DUSHANBE, May 12, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The Ferghana Valley NGO network, Dolina Mira (Valley of Peace), will conduct a seminar in the Tajik northern city of Qairoqqum from May 13-15 to discuss issues related to peace and development in the Ferghana Valley.

According to the Khujand-based MGM journalists’ association, the event is dedicated to determine priorities for peace processes in that region and development of dialogue between representatives from various institutions of society for removal of obstacles on the way to peace building.

Representatives of civil society organizations and government institutions from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as well as officers of international and donor organizations active in the Ferghana Valley will take part in the seminar.

The seminar is organized under support of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), an organization possessing resources and experienced in network operators.

Established in 2004, the Dolina Mira Ferghana Valley NGO Network is a voluntary informal union of Ferghana Valley noncommercial and nongovernmental Organizations and an open, public, not-for-profit, and a non-political organization.

Currently, the network unites 30 NGOs that are based, and operate, in cross-border areas of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and are knowledgeable of the needs and problems of residents of local communities.  The network’s goal is to contribute to prevention and reduction of tension and facilitate development of regional cooperation in the Ferghana Valley through strengthening of interaction among the public and civic institutions of all the three countries of the Ferghana Valley.  The network’s main donors are the Danish Refugee Council and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).