Disarmament and International Security Committee

Topic area A: Nationalist terrorism

" No good cause - however good in itself - is worthy of bad weapons. [...] Progress can never be won by the weapons of trickery, flattery, or terrorism." - Auberon Herbert

Before we can understand the present we have to understand the past and the concepts we use. What we see today happening in the world is not a new phenomenon. Terrorism and the war on terror might be new words, but the acts are the same and they have a long history. To understand terrorism and nationalist terrorism we need to take a small glimpse into the past and then start understanding current events for what they are.

Nationalist terrorists are driven by self-determination, which may range from gaining greater autonomy to establish a completely independent sovereign state. Often they are linked to a national, ethnic or religious group. Feelings of minority and oppression often result in bloody encounters that the entire state is suffering from. It might be expected to find them in autarchy or developing states. However, with seemingly no vital need for independence, the in 1959 founded ETA (Basque country) is still fighting for separation from Spain. States like Spain remain in dubiety what to do with the increasing rate of violent attacks. Ignoring the existence of these organizations would do no justice for the victims, but act more violently against them could lead to even more violent reprisals.

It is without doubt that nationalist organizations believe they can serve their fellow countrymen better than current regimes. However, how well-founded are these thoughts, when the fights have been going on for decades? Are their points of view justifiable or is it all just ancient beliefs that have their roots imbedded in today’s modern society?
 

Topic area B: Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in the Middle East

The notion of a Middle East Nuclear Weapon Free Zone, sounds like a utopian dream. Although the issue has been on international as well as regional agendas for 30 years, it has yet even to approach realization. However, recent changes in the Middle East can act as a catalytic force and open new windows of opportunity to establish a NWFZ.

A Nuclear-Weapons-Free zone (NWFZ) is defined by the United Nations as an agreement which a group of states has established by treaty or convention. Such a treaty bans the use, development and deployment of nuclear weapons in a specific region. In an attempt to fence off particular regions of the world from nuclear weapons, this concept was drafted in the 1950's. However, the NWFZ later became a complementary element of the in 1968 ratified Treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT). While the NPT established a norm against nuclear proliferation, the NWFZ serves as additional rules to the normative structure of the treaty.

In an era in which the nuclear weapon states have been taking only small steps towards nuclear disarmament, the establishment of NWFZ is one of the most practical steps that non-nuclear weapon states can use, supporting the nonproliferation regime. Currently there are four existing Nuclear-Weapon-Free zones across the globe, covering Latin America and the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia and Africa. The United Nations now is over thinking a fifth NWFZ, which would be achieved in the Middle East. But how to establish a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in the Middle East when several countries highly differ in their points of view in this matter?

In-committee lecture

Peter Paul Ekker holds an expert position at IKV Pax Christi, which works for peace, reconciliation and justice in the world. They join with people in conflict areas to work on a peaceful and democratic society.

Peter Paul is one of the experts of the IKV Pax Christi team working on international lobby and campaign for nuclear disarmament. In this role he supplies the Dutch Parliament with information on nuclear disarmament, and gives advice for international deliberations in the NPT, NATO and UN. One of the main priorities is the role of nuclear weapons in the NWFZ in the Middle East.