Perspectives for sustainable Peace in Europe The UN Vision, the Role of Parliamentarians and Civil Society - United Nation Building, Vienna, Austria

O n September 15, 2017, on the theme on “Together for Peace” based on including a conference at the British occasion of the International Day the UN SDG 16 and the message of UN Parliament in September 2016 for Europe, of Peace, UPF organized a Secretary General Antonio Guterres; and Eurasia and the Middle-East. After the conference at the Vienna the launching of IAPP, a UPF initiative Global Assembly of Parliamentarians held international Centre (United Nation providing a forum for parliamentarian in Seoul, Korea in February 2017, national Building) on the theme: “Perspectives for from all nations and political parties to chapters are currently being launched sustainable Peace in Europe - The UN search for solutions to local, national and throughout the world. Vision, the Role of Parliamentarians and global problems in a spirit of dialogue and Civil Society”. The meeting was also the occasion to launch the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) in Austria. Co-sponsoring organizations included the United Nations Correspondents Association Vienna, The Best of the World Network, the Women’s Federation for World Peace, and the International Institute for Middle-East and Balkans studies. In a full capacity hall of 200, the meeting was attended by representatives from the whole political spectrum of the Austrian Parliament, by members of the diplomatic corps, and by NGO representatives. Three parliamentarians had come from Italy, the Ukraine and the Czech Republic. At the opening, Mr Peter Haider, President of UPF Austria, explained about the two

The first session, on the theme: “Migration, Refugee Crisis, European Identity – Perspectives for the 21st Century”, was moderated by Mrs. Heather Wokusch, from ACUNS Vienna. Mr. Ismail Balla, Director of the Vienna UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, began with a report on the UN’ efforts to control the arm trade. Austrian parliamentarian Nikolaus Berlakovich, a former minister of agriculture, then spoke about the issue of peace in the Western Balkans. Padre Alejandro Solalinde, a Catholic priest and human rights activist from Mexico, shared about the need to embrace refugees with humanity and respect for our human diversity. Dr Katsumi Otsuka, President of UPF Europe and Eurasia, gave an insight into the UPF Founders’ philosophy of peace and described some practical projects they launched for peace and parliamentarians to join in a promoting human rights in the Balkans, reconciliation, such as the Korea-Japan commemorative photo and sign the and insisted that sustainable peace could Undersea Tunnel. The final speaker was resolution that was put on a standing board only appear on the foundation of Mrs. Nina Novakova, a member of the on the stage. restorative justice. Czech Parliament, who described the challenge Europe is going through Dr Dieter Schmidt, Vice President of UPF The prestigious décor of the UN, the regarding her values and identity. Germany, moderated the final session on expertise of the speakers, the challenging the theme “Europe-Eurasia and the but relevant theme of sustainable peace The second session, on the theme: “The Balkans: Building Trust and Securing contributed to the success of the Role of Parliamentarians for Sustainable Cooperation”. Mrs. Christine Muttonen, conference, and to an auspicious launch of Peace in Europe”, began with a video from member of the Austrian Parliament and the International Association of Secretary General Guterres’ Day of Peace president of the OSCE Parliamentary Parliamentarians for Peace on the UN message. The panel featured four members Assembly, spoke about her Assembly’s International Day of Peace. of the Austrian Parliament representing efforts to deal with conflicts in Europe, different political parties: Mrs. Karin such as Nagorno-Karabakh, and pointed to Doppelbauer, from the Liberal Party; Mrs. art and culture as important tools for more photos Petra Bayr, from the Social Democratic conflict resolution. Amb. Alena Party; Mrs. Barbara Neuroth, from the Kupchyna, Ambassador of the Republic of Green Party; and Dr Andreas Karlsbock, Belarus to Austria, spoke about her The “International Association of from the Freedom Party. Each of them country’s European identity and about its Parliamentarians for Peace” has been shared their and their party’s perspective commitment to play a mediating role in launched by the Universal Peace on the need for intra-national and conflicts in the region, through a “New Federation as a worldwide association of international communication, beyond party Helsinki Process”. Amb. Dr Peter parliamentarians which provides a forum lines, and described their contribution to Schatzer, a member of the Parliamentary to bring their experience and wisdom to sustainable peace through projects in Assembly for the Mediterranean, shared bear in the search for solutions to our various areas such as climate change, his perspective on various crises in Europe, world’s problems. Parliamentarians from ocean protection, aid and trade, or co- from refugees to cooperation in the around the world have offered their development. Mr. Roberto Rampi, from Balkans. Mr. Viktor Ielenskyi, a remarks on the importance of their work the Italian Parliament, spoke about the parliamentarian from Ukraine, gave a and the value of increased cooperation and problem of refugees and the need to adapt detailed account of his country’s collaboration in the search for innovative to the changing nature of our identity in a aggression by Russia and about solutions to some of the critical issues that multicultural society. In conclusion, Mr. Ukrainians’ efforts for resistance. The final we face on the local, national, regional and Jacques Marion, Vice President of UPF speaker, Mrs. Marijana Grandits, from the global levels, from climate change to the Europe and moderator of the session, read University of Vienna’s Human Rights rise of extremist ideologies to the main points of the resolution to launch Research Centre, shared her experience in humanitarian disasters and conflict. IAPP in Austria, and called for all