Spring Fest 2012 witnessed the maiden session of IIT Kharagpur Model United Nations Conference, jointly conducted by Debating Society, IIT Kharagpur and Spring Fest.
A Model UN conference is an academic simulation of the United Nations Organization where participants take on the role of representatives of countries/organizations in a UN council, discussing world issues. The agenda is set beforehand and the participants put forth their arguments and the stance of their allotted country, all while trying to solve the issues at hand. Several factors like economic policies, trade relations, cultural ideologies, and foreign policy go into predicting the stance of a country on a particular issue. Thus, a Model UN conference gives one a proper insight into the workings of the UN, helping them understand world politics and international affairs better. IIT Kharagpur Model UN Conference simulated two councils – the UN Security Council which deliberated over the situation in the South China Sea, and the Special Session of the General Assembly set in 1947, discussing the future of Palestine once the British mandate is complete. After three days of intense debate and deliberation, the UNSC concluded with the passing of a resolution in which all competing claimants to the South China Sea region were directed to freeze their military expansion in the disputed waters. The commencement of tripartite talks between the People’s Republic of China, Vietnam, and Philippines was also mentioned, in an effort to quell the rising unrest in the region. Ahaan Mohan of NUJS, Calcutta won the Best delegate for his excellent policy-making as the Delegate of China.The Historic General Assembly ended with no specific resolution to the Palestinian conflict, as separate resolutions put forth by the Arab bloc and the Jewish bloc failed to garner the requisite majority. The Arab bloc proposed a one-state solution, whereas the opposing bloc called for the partition of Palestine. This was not surprising, considering the turmoil the Middle-East finds itself in on this very topic 71 years after that fateful day. Sourish Sinha, the Iraqi delegate, won the Best Delegate here.
