MUN 2011-2012 Second Caucus Committee: General Assembly Topic: Self Determination of Kosovo, Tibet and Taiwan Country:

Russia Delegates: Andrew Kwik The cases of Kosovo, Tibet and Taiwan raise to the international stage debatable issues of national sovereignty being threatened by minorities seeking to exercise autonomy. Kosovo had, in 2008 when its declaration of independence was made, at best a highly controversial qualification to become independent, as part of Serbia. Its partially recognised independence was only made possible by military intervention backed by foreign powers. The multi-ethnic region of the Balkans still has the danger of being greatly destabilised by the potential of violence and refugee movement, and we as Russia see the threat and would urge no precedent to be set for Tibet or Taiwan. Russia will refrain from any intervention in a countrys basic sovereignty in the near future, and we would like to ask all other countries to do so the same. Kosovo is clearly not a truly independent state, and it should not be treated as so. The constitutional structure underpinning Yugoslavia and China is similar to that of the former Soviet Union, and clearly rules out such unilateral independence. While Russia acknowledges the struggle of Tibetans, we join Beijings well-founded stance in that Tibet is firmly a non-negotiable part of China. As for Taiwan, as our Prime Minister has recently said, we have always supported on China on such sensitive issues, and will continue to do so. We have opposed Taiwans UN membership for reasons that still stand. We also recognise the PRC as the sole government of China, and hence we will engage in trade and diplomatic relations with the region of Taiwan only through the PRC. Russia will not support the independence of Kosovo, Tibet and Taiwan. However we will support efforts to relieve political and social tensions in these regions, and are especially reading to aid in talks between Beijing and the Dalai Lama, as long as Yugoslavia and Chinas sovereignty is not called into question.