FROM THE DESK OF THE DELEGATE OF THE

SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC

The People want Bashar Al-Assad, The people want the regime.

For all that matters, we Syria, have not changed.- President

Bashar Al-Assad.
The Delegate of the Syrian Arab Republic.
Represented by: Kanishk Gomes
Institution: St. Xaviers Collegiate School.

From the desk of the delegate of The Syrian Arab Republic

TOPIC AREA I: DEFINING TERRORISM

The United Nations Counter Terrorism Committee,
Since its very inception, Syria has been combatting fear all around its borders and inside the country and
shall continue to do so, and thus it believes that it understands the scourges and effects of terrorism very
well. Syria also believes that fighting terrorism can never be done by those countries that helped create
terrorist groups, giving them logistical and financial help and spreading terrorism around the world, and
thus requests the committee to note the actions of countries that have escalated the already worse
situation in the Arabic countries. The current conflicts in the Middle East illustrate the fatal dangers of
unlimited sovereignty granted each nation by the United Nations Charter, and the Charter's lack of
enforceable world law. It is a formula which world federalists have repeatedly warned renders the UN
helpless to prevent terrorism and war. Syria is now in civil war. Israel threatens to attack Iran. The UN
has to take strict measures as these conflicts grow and may spread to other nations in the Mideast.
Through the years, we, Syria, have seen the various ways terrorism has affected the world, unfortunately
enough, the masses, all around the world, view terrorism as a Muslim men trying to gravely harm the
masses of the various Western countries, however this definition, in addition to gravely hurting the
feelings of Islamic countries, is hardly applicable to the modern day. Though many variations of the
definitions for terrorism exist, the UNCTC must note that, a majority of the definitions are aimed to
classify armed attacks, and not the other types of terrorism, that have sprouted in the recent decades. We,
Syria, have earlier mentioned that this is not the time to debate and discuss about how terrorism is to be
defined, as it is imperative for the countries to work together in eliminating the threat of terror, which
threatens our very safety, however, since the UNCTC has called upon the discussion of defining
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From the desk of the delegate of The Syrian Arab Republic

terrorism, this delegate promises due cooperation to work towards a solution. The delegate of Syria thus
believes, that as the representatives of Syria to the United Nations have earlier stated, Syria promises its
allegiance to the United Nations in combating the terror of the ISIS, and other extremist groups, in belief
that the steps taken by the committee will not breach the security of the State of Syria. At this juncture,
the delegate believes that the discussion of a few terms are imperative, before the committee moves on to
discussion, to define terrorism:

What are the types of terrorism?

What are Perpetrators?

Is a State Sponsoring Terrorism considered to be a Terrorist State?

What is Funding in terms of funding terrorists?

Are the Tactics of Terrorist groups important for classifying them as a

Terrorist Faction?

What are Terrorist Factions?

Is Cyber Terrorism a new form of Terrorism?

These above mentioned factors are highly debatable and the delegate believes that without clear vision
and unity on these, the committee cannot progress to a clear solution. The Delegate, in clear
consideration with the Syrian Government, shall bring to the committee what the Syrian Government
believes to be the right definition for terrorism, and its subsequent factors. Accordingly, we are open
to a political solution in Syria, with a real opposition that seeks the prosperity, stability and security of
Syria, an opposition that does not depend on the outside and does not speak on behalf of the outside.
An opposition that has an impact on the Syrian territory, and has deep roots inside Syria, not in hotels
and Western capitals. A national opposition that upholds fighting terrorism as its priority, as well as,
an opposition that encourages the ongoing local reconciliations, paving the way for the success of the
political solution.
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From the desk of the delegate of The Syrian Arab Republic

TOPIC AREA II: NUCLEAR TERRORISM

Last September, Syria accepted the initiative of the President of the Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir
Putin, and joined the Convention of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, based on the need to establish
in the Middle East a free zone of nuclear weapons and all weapons of mass destruction. It also wanted to
prove to the whole world its commitment to stand against any use of chemical weapons. Syria stresses
that establishing a zone free from all weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East is unachievable
without the accession of Israel, the only nuclear power in the region, to all treaties banning such weapons,
and to put its nuclear facilities under the supervision of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
At the same time, we emphasize the right of all countries to acquire and develop nuclear technology for
peaceful uses. In addition to that, Syria requests all the countries to limit their fears and skepticisms that
the nuclear technology shall be used for creation of weapons.
The delegate reciprocates the words of the Syrian Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates
Minister Walid al-Moallem, to the United Nations during the 69th session of the United Nations General
Assembly,

Syria is committed to the full implementation of the provisions of the Convention as a state party, and
within the frame of the OPCW. The big question that remains is whether those who are supplying the
terrorists with this, and other types of weapons, will stop their actions and abide by international law, in
particular the Convention of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the Security Council resolutions
related to terrorism?

From the desk of the delegate of The Syrian Arab Republic

We know that terrorist groups have been trying to buy, build or steal a bomb. In the past two decades,
there have been at least 25 instances of nuclear explosive materials being lost or stolen. There is enough
highly enriched uranium, or HEU, in the world today to build more than 100,000 bombs.
Terrorists looking to buy or steal HEU could look to the approximately 40 countries with nuclear weapons
materials. And then there are rogue individuals out there who are running black markets selling nuclear
materials and technology. If terrorists manage to get their hands on enough HEU, they could smuggle it
into a target city, build a bomb and explode it.
The nuclear threat is not limited to terrorism. There are also the dangers of proliferation and accidental or
unauthorized nuclear launch. Today, nine countries have more than 23,000 nuclear weapons, and the U.S.
and Russia still maintain thousands of nuclear weapons on hair-trigger alert, poised for launch within a
few minutes. Terrorists exploit gaps in security. The current global regime for protecting the nuclear
materials that terrorists desire for their ultimate weapon is far from seamless. It is based largely on
unaccountable, voluntary arrangements that are inconsistent across borders. Its weak links make it
dangerous and inadequate to prevent nuclear terrorism.
The only way to eliminate the danger that nuclear weapons will be used by countries in conflict, by
accident or by terrorists is to lock down all nuclear materials and eliminate all nuclear weapons in all
countries. Nuclear terrorism is a real and present danger for all states, not just a few. Preventing it is an
achievable goal. The current focus on nuclear security through voluntary actions, however, is not
commensurate with either the risk or consequences of nuclear terrorism. This must be rectified. If the
United Nations makes this a priority, there can be an effective global nuclear security regime in place
before this decade ends.

From the desk of the delegate of The Syrian Arab Republic

Combatting terrorism is no easy task and it is something that cannot be done overnight. It will be a long
struggle that could be quite dangerous. The very beginning of the problem starts when there is no legally
binding definition for terrorism, resulting in an absolute mockery of the legal system, and the United
Nations, however, as is believed, the time for debate and discussions is closing in, evidently, it is time to
take action. The delegate thus hopes to achieve a probable solution, for the betterment of both his country
and the United Nations.