 From
March 3 to 7, TOBB-ETÜ hosted what might have been Turkey’s best student run
conference, MUNTR, with foreign participants calling it "incredible". The
acronym stands for Model United Nations Turkey, a simulation of the UN, supported by
United Nations Turkey, where students represent a country and its policies in a platform
of debate and negotiation.
This was the fourth year for MUNTR. After a busy year for conference organizers, the work
paid off by the sight of the euphoric expressions seen throughout the week - from early in
the morning when sessions began, to late at night when diplomacy skills slipped onto the
dance floor.
The General Assembly, with its three committees, as well as the Security Council and
Environmental Commission, all faced exciting crises until the very last moments. As one UN
organ resumed its sessions, another broke for a small coffee break. As a resolution was
hotly debated in one room, another was being passed with cheering and clapping!
The conference was eclectic in the engaging issues discussed, and in the delegates who
participated, coming from universities and high schools across Turkey, and the world -
including the US, Egypt and Pakistan. Bilkent had the most delegates from one institution
with 54 students whose majors ranged from philosophy to law, translation and
interpretation to economics. Several received Outstanding Delegate Awards.
Among the Directors of the Committees for MUNTR 2008 were Bilkent students. Gürel Gürkan
(MAN/IV), and Sibel Güçlü, a masters student and research assistant in the Department
of International Relations chaired the Security Council and the Fourth Committee of the
General Assembly, respectively. The most phenomenal success for Bilkent was having Işık
Oğuzertem (IR/IV) as Secretary-General.
All in all, this year's MUNTR was one of the most distinguished. Those who wish to take
part in next year's conference are strongly encouraged to visit www.muntr.org to find out more. Visit www.bilkentmun.org to find out about
training sessions the Bilkent Model UN Society holds. Next year, hopefully, there will be
new faces at MUNTR 2009 and in the Bilkent MUN Society!
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