***NOTE: NEW DATE AND TIME***

Please join us next Tuesday, February 9th for an off-the-record discussion on 
the situation in southern Sudan, and the implications for the mandate of the 
UN Peacekeeping Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) 
with:

Mr. Sajid Khan
Formerly: Special Assistant to UNMIS SRSGs Pronk and Quazi
Currently: UNMIS Political Affairs Officer
UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations

Date: Thursday, February 18th
Time: 1:30 to 3:00 pm
Location: 1111 19th Street, NW
Twelfth Floor
Washington, DC 20036

Sudan has entered the fifth of year of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the north and the south.  In the lead up to the April 2010 elections and the controversial 2011 referendum on southern independence, coupled with major delays in the implementation of critical elements of the CPA, fears of renewed violence have re-focused attention on the south.  

The February PEP Forum will focus on a discussion of the current state of political developments in Sudan, progress towards the realization of CPA benchmarks, and the status and priorities of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) as we head towards the missions mandate renewal in April.

** Please RSVP to Matt Pennington **

Both Congressmen and our respective organizations believe now is the time for a new era of international cooperation to address the global challenges that confront us: terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change, poverty, genocide, and of course, rebuilding regions devastated by a natural disaster.  These transnational challenges cannot be solved by the United States alone or any one country; they must be addressed multilaterally.  

For this reason, the American Engagement Caucus has been formed. The Caucus will serve as a forum where Members can discuss the US role in addressing these and others of the world’s most pressing problems.  

America’s security, economic, environmental, and moral interests are inextricably linked with those of the international community.  That is why the US must find creative new approaches for working with other nations to create a safer, more peaceful, prosperous, and just world.   This caucus aims to discuss promising new approaches that highlight success stories of countries partnering together to address transnational problems.  It will provide a forum where Members can discuss the benefits and challenges of working multilaterally with international bodies like the United Nations as well as regional organizations like the European Union, African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.  It will demonstrate to Members of Congress how US leadership and a willingness to partner with other countries and institutions are essential to our national interests.

The launch will include remarks by both Congressmen Carnahan and Cao, along with a Q&A.  For more information, please see the attached Dear Colleague.

Again, please contact Dana Proctor at either dproctor@unfoundation.org or 202-887-9040 to RSVP.   

Sincerely,

Steve Dimoff
Vice President of Advocacy and Policy
United Nations Association- USA
 
Don Kraus
Chief Executive Officer
Citizens for Global Solutions
 
Peter Yeo
Executive Director
Better World Campaign

Please join us next Tuesday, January 12th for an off-the-record discussion on
U.S. involvement in international peacekeeping
with:

Victoria K. Holt
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of International Organization Affairs
U.S. Department of State

Date: Tuesday, January 12th
Time: 2:30 to 4:30 pm
Location: 1111 19th Street, NW
Twelfth Floor
Washington, DC 20036

Agenda:
Presentation/discussion - Deputy Assistant Secretary Holt
Funding update - Jordie Hannum, BWC
Discussion of current PEP member projects

Please RSVP to Matt Pennington at matt@refugeesinternational.org

 Please join us this Thursday for a presentation by  

CHIP BECK, PROGRAM AND POLICY COORDINATOR

AND

LARS HUDNALL, REGIONAL TRAINING AND OPERATION MANAGER (TRANS-SAHEL)

AFRICAN CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE (ACOTA)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, BUREAU OF AFRICAN AFFAIRS

Mr. Beck and Mr. Hudnall will be presenting on ACOTA – its objectives, accomplishments to date, and the challenges that lie ahead. 

Date: Thursday, October 22^nd
Time: 3:30 to 5:00 pm

Location: Stimson Center 

1111 19th Street NW

Twelfth Floor

Washington, DC 20036

Agenda:
ACOTA Briefing
UN peacekeeping funding situation
FY10 appropriations update

PEP update

Please RSVP to Matt Pennington matt@refugeesinternational.org

Seeking Greater Civilian Capacity

in U.S. Foreign Affairs

Wednesday, September 23^rd

10:00am to 12:00pm

CSIS, B1

1800 K Street, NW, Washington DC

Panelists;

Beth Cole

Senior Program Officer, Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP)

Dan Pike

Director, North-West-Central Africa, Office of African Affairs

Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense

Ambassador John Herbst

Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization

U.S. Department of State

Ron Capps

Report Author and Peacekeeping Program Manger

Refugees International

Moderator;

Joel Charny

Acting President

Refugees International

In the wake of the US interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan the U.S. Department of Defense has come under intense scrutiny and broad criticism for taking on responsibilities and funding operations in what have traditionally been civilian areas of activity.  This has prompted a widespread recognition of the imbalances between America's military strength and our capability to project civilian diplomatic and development capabilities overseas.  But questions remain. Are the criticisms of DoD valid? Why have US civilian capabilities not kept pace with the expansion of DoD? Is the expansion of DoD activities diluting our military strength? Some progress is being made towards redressing this imbalance and strengthening civilian capacity, but how much is enough?  What has been done and what work remains?

In a new comprehensive report, Ron Capps of Refugees International explains the origins of the imbalance between the State Department and DoD, the consequences of this alarming trend, and the steps that will be necessary to restore the civilian capacities necessary to re-assert the US position as a global diplomatic leader.

Please join RI and our distinguished panel of commentators for a discussion of the report, and of the steps needed to move forward with a more balanced U.S. approach to foreign affairs.  

RSVP to Matt Pennington at matt@refintl.org.

The report can be read here.

UNA-USA’s Council of Organizations, the Partnership for Effective Peacekeeping, and the UN Information Center invite you to

Peacekeeping in the 21^st Century:

A Roundtable Discussion Commemorating the

International Day of

United Nations Peacekeepers

Friday May 29, 2009

2:00-3:30 PM

at the UN Information Center

1775 K Street NW, 4^th Floor
Washington, DC 20006

Nearest Metro is Farragut West

Featuring

Ron Capps, Peacekeeping Program Manager, Refugees International

Peder Cox, Director of Business Development and Program Support for Ecolog International, with service in Haiti and Croatia

Wayne Long, retired US Army officer, with service as Chief Security Advisor to the UN Country Team Somalia

Colter “Buddy” Tillett, Logistics and Business Development Consultant, AECOM, with service in UN peacekeeping missions in the Middle East, South Asia and Africa

Deborah Owens, Programme Officer,Department of Field Support, United Nations (Moderator)

Other distinguished peacekeepers will also be in attendance.

RSVP to Jessica Hartl at jhartl@unausa.org or 202-462-3446.

With peacekeeping having changed both logistically and operationally over the last two decades, reform of the UN peacekeeping structure has been much needed, in order to enhance the UN's capacity to manage peacekeeping operations. In this event hosted by UNA-USA’s Council of Organizations, the Partnership for Effective Peacekeeping, and the UN Information Center, former peacekeepers and peacekeeping policy experts will engage the audience in a roundtable discussion about the current state of UN peacekeeping. Issues to be discussed include specific reform recommendations – both in the field and at the Secretariat in New York - from those who have served in a variety of peacekeeping missions, to build upon reforms already implemented; efforts to engage countries such as China more extensively in peacekeeping missions; the challenges of peacekeeping - such as increasing demand for peacekeeping without the necessary resources, and working with personnel from multiple countries; the US administration’s and Congressional views on peacekeeping and funding for peacekeeping operations; review of relevant international treaties and international maritime peace making operations to ensure issues such as piracy off the coast of Somalia are adequately addressed; and more. Join us for this lively discussion to learn more about the vital work performed by peacekeepers.

The Council of Organizations, a division of the United Nations Association of the USA, is a coalition of more than 100 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that share the common goals of promoting greater public awareness about global issues and strengthening the United States-United Nations relationship.

UNA-USA’s Council of Organizations, the Partnership for Effective Peacekeeping, and the UN Information Center invite you to

PEACEKEEPING IN THE 21ST CENTURY:
AROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION COMMEMORATINGTHE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF
UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPERS

Friday May 29, 2009
2:00-3:30 PM
at the UN Information Center
1775 K Street NW, 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
(Nearest Metro is Farragut West)

RSVP to Jessica Hartl via jhartl@unausa.org or 202-462-3446.

Join us for this roundtable discussion with former peacekeepers and peacekeeping policy experts about the current state of UN peacekeeping.

Further details will be sent shortly. Event updates can be found at www.unausa.org/councilcalendar.