Carter Center and World Bank Co-Sponsor Regional Workshop: 'The Transition from War to Peace'

ATLANTA, GA.... Marshaling international resources to help countries build lasting, peaceful civil societies from the ashes of war will be the focus of a workshop convened by the World Bank and The Carter Center Feb. 19-21.

Leaders from Guatemala and Liberia, development aid officials, and representatives of the UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, CARE, and major donor organizations will join former U.S. President Jimmy Carter for the workshop at The Carter Center. Among the 50 participants will be Netherlands Development Minister Jan Pronk, Norwegian Development Minister Kari Nordheim-Larson, CARE President Peter Bell, former U.N. Special Envoy to Burundi Amadou Ould-Abdallah, and Jean Arnault, UN Chief Negotiations Moderator for Guatemala.

"The governments of conflict-ridden countries and the international community should collaborate to find ways that will work to address the social, economic, political, and environmental issues that will insure peace," said President Carter.

"We hope that this conference will provide some practical answers, not only for Guatemala and Liberia, but also for other countries facing open and looming conflicts," said Ismail Serageldin, World Bank vice president for environmentally sustainable development.

Guatemala and Liberia will serve as case studies during discussions about: methods of peace negotiations, the need to stabilize economies, demilitarize countries, reintegrate dislocated populations, protect war victims, re-establish civil society and respect for human rights, restore human and social capital, and rehabilitate the productive assets and basic infrastructure of war-torn countries.

This is the first workshop in a series being sponsored by the World Bank over two years to create a framework in which organizations and governments can work collaboratively to establish a foundation for lasting peace.

EDITORS NOTE: Reporters are encouraged to attend the opening of the conference Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 5 p.m. Arrangements to cover additional sessions during the conference can be made by contacting Deanna Congileo at 404-420-5108. An agenda and complete list of participants is available. The event is not open to the general public.