Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 31

The University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, hosted a seminar on peace processes for politicians from Nepal this week at the Magee campus.

INCORE, in association with the Nepal National Peace Campaign, gave Nepali politicians the opportunity to learn from the Northern Ireland experience of peace-building.

Twenty Nepali delegates met politicians closely involved in the Irish peace process and with experts in conflict resolution from the University of Ulster.

Dr Billy Leonard, from the University of Ulster, said: "The situation and experiences in Northern Ireland from the late 1980s to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement have much to offer the politicians of Nepal.

"INCORE was therefore able to facilitate this programme and bring together politicians and representatives from civil society throughout Ireland.

"Their contributions on the difficult issues of conflict resolution and peace- building were greatly appreciated by our visitors from Nepal."

Liz Philipson, from National Peace Campaign, said: "The week in Northern Ireland was invaluable for the Nepal group. The second ceasefire broke in Nepal last year and the opportunity to engage directly with people who have themselves struggled to get a process back on track provided so many relevant insights. "The programme that INCORE put together was both appropriate and excit- ing and participants gained much from it."