THE NORMANDY WORLD PEACE FORUM MAKES NORMANDIE SHINES IN THE US INSTITUTIONS

USPA NEWS - Herve Morin, President of the Normandy Region and François-Xavier Priollaud, Vice-President in charge of Europe and International, traveled to New York and Washington on November 21 and 22, 2019, to promote the Forum Normandy for Peace and prepare with the UN and several major American think-tanks the next edition of the forum to be held on 3, 4 and 5 June 2020 in Caen around the theme "Prevent war: responding to new threats". "Our ambition is to sensitize international and American personalities to the Normandy World Forum for Peace. These meetings in New York and Washington are all the more important for us, as Normandy will never forget what the Americans did in 1944 in Normandy in order to defend the values “‹“‹of freedom and democracy ". said Hervé Morin. "Peace is a hope, it is first of all a will. It is in this spirit that we want to explain to our American interlocutors why and how Normandy becomes, each year in June, the world capital of peace makers "recalls, meanwhile, François-Xavier Priollaud. 

THE UNITED NATIONS WILL BE A KEY PARTNER OF THE GLOBAL FORUM FOR PEACE------------------------------ After exchanging with former ambassador Gérard Arault on the global geopolitical situation and US policy in this area as the country will be called to elect its federal executive in 2020, the Norman mission to the United States has multiplied, Thursday, November 21, interviews at the headquarters of the United Nations. Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Izumi Nakamitsu has pledged to participate in the development of the forum that will focus on technology as a new threat to peace. Following a meeting with Miroslav Jenca, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, Hervé MORIN proposed that the forum publish an official contribution to the UN General Assembly September 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of this international institution. The delegation met with the adviser of the Director-General of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Abdoulaye Mar Dieye. The first UN agency presented the study of the European Parliament's Normandy Index, which shows, in particular, a real convergence of results with the UN Human Development Index. UNDP will be present in Caen in June, especially since the current work of the agency around the main risks of peace, correspond point by point to the axes that will be developed by the world forum. Finally, the UN Women's Agency has shown great interest in the forum and will be leading a workshop next June.

DEBATES AT INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PEACE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY & US INSTITUTE FOR PEACE Representatives of the Normandy Mission participated in several debates in New York and Washington in front of several authorities of major influence in the geopolitical field, beginning with exchanges the International Institute for Peace on "the importance of the inclusion and human rights to build a lasting peace. " Based in New York, the IPI is dedicated to promoting the prevention and resolution of international and internal conflicts by strengthening institutions for peace and security. The conference brought together a panel composed of Hervé MORIN, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations, Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, and Sarah Taylor, IPI researcher. The seminar "The Problem on Peace" which followed at Columbia University in New York enabled Hervé Morin and François-Xavier Priollaud to present the Normandy Manifesto for Peace, the Normandy index of the European Parliament, the Normandy Chair of Excellence for Peace, developed in partnership with the University of Caen and the CNRS, and the Freedom Award.------------------------------------------------------------------------------Finally, the working meeting with the USIP opened the way for the participation in the next world forum of this "Academy for Peace" created in 1984 by the US Congress. The USIP produces analyzes and trains professionals on issues of diplomacy, mediation and peacebuilding tools. The trip ended with several interviews in the US capital, the World Bank, the French Embassy and Robert Malley, President of the prestigious International Crisis Group (ICG). Founded in 1995, this international NGO offers high-level analyzes of current and emerging crises to guide international action to prevent deadly conflicts. Recognized for the quality of its field investigations, the ICG is a reference for the geopolitical study of international tensions and publishes about a hundred reports and briefings a year. On the sidelines of this trip dedicated to the World Forum, Hervé MORIN was able to meet with Justin PEARLMAN, Vice-President of Columbia University, 3rd best American university and home to the prestigious Zuckerman Institute, specialized in neuroscience. The Regional President was able to evoke the world-class excellence of the work of Professor Denis Vivien's teams and the Cyceron platform of the University of Caen. Contacts will be held between the two entities to explore the possibility of joint work and teaching.   

ABOUT THE NORMANDY WORLD PEACE FORUM---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The history of Normandy is inseparable from the ideas of peace, freedom and human rights. The Normandy Region wished to continue the work of memory accomplished since 1945. It is in this frame of mind that the Normandy Region launched in 2017 "Normandy for Peace", a global approach which includes an annual Norman and international programming, in promoting the universal values of peace and freedom, as well as a World Forum backed every year by the commemorations of June 6, 1944 and the Battle of Normandy. Open to all, the Normandy World Peace Forum is a place for reflection and exchange around world tensions and peace building. It is led by experts in geopolitics, along with representatives of governments, academia and civil society. Source : Region Normandie