The Council of International Conflict Resolution (RIKO) in cooperation with The Parliamentary Group of the Socialist People’s Party (SF) and The Danish U.N. Association (FN Forbundet) are pleased to invite you to public hearing on the subject:
Alternative Conflict Resolution in Afghanistan
– Possible Danish Contributions
Public Hearing at Christiansborg, Copenhagen
January 25, 2010, 1 PM – 5 PM:
Background
Afghanistan has for years been the setting for tragic war and civil war. Denmark has been involved in the US/NATO-operated coalition since 2001, which efforts recently have been intensified to defeat the Al Qaida/Taleban military. Whether such a victory is possible or not, regardless of the great costs, is meanwhile doubtful. It is more likely that the war will strengthen international terrorism instead of weakening it, and the war has the potential possibility to furthermore destabilize Afghanistan and the whole region.
The organizers aim with this public hearing is to contribute with the formulation of alternatives to the ongoing intensification of the war in Afghanistan.
Program
12.00-12.45: Arrival (including security checks, ID cards, etc.)
13.00: Welcome – by Chair Torleif Jonasson, Deputy Chairman of the Danish U.N. Association.
13.10: Possible roads to peace, democracy, and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan – the roles of the current regime, the Neo-Taliban, and the ethnic dimension.
Arne Strand, Director of Research, Peace–State–Conflict, Chr. Michelsen Institute, Bergen, Norway.
Arne Strand carries out assignments on a regular basis in Afghanistan. He has lived and worked in Afghanistan and Pakistan for several years. He took part in the evaluation of the development assistance of Denmark, Ireland, Holland, Sweden, and Great Britain to Afghanistan i 2005.
13.30: How to end the wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan, promoting Development and Human Rights: A regional perspective.
Farhang Jahanpour, Tutor in Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford, PhD
Farhang Jahanpour is former Professor and Dean at the University of Isphahan, Iran.
14.00: The Afghan War and Denmark.
Gunnar Olesen, International senior advisor, external lecturer at Roskilde University.
Gunnar Olesen carries out assignments on a regular basis in failed states. He took part in the evaluation of the development assistance of Denmark and other countries to Afghanistan in 2005.
14.15: The relationship between the wars in Afghanistan/Pakistan and the measures against international terrorism.
Lars Erslev Andersen, Senior researcher and expert on international terrorism at the Danish Institute of International Affairs (DIIS).
Lars Erslev Andersen has written extensively on problems of international terrorism, and he is a frequent commentator on terrorism in Danish newspapers and electronic media.
14.30: Which sort of international military operations in Afghanistan may promote peace, democracy, and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan? Which could be the Danish role?
Colonel Kurt B. Hansen, Kurt B. Hansen was the head of the Asia-Middle East section of the U.N. Department for Peacekeeping operations for several years and of the ISAF information operations in Afghanistan in 2007.
14.45: The Afghan civil war and the role of Denmark.
Søren Schmidt, Expert on the Middle East, PhD.
Søren Schmidt is former project researcher at the Danish International Institute of International Affairs. He has published several studies on developments in Afghanistan and the region of Central Asia
15.05: Coffee break.
15.30 Questions from a panel of journalists and Danish politicians: Aleksandra Strand Holm, Tage Baumann, Holger K. Nielsen, N.N. [to be filled in].
16.20: Debate with questions and interventions from the audience.
17.00 End of hearing.
Practical information
The public hearing will be held in English.
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please use below this link for registration form, no later than, 21 January 2010 at 12.00 noon.
Hearing organizers
*Rådet for International Konfliktløsning, RIKO (Council of International Conflict Resolution)
*The Parliamentary Group of the Socialist People’s Party (SF)
*FN-Forbundet (The Danish U.N. Association).
