International Law Seminar: '"The Agreement": The Role of International Law in Negotiating Peace'

In 2011, representatives from Serbia and Kosovo met for for the first time since Kosovo declared independence in 2008. And the chief European Union negotiator, Robert Cooper, allowed cameras to record the action. "The Agreement" is a new documentary film showing those delicate talks on the peaceful coexistence between Serbia and Kosovo. National pride and compromise are on everyone's lips, and much is at stake: Kosovo wants to come closer to independence, the Serbs have been promised EU membership if they can reach an agreement, and the EU tries to strengthen its credibility. But how far is each party willing to go? Quite a bit of history is made in Karen Stokkendal Poulsen's film, which dives deep into a difficult political process without losing sight of all its quirky details. But will it end with a glass of champagne for the charismatic Cooper and his clients?

This session will involve a viewing and then discussion of the film. The discussion will focus on the different perspectives on the peace process among international institutions, international lawyers, and states. To what extent does international law play a role in each actor’s decision making process? How does international law help (or not help) bring the parties to the table and buttress or undermine their positions in the negotiating process? And to what extent can negotiators help drive the peacemaking process or achieve a lasting peace?

Moderator: Dr Veronika Fikfak, Faculty of Law
Participants: Mr Robert Cooper, lead negotiator for the EU Commission; Dr Sarah Nouwen, Faculty of Law; Dr Geoffrey Edwards, POLIS
Venue: Law Faculty, B16 at 4.30pm

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FORHANDLEREN / THE AGREEMENT TRAILER DK SUB from Bullitt Film on Vimeo.