A study visit of analysts and journalists from across the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict divide to South East Asia took place in July and August 2011.
The group visited South East Asia to look at the peacebuilding experiences of the Philippines, where they focused on both separatist and ideological conflicts, and Indonesia, where they looked at the conflicts in East Timor and Aceh.
The aim of this initiative was to provide opportunities to key stakeholders across the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict divide to learn more about existing peacebuilding and conflict-resolution experiences in other regions in the world that have also been affected by armed conflicts. The initiative was facilitated and led by International Alert with the support of the European Union.
During the study visit, the delegation discussed with counterparts in South East Asia the factors that have contributed to the breakthroughs in their peace processes, what have been the main challenges on the way to reaching an agreement and the ways to address them, and their challenges and successes in the implementation of peace agreements. The South Caucasian analysts and journalists also had the opportunity to learn more about the role of civil society initiatives and the media in peacebuilding, and the role of youth in socio-political and pace processes.Their South East Asian counterparts also shared with them the challenges, the successes and the main factors playing a role in the democratic transition processes that the Philippines and Indonesia have gone through in the past three decades.
The group met with former and current political figures that have been involved in peace and political transition processes that have been taking place in the region. They also met with representatives of think tanks, civil society organisations and media that have been involved in the peacebuilding initiatives addressing the conflicts, and with other experts who gave a broader overview of the processes of political transition.
Upon their return to the South Caucasus, the members of the delegation will share the lessons learnt during the visit by producing briefing papers for policy-makers and for civil society and media audiences. They will also organise interviews for local media outlets with some of the political figures and experts they met in South East Asia, and will personally give interviews to share information about the experience of South East Asia in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
This programme is funded by the European Union.