UN in Focus Newsbrief N0. 2/2011 April 2011 Quick Links FES NY Events FES NY Publications World Social Forum 2011 More About Us Dear colleagues and friends, This newsbrief starts on a sad note: On behalf of FES New York I would like to express our condolences to the family of Dietrich Stobbe, who passed away on February 19, 2011. Stobbe was the Mayor of Berlin between 1977 and 1981. Later that year he became the founding director of the newly opened office of FES New York, which he headed until 1983. On a more uplifting note, I am pleased to announce the re-launch of our website with new features and a new, more user-friendly, layout. Spring time is always a very busy period for FES New York and this year is no exception. We will be involved in a series of events that range from peace negotiations in Afghanistan over the promotion of shared societies and democratic reforms of the international financial and monetary architecture. With best wishes, Werner Puschra Director Friedrich Ebert Stiftung- New York Office

Upcoming Events Please note that all events are by invitation only, unless otherwise announced. "International Aspects of an Afghan Peace: What to Expect if Negotiations do Proceed" Tuesday, April 12, 2011, New York, UNHQ-Delegates Dining Room To promote the regional and multilateral dimensions of negotiations for a peace process in Afghanistan, FES supported a project of The Century Foundation(TCF) for an international task force co-chaired by Ambassadors Lakhdar Brahimi and Thomas Pickering. On April 12, TCF and FES New York will host a discussion at the UN with three members of the task force on their recently launched report. Program Report"Afghanistan: Negotiating Peace" Free Public Event "How to Promote Equitable Development and Shared Societies" Saturday, April 16th, 2011, 6:30 pm-9:00 pm The Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Washington DC "A'shared society' is a socially cohesive society. It is stable, safe. It is where all those living there feel at home. It respects everyone's dignity and human rights while providing every individual with equal opportunity. It is tolerant. It respects diversity. A shared society is constructed and nurtured through strong political leadership." As more countries embrace austerity policies with profoundly negative social impacts, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Club de Madrid and Center of Concern have organized events on the occasion of the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings 2011 to highlight the need to undertake monetary reforms with equitable development and shared societies as the goal. This program features Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada, who introduces concept of"Shared Societies," P.J. Patterso n, Jamaican Prime Minister from 1992-2006, whose recent work in Haiti--combined with his long experience in Jamaica--has shaped his views on how the international community can facilitate more equitable development, and Samir Radwan, Finance Minister for Egypt's new transitional government, who draws upon his long experience working in the International Labour Organization(ILO) to reflect on how the Arab World can rise to the challenge to create democratic and equitable societies. Program

"Democratic Reform of the International Financial and Monetary System: The objective of Equitable Development and Shared Societies" Conference: Sunday, April 17, 2011, New York, 8:30 am-5:00 pm International Monetary Fund HQ There has been much discussion among governments and in international financial institutions recently of the need to reform the international financial and monetary system, but little talk of the how to do so in the context of development, ensuring that reforms are adequately balanced to provide for social protections. This workshop was organized to promote discussion among current and former, policymakers and key thinkers about whether, in the current debate about the need for a new paradigm for the global economy, a shared societies perspective could make an important contribution. Program Past Events "Challenges for South African Foreign Policy Makers" Thursday, March 24, 2011, New York, UNHQ-Delegates Dining Room As South Africa re-entered the Security Council in 2011, the Council is occupied with numerous crises and conflicts on the African continent. To put these challenges in a broad political context, FES New York and the Center on International Cooperation(CIC), supported by the Mission of South Africa to the UN, organized a week-long information program at the UN for a group of South African policy makers. On March 24, this high-level delegation, with among others, Ms. Ayanda Dlodlo the Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration(picture), presented their views on the challenges for South African foreign policy to a broader audience at the UN. Program