UNIS/INF/261
27 March 2008

Networking for Peace:
Peacekeepers from Central Europe
to Meet at United Nations in Vienna

VIENNA, 27 March (UN Information Service) - Active and veteran peacekeepers, civil society representatives and government officials will meet at United Nations headquarters in Vienna on 31 March at the second Networking for Peace regional peacekeepers' forum, hosted by the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Vienna, in cooperation with the Association of Austrian Peacekeepers and the City of Vienna. The forum will bring together participants from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. The meeting aims to review progress made in the establishment of peacekeeper associations in the participating countries, to function inter alia as liaison partners between active and veteran peacekeepers, civil society, the UN, and national government bodies, as advocates for peacekeeping.

The event is a follow-up to the first Networking for Peace forum held in Vienna on 12 November 2007, which provided a platform for participants to present and share their ideas for national peacekeeper associations and regional cooperation.

Nasra Hassan, Director UNIS, and General Günther Greindl (Retd.), President, Association of Austrian Peacekeepers will make welcome remarks, followed by a keynote address delivered by Brigadier-General Andreas Safranmueller, Chairman of the Austrian Presidency of the Standby High Readiness (SHIRBRIG) 2008.

The luncheon keynote speech for the afternoon session will be delivered by H.E. Ambassador (Retd.) Liviu Bota of Romania, who has served in senior peacekeeping positions in the United Nations. Diplomats, academics, military advisors and staff will also participate.

Participants will share information on their country's peacekeeping work as well as views concerning veteran activities. Discussions will focus on the progress and challenges in the establishment of peacekeepers' associations. The meeting is intended to result in a range of follow-up activities and continue as a regular platform of exchange and cooperation.

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For further information, contact:

Martha Villa Godinez
Associate Information Officer, UNIS Vienna
Tel.: (+43-1) 26060 4592
Email: martha.villa.godinez@unvienna.org