Lawyering Peace

In this unique episode, we speak with Ambassador Zorica Maric Djordjevic, to explore the subtleties of diplomacy and Montenegro's extraordinary journey in international relations. The discussion unveils Montenegro as an understated success story in U.S. foreign policy, spotlighting Ambassador Djordjevic’s instrumental role in enhancing ties with the U.S., the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization from 1989 to 2020.

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In this episode of "Lawyering Peace," we delve into the intricate dynamics of peace negotiation delegations, with a special focus on the critical roles played by women leaders in the Syrian opposition delegation. Our guest, Betsy Popken, brings insights from her tenure as the chief legal advisor during the Geneva peace talks (2015 - 2017). Peek into the rigorous training and strategic planning that goes into preparing a delegation ...

In this episode of the Lawyering Peace podcast, we delve into Guatemala's journey toward peace through the lens of the 1996 Peace Accords process, which concluded 36 years of internal conflict. Ambassador Donald Planty, the United States Ambassador to Guatemala during the peace process, shares his firsthand experiences from engaging in the process, emphasizing the crucial role of international cooperation, especially the strategic ...

Robert Perito is an expert in security sector reform and governance and has been involved in post-conflict processes in regions and states across the globe, including Angola, Haiti, Liberia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya.  This episode explores Bob’s career as a Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Department of State, during which time Bob chaired the US delegation to the Angolan peace talks that ended in the signi...

Matt Simpson has been engaged in several peace and post-conflict processes around the world, and is now Co-Chair of the Private Equity Practice at Mintz. This episode delves into Matt’s role as the Principal Legal Advisor to the Darfur Delegation in the Doha Round of Peace Negotiations, which aimed to resolve the Darfur conflict. In this position, Matt led a team of over two dozen international legal and policy advisors, and was ch...

Dr. Patrick Maluki is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Nairobi and Kenya’s top expert in peace and diplomacy.  Dr. Maluki has extensive experience in the peace and conflict mediation arena. He holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in Kenya and is an expert trainer and researcher in international negotiation, mediation, human rights, governance, and peace building is...

Yoonie Kim is a former PILPG-er, and is currently a Senior Political Affairs Officer and the Gulf Team Leader at the United Nations. This episode explores Yoonie’s time serving as Senior Advisor and Special Assistant to the UN Special Envoy Jamal Benomar on the Yemen peace process, examining the ways in which mediation teams operate when supporting challenging and complex negotiations, and the importance of collaboration between th...

Vartan Oskanian, is the former Minister of Foreign Affairs for Armenia, and a former member of the Armenian Parliament. This episode delves into Vartan’s role as Armenia’s chief negotiator for the Nagorno Karabakh Key West negotiations in 2001, which sought to resolve the protracted Nagorno Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The episode in part explores the realities of negotiations that do not result in a durable pe...

Dr. Alush Gashi has extensive diplomatic and political experience in the peace negotiations and self determination space and is a widely respected human rights activist. This episode focuses on the integral contribution Alush has made to the realization of Kosovar self determination, exploring his time as Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic League of Kosova and Senior Advisor to President Ibrahim Rugova during the Rambou...

President Igor Luksic is the former Prime Minister of Montenegro, having held myriad other positions in Montenegro’s government, including that of Finance Minister and Foreign Minister.  In this episode, the conversation explores Igor’s role as a key member of the Constitutional Commission which negotiated the Union Treaty of Serbia and Montenegro on Montenegro’s behalf. The Union Treaty provided for the secession of Montenegro fro...