Syria at the MUN: Much Ado About (Almost) Nothing

The first round of debates on this fine day of Christmas was a veritable verbal marathon, with speeches competing with subtle criticism and eye-rolling between delegations. While some had hoped to find an amicable agreement from the outset to break the deadlock in Syria, it seems that it was more a battle of egos between delegates that was played out.

From the outset, the Maltese delegation took the lead in calling for a ceasefire. But its efforts could be compared to looking for a thorn in a haystack. Russia and China brandished Syrian sovereignty as an indispensable weapon in the fight against the terrorist threat. The US delegate, on the other hand, used her anti-terrorist rhetoric to criticize the ineffectiveness of other countries' policies in the face of terrorist threats.

Meanwhile, the Turkish delegation displayed a certain flair for irony, criticizing Syrian democracy (while subtly sidestepping the issue of human rights in its own country). The Syrian delegation, for its part, accused major nations of inaction in the face of terrorism.
The Japanese delegation tried to ease tensions by reminding everyone that ceasefires and counterterrorism efforts are not mutually exclusive.

In the end, the debates concluded as they had begun with a flood of words and passivity when it came to taking concrete measures to combat the chaos. One thing is certain: this first debate provided an opportunity for the delegates to showcase their oratorical skills... As for Syria, it is still waiting for answers.