Opening of XX Moscow International Model United Nations

15 April 2019

April 15th, the XX Moscow International Model of the UN was kicked off by the Chairman of the United Nations Association of Russia and Rector of MGIMO University, Anatoly Torkunov.

In his opening speech, the Rector remarked that the Model United Nations is celebrating its twentieth anniversary in 2019, and that it welcomes each year an increasingly diverse group of participants, with citizens from forty different countries taking part in this year’s events. Anatoly Torkunov also wished the delegates productive work.

The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of international law and the role of the UN in helping countries reach a compromise on major issues. The Model UN is highly relevant because of the importance of the UN itself in international relations.

The First Deputy Chairman of the United Nations Association of Russia, Head of the UNESCO Chair at MGIMO Alexei Borisov, introduced the Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma on International Affairs, Chairman of the Board of the International Public Fund «Russian Peace Foundation», Leonid Slutsky, who noted the key role of the UN and the Security Council in preserving peace and security.

The Director of the UN Information Center in Moscow, Vladimir Kuznetsov spoke about the history of the Model UN and the prominent Russian diplomat Vitaly Churkin, after whom the model was named in 2017. Vladimir Kuznetsov explained that V. Churkin embodied the best qualities of Russian diplomacy.

The Director of the Department of International Organizations at the Russian Foreign Ministry Pyotr Ilichev said that the Model UN is an incredible platform for students to learn how to be diplomats. The representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Russia Vanno Nupeck described the organization’s role and its mission to protect the right to seek asylum.

Speakers from the Russian Peace Foundation and government structures underlined their support for the Model and noted that a diplomat’s main tools are knowledge, objectivity and the ability to make multi-faceted decisions.
This year the delegates of the Moscow International Model UN will discuss a myriad of topics related to development, security and financial problems. The model will run until April 19th.