CDI Dialogue with International Visitors 2008

	Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma Visits Canberra Enroute to the Pacific Forum in Niue, Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma came to Canberra in August for talks with Commonwealth Government ministers and officials. On this vist Mr Sharma also hosted a function for representatives of the Commonwealth Round Table in Australia (CRTA) and others which was attended by CDI Director Ben Reilly. You can find more detail on Mr Sharma's visit at the CRTA website: Commonwealth Round Table in Australia < Pictured (l to r): Professor Ben Reilly | Former President of the Senate Senator Margaret Reid | Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma | Mr Paul O'Callaghan Executive Director, Australian Council for International Development
	Paul Bengo & Sir Kina Bona Paul Bengo, Chairman of the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission and Registrar of Political Parties in Papua New Guinea, visited CDI in July. Mr Bengo was accompanied by Sir Kina Bona, who will be taking up the position of Chairman in early August. CDI has an active program of cooperation with the PNG Party Registrar's Office, and has trained a number of staff members over recent years. While at ANU, Mr Bengo also gave a talk on the effects of the Organic Law on Political Parties and Candidates on national politics in Papua New Guinea. < Pictured (l to r): CDI Deputy Director Mr Quinton Clements | Sir Kina Bona | Mr Paul Bengo | CDI Director Prof Ben Reilly.
	Peceli Kinivuwai Peceli Kinivuwai from Fiji's Soqosoqo Duavata Ni Lewennanua (SDL) party visited CDI in June to discuss recent political developments in Fiji. Peceli was a participant in CDI's 2007 Political Party Development course.
	Jim Della-Giacoma Jim Della-Giacoma from the Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum, a program of the Social Science Research Council in New York, visited CDI in May to discuss areas of common interest, particularly in regards to the South Pacific. The Forum acts as a bridge between UN policymakers and knowledgeable people in the non-governmental world, including academia, think tanks, NGOs, and the media.
	New Zealand Mr Bede Corry, Head of the Australia Division in the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ms Heather Riddell, New Zealand's Deputy High Commissioner in Canberra, visited CDI on 28 April to discuss cooperation in the South Pacific.
	Andrew Ellis Andrew Ellis, Director of Operations at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, visited CDI in April to discuss ongoing areas of cooperation. CDI and IDEA work together on a number of projects, including the forthcoming book Political Parties in Conflict-Prone Societies.
	Professor Reg Austin CDI Director Ben Reilly with Prof Reg Austin, who visited CDI in February 2008. Prof Austin  worked at a senior level with the Electoral Commission to UNTAC in Cambodia, UNOMS in South Africa, UNAMA in Afghanistan, and with the Commonwealth Secretariat. Prof Austin was also coordinator of the Independent Electoral Certification Scheme in Timor-Leste, appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General.
	HE Gabor Csaba Hungary's Ambassador to Australia, HE Gabor Csaba, visited CDI on 19 March to discuss issues of mutual interest, including possible cooperation between CDI and Hungary's International Centre for Democratic Transitions.
	The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, the Hon Dr David Derek Sikua MP