Mr. Jon Hanssen — Bauer has been appointed the
new special envoy for the peace process in Sri Lanka, the
Norwegian Foreign Ministry announced yesterday.
He will be responsible for Norway’s day-to-day
work as facilitator of the peace process in Sri Lanka. Hassen-Bauer
will report to International Development Minister Erik Solheim,
who will lead the work, visit Sri Lanka regularly and be
responsible for Norway’s role as facilitator of the peace
process. Norway’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, Hans Brattskar, will
continue to be the parties’ day-to-day point of contact in Sri
Lanka.
"I am pleased that Jon Hanssen-Bauer has
accepted this assignment," said Minister Solheim, "Mr. Hanssen-Bauer’s
academic and practical experience mean he is highly qualified.
He has engaged in peace and reconciliation work in many
countries. I am convinced that he will do a good job for the
parties."
The parties to the peace process in Sri Lanka,
the Sri Lankan authorities and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE), have
been informed of the appointment.
Jon Hanssen-Bauer has a degree in social
anthropology. He has a background in applied research, and has
been the Managing Director of the Fafo Institute for Applied
International Studies. As a researcher, his main areas of
interest are development research and studies in organisation
and management. He has wide international experience, and has
worked with conflict resolution and peace processes in many
countries, both as a researcher and as a practitioner. He is
particularly known for his work in the Middle East, where he led
Fafo’s work for 12 years. He has worked on assignments for the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, including on peace-building
projects and refugee issues. In August 2005, he joined the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assume responsibility for the
Ministry’s use of research in peace processes.
