Senator George Mitchell giving his lectureSenator George Mitchell, former US Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, received an honorary doctorate from King's at a reception yesterday in the Great Hall. Senator Mitchell, who played a crucial role in the Northern Ireland peace process, gave a public lecture on his experiences in the Middle East and negotiating conflict resolution in divided societies.
Principal Professor Sir Rick Trainor said: 'King's College London is delighted to have awarded an honorary degree to Senator George Mitchell, who has been a conciliatory and progressive force in arenas as different as the United States Senate, Northern Ireland and the Middle East. The degree is also highly appropriate because Senator Mitchell's concern with conflict resolution resonates with much academic activity at King's.'
Professor Rory Miller, Director, Middle East & Mediterranean Studies said: 'As conflict-resolution in the Middle East is a subject at the heart of what we teach and research in the Middle East & Mediterranean Studies Programme (MEMS), the staff and students are thrilled to see Senator Mitchell being recognised by King's for his long-standing commitment to peace making in the region.'
During his lecture, Senator Mitchell commented on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and the need to persevere with the peace process. 'In the Middle East, pessimism is now widespread, and there are many reasons to be sceptical about the prospects of success. The level of mistrust and hostility is so high that many regard it as unsolvable.
'But the pursuit of peace is so important that it demands a maximum effort. It is vital that each side understands that satisfying the other side's fundamental objective is the key to a successful agreement. Any pain now is much less than the pain they will endure if they don't reach an agreement.
'It's a daunting challenge to rebuild trust between leaders but also between peoples, but peace requires that they find a way. On both sides, leaders and peoples must persevere. It happened in Northern Ireland and I believe with all my heart and soul that it can and will happen in the Middle East.'
Senator Mitchell also remarked on how much it meant to him to be back in the UK. 'It's a special pleasure for me, as the UK and the US are linked in many ways - through history, language, culture, trade, and most of all, by democracy.'
Senator George Mitchell is recognised both for his contribution to US politics, culminating in his role as Majority Leader of the US Senate, and for his outstanding contributions in the service of peace in both Northern Ireland and the Middle East. His extensive experience in conflict resolution is viewed by experts as best practice example of third party intervention in divided societies.
As President Clinton's Special Envoy for Northern Ireland, Senator Mitchell chaired the negotiations in that led to the 1998 Belfast Agreement, which has seen power-sharing between the two communities firmly established. His patience and sincerity enabled him to win the trust and respect of all the parties engaged in the negotiations that led to this historic accord.
Senator Mitchell brought the same characteristics and qualities to his diplomatic missions in the Middle East, most recently as President Obama's Special Envoy for Middle East Peace from 2009 to 2011.
Dr Michael Kerr, Director of the Centre for the Study of Divided Societies said: 'The Middle East and Mediterranean Studies Programme and the Centre for the Study of Divided Societies are delighted that Senator George Mitchell is receiving an Honorary Doctorate from King's. This is a most fitting tribute to a diplomat who is globally recognised for his work in advancing the cause of peace in conflict zones and deeply divided societies, from Northern Ireland to the Middle East.
'Senator Mitchell played an instrumental role in bringing the Northern Ireland Troubles to an end. His endless patience and energetic diplomacy were key elements in the political process that led to the successful negotiation of the Belfast Agreement in 1998. So it is simply fantastic for our students that he is visiting us to receive this degree award.'
King's has a particularly distinguished reputation for studies relating to the Middle East. The Middle East & Mediterranean Studies Programme, one of King's Global Institutes and Centres, is a leading provider of research and teaching on a wide range of subjects relating to the politics, history, economics and international relations of the region.
A key research objective is to analyse conflict resolution and peace processes in divided societies from a comparative perspective, in the Middle East, in Europe and in the developing world. MEMS teaches and develops future leaders, diplomats, scholars, journalists and researchers on the principles of peace making and positive third party intervention in the Middle East and beyond.
Notes to editors:
More information about Middle East and Mediterranean Studies
More information about the Centre for the Study of Divided Societies
More information about King's Global Institutes and Centres
For more information about King's, see our 'King's in Brief' page.
No comments:
Post a Comment