Sample Position Papers

As a country still recovering from the aftermath of a civil war fueled by the exploitation of natural resources, the Republic of Angola recognizes the role natural resources play in stimulating conflicts, the uses of sanctions by the United Nations for the purpose of minimizing their effects as much as possible, and the ability for others nations to either help enforce or help violate said sanctions. While Angola supports the uses of sanctions (place upon groups that are abusing natural resources with the purpose of continuing warfare) as a temporary, short term solution, we also express a hope for the implement of new policies and systems that prevent forces from exchange resources for arms but do not require the new amount of monitoring and enforcement that sanctions need to succeed.

In 1993, after eighteen years of bloodshed within Angola, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 864, which called for an arms and oil embargo to be placed on the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). While the United Nations hoped it would end the war, Resolution 864 and Resolution 1173 (passed in 1998, placing a diamond sanction on UNITA) was insufficient in ending the fighting as they continued to mine “conflict diamonds” and exchange them for arms. In 1998 alone, the UNITA was able to evade the sanctions and sell 300 million dollars worth of diamonds. Finally in 2000, the Security Council Sanction Committee piled a report that lists at least ten African countries that were trading with the UNITA and began work on dismantling the illegal trade. In 2002, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola signed a peace treaty to end the war and later that year, the Security Council lifted all sanctions placed on UNITA by passing Resolution 1448.

As seen by the twenty-seven year war fought within our country, Angola supports the use of sanctions (against groups that are abusing natural resources for the sake of war) in order to reduce their effects as quickly as possible, but we also realize, as shown through the substantial amount of violations and trading that continued even after sanctions were placed, that they require large amounts of monitoring and supervision so as to effectively prevent illegal trade and exchanges. In order to prevent any possible illegal trade of natural resources should a conflict occur, the world requires a certification system; such as the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) who verify the origin of diamonds (currently seventy-eight countries hold membership). Conceived in 2000 when Southern African diamond producing countries met in Kimberly, South Africa, the process was officially established when the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 61/28. Systems such as the Kimberly not only make illegal trade more difficult but they also help boost the economy but preventing smugglers from selling natural resources.

While the world as taken a step towards the prevention of diamond abuse, there are still many other natural resources that can fuel long conflicts. In order to secure a future where wars are no longer fed by illegal trade, we need more systems and programs that verify certifications, authenticity, and create a sense of order. By starting these processes today, we are securing a future where illegal trade and wars fueled by illegal trade can no longer function
The delegation from the Republic of Angola which like to reiterate its support for sanctions as a temporary solution to conflicts and crises that need immediate resolutions but hopes that the general assembly can come to an agreement that the world needs more certification processes so we can together built a future free of conflicts fueled by the mistreatment of natural resources.

Black Paper:

While the Republic of Angola supports the development of certification schemes aimed at disbanding illegal trade, which in effect would prevent the exploitation of natural resources in fueling armed conflicts. On a more national level, such certification schemes would greatly boost the economy of developing Angola. As our country continues to lose 375 million dollars each year attributable to diamond smugglers alone, such certification schemes would prevent Angola from losing further large amounts of capital that can be put into use to speed up the development of the economy of Angola. As a diamond certification scheme is already established, Angola looks toward to the institutionalization of other systems that apple to resources such as petroleum and additional minerals.

In the field of foreign relations (such as trade), Angola currently has economic ties with countries such as: the United States of America, the State of Israel, and the People’s Republic of China, to name a few. As Angola’s main priority is to promote their economic state, should the time come when minor disagreements arise, we the delegation would remind them how the advancement of our economy would have positive effects on the rest of the world. Should the time come when Angola strongly disagrees with other countries, we will aggressively remind them that our nation has just surpassed the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Africa’s number one oil producer, is currently the seventh largest crude oil supplier in the world, has strong economic relationships with the world’s two largest oil consumers (the largest oil supplier to the China and eighth largest supplier to the United States, among other exports), and have yet to utilize potential resources in our country (only 40% of diamond (Angola’s second largest industry) rich land have been explored). Not only would we remind others how much our economy has to offer, but would also call for support from the other eleven nations in OPEC (with whom Angola has strong economical ties with). Should Angola and OPEC disagree with the other members of the General Assembly regrading policies that not only benefit Angola but also the other members of OPEC; we would remind everyone that this organization (OPEC) contains the countries that are the world’s main oil supplies and as the oil industry continues to grow, the countries of OPEC would have a great deal of influence on the state of the world’s economy. The growth of our economy (through the stabilization and expansion of our industries) would promote numerous positive effects on the rest of the world as we will continue to build many strong economic relationships with other countries.

Sample 2

Delegation from: Republic of Congo
Committee: UN General Assembly (Historical - 1962)
Topic: 2. Chinese Representation at the United Nations

White Paper

Since the end of World War II, the United Nations has recognized the Republic of China (ROC) as the official party of China. The Republic of the Congo upholds the decision of the United Nations to recognize the ROC as the official representation of China and therefore opposes the Albanian Working Paper. In formulating its positions, Congo considers political stability and the protection of autonomous sovereignty to be of utmost priority. By allowing the ROC to maintain representation in the United Nations, the Republic of the Congo believes that they will be able to maintain control over their territory and will not face threat from surrounding nations.

Subsequently, allowing the People’s Republic of China (PRC) membership would cause unbalanced power in the UN, which the Republic of the Congo fears would affect our internal affairs. At the moment, the Republic of the Congo is in conflict with a rebel government based in Stanleyville, which is supported by the Soviet Union and other communist powers. While Congo believes the ROC to be no threat to our sovereignty, we do believe that the PRC would not be so considerate. The Republic of the Congo fears that the PRC would back the rebel government in Stanleyville, lending military and financial aid that would send our nation into civil war. The Republic of the Congo wishes to avoid bloodshed, and feels that the PRC would only cause our newborn nation more pain.

Many claim that neglecting PRC representation is wrong, as they are an independent, sovereign nation with an influential role to play in international negotiation. While the Republic of the Congo recognizes these beliefs, we believe it is equally wrong to eliminate a nation’s representation from the United Nations. Both nations claim to be the legitimate Chinese government, and it is subjective for the international community to denounce one under the other. Historically speaking, the ROC was one of the founding members of the United Nations and has contributed to the expansion of peace and diplomacy in the aftermath of World War II. Also, there are no current parameters set for revoking a founding member’s position in the United Nations, which the Albanian Paper fails to address. To outlaw the existence and contributions of the ROC is not only unnecessary, but politically unjust.

As an ally and trading partner of the United States, the Republic of the Congo supports the United States in their position to back the ROC veto in allowing PRC to enter the Security Council.

Black Paper

The Republic of the Congo has no real interest in the Albanian Working Paper.  However, we have decided to support the United States and the Western countries on this issue.  Congo receives military and economic support from the US, Belgium, and other Western nations, and does not wish to disrupt their relations with these countries.  The Republic of the Congo needs the support of these nations to conquer Katanga and subdue rebel forces, and therefore will attempt to assist the US in any way possible.  The Republic of the Congo recognizes that the Albanian Working Paper is a very important document to the US in its fight against communism, and therefore takes a firm stance against the People’s Republic of China.