Newsroom
OSCE Mission roundtable 'Dialogue of Dialogues' concludes
PRISTINA 29 June 2004
PRISTINA, 29 June 2004 - The international conference on inter-community dialogue, hosted by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, ended today with recommendations that intend to boost this process and improve regional co-operation.
The event, which gathered over 40 local and international agencies involved in dialogue initiatives, concluded that dialogue is important but in order for it to have an impact it needs prior preparation and local ownership.
"This was the first opportunity for a large number of people and organizations involved in dialogue to come together, exchange experiences, and discuss what works best," said Bryan Hopkinson, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission. "This is a valuable activity with its own momentum and its own difficulties but can contribute to a better atmosphere for dialogue at all levels."
Key recommendations emerging from this event were:
These conclusions aim to channel efforts and help genuine dialogue to take place. As dialogue is one of the standards envisaged in the Kosovo Standards Implementations Plan, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo seeks to provide expertise so that these goals are reached.
A similar event will take place tomorrow as part of the OSCE-sponsored Civic Dialogue Initiative, involving religious and civil society leaders from Kosovo, Serbia and the region.
The event, which gathered over 40 local and international agencies involved in dialogue initiatives, concluded that dialogue is important but in order for it to have an impact it needs prior preparation and local ownership.
"This was the first opportunity for a large number of people and organizations involved in dialogue to come together, exchange experiences, and discuss what works best," said Bryan Hopkinson, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission. "This is a valuable activity with its own momentum and its own difficulties but can contribute to a better atmosphere for dialogue at all levels."
Key recommendations emerging from this event were:
- Dialogue is not an end to itself. It should be used to set goals in advance and invite participants based on goals. It can serve either as a political instrument to improve the political atmosphere or as a measure to help spread moderation at the grassroots level of society.
- Dialogue arising from local initiative and following local priorities is more likely to succeed than an agenda imposed by the organizers. It must meet real needs of local people and not just wishes of outsiders.
- It is necessary to widen participants and include "victim voices" as well as a wider range of political opinions.
- Dialogue needs preparation if it is to succeed. Participants should know in advance whom they will be meeting, and not given traps or surprises during the process. Without growing trust on all sides, nothing can be achieved.
- Only sustainable dialogue initiatives are likely to bring results. One-off events will achieve nothing.
- Open and closed dialogue initiatives can both have an appropriate use, but closed debate is usually more preferred as participants can speak more freely. However, organizers and participants need to understand better how to promote their activities by intelligent relations with media.
- It is valuable to keep the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) informed of dialogue initiatives. UNMIK can help, but it should not take control or obstruct such efforts.
- Exchange of information and follow-up events should be organized in order to keep track of initiatives and share lessons learned.
These conclusions aim to channel efforts and help genuine dialogue to take place. As dialogue is one of the standards envisaged in the Kosovo Standards Implementations Plan, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo seeks to provide expertise so that these goals are reached.
A similar event will take place tomorrow as part of the OSCE-sponsored Civic Dialogue Initiative, involving religious and civil society leaders from Kosovo, Serbia and the region.