RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

RMUN 2010Delegation of FranceSecurity Council

Khoo Wu ShaunHwa Chong Institution

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

French-Middle Eastern Ties

• France shares warm ties 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

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

French-Yemeni Ties

• France shares warm ties 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

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

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=58179http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/yemen-times-sanaa/mi_8204/is_20040802/french-support-agriculture-animal-wealth/ai_n52140531/

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

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=33102http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8481258.stm

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

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

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

Analysis of Situation

Yemeni Instability

Resource Shortage

Water Shortages

Dwindling Oil Reserves

Political Differences

North/South Divide

Refugees from Somalia

Security Threat

Al-Qaeda

Iran

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

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=1http://www.yobserver.com/environment/1009877.html

http://www.fairhome.co.uk/2008/03/03/yemen-faces-dangerous-water-shortage/

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

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.asphttp://www.yobserver.com/business-and-economy/10017835.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/26/yemen-qat-water-drought

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

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=csehttp://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=15464505http://www.economist.com/world/middle-east/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15176425

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

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-unhttp://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

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

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.htmlhttp://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?aid=16786&context=va

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

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

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

Proposed SolutionsCombating Terror with Empathy

Provision of Aid

Maintaining Peace and Order

Resolving the Yemen

Crisis

Managing Critical Resources

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

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.htmhttp://www.jha.ac/articles/a135.htm

http://prrn.mcgill.ca/research/papers/isepme1.htm

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

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.htmlhttp://www.cfr.org/publication/18893/six_experts_on_negotiating_with_the_taliban.html

http://www.carnegieendowment.org/events/?fa=eventDetail&id=2848http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/03/gns_afghanistan_tribal_elders_032910/

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

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

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

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

RMUN 2010 - The Delegation of France

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