South Caucasus Peace Initiative

Address to the International Leadership Conference in Seoul, Korea, February 2012

Could it be that politicians ignore the fact that territorial integrity and the right of self-determination are two mutually contradictory principles? Could this be the reason why both the mediators and the international community have been unable to bridge the gap between Azerbaijan and Armenia?

Baku, Azerbaijan - A conference initiated by the Universal Peace Federation on “Promoting a Culture of Stable Marriages and Families” was held in the Ambassador Hotel of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on November 11. A Unification Thought seminar took place the previous day.

Yekaterinburg, Russia - An international television space bridge was formed n February 25 between Yekaterinburg, Russia, and Tbilisi, Georgia, on the theme of “We Make Peace.” The participants discussed the deep meaning of such notions as peace, peacemaking, service, the origin of conflicts, and what could and should be done to put an end to violence on the planet.

Tbilisi, Georgia - At the Palace of Students in Tbilisi, winners from Georgia of the second International Youth Film Festival “Gift” received diplomas and prizes on February 10.

If people of different nations and religions do not hold grudges against each other, there will be no cause for conflicts and revenge. There will be no need for wars and acts of terror that cause people to hate one another.

A review of the developments of UPF's South Caucasus Peace Initiative from 2008 through 2010.

Tbilisi, Georgia - As part of the "Ural-Georgia: We'll stay friends" project, the leader of UPF-Georgia, Vitaly Maximov, inspired youth of the Georgia to submit their works to the "Gift" International Youth Film Festival October 8-10 in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Serov and Ekaterinburg, Russia - Two celebrations in the Urals helped build goodwill with people of Georgia as part of UPF's South Caucasus Peace Initiative: an exchange of letters between students in Georgia and Serov, Russia, and exchanges of messages of peace between people in Georgia and Sverdlovsk Regional Medical College in Ekaterinburg. At another gathering in Ekaterinburg, representatives of various religions offered prayers for peace.

Tbilisi, Georgia - Children in school #136 in the capital of Georgia received gifts sent by school children from the Ural region of Russia as part of a project to build bonds between the people of the neighboring countries.

Tbilisi, Georgia - A round-table discussion explored "Leadership at a Time of Crisis."

Moscow, Russia - The Eurasian Peace Council supports a global call for ceasefire.