Mediators Beyond Borders: Romania can become key peacebuilding regional player; mediation is not for the weak of heart

Prabha Sankaranarayan, president of Mediators Beyond Borders, talked to Romania-Insider.com about peace in the region, ahead of the upcoming peace congress in Bucharest at the end of April. Romania has 10,000 mediators, and should use them, as well as engage civil society in peacebuilding, as the country has potential to become key player in the region. The end of violence is the beginning, she says, and much more is needed to keep peaceful communities. But mediation is neither for the weak of heart nor the unimaginative. Why did Mediators Beyond Borders choose Romania, a country so close to the Ukraine conflict zone, for this peace congress in April? PS: Romania is the exciting location of the next MBB Congress because of its geostrategic position, key role in peacebulding in a challenging region, strong mediation community and the strength of our host partners. As a gathering of mediators we hope to highlight the importance of dialog and a range of other mediative practices that have been used effectively in communities around the world. As for the Ukraine, sadly, it is but one of many places in the world today affected by violent conflict. We think that that these are the very places in the world where the voices of mediators and peace builders need to be heard. As mediators we offer our skills and support to, the efforts of all those involved in the attempts to resolve these issues using mediative practices. Given Romania’s strategic position in the region, and the recent NATO forces deployments in the country, what advice would you give the country’s leaders in helping maintain peace in the region? Today, the greatest problems we face are beyond borders and cannot be fixed by individual nation-states, but require global collaboration, consensus and interest-based processes like mediation to be solved sustainably. When systems are stressed, by fear or the threat of attack, communities are susceptible in a variety of ways, including along historical fault lines. It therefore becomes incumbent upon leaders of states to reduce threat: minimize increasing alarm, communicate openly, take responsibility and provide information; to increase physical and psychological safety - educate the public, engage the media in the values of peace journalism over sensationalism, use the mediators in your communities (Romania has over 10,000 of them) to engage civil society in connecting and creating public spaces for dialogue. Connected communities are safer than those experiencing isolation and disconnects. And induce calm. How do you see this regional situation further evolving, and what turning points and key actors do you see playing an important role in defusing conflicts? The end of violence is the beginning. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of restoration of relationships, creation of social systems that serve needs of the whole population and constructive resolution of conflict as critical components of real peace. Acceptance of the rights of others, free flow of information, equitable distribution of resources, sound business environment, well-functioning government, high level of human capital and good relations with neighbors are all key to peaceful communities. If we pay enough attention to building the foundation for this during the peace process, the chances of communities thriving are much better. Right now reconciliation is an afterthought – communities crack along the fault lines of previous unresolved conflicts when these relationships are not strengthened and supported.