Opening+Speeches

**Taken from the AST TAIMUN Training Handbook **  Each delegate has the opportunity to address the Council during its opening session. This should be treated as a serious occasion, and, although the delegates opening speech can be either of general or specific nature, it must be representative of that nation’s primary concerns about the state of the world. Speakers should not attempt to state their country’s positions on as many agenda issues as possible in the allotted speaking time and, under no circumstances, may they abuse the privilege by insulting other members of the United Nations or by presenting their country in an unworthy fashion.  A delegate might come to a conclusion about what it considers to be the single most important theme in the current atmosphere of relations within the world community. This might be in the field of war and peace, on human rights, ecology, development or disarmament. Another delegate might be able to emphasize the interrelatedness of the areas of concern, such as the effects of “development” on the “environment”. Yet another delegate might prefer to concentrate on a single item of contention, affecting many of the UN members, such as the Palestinian Question.  Every speech should, of course, be preceded by a formal greeting e.g. “Madame President, Honorable Delegates...” and should finish with a phrase such as “Thank you Madame President”. Delegates should avoid making such introductions and conclusions too long, however, since they only have one minute to speak and the Council will soon become bored with long, flowery introductions.  It should be obvious from the speeches below that the design of a speech should be content based as well as dramatic in tone. The participants at the conference will respond to a speech that is both informative and emphatic. A primary purpose of the opening speech is to allow a delegation to communicate what it perceives to be an important message for the world community.  Following the delivery of a number of opening speeches, the Chair entertains rights of reply. Again, the right to speak should be treated seriously and should not be abused. A right of reply should not be confused with a point of information. Rights of reply are statements pertaining to an item or items presented in opening speeches, not questions to the speaker. Like the opening speeches themselves they should be content-based and may be dramatic in tone but should not be purely rhetorical.   **Delegation: France ** //Honorable Delegates, Respected Chairs, // //“Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité!” These were the first words General Charles de Gaulle addressed to the French population after the liberation of our country following World War II. They stand for Liberty, Equity, and Fraternity; three concepts every nation should seek to achieve. // //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Humanity has already experienced the tension produced by armament races and is currently sensitive and conscious of how such situations could possibly conclude in war. The French government recognizes that Fraternity cannot be ensured while nations seek to broaden their armament power, yet Liberty cannot be guaranteed when a country does not have the capabilities to protect itself against a foreign or local menace. // //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Acting according to these principles, France believes it is exceedingly vital to fully achieve global mass-destruction weapons disarmament following the path of current efforts concerning chemical weapons disarmament. Such efforts must be supported by multilateral exchanges of military armament and expenditures data in order to develop confidence and trust as part of the disarmament process. // <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Delegation: Israel ** //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Honorable Delegates, Respected Chairs, // //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Israel has been accused of violating human rights in the Occupied Territories. Israel is not here today to justify, explain or apologize for any of these so-called violations. Israel is here today to make it clear to the international community that the best way to secure human rights in the Occupied Territories is to ensure Israeli security. Israel will take all steps necessary to assure her survival. // //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Only when the Palestinians and others stop undermining Israeli security, will Israel loosen the security measures on the Palestinians. Only when the security measures are loosened, will the human rights situation in the Occupied territories improve. Never again will the Israeli people risk extermination, as under the Nazi regime. Never again. The only way to secure human rights in the Occupied Territories is to ensure Israeli security. // <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Delegation: Chad ** //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Honorable Chair, fellow delegates, distinguished guests, // //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">The post-colonial era has seen the independence of many of the poorest countries in the world, Chad among them. However, Chad strongly believes that this independence should not have to result in a new dependence upon foreign aid for survival Because of this Chad believes that the future for Africa rests on multilateral efforts within the UN to assist in the global effort to solve the pressing environmental, social and political crises that face both Chad and the rest of Africa. This process started a while back and it is beginning to bear fruit with many of the African countries emerging from the problems of recent years. The result of this is that now Chad, as an African nation, can work together with the rest of the continent to help solve the major issues of today such as the problems of the rights of the child, combating diseases such as Ebola, which kill thousands, and helping African nations achieve the permanent seats which they deserve in the Security Council. It is with these principles and these objectives held firmly in mind that the Chadian delegation enters this conference. // //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Honorable President, fellow delegates, thank you very much. // <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Delegation China ** //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Honorable Chair, fellow delegates, distinguished guests, // //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">China recognizes its unique position as a developing state with significant political and economic clout. With the sixth largest economy in the world, China understands and empathizes with the desire of developing nations to strengthen their own political and economic systems. As such, China plans to be a liaison between developing and developed nations. The practice of developed countries using economic exploitation and political coercion to slow the growth of underdeveloped countries in order to keep the balance of power shifted for their own benefit is of the utmost concern. China firmly believes that a more equitable distribution of financial power is in the best interests of the entire world economy and will support resolutions that initiate growth for the developing world. Thank you. // <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Delegation: Iran ** //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Honorable Chair, fellow delegates, distinguished guests, // //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">These are important and decisive days for the Islamic republic of Iran. Iran has clearly expressed its wish for serious and constructive negotiations regarding its nuclear energy program, both to the United Nations and the negotiating parties. Now it seems that this request will be met with a referral to the Security Council and threats of UN sanctions. Iran has the inalienable and legal right to access nuclear technology and produce nuclear energy under the Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty and with the supervision of IAEA inspectors. The Islamic republic of Iran once again reiterates its wish for serious and constructive negotiations and regrets the non-diplomatic approach which seems to be favored by some nations. Hopefully, peaceful negotiations will prevail in the end. Thank you. // <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Delegation: Colombia ** //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Fellow delegates, respected Chairs, and esteemed President, // //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">As members of the same world, it is only fair that each one of us work hard and together to improve the peace, growth and prosperity of the entire human race. In Colombia alone, almost 5,000 children under the age of 5 are set to die this year due to malnourishment, illness, abuse and a general lack of both national and international assistance and aid. But this is not a problem only affecting Colombia and other developing nations. Take the country we are in right now, for example. In the Netherlands, an estimated 1,000 children are set to die for the exact same reason. But why, why, delegates, why is it that we are letting children around the world die? The answer lies in the insufficiency of international cooperation to help humanity. This is something that is not only needed to help protect child rights, but also to help take nations from a state of relief to a state of development after natural disasters and to help with a true establishment of a culture of peace. Thank you. // <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt;">The Opening Speech **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">DELIVERING THE SPEECH **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">RIGHTS OF REPLY **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">SAMPLE OPENING SPEECHES **