal discussions
under UN apices aimed at reuniting the divided island. Talks were suspended
until May 2015. New selected Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı
restarted discussions with the Greek president Anastasiadis.The debate on
Cyprus conflict is still ongoing by the help of UN.
Syrian Civil War and Refugee Crisis
Arab spring or Arab summer have started in Tunisia and spread throughout
mostly Arabic countries. The result of Arab Spring was brutal. Libyan dictator
Gaddafi have been assassinated. Egypt government have overthrown by coup
d’état. Huge amount of protests occurred in Yemen and Civil War occurred. In
Bahrain, more than 100 people have been killed in the protests against
government and lastly the Syrian Civil war was the biggest destruction of that
transitional period.
The ongoing civil war was started by the protests of the civilians of Syria because
of the release of prisoned politicians by Bashar al-Assad. One year ongoing
protests set the scene for civil war. War wasn’t against just Assad, extremist
groups showed up in the warfare. Syria became a playground for ISIL, FSA,
Kurdish Groups, Hezbollah, and International Forces which includes NATO and
Russian forces.
More than 400.000 people died in Syrian Civil war
and more than 4.5 people migrated throught
neighbour countries as Lebanon, Jordan and
Turkey.
Humanitarian
support
was
sufficient
enough at the first stages of war. Yet, approximately
3 million refugees have become a trouble for
Turkey’s economy and social standards. Camps near borders couldn’t hold that
much refugees so Turkish government decided to free refugees that they could
spread around all Turkey and they could be beneficial for Turkish economy.
Also they could pass through Europe and the monkey on one's back, was going
to decrease. Nevertheless, Europe was assertive about the number of refugees
that they are going to take. So, more than 6000 refugees have died in the Aegean
Sea while trying to pass through Greek islands illegally.
Palestine and Israel Conflict
In 1947, the United Nations (U.N.) proposed a Partition Plan for Palestine titled
“United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 (II) Future Government of
Palestine.” The resolution noted Britain’s planned termination of the British
Mandate for Palestine and recommended the partition of Palestine into two
states, one Jewish and one Arab, with the Jerusalem-Bethlehem area protected
and administered by the United Nations.
Jewish leadership accepted the Partition Plan but Arab leaders rejected it. The
Arab League threatened to take military measures to prevent the partition of
Palestine and to ensure the national rights of the Palestinian Arab population.
One day before the British Mandate expired, Israel declared its independence
within the borders of the Jewish State set out in the Partition Plan. The Arab
countries declared war on the newly formed State of Israel beginning the 1948
Arab-Israeli War.
After the war, which Palestinians call the
Catastrophe,
the
1949
Armistice
Agreements established the separation
lines between the combatants: Israel
controlled some areas designated for the
Arab state under the Partition Plan, Transjordan controlled the West Bank and
East Jerusalem, and Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip.
Since 1949 Israel soils have increased two times than the expected. Gaza have
been occupied by Israel more than 4 times in 21thcentury.Second, Israel’s
continued military occupation and confiscation of privately owned land in the
West Bank, and control over Gaza, are extremely oppressive, with Palestinians
having minimal control over their livesThousands of Palestinian men, women,
and children are held in Israeli prisons. Few of them have had a legitimate trial;
Physical abuse and torture are frequent. Palestinian borders (even internal ones)
are controlled by Israeli forces. Periodically men, women, and children are strip
searched; people are beaten; women in labor are prevented from reaching
hospitals food and medicine are blocked from entering Gaza, producing an
escalating humanitarian crisis. Israeli forces invade almost daily, injuring,
kidnapping, and sometimes killing inhabitants.
2- Western Mediterranean
Western Mediterranean region includes
European and North African countries
apart from Egypt.
connected
to
the
Mediterranean Sea is
Atlantic
Ocean
by
the Strait of Gibraltar which is linked to UK
so the Brexit decision will have influence on
that region too.On the other hand, the
region is more silent and secured than
Eastern coasts, however due to historic
reasons, some diplomatic conflicts are still progressing and will progress between
countries.
The Western Mediterranean Countries are:

Gibraltar

Spain

France

Monaco

Italy

Slovenia

Croatia

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Montenegro

Albania





Libya
Malta
Tunisia
Algeria
Morocco
Refugee Crisis between Italy and Tunisia
More than 106,000 migrants have attempted to make the perilous boat crossing
to Europe from Libya to Italy this year. They are
fleeing war, persecution and poverty in the
Middle East and Africa, and are willing to risk
everything for the dream of a better life in
Europe. Unscrupulous Libyan smugglers, taking
advantage of their desperation, charge anywhere
from $750 to $3500 apiece for a place on a boat
they say is headed to Italy. But in most cases the
vessels are unseaworthy and overstuffed. The
smugglers provide barely enough fuel to make it to
international waters, and then abandon the boats, and
http://time.com/refugee-rescue/
their passengers, to their fate. If it were not for a multi-national rescue effort
made up of international navies, humanitarian aid agencies, commercial vessels
and various coast guards, most of those migrants would die. As it is, at least
2,726 have died this year already, more than the total for all of 2015.
Rising Tension for Ceuta and Melilla
Ceuta and Melilla are the only land borders
of European Union in North Africa. These
little parts of Spain are located in the coast of
Morocco. In 2002 Moroccan and Spanish
army forces clashed in the Parsley Island
which
near
Ceuta.
After
5
years
of
diplomatic negotiations between Morocco and Spain, Spain’s King Juan Carlos
reignited Moroccan claims of sovereignty.But in fact, the tiny Spanish territory
that lies just 18 miles across the water from Gibraltar in North Africa. While
Morocco claims Ceuta as its own, Spain has no intention of giving up the exclave.
The exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla also had security problems due to the
immigrants who want to migrate to Europe throughMelilla and Ceuta. In order
to prevent this African refugee accumulation across the borders of these cities,
Spain have used 20 feet barbed-wire fencing and high-tech camera security
which cost over 30 million euros over borders. Also to sustain the security, Spain
has been using few helicopters around borders.The citizens of Ceuta and Melilla,
are now living in fortress. About 75,000 people live behind the fences in both
towns, eating Moroccan fish, fruit and vegetables.
BREXIT’s Effect On Gibraltar
British Overseas Territory located on the southern end of the Iberian
Peninsula. It has an area of 6.7 km2 (2.6 sq mi) and shares its northern
border with Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region.
At
its
foot
is
a
densely
populated
30,000 Gibraltarians and other nationalities.
The sovereignty of Gibraltar is
a major point of contention in
Anglo-Spanish
relations
as
Spain asserts a claim to the
city
area,
home
to
over
(BBC)
territory. Gibraltarians overwhelmingly rejected proposals for Spanish
sovereignty in a 1967 referendum and again in 2002. Under the Gibraltar
constitution of 2006, Gibraltar governs its own affairs, though some powers, such
as defence and foreign relations, remain the responsibility of the British
government.
If there is one place in UK that definitely don’t want to leave European Union,
that will be Gibraltar. From %96 votes against Brexit, the UK and EU are trying
to find a solution for “The Rock of Gibraltar” by the reason of Gibraltar’s
economy is depended on tourism, gambling, financial services and shipping
hinged on European citizens.
Proposed Solutionsfor the Whole Mediterranean Region
All States of the Mediterranean region that have not yet done so to adhere to all
the multilaterally negotiated legal instruments related to the field of
disarmament, should create the necessary conditions for strengthening peace
and cooperation in the region.
Security and stability in the Mediterranean also depend on the conduct of an
implacable campaign against the illicit trade in small arms, which exacerbates
conflicts and encourages terrorism and transnational crime. All Mediterranean
member states should strengthen their cooperation about fighting for Terrorism
and extremist or nationalist groups without any discrimination.
All Mediterranean member states must be wilful in order to work cooperatively
about finding and maintaining human needs pursuant to human rights by the
help of UNHRC. Also respect and greater understanding among cultures will
contribute to the human rights implemention for refugees, enhancing peace,
security and cooperation among Mediterranean countries.
Mediterranean countries might find solution to terrorism and illegal activities
through strengthen further their cooperation in combating terrorism, in all its
forms and
Manifestations, which poses a serious threat to peace, security and
stability in the region and therefore to the improvement of the
current political, economic and social situation.
All countries should investigate and prosecute trafficking gangs who exploit
refugees and migrants, and put people’s safety above all else.
“Financially broke” is how Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees, described UN agencies in September 2015. Wealthy countries quite
simply aren’t keeping their high-profile promises to fund aid for refugees
abroad.
For example, the UN has received less than half the funding it needs to support
Syria’s 4 million refugees. This is now forcing 80% of refugees living outside
camps in Jordan to do dangerous, degrading jobs or send their children out to
beg.
Prospects for closer Euro-Mediterraneancooperation in allspheres can be
enhancedbypositivedevelopmentsworldwide, in particular in Europe, in
theMaghreb (NorthwestAfrica) and in theMiddle East.
Bibliography
 http://www.iai.it/sites/default/files/iaiwp1542.pdf
 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26116868
 http://ifamericaknew.org/cur_sit/invasions-articles.html
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Mediterranean_region#L
ate_Middle_Ages
 http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/Mediterranean-RegionMap.htm
 http://www.hillmanwonders.com/mediterranean_cruise/z_maps/map_
medi_divider.gif
 http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/highcom/london.nsf/hcrcl07_en/hcrcl07_e
n?OpenDocument
 http://time.com/refugee-rescue/
 https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/new/images/stories/PDF/statistics/2009/A
bstract%20of%20Statistics%20Report%202009%20Website.pdf
 http://www.unhcr.org/protection/operations/5592bd059/sea-routeeurope-mediterranean-passage-age-refugees.html
 http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/51/ares51-50.htm
TOPIC III: Measures to prevent sectarian violence in conflict
zones
CHAIR: Baran Bedirhan Bıçak
INTRODUCTION
Sectarian violence and sectarian strife is a form of social violence inspired
by sectarianism, that is, between different denominations of one particular type
of ideology or religion within a nation or community. Religious apartheid often
plays a role in sectarian violence. Moreover sectarian violence is between two or
added unofficial groups which have different ideology or belief.
Historical Development
In Christianity the Reformation movement of the 16th century was
Protestantism, a new type of Christianity, sweep across Western Europe. The
various leaders of these emerging groups had beliefs and ideologies which were
not in keeping with the practices and belief systems of the traditional Catholic
Church of Rome. There was considerable public support for this movement in
Scotland, once a predominantly Catholic country. Protestantism was later
adopted by the state as Scotland’s national religion with various strands and
movements emerging over time.
The 17th and 18th century saw conflict between the Jacobite followers of
Catholic King James VII and the forces of King William and Queen Mary, who
took the throne in 1688 and were not Roman Catholics. In the 19th century the
prospect of Jacobite invasion declined, yet sectarian conflict continued as a result
of immigration of those who fled famine in Ireland.
In Islam this sectarian conflict has roots in the political turmoil arising out of
differences over the succession to Muhammad. Abu Bakr, a companion of
Muhammad, was nominated by Umar and elected as the first Sunni Rightly
Guided Caliph. However another group felt that Ali, the cousin and son
of Muhammad, had been designated by Muhammad and is considered by Shia
as the first Imam.
Timeline
Egypt’s sectarian strife started as far back as 1798, sparked by anger among the
majority Muslim population against a Christian businessman who was thought
to have financially supported French occupation forces. The following is a record
of the most important sectarian clashes in Egypt over the last 40 years.
6 November 1972
A group of Muslims stormed into a church in the Greater Cairo governorate of
Qalluibia and torched it, in the first serious sectarian crisis to hit this country in
modern times.
4 January 2000
At least 20 Christians killed in the southern village of Al Kosheh on New Year’s
Eve after a financial dispute between a Muslim and a Christian shopkeeper in
the village.
7 January 2010
Seven people killed by shooting outside a church in the southern town of Nagaa
Hamady after a Coptic Christmas Eve Mass.
1 January 2011
At least 21 people killed and more than 70 injured in the coastal city of
Alexandria in a bombing outside a Christian church as worshippers leave a New
Year service.
5 March 2011
Christian homes in the southern Cairo village of Soul are attacked by a mob of
Muslims who set fire to the Saint Mina and George Coptic Church.
30 September 2011
Clashes erupt between Muslim and Christian residents in the village of Al
Marinab in the southern Egyptian governorate of Aswan.
9 October 2011
Around 25 people killed and more than 300 injured in the centre of Cairo after
a protest over an attack on a church erupts into the worst violence since the 18day popular uprising against Egypt’s former ruler Hosni Mubarak in February.
In Iraq according to the UN reports over 6000 Iraqi civilians have been killed in
sectarian violence during the months of May and June alone. Average deaths per
day due to sectarian violence have risen to 100 per day, a jump of 77% from
January. UN officials as well as the Iraqi and American governments, along with
Shia Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and other religious leaders call for peace. An
overwhelming amount of the killings occurred in Baghdad. On the day the UN
report was released, 53 Shia were killed in a bombing in Kufa.
Sectarian Violence among Christians
Europeans wars of religion
In Europe there were two different types of beliefs in Christian community they
were Orthodox and Catholics. However in 17th and 18th centuries new type of
Christianity was formed in Western Europe which was Protestantism. Following
the onset of the Protestant Reformation, a series of wars were waged in Europe.
The wars called the Thirty Years War.
The Thirty Years War was a series of wars in Central Europe between 1618 and
1648, in which most of the European states were involved. It is one of the longest
and destructive wars of European history. At first, while in the Protestant and
Catholic city states that constituted the Holy Roman Empire, it gradually turned
into a broader conflict involving many of the great powers of Europe, a
continuation of the Franco-Habsburg conflict for European dominance over
religion.
Sectarian Violence among Muslims
The regional power struggle between Shias and Sunnis is evident throughout the
Middle East and has occurred in countries such as; Pakistan, Iraq, Syria,
Bahrain, Lebanon etc. This conflict dates back more than a thousand years and
stems from religious differences between the two sects. Moreover, Shia and
Sunni leadership capitalize on these differences to increase both their and their
groups’ sphere of power, prestige and influence.
Sectarian violence in Pakistan
Sectarian violence in Pakistan is attacks against people and places in Pakistan
motivated by antagonism toward the target's sect, usually religious groups.
Targets in Pakistan include the Sunni, Shia, Sufi, and the small Ahmadi, Hindu
and Christian religious groups.
The large majority victims have been members of the Shia sect of Islam who
comprise approximately 15 percent of the country’s population. Data from the
South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), shown in the graphic below, demonstrate
that there has been an upward trend in the number of individuals killed and
injured in sectarian attacks in Pakistan from 1989 to the 2014. In addition to
that in Pakistan where over 2000 people have been killed and 3500 injured in
sectarian attacks in the past five years.
What is noteworthy about the sectarian attacks in recent years is that they have
become increasingly deadly. In fact, the number of total sectarian incidents has
decreased.
Sectarian violence in Iraq
Sectarian violence in Iraq or the First the Iraqi Civil War is a recurrent
phenomenon throughout the history of the region, since the modern borders
of Iraq were mostly demarcated in 1920 by the League of Nations. When the
country was established immediately home to a variety of religious and cultural
groups with different beliefs and ideologies.
The most serious risks to Iraq's internal instability come from the overlapping
and interacting effects of renewed ethnic or sectarian conflict, on the one hand,
and an irreversible breakdown of the current constitutional order, on the other
hand either of these conflicts could arise along any of the major ideological
differences in Iraq between Shia-Sunni, Arab-Kurd, or
Intra-Shia.
Although Shia versus Sunni violence was the main driver of the calamitous 2003
to2008 civil war in Iraq, the risk of renewed conflict between these two sectarian
groups has lessened because they are no longer significantly intermingled in
population centers, making it difficult for one to attack the other. Also, when
terrorist attacks have occurred against Shia civilians often pilgrims conducted
by al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), the principal Shia groups have remained calm,
probably because they believe that the Sunnis cannot reverse their defeat in the
civil war. Nevertheless, it is possible that a highly successful al-Qaeda in Iraq
(AQI) campaign could encourage Shia rage to a point that regenerated or
impromptu militias would conduct large-scale retaliatory attacks against
perceived al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) safe havens in Sunni populated areas.
Potential Arab versus Kurd violence is also a major concern. The continuing
tensions between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the central
government in Baghdad over the contested territories could spark Arab Kurd
violence on a border that has had a temporary peace since the overthrow of the
Baghdadis regime in 2003. The establishment of the joint patrols by Kurdish
militias known as "Peshmerga" and Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) achieved in the
final days of the U.S. military presence in Iraq has greatly helped reduce
tensions.
Sectarian violence in Syria
Syria and its 22.5 million people are currently undergoing a destructive,
debilitating civil war that threatens to destroy the idea of non-sectarian, nonethnic Syrian citizenship; a vicious armed struggle that has exacerbated
sectarian divides and threatens to destroy the Syrian state.
The map above is mainly about the ethnic division in Syria. In Syria, the
country’s minority is Alawites, roughly 12 percent of the population, generally
supports the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as do the
country’s Christians which is the ten percent of the population and most Druze.
Opposition to the regime comes primarily from the country’s Sunnis, who make
up roughly 65 percent of the population. The Kurds, the remaining ten percent,
tend to be less interested in who runs the country than they are in securing their
own autonomy.
The Syrian conflict, which has aggravated divisions in the Islamic world with
Shia Iran supporting the Assad regime and Sunni nations, such as Saudi Arabia
supporting the opposition due to these ideological divisions the northern part of
the Syria has been struggling with civil war since 2011.
Syrian opposition groups formed the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and seized control
of the area surrounding Aleppo and parts of southern Syria. Over time, some
factions of the Syrian opposition split from their original moderate position to
pursue an Islamist vision for Syria, joining groups such as al Nusra Front and
ISIL. In the north, Syrian government forces largely withdrew to fight the FSA,
allowing the Kurdish YPG to move in and proclaim de facto autonomy. In 2015
the YPG joined forces with Arab, Assyrian, Armenian and some Turkmen
groups, to form the Syrian Democratic Forces, while most Turkmen groups
remained with the FSA. The factions receive substantial support from members
of the international community. Russia and Hezbollah militarily engage in
support of the government, while beginning in 2014, a coalition of NATO began
launching airstrikes against ISIL.
Sectarian violence in Myanmar
Background
The Rohingya, a highly persecuted Muslim group numbering over one million,
face discrimination both from their neighbors and their nation and are not
officially considered citizens by Myanmar’s government. Buddhist nationalist
groups, including the anti-Muslim 969 Movement, regularly call for boycotts on
Muslim shops and the expulsion of Muslims from Myanmar, and encourage
attacks on Muslim communities.
Violence and tensions between Buddhist and Muslim communities continue in
Myanmar's Rakhine State. Tens of thousands of Rohingya have fled the country,
and the UN estimates that around 120,000 Rohingya remain internally displaced
in Rakhine. Following an attack on a security post along the Bangladeshi border
in October 2016 that killed nine police officers, there has been a significant
uptick in violence in Rakhine. The army responded by cracking down on
unarmed Muslim civilians, causing thousands to flee and more than forty
people to be killed.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
First of all in religions there are different communities such as; in Islam there
are two major communities and they are Shias and Sunnis or in Christianity
there are Protestantism, Catholicism and Orthodoxy. Despite their belief in the
same religion plus every community lives in a different place, there is sectarian
violence between them. Hence countries such as Iraq or Myanmar should find a
common point between two groups.
UN has already founded neutral areas in some countries such as in Syria there is
an UN protected city for Christians. However we need more neutral areas
especially in borders.
In education we should not give a religious education. Since it might cause,
children have prejudice to other religion.
Furthermore we should give lessons of “How a person should be” in order to
make children who are the future of us, more respectful to other ideologies or
religions.
Bibliography
 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14546763
 http://www.npr.org/2007/02/12/7280905/chronology-a-history-of-the-shiasunni-split
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nehginpao-kipgen/resolving-myanmarssectar_b_4314247.html
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/sectarian-violence/