19 October 2020
On October 19th, the official opening of the XXI Moscow International Model of the UN named after V.I.Churkin (С-MIMUN) took place, as well as a meeting of members of the Russian Public Committee to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the UN.
This year, due to the epidemiological situation, most events are held online. In this regard, the opening Ceremony of the model UN was also held for the first time remotely.
The gathering was attended by members of the Russian Public Committee for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the UN, representative offices of UN organizations, diplomats, businesspeople, newsmen, government officials, and faculty members of a number of universities.
This year's Model guests of honor were Anatoly Torkunov, Chairman of the Russian Association for the promotion of the United Nations, Rector of MGIMO, Konstantin Kosachev, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, Vladimir Kuznetsov, Director of the UN Information Agency in Moscow, Pyotr Ilyichev, Director of the Department of International organizations of the Russian foreign Ministry, Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on international Affairs, Andrey Baykov, Vice-Rector for Research and International Cooperation, Dean of the School of International Relations at MGIMO.
The Ceremony was moderated by Alexey Nikolaevich Borisov, Vice-President of the World Federation of UN associations, who highlighted the work of the Moscow International Model UN Secretariat. According to him, the Secretariat was able to adapt well to the unusual circumstances.
Anatoly Torkunov conveyed his thanks to the organizers of the model UN and delegates for their interest in the event. The Rector of the University noted that despite the alarming epidemiological situation, the Model movement carries on bringing together the most ambitious young people who seek to contribute to solving acute international issues. According to Anatoly Torkunov, the UN Model remains an important platform where participants can hone their skills as negotiators, analysts, journalists, and organizer. He read out an address by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to the Model UN participants. The international community celebrates United Nations Day on October 24th, the day when the UN Charter came into force 75 years ago. In his address, the Russian President stressed that the UN has no substitutes in solving global problems and building our common future. The United Nations aims at strengthening global peace and security, promoting political and diplomatic solutions to crises, ensuring sustainable socio-economic development and protecting human rights. Russia has always defended and will continue to defend the main principles of this organization. At the end of his welcoming speech, the Rector wished the delegates productive meetings and presentations.
Then the floor was given to Konstantin Kosachev, who emphasized how significant and perilous the challenges the UN and the whole world are confronting are, and noted that these global problems call for a coordinated solution. As history unfolds, it is of vital importance to be able to come up with peaceful solutions and not resort to extreme measures - this is what is expected of today’s politicians and diplomats.
Vladimir Kuznetsov also thanked the organizers of the Model for being able to put it together in spite of the pandemic related limitations. This crisis has shown that all international relations actors ought to combine their efforts to rise to contemporary challenges. However, it is important to make good use of this experience to further human progress and cooperation between countries in all domains.
Pyotr Ilyichev stressed the importance of holding the Model UN in the anniversary year of the signing of the UN Charter. According to him, new global challenges pose a great threat to the entire international community and require joint efforts. «In this regard, the Central role of the UN in solving these problems is self-evident», said the Director of the Department of International Organizations of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Leonid Slutsky, the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, called on delegates to take a responsible approach to participating in the Model, to give an up-to-date response to modern challenges, while avoiding excessive politicization. Leonid Slutsky expressed confidence that the unusual online format of the UN Model will be an excellent professional experience for participants.
The opening of the Model was officially pronounced by Nikita Smolyaninov, Secretary General of the Moscow International Model of the United Nations named after V.I.Churkin. He took note of the enormous preparatory work carried out to conduct the Model in the current conditions and wholeheartedly thanked all those who made it possible.
Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to participants of the gala evening marking the 75th anniversary of the UN.
I would like to extend my greetings on the occasion of this celebration to the leadership and staff of the UN bodies’ representative offices accredited in Russia, as well as to the UN Information Centre in Moscow and the UN Association of Russia.
The United Nations Organisation was established to strengthen peace and security worldwide, to facilitate a political and diplomatic settlement of crises, to ensure sustainable socioeconomic development and to protect human rights.
Russia as a co-founder of the UN has been actively supporting its activities, consistently advocating the strengthening of its central coordinating role in global affairs and the importance of strict compliance with the norms and principles of the UN Charter. We proceed from the assumption that there is no, nor had there ever been any alternative to the UN as a global platform for an equal multilateral dialogue and partner-like collaboration in dealing with a host of various problems facing humanity.
The theme of the 75th UN anniversary celebration is Shaping Our Future Together. It is indeed true that we will only be effective if we stand up together against the global challenges of the 21st century in order to ensure the peaceful and prosperous development of the humankind.
President of the Russian Federation
V.PUTIN
