The launch of Dr. Charlotte Hille’s new book, 'State Building and Conflict Resolution in the Caucasus’ allowed UNPO to discuss with parliamentarians, civil society and academia the current situation in Abkhazia and future prospects for the region.

Below is an article published by UNPO:

On 3 June 2010 the Nieuwspoort press centre of The Hague hosted the timely launch of the latest book to analyse the contemporary situation of the Caucasus. Written by Dr. Charlotte Hille of the University of Amsterdam, the book details the historical and political background to the Caucasus and pays specific attention to both the work of NGOs in the region and the different aspects of international law that have helped to shape the region as we see it today.

At the invitation of Dr. Hille, UNPO’s Brussels-based project manager, Andrew Swan, spoke alongside the author and Ms. Sonja van Reede of IKV Pax Christi to provide the audience of Dutch parliamentarians, government representatives and civil society with UNPO’s perspective on the region since the events of August 2008.

Speaking of UNPO’s long engagement with the region, something that Dr. Hille facilitated during her time with the organisation in the 1990s, Mr. Swan noted that the past two decades had been ones in which “efforts at conflict resolution stagnated and ultimately failed to keep step with broader changes such as a resurgent Russia and a Georgia more confident in its standing.”

Mr. Swan reminded the audience that at the heart of the Caucasus lay the neglected issue of self-determination for its nations and peoples. De facto states such as Abkhazia had been forced to “go it alone” by the international community but had nevertheless built up state institutions and civil society. But now Mr. Swan said, “it is becoming imperative that the world open to de facto states such as Abkhazia.” Positions were becoming increasingly entrenched, but more importantly, a failure to resolve the conflict was negatively impacting the hundreds of thousands of people living in Abkhazia and the region.

Crucial to finding resolution to the conflicts of the region therefore lay in finding greater understanding between people. This was a call that echoed the work of IKV Pax Christi and UNPO made the point that the international media had not done enough to comprehend or convey the complexity of the situation in the Caucasus. The publication of Dr. Hille’s book represents a step towards redressing this shortcoming and the book launch concluded with participants noting the need for ongoing and deepening dialogue between all parties and at all levels of society. New thinking was also required from the many parties at the negotiating table. UNPO had made steps to support such a discussion and stood ready to make further initiatives over the coming months.

Note:

To learn more about, or to purchase a copy of State Building and Conflict Resolution in the Caucasus, please click here.

To download Mr. Swan’s speech, please click here. (PDF format, 212kb)