Peace talks are the diplomatic process through which a treaty is signed to end a conflict. These can take many forms including an international treaty covering all issues or separate agreements between each side to settle a limited number of issues. Sometimes intractable conflicts linger on for years without concluding through a formal peace agreement. Nevertheless, a formal armistice featuring internationally-mediated ceasefire lines, supervisory mechanisms and enforcement measures has been successfully used in the past, as it is in North Korea and Sri Lanka.
Often, a major obstacle to the success of peace talks is that the parties do not see their own interests as being served by a peace settlement. This reluctance to make compromises can be the result of internal political dynamics or external interference. Moreover, the concept of peace is often misunderstood. It is commonly believed that the absence of fighting means peace, while a peace agreement will end violence and suffering almost immediately. This is rarely the case, and it takes much time for a peace process to bring about sustainable, lasting peace.
To address these challenges, mediation experts often seek to find “entry points” through which a conflict may be entered into a peace process. However, this can be a risky strategy. Waiting for a “ripe moment” to start high-level negotiations can prolong a conflict and cause extreme human suffering. In addition, the perception that an agreement will resolve all the problems can lead to unrealistic expectations among those who are negotiating.