Principles v. pragmatism --- An interesting example where the 'principled based negotiation takes on a different meaning - it's not necessarily the neutrality principle that matters here, but the much more pragmatic one of getting access. However in negotiating access to prisons we also shouldn't be naive -the relevant authority may then ask for support that the ICRC can't provide, for e.g. infrastructure with military use (renovating a particular road etc.)

Source author: Etienne Berges etienneberges@redcross.org.uk