Finland Times

Helsinki, January 16 – Representatives from across the globe will put their heads  together to devise more effective mechanisms for strengthening cooperation on peace mediation as the Group of Friends’ meeting begins Thursday in Finnish capital Helsinki.

Officials say that the two-day meeting of the Group of Friends of Mediation, being operated from New York, would discuss the issues for enhancing cooperation and implementation of eight key fundamentals outlined by the United Nations to ensure an effective mediation process for conflict resolution.

The meeting of the Group of Friends  – a grouping of UN Member States co-chaired by Finland and Turkey who have taken an active and supportive interest in developing the UN’s conflict mediation capacities, will be opened in Helsinki by Foreign  Minister Erkki Tuomioja. 

Representatives from as many as 30 countries, four regional organisations and the United Nations will attend the regular meet.

"The role of regional organisations in mediation is extremely important, since they operate near the conflict area and are very familiar with the reasons of the conflict and the parties involved," says Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja adding that the cooperation between regional organisations and the UN has turned out to be very fruitful.

The grouping, consisting of state members and inter-governmental organisations, was established in connection with the UN General Assembly in 2010.Now its members include 34 states, the UN, and the regional organisations the Arab League, ASEAN, the EU, the OAS, the OIC and the OSCE.

The first UN Resolution on Mediation, drawn up with the support of the Group of Friends of Mediation, launched a process as a result of which the UN Secretary-General's Guidance for Effective Mediation was released in autumn 2012 Finland places special emphasis on strengthening the role of women in peace processes for achievement of stable and lasting peace, said an official statement issued prior to Thursday’s meeting.