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Monday, 26 February 2001

Former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans heads a distinguished range of speakers at an important two-day conference being held today and tomorrow at Adelaide University.

Mr Evans, who is now president of the International Crisis Group based in Brussels, will be delivering the keynote address, Preventing Deadly Conflict, at the Crisis in Asia symposium on Saturday.

The symposium will examine more than just the Asian economic "meltdown" which occurred in the late 1990s.

Speakers from a vast range of countries - including Korea, Singapore, India, Japan, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Zealand and Pakistan - will also deliver papers on issues relating to population, migration and refugees, impacts on agriculture and the environment, and other political, social and territorial crises in the region.

The symposium is being run by Adelaide University's renowned Centre for Asian Studies. Head of the Centre Professor Purnendra Jain says the event is important for Australia, as well as the Asian countries represented.

"We are becoming increasingly involved with the Asia region, and we must continue to take more than a passing interest in what is happening," Professor Jain says.

"This symposium is looking at not only the recent past but also the future, which has implications for us all."

Note: Gareth Evans will be delivering his address at 3pm on Saturday, 17 February. He will be available for interview between 2pm and 2.30pm the same day - to arrange an interview, please contact Ben Osborne at Adelaide University's Media Office on (08) 8303 5414.