2017年CRI 2017 Stockholm Forum discusses how to sustain peace

 

The opening session of the Stockholm Forum¹ 2017. [Photo: SIPRI]

Over 200 high-level experts and policy makers² have come together at the request of the Swedish government in Stockholm to talk about ways to try to bring an end to conflicts in global hot-spots.

Margot Wallstrom, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, spoke³ at the opening of the forum.

"Sadly we meet at a time of great unrest. Ongoing⁴ development in Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, Afghanistan and elsewhere resulted larger humanitarian⁵ crisis in modern history and conflicts are not only increasing in numbers, but also more complex and more violent. "

But she said there were some good examples such as in Colombia, The Gambia and Liberia, too.

She stressed the need for practical action on peacebuilding saying that one should ask oneself what works so that all parties collectively redouble efforts to build inclusive societies, prevent violent conflict, and build a sustained peace.

Isabella Lovin, Minister for International Aid, pointed⁶ to inclusivity and long term perspective as examples of what works in successful peace building.

"A long term perspective must be put in place at the very beginning of intervention⁷. We know if we work earlier on together, and use political, security and development efforts for a common goal, we have a greater chance. "

Lovin said fragile states themselves need to be involved in peace talks.

Sierra Leone is now in the process of building peace. Finance and Economic Development Minister Momodu Kargbo said it is very important to make a budget for every aspect of society with jobs as the first step.

"When you have a job that is the most important social program, that is the first stage. Particularly the issue of education and health, these are the fundamentals to the development of a society. "

Madiba Institute for Leadership in West Africa Founder⁸ Qury Traore said empowering women is very important because that is half of the population and it proves that whenever you involve all the people including women, then it works well. And this has been the Swedish foreign policy in giving international aid.

Ambassador Jan Eliasson challenged the politicians and media to reward prevention work.

"We need to politically reward preventive work. Journalists here I challenge you did you ever successfully get a headline in radio or television or newspaper saying that the disaster did not occur? "

Eliasson said sustaining peace needs generations to work. He also called on working with women and young people, and for the use modern technology.

This was the fourth Stockholm Forum held by SIPRI, a think-tank financed by the Swedish Parliament.

1 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

2 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

6 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

7 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

8 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。