Regional Security and Cooperation Conference - University of California Los Angeles

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

Support to the Regional Security and Cooperation Conference organised by University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). The conference offers a confidential and informal multilateral forum to discuss the situation in the Middle East with an aim to enhance peace and stability in the region. The support to the conference contributes to the Finnish efforts of peace mediation by providing track II forum, for example, for improving relations between Israel and Arab countries. Finland has supported the conferences in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016. The support has enabled genuine, multilateral dialogue, which is crucial in order to sooth tensions among the Middle Eastern countries. In addition, as a donor country, Finland has been able to participate in the dialogue and thereby to gain contacts, information and visibility. Finland's support amounts to 50 000 euro for 2017. It is earmarked to enable the participation of ODA-eligible countries.