Mediators Meet in Oslo, Norway June 27,28
Twenty of the world’s most eminent conflict mediators will meet in Oslo, Norway June 27,28 to share experiences and improve the practice of mediating between warring factions all over the world.
(PRWEB) June 29, 2005 -- Twenty of the world’s most eminent conflict
mediators will meet in Oslo, Norway, June 27 and 28 to share experiences and
improve the practice of mediating between warring factions all over the world.
The third annual Mediators’ Retreat of active and experienced mediators
will be co-hosted by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Geneva-based conflict mediation organization, the Centre for Humanitarian
Dialogue.
The meeting will be held in a discreet environment to encourage
problem-solving and the open exchange of learning and experience.
Martin
Griffiths, director of the HD Centre, that has facilitated processes in Aceh,
Burundi, Darfur, Myanmar, and the Philippines among others, is co-chair of the
meeting, and remarks:
“The retreat falls at an important time. Despite
the persistence of complex armed conflicts there is a window of opportunity for
serious mediation efforts. Radical proposals for UN reform are encouraging and
opening up space for mediation efforts as never before. This is an opening that
mediators both inside and outside the UN need to make the most
of.”
While the closed door retreat focuses on
engaging senior mediators, active at a political level, it also includes
participants familiar with and involved in significant civil society peace
initiatives.
Participants include UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan’s Special Advisor Lakhdar Brahimi, and envoys Alvaro de Soto
(Middle East), Jean Arnault (Afghanistan), and Terje Roed-Larsen (Lebanon), and
Søren Jessen-Petersen (Kosovo), as well as senior advisors nominated by
individual countries engaged in mediation efforts, including Norway’s own envoys
Eric Solheim and Vidar Helgesen, and South Africa’s Ebrahim Ebrahim, (Burundi
and Cote d’Ivoire). Betty Bigombe (Northern Uganda) is also joining the group
this year.
Kenya’s Lt. General L.K. Sumbeiywo represented IGAD in the
recent and successful conclusion to peace negotiations in South Sudan. The EU’s
Special Representative for Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell and former President
of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari (Aceh) and Japan’s Yasushi Akashi will also be
present.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb255633.htm