Committee: Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Committee
Topic Area: The Situation in Syria
Country: The Kingdom of Belgium
School: Lahore Grammar School 55 Main Gulberg
Names: Aamnah Khalid and Sana Mohammad Anwar
Due to clashes between the government and the opposition demanding a political
transition, conflict has plagued Syria for the past 26 months; one that the United Nations
Security Council has failed to resolve. As the violence intensifies each day, more than
100,000i have already lost their lives, including 6561 childrenii. Over 1.6 million iii have been
forced to flee their country and a record 4.25 million have been internally displaced. Belgium
itself has suffered the loss of twelve of its nationals in Syria.iv In a country now plagued by
economic depression, cessation of hostilities has been made insurmountable by the complex
nature of the crisis: the Syrian President, Basher-ul-Assad remains disinclined towards
compromise; the divided opposition has responded to the government’s use of force with
equal brutality; there are concerns regarding the potential involvement of chemical weapons;
and the global community fears that the crisis may spill over the border throughout the
volatile region. At this time, when humanitarian assistance is required the most, its provision
has been hampered by insecurity and assaults on humanitarian workers and their vehicles.
The Kingdom of Belgium stands by the Syrian people at this critical juncture as they
struggle for freedom, democracy and human rights. Belgium has already imparted monetary
and non-monetary aid worth € 8.5 millionv, and is the third largest contributor to the
Emergency Response Fund for Syriavi. In reference to the situation in Syria, the United
Nations General Assembly Resolutions 66/253 (2012) and 66/253B (2012), and SOCHUM
Resolution 66/176 (2011), which condemn violence in the region and call for a political
transition, have received the whole-hearted support of Belgium, along with various
Regulations and Council Decisions passed by the European Union, including Council
Decision 2013/255 which revises the embargoes and sanctions placed on Syria. It was the
multiple diplomatic demarches of Belgian diplomacy that resulted in the joint appeal by 49
states at the Seventh Syrian Humanitarian Forum to demand for medical assistance and
facilitation of humanitarian actors in Syriavii. The Belgian Foreign Office believes that "the
whole international community must use its influence on all parties" to not only address the
political crisis but also "to protect the provision of medical and humanitarian assistance in
Syria."viii
In order to address the rapidly deteriorating situation in Syria, Belgium supports the
following proposals:
Belgium supports a political transition in Syria; however the first step to any political
effort must be the cessation of hostilities by all parties, followed by the maintenance of peace.
To this end, proposals put forth in Kofi Annan’s Peace Planix can be considered and revised.
The fire of violence will continue to burn as long as there are weapons to fuel it; therefore, to
ensure observance of the ceasefire, all member states need to refrain from supplying arms to
any party in Syria. Negotiations between representatives of the opposition parties and the
government to decide the political future of Syria seem to be the most viable option. While
Assad must step down on account of war crimes and breaches of Geneva Conventionsx,
Belgium is willing to support the Baath party as the representative of the government in the
negotiations, which should be aimed at establishing a democratic government in Syria, which
would protect minority rights.
Although a political solution is imperative for the successful delivery of humanitarian
assistance, the world must not forget the human realities at stake and efforts to impart aid
should continue regardless. Cooperation of local authorities and unfettered access for
humanitarian workers, guaranteed by the Syrian state, is crucial for the security of
humanitarian workers, for the prevention of future crimes victimizing Syrian citizens, and for
assistance to reach all.xi Current funds a mere 28%xii of the amount required to provide
humanitarian aid in the region, and the international community should make efforts to
donate more in order to collect the required sum of $5 billion.xiii Once humanitarian workers
are guaranteed security, funds and mobility, relief and assistance especially medical aid, and
long-term rehabilitation, will become possible for all those affected, both inside Syria and in
its neighbouring countries.
The potential existence of chemical weapons in Syria, being an issue of grave concern, can
only be addressed with the full support of the Syrian government though a UN-sanctioned
investigationxiv to ensure that all weapons of mass destruction present in Syria are secure and
in possession of the government. To prevent the conflict from transforming into an
international one, both Israel and Syria need to withdraw military forces from their adjoining
border, and countries receiving refugees need to take measures to prevent an influx of
weapons into their territories. Nevertheless, to reach any solution, Belgium believes that
willingness and consensus in the international community hold the utmost significance.
Bibliography for Topic Area A
i
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23455760
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/13/us-syria-crisis-toll-idUSBRE95C08G20130613
iii
http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php
iv
http://aemn.eu/2013/07/04/belgian-jihadists-in-syria/
v
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/countries/factsheets/syria_en.pdf
vi
https://docs.unocha.org/sites/dms/Documents/01b_syr_ERF_update_130630__v2.pdf
vii
http://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/Newsroom/news/press_releases/foreign_affairs/2013/02/ni_19021
3_syrianforum.jsp?referer=tcm:312-213428-64
viii
http://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/Newsroom/news/press_releases/foreign_affairs/2013/02/ni_1902
13_syrianforum.jsp?referer=tcm:312-213428-64
ix
http://www.cfr.org/syria/annans-peace-plan-syria/p28380
x
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/08/15/syria-united-nation-human-rights.html
xi
syria.unocha.org/
xii
http://www.irinnews.org/report/98210/analysis-hard-choices-when-the-syria-aid-response-runsout-of-money
xiii
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22813207
ii
xiv
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/03/22/un-to-probe-alleged-chemical-weapons-use-insyria.html