Ben LungZong Han

4p1-MUNDelegation of Iran

Iran-Somalia ties

Economic relationship Shares an indirect economic relationship One of Iran’s primary shipping routes runs

through the Arabian Sea and by Somalia via the Gulf of Aden

Iran-Somalia ties

Political / diplomatic relationship Despite these difficulties, Iran and Somalia

have explored political ties in recent years. In July 2008, Iran and Somalia discussed

Somali political developments and bilateral cooperation

Iran-Somalia ties

Military relationship Try to protect shipping interest by

deploying navy boats to patrol around the area

Mainly to protect oil tankers ( oil is vital for Iran’s economy )

Directed military excercises near Somalia

Military

Diplomatic

Actions taken

Iran-Somalia ties

Actions taken – Combat piracy In late 2008 and early 2009 July 2009, Iran sent two warships to

Somalia’s coast and the Gulf of Aden in an attempt to protect oil cargo ships

Iran-Somalia ties

Actions taken – Diplomacy July 2008, Iran and Somalia discussed

Somali political developments and bilateral cooperation

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki offered to mediate an ongoing Somali political conflict involving several internal Somali political factions

Iran-Somalia ties

Actions taken – Diplomacy In April 2009

- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki joined representatives from the European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and other international donors- Discuss Somali security and humanitarian issues

Iran-Somalia ties

Actions taken – Diplomacy In March 2010

- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki attended a four-way meeting between Iran, Kenya, Somalia and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) - Raise regional and global awareness about Somalia’s political situation

Iran-Somalia ties

Actions taken – Military Indirect military exposure given the mutual

security and shipping interests off the Somali coast in the Gulf of Aden

Iran directed warships near the Somali coast

Iran-Somalia ties

Actions taken – Military May 2009

- In response to Somali pirate activity, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations presented a letter to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon- Outlining Iran’s intention to send two warships to the Somali coast and the Gulf of Aden to confront the pirates and protect Iranian commercial interests.

Iran-Somalia ties

Actions taken – Military In July 2009

- Iran deployed two warships to the Gulf of Aden

Situation analysisPolitical

instability

Civil unrest

Economic problems

Shortage of funds

Due to economic

problems & civil unrest

Insufficient funds for anti-

piracy campaigns

Situation analysis

Piracy issue Piracy have been rampant near the coast of

Somalia since the second civil war in Somalia ( early 21st century )

Increasing threat posed by piracy also caused significant concerns to many states (eg. India ) as multiple shipping trade routes pass through the Gulf of Aden

Situation analysis

Piracy issue In recent years ( mainly 2007 – 2009 ), many

countries & international organisations have offered to help ease the piracy situation in Somalia

Eg. Russia, Singapore, UN, Maritime Peace org., India, EU, etc

Situation analysis

Piracy issue Despite the increase in actions taken, the piracy

rate has inflated, as an increasing number of ships are being held hostage or robbed

Some pirates claimed that they take on piracy to protect Somalian waters as MNCs are dumping waste into the waters, destroying the fishing industry at Somalian coasts

Situation analysis

Political instability Excessive amounts of political instability

during the past decade Somalia's transformation into an independent

state was peaceful in the beginning but is soon erupted into a violent conflict

Situation analysis

Political instability In 1969 Abdi Rashid Ali Shirmarke, Somalia's

second President, was assassinated and in the following days a military coup, led by Major General Muhammed Siyad Barre, tgained control of the country

In 1970 Barre declared Somalia to be a socialist state

Situation analysis

Political instability Somalia experiences many economic

problems Native clans in Somalia are constantly

fighting with their foes ( to gain wealth by taking control of land )

Internal stability will give rise to peace ( no pirates too )

Situation analysis

Political instability Since independence in 1960, Somalia did have

a well working parliamentary democracy for the first nine years ( note the word FIRST )

Historical Somali values and acquired Western practices ( due to colonization ) appeared to coincide, thus causing conflicting parties

Situation analysis

Political instability With political instability in Somalia, unrests

are prone to happen which will affect & deter business or investments in the area.

Unemployment rates will rise as many companies will choose to relocate

Situation analysis

Political instability Trade and economy is also severely affected

by the political instability When people are poor, they will turn to

desperate ways to get $$$ Robberies, PIRACY will become rampant Vicious cycle

Situation analysis

Shortage of funds Political instability deters foreign investors

and MNCs from investing in Somalia With insufficient funds, Somalia is less

unable to deal the piracy issue effectively

Proposed solutions

Multi-national cooperation Maintaining internal

peace and stability in Somalia

Provision of funds

Military actions

Proposed solutions

Proposed solutions

Maintaining internal stability Foreign involvement from various countries

has intensified a 19 year-old internal conflict in Somalia

Somali stability will come from internal political reconciliation.

Successful counterinsurgency relies on a peaceful diplomatic process

Proposed solutions

Maintaining internal stability Iran pledges to support establishment of

peace and security in Somalia

Proposed solutions

Maintaining internal stability Iran will push for legal Somali government Stable government which Somalians trust Iran offers to mediate the ongoing Somali

political conflict involving several internal Somali political factions

Proposed solutions

Multi-national cooperation United we stand, divided we fall Combating piracy is best done when all

states join forces Iran proposes a multi-state conference to

discuss on how to curb piracy using indirect intervention ( no direct foreign intervention into Somalian government )

Proposed solutions

Multi-national cooperation Proposed resolutions will be put into action

effectively Unison in prosecuting pirates Help send stern message to pirates that

their actions are not tolerated Multi-states work hand in hand

Proposed solutions

Multi-national cooperation Successful attacks have fallen from a high of

63 percent in 2007 to 34 percent in 2008 to 24 percent in 2009

This decrease is due to the increased international cooperation

Proposed solutions

Multi-national cooperation Countries in the region ( of Somalia ) help one

another strengthen their judicial systems Promote the rule of law -- a "win-win" proposition

that can both help to combat piracy and yield significant long-term benefits for stability in the wider region

Iran too proposes other states to support the Somali-led Djibouti Peace Process and Somalia's Transitional Federal Government

Proposed solutions

Provision of funds Build a trust fund to help prosecute pirates Funds are needed to combat against piracy Since power states like the US, Britain and

France are already spending lots of money on the war on terror

Iran proposes that other states ( eg. Egypt, China, Spain, Yemen, Sudan, etc… ) to do their part in combating piracy by funding the anti-piracy campaigns

Proposed solutions

Provision of funds Iran proposes to provide funds and work with

Maritime Organization and the shipping industry Develop simple, cost-effective self-protection

measures that individual vessels can take to deter would-be attackers

Iran also proposes to fund the Somalian government’s efforts in combating piracy

Proposed solutions

Military actions Iran proposes that countries send their own

warships to “escort” their own merchants ships, to ward off pirates from attacking ( esp. oil tankers )

Military operations should also be deployed to free ships which have fallen under the control of the pirates

Proposed solutions

Military actions Iran too proposes to provide security in Iraq, by

dispatching the MV McArthur, a 183-foot vessel with a crew of 14 and a helicopter pad, to the Gulf of Aden to provide escort services

Other states should also help seize pirate suspects to try hamper the network of operations of the pirates

Conclusion

Problem will be solved through internal conflict resolution

However, multinational cooperation is still needed for this to go smoothly

Under aid, not intervention, we can ensure that the Somalian Govt will gain the trust of its people again