Talking to Groups that Use Terror.pdf - United States Institute of Peace

Peacemaker’s Toolkitconscious of symbolism at all times. Do not choose a venue fornegotiations that embodies the power of one side or evokes painfulmemories for the other. Time announcements of key developments anddeadlines for reaching agreement to coincide with celebrations that bringthe two sides together (a religious holiday, perhaps) rather than withcommemorations that push them further apart (such as the anniversaryof a military victory or defeat).Provide Cover for the PartiesOnce trust has been established, the mediator can become a cover forconcessions, with the parties making compromises for the sake of goodrelations with the mediator, something they could not have made directlywith each other. However, in the end the person negotiating for theterrorist group must be able to take responsibility for the agreement,which cannot be seen as having been forced on him by the mediator.Mediators can be invaluable to parties who have great difficultyconvincing constituents of the value of engagement. A mediator may optto publicly assume responsibility for misunderstandings, deadlocks, anddelays—even if the mediator was, in fact, entirely blameless—rather thansee the process collapse. A mediator may also rescue negotiations from theire of constituents averse to any concessions by publicly announcing that anarrangement may indeed be a compromise for both sides, but highlight theneed for a compromise in order for the peace process to move forward.Encourage CompromisesCompromise, of course, is vital if any peace process is to advance,yet in a conflict between terrorists and governments the two sides willprobably have spent years, if not decades, loudly proclaiming theirimplacable opposition to any concessions to the other side. In such asituation, the mediator must use every tool at his or her disposal to helpthe parties escape this self-imposed embargo on compromise and toprepare their constituents to accept that a partial success is preferable tocontinuing armed struggle.➤➤Useful techniques may include the following:Distinguish between valid security needs and entrenched positionswhen trying to create compromises. For instance, a PAG may genuinely72