UPEI Students Implicated in International Incident by Erin FAGAN

Thirteen UPEI students will be representing the national interests of Iceland and Luxembourg at the upcoming First Annual Model North Atlantic Treaty Organization Conference.

The conference, hosted by the Carleton University Political Studies Department and the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, will take place at Ottawa’s Chateau Laurier hotel from March 6th to 9th. In anticipation of the simulated NATO experience, the two UPEI delegations (made-up of students from the Political Studies and History depart- ments) are diligently researching their roles and fundraising for the event.

The Model NATO conference will be enacted by 115 students from thirteen universities and colleges across Canada, along with a group from the University of Delaware (who will be representing Canada). Over the course of the conference, each del-

egation will undertake the policies and

concerns of a NATO member country, -

negotiating and debating on simulat- ed, reality-based collective defence issues.

Every national delegation has at least six delegates, and each dele- gate is assigned to a specific commit- tee. As a result, delegates are expected to role-play as diplomatic specialists for the purposes of the conference. In addition, the delegates will have the opportunity to meet actual NATO del- egates and dignitaries, MPs, and Senators.

The Iceland Group consists of Amanda MacKinnon, Shawn Smith, Renee Harper, Allan Manley, David Neatby, . and. Lisa Parent. “The Luxembourg group is composed of Jon Matters, Ryan Boulter, Katie Smith, Joy Elliott, Emily MacDonald, Jo-Ellen Sterling, and Greg Pollard. Each delegation, at the outset of the conference, will be briefed at their

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Joint Committe on Proliferation suffers setback.

respective National Embassies in Ottawa on the actual policies and positions of their home government. Matters and Parent will be sit- ting on the North Atlantic Council, participating in a crisis simulation which will be unveiled at the begin- ning of the conference. Their role is to vote on behalf of their member coun- tries during the simulation, consulting with the other members of their group toward making informed decisions (Neatby aptly compared the council- lors to the “table of contents” of a text in which the other members are the

chapters). Manley and MacDonald will serve on the Political Affairs

Committee, delving into such issues as NATO enlargement and NATO-EU relations. Neatby and Katie Smith will be occupied with Defence Planning, debating the potential repercussions of National Missile Defence and peacekeeping doctrine in regard to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Political Military Steering Committee on Partnership for Peace will be attended by Pollard and Shawn Smith, and will focus on the enhancement of the Partnership for Peace and on other relations between member and partner coun- tries. Economic Affairs is being repre-

sented by Harper and Elliott, who will scrutinize cyber-terrorism and sustain- able development, among other top- ics. Finally, MacKinnon and Boulter will sit on the Joint Committee on Proliferation, which will attempt to control the proliferation of ballistic missiles, biological and chemical weapons, and weapons technology.

The delegates are also expect- ing to explore Ottawa during their free time. The UPEI groups will be accom- panied and guided by Faculty Advisor Richard Campanaro, a lecturer in the Political Studies department.

Along with their research, the students are in the process of making “monetary preparations.” This includes a Booster Night and Auction that will be held on February 21 at Cheers Sports Bar, attendance being highly recommended. The group is also seeking donations of goods and services for the auction and for door prizes. General financial support is also welcome.

For donations or for more information, interested persons are asked to write to mnatoupei@hot- mail.com. Direct contact can be made with Jon, the Secretary General of the two Model NATO delegations, at 569- 1330.