POSITIONPAPER

Name: Parth Mohta

School: Mahadevi Birla World Academy

Committee: United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
Agenda: Discussing the Syrian Civil War with special emphasis on preventing the spread of
extremism
Allotment: Republic of Armenia

Statement of the Problem

Background
The Syrian Civil War, one of the most devastating conflicts of the 21st century, has its roots in a
long history of authoritarian rule by the Al-Assad regime and is directly linked to the 2011 Arab
Spring uprisings. Syria’s complex history includes early conquests by the Hittites, Egyptians,
Assyrians, Persians, and Greeks, followed by a period of relative peace under Ottoman rule after
1516. Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, France took control of
Syria until its independence in 1946. In 1970, Hafez Al-Assad established a lasting authoritarian
regime, characterized by political repression and economic struggles. After his death in 2000,
his son Bashar Al-Assad took over, raising initial hopes for reform, but his continuation of
repressive policies led to growing discontent. The Arab Spring reached Syria in 2011, sparking
protests after the arrest and torture of adolescents in Daraa. The regime’s violent response
escalated these protests into an armed uprising, drawing in various opposition groups like the
Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Kurdish forces. Extremist factions, including Jabhat al-Nusra and
ISIS, later emerged, further complicating the conflict.

By 2014, ISIS declared a caliphate, taking control of a significant portion of Syrian territory,
including Raqqa, and prompting U.S. military intervention. Meanwhile, the Assad regime,
having lost territory, was supported by Hezbollah and Iranian forces, while Russia’s intervention
in 2015 further entrenched the conflict. The war's toll has been catastrophic, with at least
250,000 deaths and over 12 million displaced by 2015. It has decimated Syria's infrastructure,
turning homes, schools, and cultural sites to ruins. The involvement of multiple international
actors transformed the war into a complex and protracted struggle, leaving Syria and the region
in prolonged instability. The Syrian Civil War’s impact on human life and displacement,
alongside its geopolitical ramifications, makes it one of the most tragic and defining events of
the modern era.

1|Page
 Key Issues

By October 2015, it had reached the international crisis level-- at least defined by widespread
displacement, rights violations, and even terrorist groups like ISIS, Islamic State of Iraq, and
Syria. The key issues concerning the Syrian Civil War are an increasingly relevant factor of
extremism, the involvement of foreign powers, humanitarian tragedy, and a challenge in
reaching any form of political solution.
EMERGENCE AND SPREAD OF RADICALISM IN SYRIA The biggest problem the UN
Security Council faces, in connection with Syria, is the spread of extremist groupings in the
context of the Syrian Civil War. The contest had prepared fertile ground for the jihadist
movements by 2015, most notably ISIS, which had proclaimed its "caliphate" in 2014, and
Jabhat al-Nusra, affiliated with al-Qaeda, operating within Syria. Much of the rapid expansion of
these groups must be attributed to the fragmentation of state power throughout much of the
Syrian nation, wherein the Assad regime ceded influence and opposition forces showed
themselves incapable of providing unified rule. ISIS was the most ruthless and coordinated
terror group. It had already, in October 2015, occupied large areas of territory in Syria and Iraq
and had announced the city of Raqqa as its capital of declared caliphate. ISIS used opportunism
based on sectarianism as well as absolute chaos produced by the bigger civil war. They resorted
to radical violence-public executions, slavery and the likes-not only for the purpose of instilling
fear but also to gain international attention. Its well-equipped internet-based propaganda and
recruitment machinery facilitated attracting thousands of foreign fighters from the different parts
of the planet in order to intensify the international character of the conflict. The UNSC needs
also to discuss how it can curb further development of terrorist ideology emanating from Syria.
Extremism, increasingly under the banner of jihadism, poses a threat not only to the stability in
one region but also to global security because most foreign fighters often return home after
being radicalized. To prevent this proliferation, there needs to be a discussion of the
fundamental causes associated with radicalization: political instability, economic depravity,
and social fragmentation that stem from protracted conflict. The UNSC should, therefore focus
on both the military strategies to break the extremist networks and non-military solutions to
counter radicalization at its root.
ROLE OF EXTERNAL POWERS AND PROXY CONFLICT By 2015, the Syrian Civil War
had practically transformed into a proxy war involving most of the regional and international
powers but each with strategic interests. The involvement of various actors has made the conflict
complex and expanded the war as much as it has allowed extremism to spread. The two key
allies of the Assad regime Russia and Iran. Russia actually started direct military attacks on
Syria already in September 2015. Its representatives declared that the airstrikes attacks of its
bombers represented involvement in global war against terrorism, concentrating on the fight
against ISIS. Yet this fight includes not or just ISIS but other rebel factions supported by the
Western world, such as the FSA. Russia wants to preserve Assad for reasons of historical
continuity, in which one of its former allies survives in Damascus and does its duty in defending
military interests in the region, mainly regarding the naval base in Tartus port city. Iran has been
providing critical military and financial support to the Assad regime. The United States and its
allies have, to weaken both ISIS and the Assad regime, been providing aid to competing
opposition factions. However the fragmentation of the opposition and the presence of extremist
groups in their ranks have complicated United States policy. The US-led coalition has made
airstrikes under the cover of Operation Inherent Resolve
2|Page
against ISIS in Syria, but they have been marred by much
criticism because they seem

inefficient and hardly address the crisis at its real political and humanitarian stages. Turkey, the
other major player, has been a multi-faceted actor in the Syrian conflict. Turkey is afraid its
rhetoric against the Assad regime and its support for all of the different rebel factions could
really lead to a Kurdish ascendancy across the border with it. It fears that an independent
Kurdish region may provoke similar ambitions among its Kurdish population. This has led to
dual policy, where Turkey at the same time finds itself on the same side with the war against
ISIS, yet it continues its military operations against Kurdish groups, especially the SDF. The
SDF forms part of the components of the YPG, an insurgence group that Turkey accuses of
having links with the PKK, known to be a listed terrorist group. This has led to foreign entities
making Syria a battlefield for clashing geopolitical interests. Thus, the United Nations Security
Council should coordinate the overlapping interventions while seeking some common grounds
as a means to solve the conflict. The international strategy remains unagreed, thus risking
foreign interventions to protract the war while opening a way to spread more extremism.
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND ITS TIE WITH EXTREMISM. The Syrian Civil War has
reached one of the most tragic humanitarian crises in the 21st century: more than 250,000 people
have been killed, and more than 11 million displaced from their homes, 4 million of whom the
United Nations found refuge in neighbouring states. The general savagery of the war has
destroyed civilian infrastructure-including hospitals, schools, and homes-leaving the population
without access to essential services and therefore generating suffering on a large scale. Without
a doubt, the humanitarianization of the conflict and the spread of extremism are interrelated.
This protracted war creates fertile ground for terrorist organizations because prospects for
people becoming vulnerable to radical thoughts increase when their groups are not only
disenfranchised but also threatened. In regions under the self-proclaimed authority of ISIS, it has
offered services like food and medical care and it belongs to the integration program, and co-
joining into a set group. For people who had everything taken from them and were left with
nothing like those in Syria, joining extremist groups may seem the only way out. The United
Nations Security Council must combine humanitarian assistance with being firmly against the
proliferation of extremism. It is imperative to help the internally displaced and most affected
areas of Syria not only to alleviate the pain of the human population but also to take away their
recruitment tool. Humanitarian aid should be provided regularly, on a schedule, and without
discrimination between government and rebel control zones. The humanitarian process should
also be de-politicized and less vulnerable to exploitation by either party to the conflict,
something that the UN Security Council must ensure.
THE PROBLEM OF A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT One elementary problem in the UNSC
handling of the Syrian Civil War is that there never really was a clean political settlement to the
crisis. Since October 2015, several rounds of peace talks have been held, with the most notable
being the Geneva Process, but all these attempts have continually hit a snag because of the
intransigence of both the Assad regime and the fragmented opposition. Moreover, the insistence
of the extremist elements, which are not party to the negotiations, complicates the peace process
further. The Assad regime has thus far refused to bargain, digging in and defining itself with the
fight against terrorism as the civil war rolls on. For many rebel groups-much less those
connected with the more moderate opposition-the removal of Assad from power is an
3|Page
unconditional condition for achieving peace. The
presence of such organizations as ISIS and alNusra provided an
alibi for the brutal actions of Bashar al-Assad, as the war
is presented as a battle to protect the Syrian state from jihadist
forces. The main challenge for the United Nations Security
Council is to create conditions conducive to constructive
dialogue among the warring

factions. Any political solution must guarantee a transitional government, which will ensure the
legitimate demands of Syria's opposition and the protection of all religious and ethnic
minorities.. Russia and Iran, as the two important allies of Assad, would probably be against any
peace roadmap that would undermine their influence over the region. On the other hand, the
United States and its allies would back away from any plan that would let Assad keep his power
in Syria. Such contradictory interests have always frustrated UNSC resolutions, pushing
diplomacy into a deadlock. Anti-Terrorism Measures and Militaristic Solutions The UNSC
decision must also incorporate the effectiveness of the military option in bringing an end to
extremism in Syria. Military action against ISIS has barely been successful in its own right, but
it has gained an impetus from international efforts in the form of air strikes and ground fighting
by local forces. It has been able to just shift its bases to the villages or merge within the
population, which has made its elimination without unacceptable damage to the collateral only
more difficult.

Policy pertaining to agenda

Neutrality and Non-Intervention

Armenia maintains a policy of neutrality in the Syrian Civil War. We believe that the internal
affairs of Syria should be resolved by its own people, free from foreign interference. This is
rooted in our firm respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, as enshrined
in the United Nations Charter.

While Armenia has refrained from direct involvement in the conflict or supporting any military
intervention, we actively call for peaceful negotiations and dialogue between all parties.
Armenia supports the role of neutral mediators in facilitating these discussions, aiming for a
comprehensive political solution that can bring peace and stability to Syria.

Humanitarian Assistance and Protection of Armenian Communities

The Syrian Civil War has had a devastating impact on the Armenian-Syrian community,
especially in cities like Aleppo. Armenia has responded to this crisis by providing extensive
humanitarian assistance, both to Armenians in Syria and to those who have sought refuge in

4|Page
Armenia. By 2015, over 20,000 Syrian Armenians had resettled in Armenia, where they were
provided with housing, legal support, and opportunities for social and economic integration.

In addition to welcoming refugees, Armenia has sent several humanitarian missions to Syria,
focusing on medical assistance and recovery efforts. These missions have aimed to help both the
Armenian and broader Syrian population affected by the conflict.

This humanitarian response reflects Armenia’s historical experience with displacement and
genocide, reinforcing our commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and cultural heritage
in conflict zones.

Diplomatic Engagement and Multilateral Cooperation

Armenia remains deeply committed to diplomatic solutions to the Syrian crisis and strongly supports
international peace efforts, particularly those facilitated by the United Nations and the Geneva peace
process. We believe that the conflict can only be resolved through sustained dialogue involving all
relevant parties—both internal and external actors.

In the context of our foreign policy, we also emphasize the importance of regional cooperation.
Armenia works closely with key regional stakeholders, including Iran and Russia, to promote
stability and ensure that peace talks prioritize the protection of minority communities, including
ethnic and religious groups affected by the war. Our position is aligned with the broader
international consensus that military solutions have proven ineffective and that diplomacy is the
only way forward.

Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Preservation of Cultural Heritage

Armenia is committed to supporting post-conflict reconstruction efforts in Syria. As the war has
devastated much of the country’s infrastructure, we believe that international cooperation will be
essential to rebuilding the economy, social services, and governance in war-affected areas. In
particular, Armenia advocates for efforts to protect and restore cultural heritage sites that have
been damaged or destroyed during the conflict.

The Armenian community in Syria, which has suffered significant losses during the war, will
need support to rebuild its schools, churches, and cultural institutions. Armenia stands ready to
participate in international initiatives aimed at preserving cultural landmarks and supporting the
safe return of displaced persons once peace and stability are restored.

Additionally, Armenia supports the establishment of mechanisms to ensure accountability for

war crimes and violations of international law, which are critical for rebuilding trust and
fostering reconciliation in post-war Syria.

Solutions

5|Page
6|Page
7|Page