Conference to tackle community and political relations

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland has organised a get together of community activists to discuss their relations with local political representatives.

Experts from across the world arrived in the province for the two day 'think-in' which is taking place at a "peace building" conference in the Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick on Thursday and Friday.

Avila Kilmurray, Director Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, said: "The two roles of the politicians and the community activists are complementary but not identical.

"Northern Ireland has a very active voluntary and community sector that offers a unique input to the difficult local problems. But the community sector cannot substitute for the place of the political dialogue."

Harvard University specialist, Jim Cooney, will offer Northern Ireland the conclusions of his work on a key project examining ‘Justice in times of transition’ and Naomi Chazan, former Deputy Speaker in the Israeli Parliament, brings the lessons of the tensions in that part of the world.

Joining them will be Roelf Meyer, former minister of Defence and Minister of Constitutional Affairs in South Africa and Chief Negotiator in De Klerk’s Government at the Multi Party Negotiating Forum, who will outline, from his South African experience, how common goals and co-operation between politicians and community representatives can be identified and strengthened.

"Northern Ireland faces an uncertain future for its devolved Assembly," Avila Kilmurray said. "The Community Foundation for NI recognises that this poses questions where politicians can be offered the assistance of an influential community sector.

‘These are challenges that we have faced before and must continue to face as we work together to build a sustainable peace, which is exactly the theme of this timely conference," she concluded.

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