RMUN The Delegation of France RMUN 2010 Delegation of France Security Council Khoo Wu Shaun Hwa Chong Institution

RMUN The Delegation of France French-Middle Eastern Ties France shares warm ties with the Middle East – Saudi Arabia Trade in 2005 amounted to 5.24 billion euros, with expansion of motorcar sector in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian investment in France amounts to 484 million euros Excellent political ties between both countries relations_3991.html

RMUN The Delegation of France French-Yemeni Ties France shares warm ties with Yemen – Yemen is a Priority Solidarity Zone of France, receiving developmental aid and close assistance in development of key industries – Extension of the good relations that France shares with Middle Eastern nations policy_2589/governmental-strategies_2670/priority-solidarity-zone_2671/index.html

RMUN The Delegation of France French-Yemeni Ties Funding – Agriculture – Provision of YR 35 million in support of agricultural research, aiming to increase efficiency and effectiveness of agriculture in Yemen – 1 million euros to support 18 projects and 90 NGOs – Focus in areas of agricultural and animal wealth production sanaa/mi_8204/is_ /french-support-agriculture-animal- wealth/ai_n /

RMUN The Delegation of France French-Yemeni Ties Funding – Infrastructure – Severe shortage of critical infrastructure, such as roads, power and sewage – French Development Agency (AFD) working with Yemeni locals to overcome problems with transportation of agricultural products

RMUN The Delegation of France French-Yemeni Ties Funding – Education – Closer partnerships between French and Yemeni universities – provide opportunities for higher education – Support for the aspiring French Yemeni journalists yemen_6225/cultural-scientific-and-technical-cooperation_6228/framework- partnership-document-france-yemen _11775.html

RMUN The Delegation of France Analysis of Situation Yemeni Instability Resource Shortage Water Shortages Dwindling Oil Reserves Political Differences North/South Divide Refugees from Somalia Security Threat Al-Qaeda Iran

RMUN The Delegation of France Analysis of Situation Resource Shortage – Water Shortage – Rapidly expanding cities and population spiking water usage levels past unsustainable levels – 90% of all water used to fund a vice: Qat, a drug that is core to Yemeni culture – Water reserves and aquifers estimated to last Yemen only for another decade

RMUN The Delegation of France Analysis of Situation Resource Shortage – Dwindling Oil Reserves – Overdependence on crude oil production 70% of existing revenue comes from the oil industry Crude oil exports dropped from $4.2 billion to $1.5 billion in the fiscal year of 2009 as compared to 2008 Stiff competition from Saudi Arabia and other OPEC nations – Lack of a long term economic alternative to the weakening crude oil industry

RMUN The Delegation of France Analysis of Situation Political Differences – North/South Divide – Insurgency from the South – Al Houthis – Over 250,000 displaced persons as direct consequence of the conflict – Involved months of armed conflict, with Saudi Arabian involvement – Truce offered by the Yemeni government holding since February 16 Yemen.html?_r=1&scp=8&sq=yemen&st=cse yemen.html?scp=10&sq=yemen&st=cse

RMUN The Delegation of France Analysis of Situation Political Differences – Refugees from Somalia – As of December 2005, over 16,000 Somalian refugees in Yemeni territory, rising to 82,000 in July 2006 – World Food Programme estimates $105m of aid for both this year and next to feed the 3 million hungry Yemenis – Straining the limited resources and tolerance of the massive influx of refugees yemenis-starving-donors-un bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=44081d924

RMUN The Delegation of France Analysis of Situation Security Threat – Al Qaeda – January 2009 – bin Laden announces a major new branch in Yemen – Detroit Incident – in retaliation for U.S. assisted attacks on Yemeni tribes where "scores of Muslim women and children, and families in their entirety" were killed – Poverty and unemployment push people towards Al Qaeda in desperation

RMUN The Delegation of France Analysis of Situation Security Threat – Iran – Added dimension of conflict: Shi’ites (Iran) and Sunnis (Saudi Arabia and Yemen) – Suspected Iranian involvement via provision of military equipment to rebels, provided grounds for Saudi Arabian intervention: Escalation of conflict – Yemen as a hotbed for a proxy war

RMUN The Delegation of France Proposed Solutions Resolving the Yemen Crisis

RMUN The Delegation of France Proposed Solutions Provision of Aid to Yemen – Critical for survival – food, water, shelter – Long term developmental aid Provision of equipment, materials and technical expertise for infrastructural development Refugee camps converted into self sufficient communities Education for youth – EFA Movement

RMUN The Delegation of France Proposed Solutions Combating Terror with Empathy – Precedent in Iraq and Afghanistan and worked with great effect – Force Reintegration Cell – Targeted at low to middle level insurgents who are being coerced by force or by money – Economic and social security granted for priceless information on Al Qaeda hideouts

RMUN The Delegation of France Proposed Solutions Maintaining Peace and Order – Deployment of peacekeeping troops in the refugee camps to safeguard situation – Preservation of peace in the refugee camps – prevent disturbance from Houthis nor Al Qaeda

RMUN The Delegation of France Proposed Solutions Managing Critical Resources – Desalination technology, reclamation of water – Raising awareness on the water problem, raising taxes on water and imposing additional levies on qat – Exploration of alternative energy sources – support from Kyoto Protocol’s CDMs

RMUN The Delegation of France Conclusion Unique middle-ground position ideal for negotiation between both sides France’s Priority Solidarity Zone is a useful platform for engagement with the people Prior experience in aiding developing nations