Invitation Secretariat

Last Updated: Thursday, 03 May 2018 10:58

Esteemed MUN directors, dear delegates,

We have officially stepped into 2018, a year which started full of hope that the world might be able to redeem itself from previous mistakes, in which world events might actually take a turn for the best. Unfortunately, it takes more than a simple wish to make the world a better place; we need hard work, firm negotiations, innovation, insight and, first and foremost, the will to actually change for the better.

Judging by the alarming rise in populist governments and the actions of overweening leaders in certain states, the international community is still far from seeing the desired results in reality. This, of course, does not mean that we will sit by indolently. On the contrary, it is time to take matters into our own hands, and make the change we wish to see… The DSAMUN conference provides the perfect opportunity for that, for young people to take up a role otherwise given to accomplished diplomats, thus giving them a taste of what taking steps towards changing the world around them looks like and sensitizing them to global topics.

Many of you may not be that familiar with the concept of MUN, and we would be glad to be the ones to introduce you to the wonderful world it encompasses. MUN, which stands for “Model United Nations”, is a United Nations facsimile that has, however, been designed for students. It functions as a gateway to the world of international politics, international relations and diplomacy and it constitutes an event through which participants will get to know the problems the world is currently facing, issues which they might have never occupied themselves with prior to the conference. The partaking delegates will assume the roles of diplomats representing specific countries and are, as such, called upon to not only research the policy of the country they represent on several issues of the annual agenda but to also outline them and try to promote said policy during debate time. Thus, is a long and winding process, which must be approved of several other factors, who may have clashing interests, as well as be structured properly and clearly enough to be able to actually put into action. That is, however, the purpose of a model; not only giving one the opportunity to express their opinion on a matter but also showing them how these opinions and propositions would later have to be put into action, how a feasible plan will go on to become a reality.

Nevertheless, this does not only mean that the delegates will be expected to research and try to find solutions to complicated matters of social, political or environmental nature, but they are also required to cooperate and communicate with other delegates in English, while advocating for their delegation’s position, another invitation to improve oneself more and more in a variety of skills.

The topics the nascent young diplomats are called upon to tackle in the 21st DSAMUN conference vary from current issues regarding crises in specific countries, like the Rohingya crisis, or the slave trade of immigrants in Libya which have left the world shook because of monstrosities happening against specific groups of people, to political topics stemming from current relations between countries, like the dire need for the disarmament of eastern Ukraine, to more specialized socio-economic topics that have arisen as a result of the radical development of modern societies and technologies, like cryptocurrencies.

The agenda offers a wide range of topics observed in different states and caused by the development of certain aspects of each country’s civilization and history. However, the topic of this year’s Special Conference focuses on a global and timeless phenomenon, in which most delegates, of whatever country of origin, will probably find themselves in familiar terrain. It is not only a topic about which one hears on the news daily, but also one most countries experience first-hand, namely the issue of political corruption. It comes as no surprise that this is an issue partly responsible for most of the issues states are called to face globally. Thus, by striking the problems at a common root, we might actually be tackling more issues at once.

Justice, Equality, Safety, Democracy, Transparency, and Multiculturalism are some of the few principles we hope to be representing and supporting in the upcoming conference, and we are more than hopeful that many of you will find we share a common goal, which we wish to work together towards.

Hence, we look forward to seeing you at the 21st DSAMUN conference!

Nicolas Stamatopoulos,                                                                   Danae E. Zolota,

Secretary General                                                              President of the General Assembly

                                                George-Evangelos Laios,

                                 Deputy President of the General Assembly