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4 negotiating tips for the US
By maudeaster on 2013-07-03 13:03:17
Syria, Korea, Iran, Afghanistan and the Middle East -- the US claims it wants to use negotiations to resolve these 5 current,
vexing foreign policy challenges.But is it really serious about wanting negotiated solutions? Sadly, Washington often seems
to shoot its negotiators in the foot before anyone can sit down to talk.
Here are my 4 negotiating tips for the US and some examples of where they could help:
One: Agree to put a wide range of issues on the negotiating table, not just the key US demand — so that both sides
can benefit from the settlement -- and then be prepared to give as well as get.
>Talk to Iran about creating regional stability for Iraq and Afghanistan and about Syria, not just
demand that the talks focus only on nuclear weapons.
> Talk to North Korea about US security assurances, transforming the temporary Korean War armistice into a peace
treaty, and about economic assistance, not just about nuclear weapons.
Two: If other countries are part of a conflict, agree to seat all of them at the table, whether Washington likes them or
not.
> Stop sabotaging Syria talks by opposing including Iran. Iran is involved in the conflict and needs to be part of the
solution.
> Stop refusing to include Hamas or a joint Hamas/Fatah government in Middle East peace talks. A settlement creating
a Palestinian state cannot emerge without Hamas involvement.
Three: Stop demanding as pre-conditions for talks that the other party give up in advance its key interest, its main
bargaining chip.
>Don’t demand that North Korea take actions to demonstrate willingness to abandon its nuclear program before
talks can even begin.
>Don’t require the Taliban to accept continued US troops and bases in Afghanistan before talking to them.
Four: Finally, when the US has made an agreement, keep our part of the bargain so that the deal will hold and
future negotiations will also succeed.
> Never again repeat the 1994 mistake of reneging on the promise to North Korea that Washington would provide 2
light water reactors and fuel shipments in return for Pyongyang destroying its nuclear power plant. North Korea
destroyed the plant, but was never was sent the reactors and fuel, so it resumed its nuclear weapons program.
>Don’t promise the Taliban the US will release its members held in Guantanamo and then fail to do so, which has
delayed for 2 years progress on peace negotiations.
Negotiations are by definition extremely difficult, but of necessity always must involve give and take. It’s my hope that in
the future the US will match its words of wanting to negotiate with steps like these designed carefully to make talks actually
succeed and lead to lasting cooperation with the countries across the table.
