Bratislava, Slovakia—“Peace Is More Than Just the Absence of War” was the theme of the UPF-Slovakia program honoring the 2017 UN International Day of Peace.
The invitation letter for the September 21 event was sent to numerous persons, including members of parliament and leaders of churches and various NGOs. Though the weather was rainy and cold, the rented hall became filled with an attentive audience.
Johannes Stampf from the Unification Thought Institute in Vienna, Austria, delivered an inspiring lecture about various aspects of peacemaking, stressing the importance of the family as the cradle of peaceful minds.
The next speaker, well-known author and diplomat Lubos Jurik, conveyed his experiences attending the UPF World Summit in Korea in February 2017. He spoke nicely about the founders of UPF, the perfect service and setting, and the Sunhak Peace Prize ceremony and laureates.
Mr. Jurik was moved to tears when UPF-Slovakia Secretary General Milos Klas presented him with an Ambassador for Peace certificate. The timing was perfect, as Mr. Jurik had celebrated his 70th birthday just a few days earlier.
The atmosphere of the gathering was very warm and friendly, as most of the guests were regular attendees of UPF events.