Representatives from Sunni and Shiite groups in Iraq agreed on a road map to peace during secret talks that ended Monday in Finland, organizers said. The four-day meeting brought together 16 delegates from the feuding groups to study lessons learned from successful peacemaking efforts in South Africa and Northern Ireland. "Participants committed themselves to work towards a robust framework for a lasting settlement," said a statement issued late Monday by the Crisis Management Initiative, a conflict-prevention group that organized the meeting.
In an agreement released by CMI, the participants "agreed to consult further" on a list of recommendations to begin reconciliation talks including resolving political disputes through non-violence and democracy.