A summary of the first day of the UNSC discussions regarding the Eastern Mediterranean crisis

This Saturday (03/07), members of the United Nations Security Council began to discuss the Eastern Mediterranean political and strategic crisis. On the first hour, countries decided the agenda for the meeting that includes the encouragement of talks concerning maritime borders - mainly addressing the matters of the militarization of the islands in the Aegean Sea, the EEZs and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea -, the security of refugees - discussing the impact of militarization on the refugee crisis and the strengthening of human rights protections - and the natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean - with the East Med Pipeline, advancement of military ships and possible energy alliances.

During the first and second sessions the nations held an endless discussion with the aim of reaching a consensus on the issue of demilitarization of the island of Cyprus. Greece used the absence of Turkey in the first moment to propose a document that benefit its own purposes.

It was suggested that the nations should appoint a neutral country as the mediator to the tensions between Greece and Turkey in the matter. Greece agreed to demilitarize the Aegean Islands under the condition that “Turkey signs the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea and respects it or, at least recognizes the lawful existence of continental shelves in islands” and “retreats its troops from the northern region of the Republic of Cyprus, recognizing the unlawfulness of its presence so far and the independence of Cyprus.” According to the Greek delegate: “The demilitarization is done in the interest of both countries, to improve security.”

Although the countries still couldn't agree on which country should be the Neutral Ground for the discussion, the majority appointment Norway as being a valid choice to preside the matter. UK specially thinks the Norway will be the best candidate for this function.

During the third and last session of the day, the late arrival of Russia caused the nations to move for the discussion of the topic of the security of refugees in the territory, ending the afternoon with tension and wonder in how the committee will continue to argue this topic.