RMUN 2010 Delegation of France Security Council

1. RMUN 2010Delegation of FranceSecurity Council Khoo Wu Shaun Hwa Chong Institution

2. French-Middle Eastern Ties • France shares warmties with the Middle East • Saudi Arabia • Trade in 2005 amounted to 5.24 billion euros, with expansion of motorcar sector in Saudi Arabia • Saudi Arabian investment in France amounts to 484 million euros • Excellent political ties between both countries http://www.sagia.gov.sa/en/Investment-climate/Interational-Operations-/France/ www.sabb.com/Attachments/.../SABB-Saudi-French-Trade-Relations.pdf www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/.../saudi-arabia.../france...saudi-arabia.../political-relations_3991.html

3. French-Yemeni Ties • France shares warmties with Yemen • Yemen is a Priority Solidarity Zone of France, receiving developmental aid and close assistance in development of key industries • Extension of the good relations that France shares with Middle Eastern nations http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france-priorities_1/development_2108/french-policy_2589/governmental-strategies_2670/priority-solidarity-zone_2671/index.html

4. French-Yemeni Ties • Funding – Agriculture • Provision of YR 35 million in support of agricultural research, aiming to increase efficiency and effectiveness of agriculture in Yemen • 1 million euros to support 18 projects and 90 NGOs • Focus in areas of agricultural and animal wealth production http://www.26sep.net/news_details.php?lng=english&sid=58179 http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/yemen-times-sanaa/mi_8204/is_20040802/french-support-agriculture-animal-wealth/ai_n52140531/

5. French-Yemeni Ties • Funding – Infrastructure • Severe shortage of critical infrastructure, such as roads, power and sewage • French Development Agency (AFD) working with Yemeni locals to overcome problems with transportation of agricultural products http://www.yementimes.com/defaultdet.aspx?SUB_ID=33102 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8481258.stm

6. French-Yemeni Ties • Funding – Education • Closer partnerships between French and Yemeni universities – provide opportunities for higher education • Support for the aspiring French Yemeni journalists http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files_156/yemen_318/france-and-yemen_6225/cultural-scientific-and-technical-cooperation_6228/framework-partnership-document-france-yemen-2007-2011_11775.html

7. Analysis of Situation

8. Analysis of Situation • Resource Shortage – Water Shortage • Rapidly expanding cities and population spiking water usage levels past unsustainable levels • 90% of all water used to fund a vice: Qat, a drug that is core to Yemeni culture • Water reserves and aquifers estimated to last Yemen only for another decade http://www.yementimes.com/DefaultDET.aspx?i=932&p=health&a=1 http://www.yobserver.com/environment/1009877.html http://www.fairhome.co.uk/2008/03/03/yemen-faces-dangerous-water-shortage/

9. Analysis of Situation • Resource Shortage – Dwindling Oil Reserves • Overdependence on crude oil production • 70% of existing revenue comes from the oil industry • Crude oil exports dropped from $4.2 billion to $1.5 billion in the fiscal year of 2009 as compared to 2008 • Stiff competition from Saudi Arabia and other OPEC nations • Lack of a long term economic alternative to the weakening crude oil industry http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2009/me_oil0969_12_16.asp http://www.yobserver.com/business-and-economy/10017835.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/26/yemen-qat-water-drought

10. Analysis of Situation • Political Differences – North/South Divide • Insurgency from the South – Al Houthis • Over 250,000 displaced persons as direct consequence of the conflict • Involved months of armed conflict, with Saudi Arabian involvement • Truce offered by the Yemeni government holding since February 16 http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/03/19/world/AP-ML-Yemen.html?_r=1&scp=8&sq=yemen&st=cse http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/03/17/world/international-uk-yemen.html?scp=10&sq=yemen&st=cse http://www.economist.com/world/middle-east/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15464505 http://www.economist.com/world/middle-east/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15176425

11. Analysis of Situation • Political Differences – Refugees from Somalia • As of December 2005, over 16,000 Somalian refugees in Yemeni territory, rising to 82,000 in July 2006 • World Food Programme estimates $105m of aid for both this year and next to feed the 3 million hungry Yemenis • Straining the limited resources and tolerance of the massive influx of refugees http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/11/millions-yemenis-starving-donors-un http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=44081d924 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5151518.stm

12. Analysis of Situation • Security Threat – Al Qaeda • January 2009 – bin Laden announces a major new branch in Yemen • Detroit Incident – in retaliation for U.S. assisted attacks on Yemeni tribes where "scores of Muslim women and children, and families in their entirety" were killed • Poverty and unemployment push people towards Al Qaeda in desperation http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1950345,00.html http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?aid=16786&context=va

13. Analysis of Situation • Security Threat – Iran • Added dimension of conflict: Shi’ites (Iran) and Sunnis (Saudi Arabia and Yemen) • Suspected Iranian involvement via provision of military equipment to rebels, provided grounds for Saudi Arabian intervention: Escalation of conflict • Yemen as a hotbed for a proxy war http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2009/1111/p06s15-wome.html

14. Proposed Solutions Combating Terror with Empathy Resolving the Yemen Crisis Provision of Aid Maintaining Peace and Order Managing Critical Resources

15. Proposed Solutions • Provision of Aid to Yemen • Critical for survival – food, water, shelter • Long term developmental aid • Provision of equipment, materials and technical expertise for infrastructural development • Refugee camps converted into self sufficient communities • Education for youth – EFA Movement http://www.marxists.de/middleast/schoenman/ch08.htm http://www.jha.ac/articles/a135.htm http://prrn.mcgill.ca/research/papers/isepme1.htm

16. Proposed Solutions • Combating Terror with Empathy • Precedent in Iraq and Afghanistan and worked with great effect – Force Reintegration Cell • Targeted at low to middle level insurgents who are being coerced by force or by money • Economic and social security granted for priceless information on Al Qaeda hideouts http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/10/army_reintegration_102909w/ http://www.livemint.com/2010/04/26163404/India-Afghanistan-discuss-Tal.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/10/AR2010031003888.html http://www.cfr.org/publication/18893/six_experts_on_negotiating_with_the_taliban.html http://www.carnegieendowment.org/events/?fa=eventDetail&id=2848 http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/03/gns_afghanistan_tribal_elders_032910/

17. Proposed Solutions • Maintaining Peace and Order • Deployment of peacekeeping troops in the refugee camps to safeguard situation • Preservation of peace in the refugee camps – prevent disturbance from Houthis nor Al Qaeda

18. Proposed Solutions • Managing Critical Resources • Desalination technology, reclamation of water • Raising awareness on the water problem, raising taxes on water and imposing additional levies on qat • Exploration of alternative energy sources – support from Kyoto Protocol’s CDMs

19. Conclusion • Unique middle-ground position ideal for negotiation between both sides • France’s Priority Solidarity Zone is a useful platform for engagement with the people • Prior experience in aiding developing nations