Aung San Suu Kyi and Bono to attend Oslo Forum

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Aung San Suu Kyi and Bono will take part in the Oslo Forum mediators’ retreat at Losby Gods just outside Oslo on 18–19 June. The Oslo Forum gathers around 100 mediators and other key actors in peace processes all over the world. 

Mr Støre, Ms Suu Kyi and Bono will take part in a panel debate at the opening of the Oslo Forum entitled “Changing the unchangeable: the role of dialogue in transition”. 

Members of the media who are accredited for Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit can follow the debate from the press room at Losby Gods. The debate will also be transmitted live on www.regjeringen.no. After the debate, Mr Støre, Ms Suu Kyi and Bono will hold a press conference. 

Place: Losby Gods
Date: Monday 18 June

09:45: Aung San Suu Kyi arrives at Losby Gods
10:00: Panel debate
11:10–11:30: Press conference 

The rest of the Oslo Forum will be closed to the press. 

The main theme of this year’s meeting is the role of dialogue in transition. The participants will be offered insights into the transition processes in Myanmar, Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. Current conflict situations that will be examined include those in Afghanistan and the Middle East. Ways of strengthening knowledge about the results of peace processes and the politicisation of humanitarian aid are two key topics for discussion. 

Other participants at the Oslo Forum include Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, Myanmar’s Minister of Industry U Soe Thane, President of the International Crisis Group Louise Arbour, Head of the Philippines Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process in the Philippines Teresita Quintos Deles and Commissioner for Peace and Security in the African Union Ramtane Lamamra. 

The objective of the Oslo Forum is to share practical experience of mediating between parties in conflict with a view to improving the international community’s ability to address armed conflict. It is an important part of Norway’s work to systematise and professionalise international peace efforts. 

This year’s meeting is the tenth in a row, and is organised in cooperation between the Norwegian Foreign Ministry and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, which is based in Geneva. 

For more information about this year’s Oslo Forum see: http://www.osloforum.org/ 

Press contact: Communications Adviser Hanne Melfald, mobile phone +47 993 82 348