Vanderbilt Model UN Weekly Briefing
For 02/08/2010-02/15/2010
Written on 02/15/2010 at 7:30 pm
· Saudi Arabia: Country voices its doubts over effectiveness of new sanctions on Iran
o Prince Saud al-Faial says the situation requires a more immediate solution
o On Tuesday, Turkey’s foreign minister will arrive in Iran to mediate
o Saudi Prince says they will work in long term, but not in the short term
o Clinton is hoping to convince Saudi Arabia to encourage China to take a tougher stand against Iraq
o China is against imposing more sanctions as well, as it may result in major revenue losses from investments in Iran
· Greece: Finance Minister asks for details regarding bailout plan
o Greece seeking bailout from eurozone nations as it tries to reduce its public deficit (12.7%, which is four times higher than eurozone rules allow)
o Pledged to cut it to 8.7% this year through major cuts in public spending
o EU has given Greece until end of February to give details on how currency swaps affected Greek government’s financial accounts since 2001
o EU statistics agency revealed that Greece falsified data last year to hide extent of debt
· Guinea: Guinea Unveils Interim Government
o Transitional government will steer country from military to civilian rule
o Interim government pledges to hold election in 6 months, which will produce first democratically-elected administration since coup in December, 2008
o Government contains mix of both civilian and military leaders
· Libya: Libya Stops Issuing Visas to Several European Countries
o This is an apparent act of retaliation for alleged Swiss measures against Gaddafi family
o Barred people from “Schengen Zone,” which is over 25 European countries
o Rift began with the arrest of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s son and daughter-in-law in Switzerland in June 2008
· Kenya: Kenya Urges Kofi Annan Intervention
o President Raila Odinga will ask Annan to intervene in bitter power struggle
o Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki are fighting over who is in charge of cabinet affairs
o Result of struggle has been relative anarchy, as the people no longer know who is in charge
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