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Outspoken former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir bin Mohamad is to speak in New Zealand.
Delivering a special lecture through Victoria University's Malay studies department on November 9, Dr Mahathir will argue for the peaceful resolution of disputes by banning war.
The winner-takes-all nature of war encourages nations to build armies and resort to violence at the slightest pretext, the 82-year-old said in a precis of his speech.
"There will never be peace until winners and losers are tried for their crimes by neutral countries and punished. We must banish war as an option in the settlement of disputes and conflicts between nations," he said.
The influential, controversial figure is no stranger to conflict resolution work, having recently been involved in attempts to initiate peace talks between the Thai Government and Islamic insurgents in the south.
Dr Mahathir, who was Malaysia's leader for 22 years, has previously said New Zealand and Australia weren't Asian nations and should not be in the East Asia summit.
Dr Mahathir also called US President George W. Bush the most hated president in history.
- NZPA
