World News & Report

Thursday, February 16, 2012

MMUN

Diplomat offers Polish perspective on democracy

ST. LOUIS In light of the changes taking place across North Africa and the Middle East, Minister Counselor Maciej Pisarski stressed the presence of non-governmental organizations to help with transitions. When Poland transitioned from Soviet control, NGOs were not as prevalent phase raising serious political and ethical about their existence. We needed them during our transition, and we didnt see them, Pisarski said. The partnering of NGOs with states in transition is crucial and the states need to embrace their presence, he said. ST. LOUIS Concerned delegates traveled many miles today, to gather at the 52nd Midwest Model United Nations opening ceremony. This week they will work with each other to combat issues, and with tough compromise, will work favorably for universal human rights. The experience here can
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Pisarskis speech to the delegates, during the opening ceremony of the 52nd Midwest Model United Nations Confernce was full of facts and diplomatic reaffirmation, but Polands experience isnt necessarily universal, he said. Poland does not claim to know better than other countries but is simply willing to offer its experience to others. The fall of the Soviet world has changed things for more than just Poland. International relations is much more complicated in a multi-polar world, as opposed to the bipolar system dominated by the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War. be daunting, especially for first-year delegates. The delegate from Namibia said she was looking forward to expanding her knowledge on the international community. The Iraqi delegate in the General Assemblys Sixth Committee was looking forward to applying the research on the topics, which

In this new multi-polar world, there are many players, each with their own influence. To those wishing to follow in his footsteps, he recommended they keep in mind that the role he plays is not a profession but rather a way of life. He would advise those delegates to remain curious about the things that are happening around them. There isnt a degree set aside for a future ambassador because its more of a mindset, he said. The position requires being able to effectively communicate with many different types of people. Pisarski strives to always remain open, outgoing and are universal jurisdiction and the accountability of United Nations officials and experts. The First Committee of the General Assembly will get to discuss the stockpiling of bacteriological and toxin weapons and the acquistion of radioactive materials by terriorists. While I was research-

Minister Counselor Maciej Pisarski speaks to delegates at the 52nd Midwest Model United Nations Wednesday in St. Louis.

AP/HEATHER STROJEK

willing to get involved with people of many different backgrounds and beliefs, which often requires knowing many languages. He is fluent in German, Russian and English, and he also knows some Czech. His demanding job also
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Delegates look forward to expanding knowledge, applying research

ing, I found Bosnias stands very firmly that the world powers need to cut down on nuclear stockholds, the delegate from Bosnia said. The delegates began their four days at 52nd Midwest Model United Nations by listening to Minister Counselor Maciej Pisarski of Poland.
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A look at the issues...

ST. LOUIS Radioactive materials, with the potential to create a nuclear weapon, have gone missing. The fear of many delegates at a meeting of the General Assemblys First Committee is that these radioactive materials are in the hands of terrorists. African nations, led by Egypt and Gabon, proposed reforms in the nuclear industry.
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Delegates fear for missing radioactive materials

Theres an issue with control, the delegate from Egypt said. Countries are creating radioactive materials for peaceful purposes, but it is those same materials that are disappearing for non-peaceful purposes. The biggest problem is terrorists procuring these materials. These dangerous materials are going unaccounted for as they are being transported. We want to know whos producing what and where it is going, Gabon added. While development remained in the early stages of planning, ambitious targets were set. The focus of the African bloc was on creating a verification process through the International Atomic Energy Agency to foster accountability and transparency. Issues, such as border control and transportation security, were also addressed. The creation of a verification process received support from countries outside of Africa, especially from Qatar. We need this verification process, the delegate from Qatar said. We need nuclear states to track their materials so they dont get into the wrong hands. Currently, there is no verification process in place, and any option to report nuclear trade is voluntary. common. As the action goes: you give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; you teach a man to fish, you can feed him for a lifetime, he said. China was one of the nations in 2008 to impose strict bans on the export of rice to calm fears caused by poor harvests during a time of middle-class growth. Children, in particular, are affected by food crises, the delegate from Cambodia said, especially in countries were families tend to have more children. The nutrition of children is very important, the delegate from Laos agreed, especially in pregnant women because starving in the womb should be a huge

Nutrition of children Third Committees main concern

ST. LOUIS When food prices skyrocketed across the world, millions went hungry, not because there wasnt enough food, but because they couldnt afford it. In response to multiple food crises, the United Nations Third Committee of the General Assembly took up the issue of food security and distribution during its first meeting Wednesday evening. Most of the talk centered on the distribution of food to countries in need, the problem of malnutrition in children and pregnant women, and agricultural development. The crises were exacerbated when countries stock-

China speaks to his fellow delegates in Third Committee Thursday at the Midwest Model United Nations Conference in St. Louis.

AP/EMILY COLEMAN

piled their stores of food, especially rice, causing rushes to the grocery stores of their trading partners. And while debate talked about cooperation between

countries in case that happens again, the delegation from China also proposed addressing a countrys ability to provide for itself so that the situation isnt as priority.

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Sixth Committee try, define universal jurisdiction

ST. LOUIS In the International Criminal Court, some cases take years to be tried because it is unclear who has jurisdiction over certain crimes. The General Assemblys Sixth Committee met Wednesday evening to take the first steps in deciding what falls under universal jurisdiction by explicitly defining the crimes. Some other countries agreed with the idea of starting with a base and then working on the particulars. The Princeton PrinAL JAZEERA

ciples, a set of offenses generally associated with international jurisdiction, would be a good place to start, the delegate from Rwanda said. Beyond the obvious crimes set out in the Principles the list includes slavery, war crimes and torture the committee delved into whether newer crimes like cyber piracy should be included. Some delegates proposed including them but perhaps not to the extent of the more established offenses. side of the box. He emphasized using position papers as starting points for searching for the deeper good and for the know-how in revamping peaceful cooperation. He encourages each delegate to pursue the life that is desired both politically and culturally. I wish you all of the success for this conference and even more success after this conference, Pisarski said. Africa and the Middle East, that are expereiencing transitions of their own as a part of the Arab Spring. The evidence of Polands success is in its economic growth, he said. The country grew by more than 4 percent while other nations saw their economies shrink.

The issue with universal jurisdiction is whether it impugns on a countrys sovereignty, especially on who would get to try a case first. In this system, known as hierarchy of jurisdiction, an offense would first be tried at the state level and then regional or international. If the state were incapable of reaching a decision or unwilling, the trial would move on to a regional court. Similarly, if a decision was not made at that level,

it would then move on to the International Criminal Court. Even when delegates were not speaking directly of this system, the vast majority agreed that the states should have first say. By the end of the first meeting, several working papers were in development and many of the blocs have started to reach a consensus on what exactly falls under universal jurisdiction. The next step would be to decide upon state sovereignty.

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requires sacrifice from his wife and two teenage boys because he constantly travels, meeting with world leaders, attending various meetings and giving speeches. Pisarski thought past delegates came up with great ideas, and he encouraged current delegates to think big and to always think out-

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The diplomat, who works at the Polish embassy in Washington, D.C., took delegates through Polands experience following the fall of the Soviet Union. He offered that experience to other countries, especially those in North

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