Resolving Intra-National Conflicts
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1111111111111111 fl TCC00010021 THE *!it CARTER CENTER OF EMORY UNIVERSITY . Resolving lntra .. National Conflicts: A Strengthened Role for N on.. Governmental Actors Conference Report Series Volume 3, Number 2 A Consultation of the International Negotiation Network . Con~·ened January 1992 . The Carter Center of Emory University . Atlanta, Georgia . Resolving lntra... National Conflicts: A Strengthened Role for Non..-Governmental Actors A Consultation of the International Negotiation Network January 14.. 17, 1992 Conflict Resolution Program The Carter Center of Emory University One Copenhill Atlanta, Georgia 30307 USA Table of Contents Foreword ................................................................................... ......................... 5 Introduction to the International Negotiation Network .................................. 7 Opening Plenary Address-Human Rights: The Real Cost of War Jimmy Carter ............................................................................................... 9 Opening Plenary Session-Issues of National Sovereignty and their Impact on NGOs Involved in Conflict Resolution ................................................ 14 Working Sessions Afghanistan ................................................................................................. 21 Angola ......................................................................................................... 23 Burma/Myanmar .......................................................................................... 24 Cambodia .................................................................................................... 26 Cyprus ................................................................................................ .......... 28 Korean Peninsula ......................................................................................... 30 Liberia .. ........................................................................................................ 32 Sudan ...................................................................... .. ................................... 34 Psychological Dimensions of Conflict ...................................................... ... 36 Sustaining the Peace ................................................................................... 3 7 Conversation with Eduard Shevardnadze ......................................................... 39 Closing Plenary Address-Globalism and Meaningful Peace: A New World Order Rooted in International Community Shridath Ramp hal .. ................................................................................. .... 46 Appendix Consultation Program ................................................................................. 54 Consultation Participants ........................ ................................................... 57 THE CARTER CENTER OF EMORY UNIVERSITY I non-governmental community to play. The consul Foreword tation examined eight specific conflicts as well as two thematic areas. By bringing together those his report is a summary of the inaugural individual actors who had the most experience and consultation of the International Negotia involvement in the conflict areas under scrutiny, we tion Network (INN), held at The Carter sought to create a synergy that would elicit strategies T Center of Emory University CCEU), in that might be successfully developed, identify re Atlanta, Georgia, January 14-17, 1992. The consul sources that might be tapped, and help enumerate tation brought together over 200 invited guests from specific action steps that the participants and others 40 countries and more than 150 organizations or might implement. In many of the discussions we governments. It was made possible through the were able to secure the participation of parties from generous support of the Carnegie Corporation of the conflict area, so that suggested action steps were New York, and shaped in part by that foundation's immediately tested against a very practical audience president, David Hamburg, who has served as one of and refined based on their feedback. the INN's advisors. Another objective of the consultation was to The INN is first and perhaps foremost a net identify themes that are not unique to particular work linking individuals, organizations, resources, conflicts but that cut across political and cultural and parties in conflict throughout the world. One of boundaries. We wanted to encourage discussion of its most important functions is the ability to con ways that the United Nations, regional organiza vene persons involved in common pursuits who tions, and NGOs might more effectively address seldom have the opportunity to meet one another. some of the recurring themes identified by the The participants in the consultation, whose names participants. are listed in the appendix, represent a mix of parties Prior to the consultation, The Carter Center engaged in conflicts, as well as a broad cross-section commissioned action memoranda on the eight of diplomats, scholars, practitioners of "track-two" conflicts and two thematic issues that were to be the diplomacy and representatives of inter-governmen focus of the discussions. The paper authors were tal, regional and non-governmental organizations. asked to briefly address the issues underlying the One goal of the consultation was to officially conflict and then be bold and prescriptive in suggest launch the INN Council. This group represents ing action steps that the world community could some of the world's pre-eminent leaders who value undertake to help resolve the conflict. The action non-violent means to resolve conflicts. Their memoranda were designed to be starting points for combined influence will be used by the INN in discussions. They do not necessarily reflect the coming years to convene warring parties, to use quiet feelings of the participants in the working sessions, diplomatic efforts to influence parties in conflict, the INN, The Carter Center, or the Carnegie and to have the world take notice of issues or con Corporation ofNew York. flicts that need attention. The consultation was Following presentation of the action memo convened by the 12-member Council and its chair, randa in the ten working sessions, members of the former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Council INN Council and Core Group moderated a discus members are drawn from a number of countries and sion that briefly addressed the causes of each of the represent diverse political, religious, and cultural conflicts, and then focused on the following topics: perspectives. Additional members of the Council will be named at a later date. Nine of the 12 current • barriers to resolution members of the Council participated in the event. • strategies for overcoming the barriers We chose as a central focus for the consultation • action steps for the INN and others an examination of the role of non-governmental actors in resolving intra-national conflicts. This was The two thematic working sessions addressed premised on the growing consensus that, given the the psychological dimension of conflict and sustain nature of ongoing armed conflicts, there is indeed a ing the peace; that is, what to do after the peace is constructive and increasingly important role for the achieved. These discussions benefitted greatly from 5 Resolving Intra,National Conflicts: A Strengthened Role for Non,Govemmental Actors experts in military demobilization and in the con, ing arms or increasing tension, had contributed to ducting of national elections as a means to resolve a the escalation of the problems, (e.g., Afghanistan). conflict. The surprise visit of Father Jean, Baptiste In short, the countries chosen represented a sample Aristide of Haiti added a poignant and immediate of conflicts in different phases of evolution/resolu, dimension to the Sustaining the Peace session. tion that posed diverse challenges. A rapporteur documented the proceedings of The fact that a conflict was chosen for analysis each working session, and at the final gathering of does not mean that the INN plans to undertake a the consultation, a summary list of the recommenda, corresponding initiative. To the contrary, one of tions that resulted from the ten working sessions was our fundamental premises is that INN involvement presented to the 200 participants. Following the must be invited by the principal parties. We do not consultation, the rapporteurs drafted more complete impose our services on reluctant parties, nor do we reports summarizing the discussions in their session. solicit invitations. In addition to the ten working sessions, there In addition to the support provided to the INN was an opening plenary session in which Sir Brian by The Carnegie Corporation ofNew York, CCEU's Urquhart moderated a discussion on the issue of Conflict Resolution Program is grateful for the national sovereignty and its impact on internal generous financial assistance of the John D. and conflicts. Additionally, plenary addresses were given Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. An undertak, by President Carter and Shridath Ramphal. The ing such as the INN consultation would not be consultation concluded with a live,by,satellite possible without the hard work and dedication of a address by Eduard Shevardnadze. number of individuals. The INN Secretariat ex, We chose the eight conflict areas many months presses its gratitude to Eric Bord and INN and in advance of the consultation. With the benefit of Conflict Resolution Program staff members Susan hindsight