Mediation and Facilitation

In October 2015, several of Myanmar’s ethnic armed organizations signed a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the government of former President Thein Sein. Since taking office in March, Aung San Suu Kyi’s government has likewise made peace its priority. It convened its 21st Century Panglong Conference in August, bringing nearly all of the country’s ethnic armed groups into a nascent dialogue process. Since then, fighting in Shan, Kachin, and Karen states has expanded, and fresh clashes in Rakhine state continue to undermine trust and confidence in the process.

Recurring humanitarian crises, overstretched development programs, and tenuous peace processes – all occurring in fragile states – call for a united effort to nurture states and societies to address the issues that plague their countries.  The inclusion of Global Goal 16 – to promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies – in the new United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is an important achievement. The challenge now becomes translating that commitment into reality in systems and strategies for global development assistance.

Minister Khidasheli made her first visit to Washington as defense minister just weeks after little-reported events that underscore Georgia’s continued importance to regional security. In July, Russian troops, who invaded in 2008, quietly advanced from South Ossetia to take over part of a BP-operated oil pipeline that supplies Europe. Georgia placed major orders with Western firms for defensive radar systems compatible with those of NATO. The trans-Atlantic alliance conducted its first exercises in Georgia involving troops from multiple member states.

Genesis at the Crossroads uses education and the arts — including innovative performances of music, dance and other genres — to creatively promote human rights, inter-ethnic dialogue and the building of peace. Join us April 22 for a conversation with academic, artistic and human-rights specialists about this intersection of human rights and the humanities. As part of a “new conversation for human rights in peacebuilding,” panelists will discuss how to mesh human rights concerns with the reconstruction of societies and governments following war or other violent conflict.

In Hong Kong and Malaysia, Ukraine and Egypt, Brazil, Venezuela and elsewhere, throngs of citizenry  have challenged their governments over corruption, political repression, discrimination, and other scourges.

Ties between India and Pakistan showed tentative signs of warming in late 2013 and early 2014. But optimistic calls for trade liberalization and diplomatic dialogue have given way to escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors over how to address terrorism and the disputed territory of Kashmir. Foreign secretary-level talks have been scuttled, and exchanges of fire left at least 10 people dead and thousands displaced along the Line of Control in late December and early January.

Since 2006, the United States has imposed more sanctions on Iran than any other country, so it may have to cede the most ground to get a nuclear deal in 2014. Over the years, Republican and Democratic administrations have issued at least 16 executive orders, and Congress has passed ten acts imposing punitive sanctions. What does Tehran want? What are the six major powers considering as incentives to cooperate? What isn’t on the table? The White House and Congress have imposed their own types of sanctions. What would either need to do to lift them?

Sudan faces a daunting mix of political, economic and security challenges, all of which are likely to intensify as elections -- scheduled for 2015 -- grow near and President Bashir’s term concludes. The potential shift creates opportunities for new political arrangements, possibly including drafting a new constitution. There's also an imperative to end the conflicts in Sudan's west and south.

Guest speakers: Dr. Chester A. Crocker (former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Georgetown University), Ambassador William B. Taylor (former Ambassador to Ukraine, current Executive Vice President of USIP), Dr. Anthony Wanis-St. John (American University), and Dr. Alison Milofsky (USIP)