Madrid: The United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations, Nassir bin Abdulaziz Al Nasser, took part in the ‘Mediation in the Mediterranean’ seminar at Casa Arabe in Madrid last night.
Addressing the seminar, he said Chapter VIII of the UN Charter lays out the critical role of regional organisations in maintaining international peace and security. He said mediation is a preventive dispute resolution method and since it is preventive, it is cost-effective as an early intervention before violence erupts.
Al Nasser stressed the critical role mediation plays in the international community and said that during his tenure as president of the 66th session of the UN General Assembly, he chose mediation as the theme of the year.
The same session passed Resolution No. 66/291 on strengthening the role of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and resolution. The seminar is being held as part of the Initiative on Mediation in the Mediterranean, which unites 32 countries and five international and regional organisations.
It aims to encourage state and regional players to increase the use of mediation in conflict prevention and resolution and in establishing peace in the region.
The debate focuses on topics relating to the culture of mediation and conflict prevention in the Mediterranean region. QNA
