Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina - Professor Ejup Ganic, President of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1999 to 2001, warmly welcomed Dr. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon to Sarajevo on December 10.

When contacted the the day before, he said he was thoughtfully preparing his words of welcome, feeling that this visit was truly an honor. On his arrival, Father Moon mentioned that the war-damaged buildings he saw reminded him of his own ravaged homeland during the Korean War.

That evening as he delivered his peace message to an audience of about 470, everyone could feel his empathy for the suffering and hurt of a community so profoundly wounded by bitter, inter-ethnic strife and still struggling with a 50 percent unemployment rate. He said that he would dearly like to be able to stay for a month and educate the people of Sarajevo. He emphasized lineage and the need to resolve the battle between body and mind, often addressing remarks to former President Ganic as he amplified on the prepared text.

The event included an invitation for couples to join in a world peace blessing toast of marriage rededication.

The Zeljeznicar Choir performed a rendition of a famous traditional Bosnian song arranged by Ambassador for Peace Prof. Gordana Topic and her students.   

Professor Ganic, Professor Matic (Prime Minister in 2001), Professor Domazet (Finance Minister 2001 to 2003) and Professor Tihi (Rector of Sarajevo University) all received Leadership and Good Governance Awards.

During the reception afterwards, Rev. Dr. Chung Hwan Kwak, chairman of UPF, met with some 50 distinguished national figures who were guests of Professor Domazet and Dr. Mustafa Mehmedbasic, who has supported the Medical Team of the International Relief Friendship Foundation for many years.

Looking out the windows of the Holiday Inn Hotel in Sarajevo, one can see the incredibly beautiful hillsides with their autumn tints, the minarets of the mosques and the slopes that hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics and the lethal snipers of the Bosnian Serb forces in the prolonged siege of Bosnian War. When Father and Mother Moon left the next morning after a moving and intimate celebration, hopes were planted that this city can truly rise from the bitter ashes of conflict to become a city of peace and interreligious harmony!

To read the inaugural peace message, click here.