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Hagai Aharon

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  • “Barn Owls Know no Boundaries” project brings people from Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority to work together on solving an environmental challenge. Such nature conservation efforts are beneficial for all communities. More often than not, these benefits go beyond biodiversity protection. Indeed, they may facilitate constructive dialog across divides in conflict zones. This pleads for the integration of nature conservation into peacebuilding interventions.

    This event will present multiple approaches used in cross-border projects around the theme of nature conservation in the Middle East. These projects promote people-to-people activities using science, diplomacy and sport, and education, art and ecotourism as linking elements. The strength of this approach is that the projects are implemented in interaction with local actors (e.g. schools, farmers), universities, national leaders (politicians, economic leaders, non-governmental organisations) and the international community.

    This event is jointly organised by University of Lausanne (UNIL), Tel Aviv University, and the Amman Center for Peace & Development. It will bring together experts explaining the unique case study of how cooperation on biodiversity protection can impact a peace process.

    The panellists include:

  •     General Mansour Abu Rashid, chairman of the Amman Centre for Peace and Development, mandated by his Majesty King Hussein to prepare the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel in 1994.
  •     General Baruch Spiegel, mandated by the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to prepare the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel in 1994.
  •     Professor Yossi Leshem from Tel Aviv University.
  •     Professor Alexandre Roulin from the University of Lausanne
      The discussion will be chaired by:
    Ms Anna Brach, Human Security Cluster Responsible.
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GCSP

The discussions addressed the issues of denuclearization and build-up of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, against the background of renew uncertainties regarding the holding of a Summit meeting between the two leaders, Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un, planned in June in Singapore, which could pave the way to a negotiated solution of the nuclear issue and a lasting peace over the Korean Peninsula.

Among various issues, the participants examined the respective roles and interests of the regional powers, the significance and meaning of the North Korean peace initiative, and the merits and limits of the various strategies aimed at solving the nuclear issue and advancing peace on the Korean Peninsula. The participants recognized the importance of the current diplomatic developments and the value of the efforts by the South Korean leadership and President Moon to facilitate dialogue and understanding between the DPRK and the US.

This visit takes place in the framework of the GCSP policy of promoting dialogue on the Korean Peninsula.

Source: GCSP

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BCN

It was held in the context of the current opening dynamic between the DPRK, the US and the Republic of Korea. This seminar allowed the participants to better understand the different perspectives and to clarify possible outcomes. In an informal and open setting, this track 1.5 meeting, supported by MFAs from both sides, was very successful. The meeting offered Switzerland the opportunity to reassert its support for a peaceful diplomatic process in the region. All participants favour the continuation and consolidation of the CBM process in close future.

 

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GCSP

The course covers different issues including:

  • The role, rights, and obligations of the international community
  • Migration: opportunities and security challenges
  • International migration law
  • Refugee law
  • Comparing federal and decentralized systems
  • Swiss federalism
  • Threats to human security
  • Good governance
  • The role of the judicial, executive and legislative powers
  • National dialogue, political thought and counter-narrative
  • Gender and Security
  • The role of civil society

I am impressed by the knowledge and the expertise of our Iraqi guests. During classes, they ask insightful questions, challenge the lecturers and connect the new knowledge with their previous experience. I appreciated working with them and look forward to seeing how they will contribute to foster peace, stability and security in their country.
Colonel Christian Bühlmann, Head of the Regional Perspectives Programme

The two highlights of the week for participants include a presentation on the ‘Introduction to Switzerland’ by Colonel Christian Bühlmann, and the visit of Palais Eynard. ‘Introduction to Switzerland’, presented the diplomats with Swiss food and drink products following an interactive session to learn more about Swiss culture and the history of federalism in the country.

Colonel Christian Bühlmann, Head of Regional Perspectives Programme, reflected, ‘I am impressed by the knowledge and the expertise of our Iraqi guests. During classes, they ask insightful questions, challenge the lecturers and connect the new knowledge with their previous experience. I appreciated working with them and look forward to seeing how they will contribute to foster peace, stability and security in their country.’

During the Palais Eynard visit, the course participants learned about the city of Geneva through a presentation by M. Steve Bernard, Head of the Service of External Relations. The participants also had the opportunity to meet Geneva’s Mayor Pagani and ask him questions about good governance in Geneva.

 

 

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GCSP

The workshop brought together 35 experts, researchers and officials from the US, Russia, Germany, the UK, France, Australia, Switzerland, and Syria. The participants gathered for two days to exchange views on stability in post-war Syria.

The vibrant discussions focused on the place of Syria in the West-Russia global power contest; institutional reforms within the political transition; prospects of cooperation on reconstruction; de-radicalization and counter-terrorism; and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR).

The workshop is part of the Syria and Global Security project, jointly run by the GCSP and the Omran Centre for Strategic Studies. It is an initiative to offer a platform for collective informed discussions on Syria that eventually could build bridges between experts and researchers in order to bring peace and security to Syria, and region.

 

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