12 Oct 2004

NZ university hosts Pacific conflict resolution conference

4:33 pm on 12 October 2004

This weekend's conference on conflict resolution at Canterbury University in New Zealand will consider whether there is a need for a single body to resolve disputes and try to bring peace to the region.

One of the organisers, political scientist Dr John Henderson, says the conference is called Securing a Peaceful Pacific and will focus on three areas.

He says these are preventing conflict, overcoming conflict and rehabilitation.

Dr Henderson says they will examine whether there is a need for a peace securing, conflict resolving body in the region.

"This may turn out to be an extension of the work the Pacific Islands Forum is already doing, and the Secretary General of the Forum, Greg Urwin, will be at the conference, and may well be merged in as part of his Pacific plan. But that is what we have set as an ultimate goal - to see if it is needed and see if it is realistic."