UPF Launched the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace

[Weekly Donga] Parliamentarians from Around the World Gather for ‘Peace’ UPF Plans to Launch the ‘International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace’ in Washington, D.C., in the USA this December

International Chairperson of Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Sun Jin Moon is reading Dr. Hak Ja Han’s keynote address at the International Leadership Conference (ILC) held at the UK Parliament in London.

“Conflicts occur when we fail to understand each other because of our differences. I believe peace starts when we free ourselves from ignorance. We must make an effort to know each other by gathering together to realize peace.” (Lord Robin Eames of the British House of Lords)

“Parliamentarians carry a crucial role in deciding the nation’s direction. It is important for parliamentarians of different countries to come together and discuss peace.” (Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, Israel Hon. Hilik Bar)

“It is crucial for political leaders to meet, think and discuss peace at conferences. When a problem arises, it will be a great help in solving said problem if politicians had relationships where they could discuss it in person.” (Former President of H.E. Albania Alfred Moisiu)

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF), who hosted the International Leadership Conference (ILC) held from September 7 to 9 at the UK Parliament in London, revealed that key figures of European nations generated a shower of messages on “peace.” The inauguration of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) was conducted during the conference, which was held in commemoration of the 4th Memorial Anniversary of UPF founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Seonghwa (ascension). More than 150 leaders, including not only seven members of the British House of Lords and House of Commons, but also former presidents, parliamentarians, ambassadors, academics, peace ambassadors and religious leaders from more than 40 nations, including European nations such as Germany and France, Middle Eastern nations such as Israel and Jordan and North African nations such as Egypt.

In her keynote address read by UPF International Chairperson Sun Jin Moon, the co-founder of UPF Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon stated, “I feel the significance of bringing you a message of peace here at the UK Parliament, the place where I gave a speech in person in 2011.” She then claimed, “The role of parliamentarians is especially important in building a world of lasting peace,” and continued, “It is also necessary that those who hold positions of power be people of good character, guided by their conscience and universal moral principles.” She then stated, “If parliamentarians of the world join together in

harmony and cooperation for the sake of peace, we can transform the current reality of our world,” and further emphasized the necessity of launching the IAPP.

Cooperation Requires Mutual Recognition

Former President of Mali H.E. Dioncounda Traoré (left) participating in the International Leadership Conference (ILC) held in Ouagadougou of Burkina Faso and Former Prime Minister of Nepal, H.E. KP Sharma Oli giving a keynote address at the launching event of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) in Asia and Oceania held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

This conference was held as one of the series of the resolution to establish the IAPP held at the National Assembly of Korea in Yeouido, Seoul, on February 15. In ILC-Korea, Korean leaders, including then Chairman of the National Assembly Eui-Hwa Jung, Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly Gab-Yun Jung and Chairman of the Korean Council on Foreign Relations Tae-Ik Jung, participated and emphasized the necessity of the IAPP through their congratulatory addresses.

The UPF conducted the launching event of the IAPP in Asia and Oceania in Kathmandu, Nepal, from July 28 to 30, and the launching event of the IAPP in West and Central Africa in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, in West Africa, from August 8 to 10.

In the ILC held in Nepal, eight ministers from the Nepali Government, including Former Prime Minister and First Lady of Nepal, H.E. and Mrs. KP Sharma Oli, Former Prime Minister of Nepal H.E.Madhav Kumar, Vice-President of Nepal H.E. Parmanand Jha and Minister for the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction of the Government of Nepal Ek Nath Dhakal participated. Also, key figures, including Former President of Kiribati H.E. Anote Tong, Former President of the Marshall Islands H.E.Kessai H. Note and Former Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Hon. Jose de Venecia, Jr., participated as key foreign representatives. Duk-Kwang Bae of the Saenuri Party and Jong- Seong Im of the Minju Party of Korea participated from Korea.

H.E. Minister Sharma of Nepal stated in his address, “We have gathered here to cooperate, and to do so, we must recognize each other’s differences. That makes it possible for various cultures and religions to coexist.” Furthermore, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Hon. Jose de Venecia stated, “If parliamentarians in Asia unite, they can make huge contributions toward peace,” and further revealed, “The launch of the first-ever International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace is a historical event. I hope solidarity among parliamentarians will be built through this conference.” Former President of Kiribati H.E. Anote Tong also emphasized, “Our future generations cannot survive if the global environment is damaged. We don’t want any more conflicts or wars. If the global community unites, we can solve the issues confronting humankind.”

The launch of the IAPP in West and Central Africa held at the Parliament of Burkina Faso was a great success with more than 400 participants, including Former President of Mali H.E. Dioncounda Traoré, the Vice-Chairman of the Parliament of Burkina Faso and Former Vice-Chairman of the Senate of Nigeria along with 160 parliamentarians, five army commanders, 12 heads of clans, 40 journalist from African medias, etc. from more than 24 nations of West and Central Africa including Nigeria,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Benin, the Central African Republic, Liberia, Senegal, Guinea, Niger, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Togo, Mali, Gabon, Cameroon and Cape Verde. A parliamentary member from Cape Verde said, “Through ILC, I gained hope that we can overcome the difficulties confronting Africa and the world if parliamentarians of all countries met and discussed them together.”

The Parliament is the House of the People

The opening event of the IAPP in West and Central Africa held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in August (left), and the launching event of the IAPP in Asia and Oceania held in Kathmandu, Nepal, in July.

At the ILC held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, UPF Co-Founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon stated in her message read by UPF International President Thomas Walsh, “The parliament in any nation is the house of the people, a place where the voice of the people may be heard and the public good advanced by democratically elected representatives, parliamentarians,” and claimed, “Peace comes into being whenever relationships are characterized by harmony, balance and mutual respect. If parliamentarians of the world join together in harmony and cooperation for the sake of peace, we can transform the current reality of our world.” In his congratulatory speech, Former President of Mali H.E. Dioncounda Traoré stated, “In the present situation where terror and religious extremists threaten the peace of our citizens, it is necessary for us to protect them through an international common law,” and emphasized, “Peace is a synonym of development. There is no development without peace and there is no peace without development.”

Since last February when the resolution to establish the IAPP was held at the National Assembly of Korea in Yeouido, Seoul, the UPF has held regional launching events in Kathmandu, Nepal, in July, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in August and in London, UK, in September. The UPF plans to launch the IAPP officially in Washington, D.C., in the USA this December after concluding a series of regional launching events in Central and South America and East Africa…