“III. Istanbul Conference on Mediation”, which is being held under the auspices of Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, has kicked off in İstanbul on 26 June 2014, with a large participation of experts and other actors from Turkey and abroad.

On the first day of the Conference, under the theme of “the increasing role of regional organizations in mediation”, two discussions were held, focusing on conflict resolution at a time when regionalist tendencies are on the increase. In this context, capacity of various regional organizations have also been taken up. In a separate panel, Mindanao Peace Process in the Philippines was discussed as a success story with the participation of parties to the conflict and the facilitators.

During the second day of the Conference, sessions will be held on the role of the UN in search for coherence and coordination and of non-governmental actors in mediation at the regional level.

The Conference will conclude with a high-level panel in which Foreign Minister Davutoğlu and Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland will address the Conference.