Nordic peace co-operation?
What role can the Nordic region play as a peacemaker and resolver of conflicts in the world? How can we create more dialogue between politicians and those who work with peace? These were some of the questions discussed at the Nordic Council's seminar in the Danish Parliament (Folketinget) on Wednesday 9 March.
Line Barfod
- Photographer
- Johannes Jansson/norden.org
Co-operation for peace is particularly topical after the recent events in the Middle East, Marion Pedersen, the Nordic Council's Vice President, pointed out when she opened the seminar on the Nordic role as a peacemaker and resolver of conflicts.
"How can we in the Nordic countries go into the Middle East and work for peace and democracy so that developments take another path?" asked Line Barfod from the Left-wing Socialist Green Group (VSG) in the Nordic Council during the seminar on Wednesday.
The Presidium of the Nordic Council will discuss a member's proposal from VSG at the end of March on closer Nordic co-operation for peace and mediation.
"The Stoltenberg report says nothing about co-operation for peace. We in the VSG believe that we need closer co-operation for peace in the Nordic region. We do not want to replace what we have, but want even closer co-operation", says Line Barfod.
Amongst other things, the VSG are calling for a Nordic Peace and Mediation Institute which will have internationally recognised mediators affiliated, who can mediate in conflicts which the Nordic governments cannot enter into themselves because of the terrorist lists.
"After 11 September it has become more difficult to work for peace because of the many terror laws which have been introduced. It is not allowed to negotiate with organisations on the terror lists", said Line Barfod, from the Danish Red-Green Alliance party.
She believes that the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers can play an important role in this context.
Raimo Väyrynen, board member of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), doesn't think there is a need for more Nordic peace institutes, and he believes that co-operation between Nordic researchers in the area is pretty good. On the other hand, there is a need for more co-operation in the area of inter-governmental peace co-operation.
"We probably need a Nordic forum which regularly gathers Nordic researchers, professionals and politicians", said Värinen in the Danish Parliament on 9 March.
The Presidium of the Nordic Council will discuss the member's proposal from VSG during the Nordic Council meetings in Stockholm 30-31 March.
Contacts
Torkil Sørensen
Phone
+45 33 96 04 46
Email
ts@norden.org
