BLOG: The second day of the PragueMUN was full of negotiation

The PragueMUN 2013 in underway and we bring you fresh information from the second day. Today´s news are written by Iryna Yurkiv, the member of the administrative staff, and by Aneta Rázlová, who is the PR manager of the PragueMUN.

Iryna Yurkiv: HRC ended without a resolution
On the second day of the PragueMUN 2013, I had the opportunity to observe the Human Rights Council where the central issue of discussion was the violation of human rights in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. First, the delegates summarized the general issues that were discussed the day before.

USA supported the idea of the surveillance of human rights through economic aid whereas countries like Hungary argued for allowing Egypt, Tunisia and Libya to help themselves and not to rely on western help, instead encourage the strengthening of the government of those countries.

The discussion was very vibrant and many delegates had very clear and constructive arguments on their countries’ position. Some countries argued in favor of interfering in the judiciary system of Egypt, Tunisia and Libya whereas others took less rigid positions by offering legal assistance and training to lawyers in those countries.
In the end, the representative of Egypt showed up and heated the discussion up even further, by arguing against the interference of foreign countries in the constitution of Egypt. He reminded the delegates of the basic principles which the United Nations was founded on: state sovereignty and non-interference.

Egypt offered delegates from other countries their hand of cooperation and admitted that the only assistance Egypt would accept would be of financial, technical and medical form from other countries. The representative of Egypt also assured the delegates that the Egyptian government is able to cope with the problems of human rights in their country by themselves.
By the end of the day, three working papers were submitted on two different motions; however, no resolution was passed. Although the topic discussed was serious, it was certainly not all work and no play. To make things interesting the chairs opened a “gossip bag’’ and admitted that they’re anxious to read the most raunchy details of the committee’s social experience.

Aneta Rázlová: Security Council stays in a relaxed mood
Today, I was present at the Security Council where delegates were debating the Civil Unrest in Syria. The topic is very actual but also very difficult. There is not any consensus even in real Security Council; therefore we did not expect any in the MUN as well. However, the debate was very interesting and thank to the friendly atmosphere also very cheerful.

Fantastic chairs Norbert Kleinwächter and Laura Bartels have obtained natural authority  but also stayed very friendly. For example: the rule that everybody, who is late for the session has to sing the national anthem of the state from which the delegate really is, was set. During Tuesday, we had many changes to hear the anthems of many states. There was the delegate of China singing French anthem, we had also chance to hear French anthem sang by duet, but the most impressive and cultural experience was to hear the anthem of Morocco. 

The debate started with the conclusion that yesterday there was no agreement reached. This fact has woken the delegates up and the civil war in Syria was discussed today from many different points of view. The Security Council invited the delegate of Turkey from Human Rights Council in order to answer some questions regarding the refugees, because there are attempts to set refugees camps and demilitarized zones (DMZs) in Turkey, but Turkey quite strictly refused this solution. 
Then the discussion moved to the possibility of “cease fire”, which means that the war would be temporarily stopped in order to negotiate more permanent solution. In late afternoon, there was finally created a draft of a resolution and delegates were negotiating about details. Even though the committee was very close to declare the draft resolution as a resolution, there were still some veto votes, so the whole topic stays open till tomorrow morning. We are all very curious how the effort of fifteen delegates will end.