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