Bucharest, Romania - Romania joined over 40 other nations that have hosted a Global Peace Tour program in a high-spirited event at the Peace Embassy in Bucharest on April 20. More than 200 people were in attendance, giving the organizers the happy problem of having a hall packed with youth. Said one, “There was no space to move, or as we say in Romania, there isn’t any space left, even for a needle.”

Congratulatory remarks were delivered by experienced local Ambassadors for Peace including Dr. Gabriela Rezk and the Hon. Mircea Grosaru, MP. We also heard from Japanese goodwill ambassadors, and the program culminated with a peace message from UPF-Europe Chair President Yong Cheol Song. The audience was moved to tears by the vision of "One Family under God" and the achievements this vision has stirred into motion throughout the world.

The diversity of the event was enhanced by the presence of representatives from the political sector as well as different religions, cultures, and nationalities. Participants later said that they were amazed and glad to have been part of such a surprising and distinctive festival, which is quite unique in Romania. This was indeed a promising breakthrough for the Romanian UPF chapter!

The Global Peace Tour 2009 Romania continued on to the important city of Timisoara. It was here in the early 1990s that the first spark of freedom and liberation was ignited for separating from the Romanian communist totalitarian system, and in just a few days it spread out through the entire nation. Today the people here continue to pioneer new ground, and the city is also the home of approximately 60,000 students.

Ambassador for Peace Petrisor Morar had been a deputy and leader of the revolution, and on this occasion he prepared the venue and all the conditions for our visit in Timisoara. Among the participants were three deputies, one senator, a Baptist leader, and an Orthodox Church leader.

For the keynote address and more information about the peace tour, click here.