MONITORING (SW) – Afghanistan has been on the agenda for this year’s Oslo Forum in the Norwegian capital attended by some of the key figures from around the world.
The Norwegian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that recent developments in the Middle East, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen, Venezuela, Ethiopia and other war-torn regions were among the topics of discussion at the forum.
Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt will be hosting the Oslo Forum, an annual retreat focusing on conflict mediation and peace processes, at Losby Manor outside Oslo on 21–22 June. Some 100 conflict mediators, high-level decision-makers, experts and peace process actors from around the world will gather to share their experience of peace diplomacy and conflict resolution.
‘The geopolitical situation has changed dramatically in recent years. The world has not been this polarised since the Cold War. This year’s Oslo Forum will focus on how to create opportunities to promote peaceful solutions in a polarised world,’ said Ms Huitfeldt.
The theme of the 2022 Oslo Forum is ‘Spaces for dialogue in a polarised world’
This year marks the 18th time that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue have arranged the Oslo Forum. The Forum has become one of the world’s most important meeting places for conflict mediators, decision-makers, parties to conflict, UN representatives and other actors engaged in peace and conflict resolution processes, said the statement by the foreign ministry.
Participants at this year’s event will include high-level political representatives from a number of countries, and from the UN and the African Union. The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the UN Special Envoys for Libya, Syria and Myanmar, and the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process will be among those attending. The African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and the African Union’s High Representative for the Horn of Africa will also be participating, as will former President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos, and former President of Mozambique Joaquim Alberto Chissano.
Topics for discussion at this year’s Oslo Forum will include developments in the Middle East, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen, Venezuela and Ethiopia, as well as other conflict areas.
Participants will share experience and expertise across regions, and will discuss specific challenges and dilemmas faced by mediators, the international security architecture, the role of private military companies, mediation during mass protests and in the aftermath of coups, and energy security.
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