Experts from the University of Ulster’s Magee campus are in Ramallah in the heart of the Middle East’s trouble-torn West Bank for a seminar that draws on peace-building - Northern Ireland-style.

Magee Provost Professor Tom Fraser and Helen Lewis, Project Coordinator with INCORE, the international conflict research centre based on the Derry campus, are among academics and peace workers from Ireland are taking part in a five-day conference, ending Thursday.

“It’s an opportunity for people from two of the world’s longest-running trouble spots to talk and learn from each other’s experiences,” said Prof Fraser, an authority on the Middle East. “Tragically, the events of the past few days in the Middle East have shown once again that the region is still a powder-keg.”

Helen Lewis said: “The seminar aims to provide Palestinian participants with an introduction to the history and politics of Ireland and Northern Ireland as well as with an increased understanding of peace-building and conflict resolution in the cases of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Palestine.”

The conference, entitled "Ireland and Palestine - Divided Countries United by History" has been organised by the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs. It will explore crucial points in Irish history and British-Irish relations over the past 100 years.

Among the participants will be Liam Maskey, Executive Director of Intercomm, the Intercommunity Development Project based in North Belfast, and Jack O’Connor, Director of INTERREG, the special EU programmes body.

Helen Lewis said: “Part of my work with INCORE is in trying to export the Northern Ireland peace process experience.Politicians have gone from here previously to share their experience with groups in Palestine and Israel. Maybe out of this trip we will be able to lay the foundations for building connections between people at grassroots level. That is a particular aim of INCORE and Intercomm.”

For further information, please contact:

Press Office, Department of Communication and Development
Tel: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk