ALMUN XXIV

“See through the eyes

of the world”

SECURITY COUNCIL ACADEMIC GUIDE

PRESIDENTS:
 Juan Moncada
 Catalina Gómez
E-MAILS:
 jmoncadalondono@gmail.com
 catagomezg5@gmail.com

WORDS FROM YOUR PRESIDENTS:

Esteemed delegates,

Receive a warm welcome to ALMUN XXIV and to the UNSC commission. To your

presidents, Catalina Gómez and Juan E. Moncada, is a pleasure to have you in this committee.

We look forward enriching your knowledge as well as improving your argumentative skills

and oral ability while achieving certain solutions to a given conflict.

Unfortunately, the last two centuries have been known and marked by the great

quantity of conflicts and hostility between two parts in different places of the globe. As

human beings, one of our characteristics is the critical thinking, the capability of placing

forward solutions that can benefit everyone, but sometimes, this characteristic is corrupted

and leads to serious conflicts. Having said that, we feel the necessity of drawing on topics

that have been developed by the corruption of many values as the case of countries

sovereignty threat by superpowers. In this order of ideas, your presidents are expecting to

listen to your delegation’s opinions regarding the wills of your countries.

1
ALMUN XXIV
“See through the eyes
of the world”

As presidents, we are not just expecting a formal talk that provides predictable

solutions and ideas. As it has been emphasized throughout the entire ALMUN process, we

are expecting the delegates to “see through the eyes of the world”, this means, basing every

decision on the context in which the discussion is being held; throwing yourself in to an open

debate susceptible to dramatic and unpredictable turns.

Remember to take risks, to not be afraid of intervening and stating your minds, to

become as powerful and learn as much as you can.

“Be a game changer. The world is already full of players.” –Anonymous.

2
ALMUN XXIV
“See through the eyes
of the world”

ABOUT THE COMMITTEE:

As well as special agencies like WHO and WFP, the Security Council is one of the

six principal organs of the United Nations and held its first session in 1946. Since then, its

purpose has been to ensure international peace and security (ONU, 2019). With 15 Member

States, the United Nations Security Council is the highest authority within the United Nations

in which all decisions must be approved by the affirmative vote of nine (9) members

including the power of veto unanimity. This is the only organ in which, following the UN

Charter, all Member States are obligated to comply the Council’s decisions.

Following its supranational feature, this organism can impose sanctions or authorize

the usage of force in order to maintain international peace and security over other countries

(ONU, 2019). However, the Security Council does not promote any type of aggression

between two parts but, in very few and specific scenarios, force is not usually considered as

a way of conflicts resolution. To achieve a peaceful solution, this organism takes the lead in

determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and it calls upon the

parties to a dispute settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or

terms of settlement (ONU, 2019).

As said before, the principal function of this organ is to ensure international peace

and security by peaceful or, in certain situations, by warring means. When a dispute arises,

the first measure of the council is generally to recommend to the parties that they reach an

agreement by peaceful means. It can impose embargoes or economic sanctions or authorize

3
ALMUN XXIV
“See through the eyes
of the world”

the use of force to enforce mandates. As well as other organs of the United Nations, the

UNSC has certain powers and functions, according to ONU (2019), these are:

 To maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles

and purposes of the United Nations.

 To investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international

friction.

 To recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement.

 To formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments.

 To determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to

recommend what action should be taken.

 To call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not

involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression.

 To take military action against an aggressor.

 To recommend the admission of new Members.

 To exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in “strategic

areas”.

 To recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-

General and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the

International Court of Justice.

In this case, the UNSC will oversee guiding and deciding what will happen with two

of the most polemic countries these days, Venezuela and Crimea. Inside the committee, the

4
ALMUN XXIV
“See through the eyes
of the world”

present delegates will have to decide which will be the role of the world’s superpowers inside

these countries’ sovereignty, due to the fact that it has been threatened multiple times by the

most powerful countries in the world. Since the beginning of the Venezuelan crisis in 2016,

many countries have stated their minds regarding this situation. The United States of America

is the most invasive in Venezuela´s sovereignty because of the consideration that current

government being anti–democratic and human rights–violating. Many countries around the

world agree with the US position, but many others have publicly stated that they completely

disagree with the fact that countries like the United States intervene in this kind of cases.

On the other hand, the committee will discuss the situation of Crimea, a current

potential battlefield between Russia and the Occidental power for European influence. There

have already been multiple military moves from Russia, while countries such as the United

States are yet to make a move inside the area. This conflict represents a great danger to non–

governmental organizations such as NATO as well as national and international security from

the countries involved. These two cases are of major importance for international security

due to the fact that they are not only affecting the sovereignty of two of the most polemic

countries nowadays, but they threaten the security of their population.

For many years the intervention of powerful countries in smaller ones has been a

subject of debate and confrontation, not only between the countries affected but inside the

superpowers themselves. The crisis in Venezuela is causing an immense amount of

migration and violations of human rights between many other negative effects for its

population and the international security, while the Crimea crisis is becoming a potential

battlefield between two of the most powerful nations in the world. These problems should be

5
ALMUN XXIV
“See through the eyes
of the world”

solved before a bigger crisis outbreak and a future war where many other countries get

involved.

Every topic will be reviewed considering its relationship with the Security Council’s

functions and purposes, emphasizing on proper decisions taken regarding the wills of your

country as well as their viability. In addition, it will, as well, be reviewed taking into account

past and present contexts or events (understood as wars, laws, happenings which can be an

accurate reflection of the conflicts that will be approached) to show a deep, well-done process

of investigation. With the purpose of achieving an organized debate, it will be addressed in

chronological order although we are open to anachronistic facts that can support every

intervention and decision. It goes, without saying, the importance of sticking to the real word;

not providing solutions that attack to the global order and that are far away from their

accomplishment.

6
ALMUN XXIV
“See through the eyes
of the world”

TOPIC A:

COUNTRIES SOVEREIGNTY THREAT BY SUPERPOWERS: CASE STUDY OF

VENEZUELA AND CRIMEA.

To which point is a territory part of a country? A complex question that has been the

case of Crimea. The ambition and thirst of power of two countries has passed over the desires

of few groups that claim their territory basing their arguments on historical evidences and

happenings. With 27.000 km2 , Crimea is a peninsula located on the northern coast of the

Black Sea that shares boundaries with Ukraine (to the north-east) and Russia (to the north-

west). Despite its singular warm and sunny weather with microclimates, this peninsula has

been the scenario of the duality between identity and ambition.

In first place, the Crimea conflict has its background on a Ukraine and Russian

conflict which disputed the annexation of this peninsula to one of these other two countries.

As affirmed by the All-Ukrainian Census (2001), its population was structured by 58.5%

Russians, 24.4% Ukrainians and 12.1% Crimean Tatars principally. Even though it had

already been declared Ukrainian territory by the soviet president Nikita Khrushchev in 1954,

Russia did not quite accept such decision and decided to annex Crimea to its own territory in

2014 by military actions and a referendum to the people in the area, who mostly consider

themselves Russians, instead of Ukrainian. These actions were condemned by the European

Union, who insisted to Russia to respect Ukraine’s territory. Crimea is a key territory full of

gas reservations on the north of the Black Sea, making it a very disputed territory for many

years due to its easy maritime access and amount of natural resources.

7
ALMUN XXIV
“See through the eyes
of the world”

Image taken from: https://bit.ly/36XKjkA

The hope and intention of approaching to the European Union (EU) by a group of the

population promoting the Euromaidan, was totally rejected by the Russian ethnicities which

conformed most of Crimea’s population. Filled with many positions and opinions, the entire

Crimea population was segregated; one part of the population defended the idea of

approaching to the UE meanwhile, the other group of population wanted to reinforce the link

with the Russian Federation. This conflict and context were the perfect breeding ground for

a superpower like Russia to impose their military power.

This conflict started back in 2014 and has now escalated to possibly having an

intervention from the United States, turning this territory as a possible battlefield between

two of the most powerful superpowers. In the previous government of the United States,

Barack Obama openly said they were considering imposing sanctions to Russia and stopped

military collaboration with this country. The current U.S government has addressed its

8
ALMUN XXIV
“See through the eyes
of the world”

disagreement with the conflict, and their belief of both Ukraine and Russia being responsible

for the conflict. Not many countries have made statements about this conflictive situation,

but most European countries agree that an escalating of the conflict would not be beneficial

to anyone.

Image taken from: https://bit.ly/34Xg77w

On the other hand, the Venezuelan crisis outbreak occurred in 2016 and it consists,

mainly, in the discord between the current government of Nicolás Maduro and the

Venezuelan opposition. This is a matter of worldwide importance because of the extension

of the conflict and the amount of Human Rights violations inside this country. There are

many other conflicts of interest in this territory due to the amount of natural resources, in a

specific case, petroleum. Although it may not be as explicit in the conflict as other subjects,

petroleum is one of the points of interest that superpowers have inside Venezuela. The

migration and the violence in Venezuela has already gone too far and the member states of

9
ALMUN XXIV
“See through the eyes
of the world”

the Security Council and the UN have already stated their opinions and created a special

commission focused on Human Rights in charge of the discussion of the conflict in

Venezuela.

Image taken from: https://quest.eb.com

Many countries have already stated their minds and consider that the United States

should intervene in the situation. Contrary to it, many others believe that superpowers should

leave Venezuela on its own and should not intervene in the situation. The situation inside the

country is way more complicated than it seems, a whole population is in ruins and poverty,

the inflation is one of the highest in the world. But as was said before, the crisis does not end

inside Venezuela, but it has expanded to the rest of the world, making South American

countries and an overwhelming amount of national and international institutions, react on a

strong and decisive way to the crisis, something that has consequently affected the common

development of many of the countries involved in the conflict.

10
ALMUN XXIV
“See through the eyes
of the world”

Image taken from: https://cutt.ly/QeP83T5

TENTATIVE FOCUSES OF THE DEBATE:

 Social conditions as a catalyst to give grounds for the occupation of Venezuela.

 The way in which selfish economic reasons are related with the dispute of these

territories.

 Indirect and direct events that might take place if the territorial dispute escalates up

in both Venezuela and Crimea scenarios.

 Under the table geopolitics objectives that are sought by superpowers in these

territories.

 The role that supranational organisms play in these situations, emphasizing on the

duality between favoritism and imposed functions.

QUESTIONS TO KEEP IN MIND:

 What is your state’s position role in this dispute? How could this affect international

security?

11
ALMUN XXIV
“See through the eyes
of the world”

 Which international entities like the International Court of Hague have ruled in

regard to these territorial disputes?

 What implications has this dispute brought in the region and to your state?

 Does your state share any kind of agreements or treaties with either Venezuela,

Russia or Ukraine?

 When referring to territorial disputes, should natural resources, economic and social

affairs be a justification to invade such territories?

 Has your state been related along history with any of the superpowers involved in

these territorial disputes? In which way?

 What actions has Venezuela and Crimea contiguous countries taken for their

territories?

 Under which circumstances is a country or a group of countries allowed to take over

a sovereign territory?

RECOMMENDED LINKS:

These links talk about distinct conflicts on Crimea and Venezuela, please do not settle

down with just this information, remember that this information is just an overall view of the

topic. Continue to investigate on your own.

Crimea Crisis:

 https://mundo.sputniknews.com/defensa/201910091088926988-bloquear-crimea-

nueva-estrategia-eeuu-mar-negro/

 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18287223

12
ALMUN XXIV
“See through the eyes
of the world”

 https://www.euronews.com/2018/11/30/crimea-crisis-what-is-happening-between-

ukraine-and-russia-euronews-answers

 https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/infographics/countries-react-to-russian-

intervention-in-crimea.html

 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/11/russia-human-rights-abuses-in-

crimea-vladimir-putin-court

 https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R45008.pdf

 https://news.un.org/es/story/2015/12/1346771

 https://scholar.google.es/scholar?hl=es&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=crimea&btnG=

 https://bit.ly/32Gwow1

 https://www.pri.org/stories/2014-03-05/need-primer-how-we-got-crisis-crimea

Venezuela Crisis:

 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36319877

 https://www.mercycorps.org/articles/venezuela-crisis-quick-facts

 https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/11/1050791

 https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1040001

 https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/05/1037701

 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/sanctions-venezuela-exacerbate-crisis-

warns-190808175343285.html

13
ALMUN XXIV
“See through the eyes
of the world”

BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES:

 All-Ukrainian population census '2001. (2001). | English version | Results | General

results of the census | National composition of population | Autonomous Republic of

Crimea: [online] Available at: httpofCrimea:

rcensus.gov.ua/eng/results/general/nationality/Crimea/ [Accessed 13 Nov. 2019].

 BBC. (2018). Crimea crisis. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-

europe-18287223

 Sasse, Gwendolyn (2007) The Crimea question: identity, transition, and

conflict. Harvard series in Ukrainian studies. Harvard University Press, Cambridge.

ISBN 9781932650013

 Un.org. (2019). Function and powers | UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL.

[online] Available at: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/es/content/functions-and-

powers [Accessed 7 Nov. 2019].

 Un.org. (2019). United Nations Security Council |. [online] Available at:

https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/ [Accessed 7 Nov. 2019].

14