The current issue at hand is the recent application to the Security Council by Catalonia to become a member of the United Nations under Article 4 of the United Nations Charter where it states that Membership in the United Nations is open to all other peace loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter 2 Advise the New Zealand Government on whether they should support Catalonia s appeal to join the United Nations Context 3 This section should outline relevant background information including relevant norms historical information political context It should serve as the basis for the objectives and options below a Catalonia a region in the north eastern corner of Spain is a democratically run area home to 7 5 million people regarded as one of Spain's richest and most highly industrialised regions and currently under immense duress as they fight to become an independent state separate from Spain b The President of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont is part of a coalition of Catalan nationalist forces from Conservative CDC and the leftist ERC parties and together with the left wing CUP party hold the majority in the regions parliament and are the force behind Catalonia s attempt at independence
