The conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. with opening remarks from UNU Rector Hans van Ginkel, Cedric de Coning, President of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres (IAPTC), and a representative of the Japanese Government. Dr. Jean-Marie Guehenno, Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, will then deliver the conferencefs keynote address.

The purpose of the conference is to discuss with the public the importance of peacekeeping training and the challenge the UN faces in reforming its peace operations. There will be three panel presentations focusing on the Brahimi Reportfs consequences for peacekeeping: regional perspectives; the political dimensions of reforming UN peace operations; and operational implications for peacekeeping training. Panel participants will include international scholars and experts from Canada, East Timor, Japan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Venezuela. The conference will end with a summary by UNU Vice-Rector Ramesh Thakur and closing remarks by incoming IAPTC President Albrecht Schnabel.

The conference will be preceded and followed, on 22 and 24 October, by the annual meeting of the IAPTC, the first to be hosted in Asia.

The 23 October conference will be open to the public; advance reservations are required. Media representatives are cordially invited to attend. A copy of the tentative programme is attached for your reference.

For more information, or to reserve a place at the symposium, please contact the UNU Public Affairs Section.