Minorities between mediator and State

Rome,11/03/13- On Saturday, the Security Council began discussing the working-paper. Togo, Luxembourg and France are the sponsors and Argentina , Azerbaijan, Russian Federation, Rwanda, and UK are the signatories. The main idea is to create a group of people who will have to be the mediators between the State and its minorities. Countries like the Republic of Korea and Azerbaijan requested France to be more precise about the working paper which seemed to be , in their opinion , rather abstract and elusive.

Pakistan , China and UK agreed with the idea that this kind of proposition is on too much of an intervenist level. They emphasized that territorial integrity should be respected. They think that the only way to reduce the problems surrounding minorities problems is to bestow them with their own autonomy. Also, Pakistan proposed an amendment which followed the idea that the minorities should be integrated in the administration and in the power of the country in order to be heard. The ultimate goal would be to pass from assimilation to the association.

Australia didn't agree with the working-paper because they thought about a military intervention in order to give strong power to those mediators. As we all saw, the weather today was wonderful so, an Australian delegate, who didn't feel listening, decided to leave the negociations and certainly go visit Rome.

Morocco didn't follow the plan. As we know Sharawi from « western Sahara » has been stating their right to autonomy for 50 years, a right which the government has expressly rejected . That's why they don't want any assistance from, the United Nations in this regard.

In the end the main questions were about the aftermath of that project. The draft-paper was finally accepted by the chairs. France had 2 minutes to introduce that to the floor. Now, it's time to put modifications and vote, as the delegate of Azerbaijan said : « Everybody should propose their amendments, please try not to abuse of your power, try to be constructive ».

 

Yesterday, the SC continued to discuss about self-determination. A Draft resolution has been presented and lot of emendments were added by different countries. One of them presented an emendment in order “to condemn secessionist movements that are opposed to international law and the Charter of the UN”, but it did not pass.

Then, countries voted the final resolution proposed by France, Togo, and Azerbaijan, and it was approved with 3 against, 3abstentions and 9 in favor.

Some countries such as Pakistan voted in favour because they agreed too some emedements added such as integration of minorities into administration proposed by chinese delegation.

DANNEAUX Clémence, DE LA TULLAYE Angélique , PELLOILLE Océane ( Al-Jazeera)