2ND LEAD

Special Envoy to assist Solheim in Sri Lanka peace process

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 March 2006, 10:58 GMT]
The Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim has appointed Jon Hanssen-Bauer, Director, Fafo Institute for Applied International Studies, University of Oslo, as new Special Envoy to Sri Lanka Peace Process, according to a press statement issued by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo Friday. "Mr Hanssen-Bauer will report to International Development Minister Erik Solheim, who will lead the work, visit Sri Lanka regularly and be responsible for Norway’s role as facilitator of the peace process. Norway’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, Hans Brattskar, will continue to be the parties’ day-to-day point of contact in Sri Lanka", the press statement added.

“Mr Hanssen-Bauer’s academic and practical experience mean he is highly qualified. He has engaged in peace and reconciliation work in many countries. I am convinced that he will do a good job for the parties," Mr. Erik Solheim was quoted as saying.

The parties to the peace process in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan authorities and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE), have been informed, the press release added.

The Norwegian Foreign Minister, Gahr Støre of Labour Party (AP) has delegated Sri Lanka and Sudan Peace Initiatives to Erik Solheim (SV), who was the Special Envoy to Sri Lanka Peace Process before the Norwegian elections.

Erik Solheim told NRK, the Norwegian state radio, that he would continue to be engaged as the overall responsible minister of the Sri Lankan facilitation on behalf of the Royal Norwegian Government. He added that he will travel to Geneva for the next round of talks between the Liberation Tigers and the Government of Sri Lanka.

Jon Hanssen-Bauer has a degree in social anthropology. He has a background in applied research, and has been the Managing Director of the Fafo Institute for Applied International Studies. As a researcher, his main areas of interest are development research and studies in organisation and management. He has wide international experience, and has worked with conflict resolution and peace processes in many countries, both as a researcher and as a practitioner. He is particularly known for his work in the Middle East, where he led Fafo’s work for 12 years. He has worked on assignments for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, including on peace-building projects and refugee issues. In August 2005, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assume responsibility for the Ministry’s use of research in peace processes.

External Links:

Fafo:

Jon Hanssen-Bauer