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http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=83764
ZANZIBAR, 2 April 2009 (IRIN) - Is there a time when mediators should not even try to get warring parties round a peace table? The answer is probably not, but timing does seem key to a successful long-term outcome to negotiations.
The crux is securing a genuine and sustained peace, such as in Mozambique in 1992, versus one that barely makes it past the press conference, as in several abortive rounds of Somali talks. That in turn is related to the "ripeness" of the conflict - usually a mutually hurting stalemate, with dialogue accepted by both sides as the only logical relief.