Resolutions in General Assembly: Of Space and Peacekeeping

By : The Press Team

On the second day of resolution debate, the SAMUNers had to finish discussing all the leftover resolutions from the previous day. The Press Team took notes on the debates.

A resolution submitted by France and Ethiopia concerned the control and prevention of massive weapon concentration in space. The resolution encouraged countries with sophisticated space technology to focus on finding beneficial and non-harmful uses of space rather than creating new types of weapons to be launched from space. The delegation from Ethiopia spoke first and argued that, should the resolution pass, countries that already have satellites in space will be free to continue their build-up of weapons there.

The delegation from France was in favor of the resolution, and it said that the United Nations wants peace not an arms race. It added that the world should use space to make scientific advances.

The resolution ended up passing by a twenty-four to eight margin.

Switzerland and the Netherlands submitted a resolution that concerned itself with  reducing the number of UN peacekeeping troops in Liberia so the military power can be handed back to the government. Both submitting countries asserted that by reducing the UN’s military presence, Liberia would move more towards complete independence.

The delegations of South Africa and France registered their opposition to the resolution by saying that it  does not focus on the main point

The resolution failed.