THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2015

THURSDAY, APRIL 15 2015 ISSUE #1 UNIVERSITY OF MACEDONIA

THESSISMUN DAILY NEWS

EDITORIAL

PAGE 2 THESSISMUN DAILY NEWS

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF

Contact us! Press room, 4th floor, UoM thessisnews@gmail.com

Editor Effrosyni Drakopoulou

Co-Editor Theofani Lola

THESSISMUN DAILY NEWS

STATUS UPDATE

Dear ThessISMUNers,

Welcome on board and fasten your seatbelts for the 14th edition of ThessISMUN!

This is a significant year as the United Nations Organisation turns 70. We are going through challenging times and the contribution of the UN system is more vital than ever. Every day, we have to face issues that endanger our values and what we have fought for. The responsibility of maintain-ing what we now take for granted lies upon our generation.

ThessISMUN is one of those conferences that shape a better new generation. The set agenda raises awareness on alarming topic areas, awakens the spirit and poses questions. You are here to give new, innovative and applicable solutions through heated debates and hard work.

The inspired speeches delivered by the ambassadors during the opening ceremony have raised the standards high for all of your Excellencies. You have already challenged each other.

Our job is to follow every step of your way during the conference, write down your thoughts and promote your ideas. We hope you provide us with a lot of interesting stories to tell.

I am sure that all of us together will come up with great new ideas, we will make beautiful memories, meet new friends, drop the old grudges and make the best ThessISMUN so far…

Are you ready? Because we definitely are…

Froso Drakopoulou

The Editor of ThessISMUN 2015

Athena Danae Vardaka

Katerina Alexaki

Christina Georgakopoulou

Marianna Lazarou

Marianthi Panagiotou

Esra Tefik

Lambrini Bikou

Journalists Team

ThessISMUN 2015 has just begun. This year, the number of participants was a record for the annual conference. The first words came from the PhD Candidate, Stefa-

nos Katsoulis, who warmly welcomed the participants and espe-cially the international ones coming from countries such as Cy-prus, Turkey and France. Next, the speech was given to Dr. Karvounarakis, As-sociate Professor of University of Macedo-nia who underlined the significance of the con-ference because Thes-sISMUN is an important event for the city of Thes-saloniki. Continuing his speech, he stressed out that ThessISMUN not only helps young stu-

dents understand what diplomacy actually is, but it also is a lifetime experience for them.

The next speech was delivered by the Rector of the Universi-ty of Macedonia, Pro-

fessor Zapranis, who said that Models Unit-ed Nations motivate students to get to know the international or-ganizations in a deeper level.

Afterwards, the floor was given to Mr. Fatouros, Desk Officer for Greece and Cyprus at the Regional Infor-mation Centre at Unit-ed Nations. He recalled his first time as a dele-gate in an MUN con-ference when he didn't speak English as flu-ently and his hair was darker! “Everywhere I go, I meet a Thes-

sISMUN participant!” he continued emotion-ally! As he concluded his speech, he under-lined that "there is no peace without develop-ment, no development without peace and no peace or development without rules".

The moment that everybody was waiting for had finally come. Dr. Paroula Naskou-Perraki, r. Pro-fessor of the University of Macedonia, intro-duced the honoree per-son of ThessISMUN 2015, Dr. Linos-Alexander Sicilianos, Professor at the Na-tional and Kapodistri-an University of Ath-ens and Judge of the European Court of Hu-man Rights. He deliv-ered his speech via Skype. He first remem-bered his student life, when he also was a participant of MUN conferences and

the special moments he experienced there. He explained the function-ing of the international organizations and the important role they play in the modern world . He concluded by wishing a fruitful debate…of course!

Finally, Ms Eleftheria Koukkou, Secretary General of ThessISMUN 2015 de-clared the official open-ing of ThessISMUN 2015. She shared her personal experiences of her first time in a con-ference some years ago and encouraged the newcomers not to be afraid or shy to bring their thesis to the world! She said that as long as you work and participate you’ll gain knowledge. Are you ready to work hard and to negotiate?

So, are you?

PAGE 3 UNIVERSITY OF MACEDONIA

The floor is finally open…

Smells like… heated debates!

The atmosphere during the Opening Plenary Session was intense enough to prove that the greatest controversy among the delegations is caused by the cases of extremism, terror-ism, the general condi-tions in the Middle East and the conflicts be-tween Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

All the Ambassadors agreed that there is a variety of international, social, humanitarian and financial problems which need to be tack-led with through multi-lateral and bilateral measures.

However, some dele-

gates opted for a more strict attitude to explain their country ‘s posi-tion. The Ambassador of China, for instance, took the floor and stat-ed that their country has so many allies that we will soon realize all resolutions will be drafted with China. It has to be mentioned that the delegate brought with him a portrait of Mao Zedong… Later on, the Ambassador of DPRK

pointed that no criti-cism about the protec-tion of human rights will be accepted...

Iran made it clear that they do not support the ideology of “Death to America” and they con-demned extremism. The Ambassador was insulted when Israel

rejected the Asian cul-ture and answered that democracy has yet to solve many serious problems - gained a

very warm applause from the audience.

The situation in Ukraine really divided the delegations! The Russian Federation

stated several times that the invasion of Ukraine does not con-sist breach of interna-tional law, as the pur-pose is to protect their people. When Ukraine, Portugal, Lithuania and United States opposed this statement, the dele-gation of Russian Fed-eration accused them

of lack of respect to the r i g h t o f s e l f -determination.

The acute opening

speeches promise tough

negotiation for the fol-

lowing days because

the hard part begins…

now!

OPENING CEREMONY: THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

PAGE 4 THESSISMUN DAILY NEWS

PAGE 5 UNIVERSITY OF MACEDONIA

BEHIND THE SCENES...

The secret jury of ThessISMUN 2015 heard all of the speeches delivered by the ambassadors and have unanimously decided that the winner is the honorable Ambassador of France! Nous sommes Charlie!

Things got serious… First board meeting...

The DSG training hard for tonight’s treasure hunt. Will you beat him?