One of our main activities is organising and hosting Luncheon Briefings on pertinent topics of EU-Asia relations. Beginning with an informal lunch, the Briefings usually last for 1.5 hours, including questions.

Attendees include EIAS members and other interested parties.

Experts wishing to discuss a possible topic for a Lucheon Briefing are invited to contact EIAS Direct Dr Willem van der Geest.

Sri Lanka: A New Chance for Peace?
18 June 2003, EIAS, Brussels

Guest Speakers:
Dr Christian Wagner, Senior Research Ass., Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, Berlin
Mr Markus Cornaro, Head of Unit, European Commission
Mr John Cushnahan Member European Parliament

12:30 (Sandwiches) 13:00 (Briefing)

The European Institute for Asian Studies has the pleasure to welcome Dr Christian Wagner, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, Mr Markus Cornaro, European Commission, and Mr John Cushnahan MEP, to analyse the current state of play in the peace process between the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE).

Christian Wagner, Senior Research Associate for South Asia at the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, is a specialised researcher on South Asia, with a focus on democratisation, security and ethnicity. He will analyse the present attempts to re-start the dialogue between the LTTE and the government of Sri Lanka, against the background of earlier initiatives to bring the long running conflict to a resolution.

Mr Cornaro, Head of Unit at the DG External Relations H/4 of the EC, will participate to the pledging conference to be held in Tokyo during June 8-9. In his presentation at EIAS, he will introduce the issue of Sri Lanka’s peace process from the point of view of the donors; he will also look into the scope for involvement of the European Union as a facilitator in the resolution of the conflict.

Mr Cushnahan MEP, also a participant to the Tokyo conference, was invited by the Peace Secretariat of the Sri Lanka Prime Minister to discuss possible ways to facilitate the government’s dialogue with the LTTE and Sri Lanka’s civil society. Mr Cushnahan will comment on the perceptions of Sri Lanka's civil society and its contribution to the resolution of the conflict.

The guest speakers will start their presentations at 13.00. Sandwiches will be served from 12.30. In view of the limited number of places, you are requested to register your participation with Ms Zoe McCarthy, European Institute for Asian Studies, Brussels, by fax (02 230 5402). We very much look forward to meeting you.