Identify a Crisis Committee delegate!

How do you recognize a delegate of a Crisis Committee? Here are some of the characteristics: They are creative, they have an eternal fantasy and they can associate themselves well with the character that is assigned to them. Since today, we also know that they are very dynamic as they are capable to make spectacular returns to earth as a fresh new Cabinet member. Acting as Heinrich Himmler, being assassinated together with the leader of the Third Reich, and returning as Reinhard Heinrich… No problem for a Crisis Committee delegate. Asking which goals Mr. Heinrich, current head of the SS, wants to achieve, answers as taking revenge for the assassination of Hitler, invading the UK in order to create even more lebensraum and taking the lead over Nazi Germany are given within a split second. Never a dull moment in a crisis committee! Furthermore, pretending that all delegates are reliable and trust each other means you have never experienced the dirty tricks of Cabinet members. In this regard, Reinhard Heidrich confirmed this reputation as he could reveal that within hours, the minister of Foreign Affairs will be eliminated.

Global Village

Every country knows its pleasures, and last night´s Global Village was a soothing amalgam of these pastimes. A Greek circle dance, a Brazilian lambada, a beer quiz, and two passionate versions of the Belgian national anthem: The Global Village offered a bit of relaxation, sensation and excitement for RiMUN’s tired delegates. Situated in the Kolpinghuis, Nijmegen’s quintessential spot for elderly bridge and bingo players, a small but enthusiastic crowd tried its luck at dancing, overtime negotiation and perhaps a little flirting. A photo impression will follow soon.

RiMUN Daily

Check out the very first RiMUN Daily! Now available online (pdf) here.

Keynote speech Dries van Agt

At the RiMUN 2010 Opening Ceremony, we were honored to welcome Dries van Agt, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands and member of the United Netherlands Board of Recommendation as our keynote speaker. In a very interesting keynote speech, Mr. Van Agt addressed some of the great challenges that the world faces in these Times of Trial. The former Dutch Prime Minister spoke among other things about climate change, arms control, reform of the United Nations and relations between the West and other societies.

With regard to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Mr. Van Agt addressed the non-compliance of NPT member Iran as well as the (assumed) nuclear capabilities of non-member of the NPT Israel. He noted in that regard that the most imminent threat is perhaps not Iran and its nuclear activities but nuclear security issues in Pakistan. According to Van Agt, an even bigger threat to global security is a destabalized situation in nuclear-armed states, such as Pakistan, as that could give terrorists the opportunity to get hold on nuclear weapons. On the clash of civilizations between the West and Islam, a concept that is widely believed to exist, Mr. Van Agt noted that this concept is “nonsense.” Mentioning various examples of Muslim groupings fighting each other as well as Muslim countries that do not pose a threat to global security, Van Agt underlined the danger of the lack of differentiating by Western people between different states and groupings. The former Dutch Prime Minister, who is a jurist in heart and soul, concluded his keynote speech by referring to the international tribunals, established in the Hague as well as the International Criminal Court. According to Van Agt, the existence of these institutions are a leap forward as it shows that “a tormented world does not turn its back to horrible crimes.”

RiMun 2010 Kicks Off!

Thursday night, Director-General Jennifer Martin officially declared open the 6^th Radboud International Model United Nations (RiMUN). At De Vereeniging in Nijmegen, a wonderful Opening Ceremony took place in front of delegates, invitees, board members, chairs, volunteers and others.

The Opening Ceremony of RiMUN 2010 was attended by several dignitaries, including the Mayor of Nijmegen Thom de Graaf, Rector Magnificus of the Radboud University Bas Kortmann and former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt. In their speeches, they all stimulated the participants of the conference in their own distinctive way. Mayor De Graaf argued that the past could inspire everybody to build a better future and create solutions for all the major challenges that the world currently faces. Furthermore, Mayor De Graaf encouraged the delegates to enjoy Nijmegen, the oldest city of the Netherlands, from an intellectual as well as from a cultural perspective. Rector Magnificus Kortmann spoke about getting to know other cultures and different world views. Mr. Kortmann encouraged all delegates, in his opinion the world leaders and diplomats of tomorrow, to take former President of the European Commission Jacques Delors, who was recently awarded the Treaties of Nijmegen Medal, as an example when problems are discussed.

At RiMUN 2010, delegates have to act in Times of Trial. They have to deal with pressing issues such as climate change, the financial crisis, disarmament matters and global security in general. Now it is up to the delegates to start their discussions and negotiations in order to solve the problems that the world currently faces. As Secretary-General Tom van Assendelft de Coningh said: “Making hard choices has been postponed for too long, now it is time for you as delegates to take action. Now it is time for you to deal with the trials of our time.”

Only 24 hours to go...

Delegate bags, check; placards, check; chairs and staff, check. With only 24 hours remaining until the Opening Ceremony, everything is set for the 6th edition of the Radboud international Model United Nations (RiMUN). As the RiMUN flags are up on the Radboud campus and Nijmegen’s central square, delegates from around the world are about to enter the Netherlands’ oldest city. They are ready to use some constructive negotiation tactics, lobby in and outside the committee rooms and use their most inspiring rhetoric. They are ready to defend their countries’ interests to the utmost. And we, the members of United Netherlands, are ready and very excited to welcome them to RiMUN 2010.