Ministers to attend Sarajevo conference

CYPRIOT politicians will be among those convening in Sarajevo tomorrow to discuss ideas on the ending of conflicts.

Government spokesman Christos Stylianides told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that the Cypriot delegation would consist of himself, Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides, Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou and Presidential Secretary Pantelis Kouros.

Also among the leaders attending from the world’s political hot spots are Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble, and the Northern Ireland Assembly Moderator, Lord John Alderdice.

Others taking part are former Canadian Foreign Minister Flora McDonald, South African Justice Minister A.M. Omar, and the former commander of the Nato-led peace force in Bosnia, William Nash.

The one-day panel discussion is organised by Hunt Alternatives and the Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict.

The Sarajevo daily Oslobodjenje has described it as part of an attempt to overcome the differences in Bosnia and to underscore Bosnia’s historical role as an intersection of different cultures.

Bosnian Muslim President Alija Izetbegovic will open the panel and the country’s top international official, Carlos Westendorp, will give the closing speech.