Boston was once again at the centre of international discussions about resolving conflict and making peace this week, but focused on the cities at the heart of the issues.  Led by UMass-Boston Professor and renowned peacekeeping expert Padraig O’Malley, the 'Forum for Cities in Transition' met on this Boston campus during the week of April 14-17.  Involving delegations from 'cities in transition' from Northern Ireland (Derry and Belfast), Iraq (Kirkuk), Sebia and Kosovo (Mitrovica) and Cyprus (Nicosia), this UMass Forum came together to demonstrate that, while the names and geography of conflicts may vary, many of the lessons learned and roadmaps for peace can be relevant.  Interestingly, the two Northern Ireland cities - blighted for so long by that conflict, but now with their communities united in common purpose - are now beacons for these other 'cities in transition'.

The British Consulate General - in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Bureau (NIB) - hosted a reception in honour of  UMass-Boston and the international delegates on their final evening (16 April).  As was clear in their discussions, the delegates found the reception a welcome opportunity to share the outcomes of the conference, trade 'lessons learned' and articulate a vision for peace in their respective cities.   Alongside the Forum delegates, the Consulate invited a range of interested parties, including politicians (such as Massachusetts Congresswoman Niki Tsongas), business leaders and experts on international relations and negotiations from across 'greater Boston'.  (Photos of the event are on Flickr below.)  The strong contingent from the local Irish-American community brought to mind the constructive contribution of this diaspora to bringing peace to Northern Ireland, a factor which was not lost on those representing 'still divided' cities.

In formal remarks (below on YouTube), Consul General Phil Budden, UMass Professor O’Malley, and one of the delegates (Nicosia's Marios Michaelides) offered their perspectives, each affirming the positive outcomes of the conference and the hope that, by coming together in Boston, the opportunity to share lessons learned and experience meant that there would be an even greater chance for conflict to give way to peace in these cities.  Professor O'Malley thanked the British Consulate and the NIB for their partnership, and looked forward to Boston's growing role on resolving conflict and advancing peace.

Press coverage of the conference:

Boston Globe, 17 April 2009, "Visitors seek lessons from Boston's divided past" by James F Smith
GlobalPost, 17 April 2009, "Tylenol, anyone?" by Olesia Plokhii

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