PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE

Table of Contents

Letter from the Crisis Director Page 2

Letter from the Chair Page 3

Background Page 4

Committee Structure Page 4

Positions Page 5

Committee Goals Page 9

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LETTER FROM THE CRISIS DIRECTOR Dear Delegates, My name is Hope Bodenschatz, and I’m delighted to be your Crisis Director for the in Crisis: Organization of American States committee. I’m a freshman double majoring in Economics and Community, Environment, and Development. I am a lifelong Penn Stater; I was born to two Penn State alumni and raised in State College, so I definitely bleed blue and white! I have always had a strong interest in history and government, but this is my first year in Model UN, as well as my first experience with PUNC. I served as Co-Chair of the Scramble for Africa committee during PHUNC this year. Outside of PSIADA, I am a Liberal Arts Envoy, the programming chair for the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council, and a member of Empower Orphans. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, reading, playing the piano, singing, and spending time with family and friends. I’m excited to meet all of you in March. I’ve had a great time preparing this committee and am looking forward to some lively and thought-provoking debate!

Sincerely,

Hope Bodenschatz

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LETTER FROM THE CHAIR Greetings delegates!

My name is Byron Molina. I’m currently a senior originally from Miami, FL. Last PUNC, I was the Head of Committee for Standard Oil: America’s Oil Addiction. I’m also acting Vice President of Away Conference for PSIADA. Aside from my interest in Model UN, I am also involved in Penn State’s Economics Association as a Research Associate. In my free time, I enjoy weightlifting, target shooting, and video games when my academic schedule allows.

I’m excited to be Chairing this committee and can’t wait to see the rest of you in March. I look forward to helping make this committee fun for everyone.

Respectfully,

Byron Molina

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION Venezuela at Present In 2014, Venezuelans took to the streets to protest urban violence, inflation, and a lack of basic goods. Over the next two years, the situation deteriorated. In September of 2016, the largest protest took place: over 1 million Venezuelans took to the streets of calling for a recall election of Nicolas Maduro. In December, as the economy continued to slide, Maduro banned the use of the 100 Bolivar note and began printing 500 to 20,000 Bolivar notes. Since that time, the situation has gradually worsened, and the economy has faced soaring inflation. With Maduro’s government on the verge of collapse, Radonski, often considered to be the face of the opposition movement and aided by other leaders of the Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (MUD) coalition (a conglomeration of Venezuelan opposition political parties), staged a successful coup in the spring of 2018. While the people rejoice at the prospect of a new government that will provide for their security and prosperity, there is much work to be done to stabilize the country. If the Venezuelan opposition officials who worked together during their fight for control of the government cannot work together to determine who among them will become the next president, anarchy could rule in Venezuela, leaving the citizens vulnerable to issues of economics, national security, and international influence. Members of the Organization of American States and the United Nations meet with the foremost Venezuelan opposition leaders to decide the fate of Venezuela and who will lead the country onward.

Additional information: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-19652436

The Organization of American States The Organization of American States convenes as a general assembly of 35 states. They generate policy in order to settle border conflicts, negotiate truces, and improve trade and communication. They are historically anti-communist and supportive of US foreign policy and military intervention.

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE Committee Composition The mix of Venezuelan and international crises this committee will encounter will require equal representation of Venezuelan officials of differing political parties and other international delegates from the Organization of American States and the United Nations. Thus, the MUD coalition, advised by the United Nations, has called together seven Venezuelan officials of differing political parties who were previously involved with MUD, seven representatives from member states of the Organization of American States, and one United Nations representative.

Portfolio Powers Each of the Venezuelan delegates will have certain powers of the press, ability to set precedent within their political parties, and power based upon their current position in or outside of the government. The Organization of American States representatives will represent their country’s interests during the conference and can send crisis notes recommending military, financial, or other actions from appropriate officials in their respective countries, which may or may not be approved. The United Nations representative has the ability to recall and enforce existing international law to maintain decorum and productive debate among delegates; like the OAS

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PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE representatives, the UN representative has the ability to send crisis notes asking for United Nations resources. Directives passed by the Venezuelan delegates will constitute Venezuelan national and foreign policy, and directives passed by international delegates (Venezuelan delegates and others) will constitute international law and precedent that is considered binding to the states involved in the committee.

Debate and Crisis This committee is composed of international voices and will face international crises; however, debate should be focused on the stabilization of Venezuela while protecting the security and sovereignty of all nations. As discussed in “Portfolio Powers,” delegates should communicate with crisis to determine powers and the stances of their colleagues and superiors not present at the committee. Crisis updates will direct the debate with briefings on the current situation in Venezuela, and delegates should respond to these crises with cohesive action in addition to anticipating, discussing, and preventing future crises.

Voting Procedure Conference: Venezuelan directives (constituting Venezuelan foreign policy) are defined as those with only Venezuelan signatories and sponsors and will only be voted upon by the Venezuelan representatives (each representative will have one vote). International directives (constituting international law binding to the states present at this conference) are defined as those with at least one international signatory or sponsor and will be voted upon by all delegates. Day 1: Each Venezuelan official will cast one vote on Venezuelan and international directives. The United Nations representative and each OAS representative will cast one vote on international directives. Days 2-4: Venezuelan officials will cast one unanimous vote on international directives; each will cast one vote on Venezuelan directives. The United Nations representative and each OAS representative will cast one vote on international directives.

DELEGATE POSITIONS

Venezuelan Opposition Leaders

Henry Ramos Allup Party: Acción Democrática is a lawyer and politician with many years of experience in politics. He is charismatic and knows how to reach the Venezuelan people. He was elected president of the National Assembly in 2015 with a landslide victory of the opposition coalition Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (MUD) in the parliamentary elections. The president of the National Assembly has powers similar to the Speaker of the House in the U.S. Congress. Ramos Allup is the Secretary General of the Acción Democrática party. In January 2008, leaders of all the political parties that opposed Hugo Chávez’s government formed the MUD coalition. The coalition has continued to act as a united front against Nicolás Maduro since he became president

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PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE in 2013. Currently Ramos Allup serves as the assembly representative for the District Capital, Caracas. The Acción Democrática party stands for pluralism, solidarity, equality, social justice, liberty, honesty, and democratic socialism.

Julio Borges Party: Primero Justicia (co-founder with Capriles Radonski and López) has been the key face of the opposition for many years. He has been the assembly representative for since 2000 and is now the president of the National Assembly. He ran for president in 2006 but later dropped out of the race in support of . He was involved in the 2015 plot to stage a coup d’état. He is currently planning military involvement to combat “dictatorship,” which created friction between the National Assembly and the Socialist Party. The Primero Justicia party values freedom, progress, equality, solidarity, justice, and participation. They want to design a government with no privileges and where everyone has opportunity. The Primero Justicia party also believes strongly in defending human rights.

Henrique Capriles Radonski Party: Primero Justicia (co-founder) Henrique Capriles Radonski is a more recent leader of the opposition party. He is currently the Governor of Miranda, the most populous state, in which lies the capital of Venezuela. He ran against Chávez in 2012 but lost with 44.31% of the vote. After Chávez died in May 2013, he ran against Nicolas Maduro, but lost once again with 49.12% of the popular vote. This last presidential election is believed to have been rigged (there is also evidence held by members of the MUD party); nonetheless, the Supreme Court did nothing about the allegations -- the case was never opened, and the petition for a recount of the votes was denied. Capriles Radonski is very charismatic and the most presidential leader of the opposition. He knows how to reach the people and is invested in connecting with and reaching out to the people in the often underrepresented smaller towns of Venezuela. The Primero Justicia party values freedom, progress, equality, solidarity, justice, and participation. They want to design a government with no privileges and where everyone has opportunity. The Primero Justicia party also believes strongly in defending human rights.

Leopoldo López Party: National Coordinator of Voluntad Popular, later became co-founder of Primero Justicia Leopoldo López is the former mayor of the Chacao District in Caracas (2000-2008). He was imprisoned and sentenced to 14 years in jail for inciting the riots and protests in 2014 against Maduro’s government. He was falsely accused of crimes and blamed for the deaths of the Venezuelans killed by military members or caught in the crossfire during the protests. The Venezuelan opposition, however, sees him as a martyr, and many believe he could potentially become the next president when released from jail by the opposition after the coup.

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Jesus “Chuo” Torrealba Party: Member of the Communist party of Venezuela until 1974, then drifted from active politics to political journalism Jesus Torrealba, commonly known as Chuo Torrealba, is the Secretary General of the MUD coalition, which brought together the various political parties opposed to Maduro’s government. He represents the twenty plus parties that belong to the coalition and thus is seen as a peacemaker or conciliator; he is able to mediate and voice the concerns of all parties equally. In the case of a power struggle within the opposition, he would take a neutral position and try to reach consensus and mutual understanding.

Lilian Tintori Lilian Tintori is Leopoldo López’s wife. She was originally a political journalist, but became politically involved as a human rights activist after the imprisonment of López. She is currently the head of the human rights committee of the MUD coalition. Tintori is the face of the human rights and democratic movement of the country -- in particular she fights for the liberation of the political prisoners who were jailed illegally and whose rights are violated in Venezuelan prisons. She is more an activist than a politician; she does not want any role in government, but she represents the interests of the people.

Maria Corina Machado Former National Assembly Representative Machado was elected to the National Assembly as an independent in 2010. She ran in the MUD primary elections against Capriles Radonski, but lost. She continues to be an activist and face of the party despite not holding a permanent position in the MUD. Machado is also the founder and former president of the Venezuelan volunteer civil organization Súmate. Along with López, Tintori, and Capriles Radonski, she was a face of the mass protests in 2014 against Maduro. In addition, she is the founder and national coordinator of the political movement Vente Venezuela, “the party of freedom.” This movement aimed to stand up to the Chavez and Maduro regimes and totalitarian and populist ideals.

Organization of American States and United Nations Representatives

Argentina: Juan José Arcuri Like Venezuelans, Argentines have experienced recurring economic crises resulting in protests. Argentina’s economy revolves around natural resources and agricultural exports. They share the Southern Cone Common Market trade agreement with Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil; while Brazil is its largest trading partner (and the US not far behind that), the protection of Venezuelan-Argentine trade is in Argentina’s best interest. Argentina’s prime minister was once ardently opposed to Venezuela’s opposition leaders (Leopoldo Lopez especially), but seems to have changed his mind for political gain. The Argentine prime minister offered to free Leopoldo Lopez from jail if he rescinded his petition for a recall election. Argentina’s foreign minister recently made an unsuccessful bid for UN Secretary General, during which Argentina blocked action against human rights violations in Venezuela to gain its political help in the UN.

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Brazil: José Luiz Machado e Costa Brazil, South America’s leading economic power, is consistently encouraging agricultural and economic growth, while facing setbacks of unemployment and instability. Brazil seeks to continue this growth with technological advances, new social programs, and research. Falling into the role of big brother, Brazil is known as a “champion of rights of developing countries.” Brazil shares the trade agreements of Mercosur and Unasur with Venezuela and other countries. Ultimately, Brazil is willing to send financial aid to stabilize Venezuela and wants to keep the peace while avoiding spreading problems in Venezuela.

Bolivia: Diego Pary Bolivia and Venezuela have a growing relationship, with both nations giving aid in times of need. In 2013, Venezuela and Bolivia agreed to further cooperation after President Maduro visited Bolivia. Since this visit, there has been cooperation on both sides, with the Gran-National Food Production Company guaranteeing food security for both nations. This has been incredibly important for Venezuela as of late. Venezuela has also given financial assistance to Bolivia, which helped Bolivia export more coca, the main ingredient of cocaine. President Evo Morales of Bolivia and former President Maduro have committed to continuing along the path of “Socialism of the 21st Century,” which they hope will strengthen democracy, beat poverty, and consolidate independence and processes of equality. Bolivia and Venezuela also cooperate in their foreign policies. Bolivia is seeking a free trade agreement with Venezuela and will continue to promote their vision of “Socialism in the 21st Century” throughout Latin America.

Colombia: Andres Gonzalez Diaz Colombia shares special geopolitical ties with Venezuela because the two states (along with Ecuador) were both part of Gran Colombia until 1830. The breakup of Gran Colombia led to border disputes between Colombia and Venezuela. Colombia is not immune to internal conflict and struggles with poverty, security, and lack of infrastructure. FARC, an anti-government guerrilla organization, has terrorized Colombia since the Cold War and has extended its influence into neighboring countries. Colombia’s economy is largely dependent on coal and oil. Colombia is seeking free trade agreements and encourages export diversification. They want collective security policies, but are generally reserved in foreign policy if they do not see a national interest in multilateral action.

Mexico: Luis Alfonso de Alba Góngora Mexico has a strong economy and a fairly democratic government. Mexico and Venezuela are both members of international organizations like the Organization of American States and the Association of Caribbean States. Venezuela’s relationship with Mexico is not the friendliest; their involvement in NAFTA, as well as oil agreements, have been contentious issues. Additionally, former Mexican president Vicente Fox and former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez do not like each other. Diplomatic relations between the two nations entirely stalled from 2005 to 2007 due to remarks Fox made about a trade agreement among American countries. Venezuela has been the origin of drugs travelling to the United States and Mexico. There have also been several instances of Mexican registered planes carrying cocaine being shot down by the Venezuelan government. In 2014, two-way trade between both nations amounted to $1.6 billion USD. Mexico's main exports to Venezuela include: maize, baby food, shampoo, paper

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PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE and machinery. Venezuela's main exports to Mexico include: machinery for making steel, building materials and sesame seeds.

Panama: Jesus Sierra Victoria Since the 21-year military dictatorship ended in 1989, Panama has successfully completed four peaceful transfers of power to opposing political factions. The political landscape is dominated by two major parties and many smaller parties. Panama's economy has been among the fastest growing and best managed in Latin America. Despite Panama's upper-middle per capita GDP, it remains a country of stark contrasts. Perpetuated by dramatic educational disparities, over 25% of Panama's population lived in national poverty in 2013. The country is known as a tax haven, made infamous by the release of the Panama Papers in April 2016. The Panama Canal is one of Panama’s most important sources of revenue.

United States of America: Kevin K. Sullivan The United States has had a rocky history with Venezuela and has been accused of having passed knowledge of coups. Through USAID and NED, the US has aided Ramos Allup’s party and has been accused of supporting opposition movements by pro-government Venezuelans. The United States main exports are capital goods, industrial supplies, and raw materials. Their most common forms of agriculture consist of wheat, corn, and other grains. The United States wants to keep democratic practices and human rights at the forefront of the discussion and also wants to protect its trade interests with Venezuela.

United Nations Representative The United Nations has long stood for the protection of human rights and ensuring prosperity and opportunity for all. The UN has urged the OAS to improve and maintain human rights within its member states, and the OAS may punish Venezuela for the human rights abuses that have occurred within its borders. While he served as Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon wanted the UN and the OAS to have stronger ties. Ban Ki-Moon was especially proud of the OAS’s Treaty of Tlatelolco, which banned all nuclear weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean. Venezuela mostly recently sat on the UN Security Council from 2015-2016. In addition to furthering the UN’s sustainable development goals in Venezuela and the Americas in general, the United Nation Representative’s role is to advise, keep the peace, and help to form alliances and expose commonalities during this uncertain period in Venezuela.

COMMITTEE GOALS 1. Conference: a. To respond to the unrest in Venezuela and stabilize the region without compromising Venezuelan sovereignty b. To ensure the security and prosperity of all American states during the Venezuelan crisis, without sacrificing the well-being of Venezuelan citizens 2. Day 1: Designate Maduro’s successor as president after the successful coup 3. Days 2-4: Work together to stabilize Venezuela

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Sources "Ban Calls for Stronger Ties Between UN and Organization of American States." UN News Centre. United Nations, 13 Feb. 2013. Web.

"Country Studies." Country Studies. Country Studies US, n.d. Web.

"The World Factbook." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 12 Jan. 2017. Web.

"Who We Are." OAS - Organization of American States. OAS, n.d. Web.

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