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The Peace Operations Special Issues and Lessons Learned Seminar provided a venue for eighteen nations to discuss in detail how to improve future peacekeeping missions in eight specific areas: 1) Foreign Policy Choices and Building Coalitions, 2) End States and Exit Strategies, 3) the Impact of HIV/AIDs, 4) Leadership, 5) Transition, 6) The Press and Information Management, 7) Logistics Support and Interoperability, and 8) Improving Civil Military Coordination. The seminar represents a capstone event, designed to culminate the efforts of previous events and to determine the focus of the continuing peace operations capacity building program for execution in fiscal year 2003.

The audience of the seminar was peace support personnel from countries in Asia and the Pacific: Australia, Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga attended, as well as the United States. In addition, nineteen distinguished subject matter experts from a variety of disciplines provided foundations for understanding and discussion on the eight focus areas, and lent their expertise and experience to the plenary and group discussions. Through presentations and panel discussions, they served as catalysts for the exploration of lessons identified from service in current and past peacekeeping missions.

For each session, presentations by a panel composed of two to several subject matter experts was followed by a plenary discussion, prompted by questions from the audience and facilitated by a panel chairperson. Most in-depth discussion, however, occurred during breakout sessions staggered throughout the week. Participants and subject matter experts were divided into four working groups. The composition of the working groups was shuffled to enhance learning opportunities, exposure to ideas, and interactivity of the participants. A facilitator, who was provided with a set of discussion points as a starting point for the session, led each group. The materials presented in the sessions, as well as other relevant documents, were provided on a CD-ROM to attendees at the close of the week.

The presence of senior level military and civilian personnel contributed greatly to the quality of the discussions. Participants were challenged to draw on the lessons presented and develop ideas for cooperative solutions on the regional and sub-regional level to similar challenges they face when participating in peacekeeping operations.

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