Armenian youth learns more about UN at the Model UN Conference

Armenian youth learns more about UN at the Model UN Conference

armradio.am
14:46 17.11.2012

Students improved their knowledge of the UN values, as well as their
negotiation and communication skills at the Model UN Conference
simulating a debate at the UN Security Council on issue of Palestine
membership to the UN. The conference was held today at the Yerevan
State University (YSU).

The event was jointly organized by the UN Department of Public
Information and theYerevanStateUniversityin the framework of the Plan
for Cooperation between the UNDPI and the YSU. The Conference is
dedicated to the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People and the International Day of Tolerance.

Prior to the Model UN Conference, training sessions were held to
further educate the participants on the UN values, the functions and
structure of the UN Security Council as well as its Rules of
Procedures. An experienced trainer from the Armenian UN Association
and two other experts guided the participants’ research and
distributed specially designed guidelines.

The participants were briefed on the positions of the UN Security
Council Member States concerning the membership ofPalestineto the UN.
They learnt not only about the issue ofPalestinemembership and its
sensitivities and functioning of the UN bodies, but also about the art
of negotiations, multi-lateral diplomacy, and got relevant information
that assisted them to properly represent their respective countries’
positions during the simulation.

Maria Dotsenko, Representative of the UNDPI Office inArmeniasaid: `You
learned a lot about UN Security Council functioning and UN values,
while working with trainers and researching independently in groups.
Ability to negotiate, find compromises and build consensus and
tolerate opposite points of view, is useful for your future careers
and will help you to be more active members of your communities.’

Ruben Markosyan from theYerevanStateUniversitysaid: `We appreciate our
fruitful cooperation with the UN. I am impressed with our students’
passion and enthusiasms with which they approach research and debates,
the dedication they bring to drafting their comprehensive statement
and the spirit of international diplomacy with which they approach
their fellow delegates.’

At the end of the day all participants received certificates of
appreciation and awards.

Model UN Conferences simulate the UN bodies during which participants
represent different UN Member States and discuss issues of global
importance.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress