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IAPD Inaugurated in Nepal
Written by UPF-Nepal
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Kathmandu, Nepal—The Nepal chapter of the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) was inaugurated on October 28, 2018 at the Yak & Yeti Hotel in Kathmandu, under the chair of Dr. Milan Ratna Shakya, head of the Department of Buddhist Studies at Tribhuvan University. One hundred and forty-three people, including eight religious leaders representing all the major religions, dignitaries and Ambassadors of Peace, attended the event.
The program commenced with prayers, which were offered by four religious leaders, and the lighting of a lamp.
Former minister of Nepal and co-chair of the IAPP-Asia-Pacific, Hon. Ek Nath Dhakal, gave the opening remarks, welcoming all the guests. He spoke about the upcoming UPF Asia-Pacific Summit, which will be held in Nepal from November 30 to December 3, and the role of religious leaders in Nepal in advancing peace and development in the country and at the global level through the IAPD.
The IAPD-Nepal was officially launched with the ringing of the gong by the chief guest, Hon. Rabindra Prasad Adhikari, minister of culture, tourism, and civil aviation of Nepal; Dr. Chung Sik Yong, chairman of UPF-Asia-Pacific; Hon. Dhakal; religious leaders; and dignitaries.
The secretary general of UPF-Asia, Mrs. Ursula McLackland, introduced and gave a background on the IAPD.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Yong, who congratulated the launching of the IAPD in Nepal and explained the vision behind the IAPD. He encouraged all the religious leaders in Nepal to work towards peace and further development in the country, and invited them to support UPF’s efforts to strengthen family values. Dr. Yong expressed his appreciation for the role of religious leaders in bringing about peace in Nepal and for their support of UPF from the beginning.
Hon. Adhikari congratulated the launching of the IAPD-Nepal and said the government of Nepal will fully support the chapter of the IAPD. He suggested that the interreligious initiative can promote Nepal as an interreligious hub, bringing spiritual people around the world together, as Nepal is the birthplace of Buddha.
The convener of the IAPD-Nepal, Dr. Ratna, expressed his gratitude to UPF and the founders of UPF, the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, for giving him the opportunity to serve for peace and development in Nepal through the national inauguration of the IAPD.
The IAPD resolution was read by Mr. Narendra Pande, an interfaith expert and coordinator of the Bahai Spiritual Center Nepal, and was signed by all the religious leaders and participants in support of the launching of the IAPD-Nepal.
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