Excellencies, respected members of the Podgorica Club, parliamentarians, Ambassadors for Peace, and UPF leaders!
Representing the Universal Peace Federation of Europe and the Middle East, I want to express my sincere gratitude to you for participating in the “Balkan Leadership Conference 2021” and the “Signing Ceremony” in this historic city of Tirana. I am very happy that the partnership building event between the Podgorica Club and UPF has been realized today after the long postponement of one year and half due to the Covid 19 epidemic.
Taking this opportunity, let me express my deepest condolences to the victims of Covid 19 in the Balkan nations. I also want to express my greatest respect to the Corona fighters who have been working tirelessly day and night to overcome this global disaster.
This signing event was organized to promote the partnership between the Podgorica Club, which was founded by the esteemed political leaders of the West Balkans, and UPF Europe and Middle East. It is our greatest happiness and honor to cooperate with the Podgorica Club. This cooperation, I am sure, will work well to ensure the promotion of peace building in the region.
As you know, the Universal Peace Federation was founded in 2005 by the late Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon with the vision to organize a Global Council of leaders from many fields. UPF was also designed as an organization to support the peace-building work of the United Nations, and its fundamental framework is based upon the understanding of inter-religious, inter-national, and inter-cultural cooperation.
Recently, UPF International has organized various events commemorating our founders’ visit to Pyongyang, North Korea in December 1991. They visited North Korea risking their lives, in order to relieve the extreme tension between North and South Korea and they were able to hold peace talks with North Korean president Kim Il Sung.
Many high-level political leaders, such as the former President of the USA and the former Prime Minister of Japan, have spoken at our recent events and expressed their support for UPF’s investment for peace on the Korean Peninsula. UPF has also organized the global Think Tank 2022 with eminent leaders of various fields.
The geographical location of the Balkan Peninsula as the crossroad of civilizations has shown us its important role as a key location for achieving sustainable peace, not only in the region, but also in Europe. Therefore, Mother Moon gave the blessing to the Balkan nations, expressing her greatest concern and expectation to the Balkan leaders as peace makers. She warmly supported the construction of the Peace Embassy which will be opened today.
I would like to end my speech here, expressing deep appreciation again to all of you for attending this ceremony and conference. I also humbly wish to ask your continued support for the cooperative work between the Podgorica Club and UPF. Finally, I would like to share one very nice Albanian proverb.
Fillimi i mbarë është gjysma e punës. “A good start is a half done.”
Thank you very much for your attention.