South Caucasus Peace Initiative
South Caucasus Peace Appeal
Written by UPF-Eurasia
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Eurasian Peace Council of the Universal Peace Federation calls upon the sides of the conflict involving Georgia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Russia, to comply, in due course, with the commitments, as outlined in the “Dmitry Medvedev – Nicolas Sarkozy peace plan” and agreed with the leadership of Georgia.
The situation in the conflict zones of the South Caucasus remains tense and dangerous. It threatens international peace and security, and brings harm and suffering to the civilian population. We feel deep sorrow for the victims and present our condolences to their relatives and friends.
By addressing the root causes of conflict, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) hopes to build the basis for peace, harmony, and cooperation among cultures and religions. UPF will seek a collaborative approach to peace, involving governmental and non-governmental organizations, various faith-based organizations, and the private sector, aimed at resolving conflict, and promoting human development throughout the world.
In response to the recent outbreak of violence in the South Caucasus, UPF calls for an international committee to assess losses and damages inflicted by the military conflict upon the civilian population. UPF also calls for a concerted international effort aimed at providing humanitarian relief and technical assistance to those in need, including numerous refugees and internally displaced persons.
We also propose to convene a Civil Society Summit of the South Caucasus, to address the key issues of human development and human security in the region. The participants in this summit may include senior government officials in charge of public health and social services, as well as human rights commissioners of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and also high-ranking experts and officials representing other countries and international organizations.
The Civil Society Summit participants will discuss the humanitarian rather than the political dimensions of the conflict. They will explore basic human security and human development challenges facing the people living in the Georgia/South Ossetia, Georgia/Abkhazia, and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zones. This will give a broader humanitarian context and will provide perspectives needed to those who consider issues of territorial integrity and national self-determination in the South Caucasus.
UPF’s Eurasian Peace Council is concerned by the breach of Georgian-Russian diplomatic relations, and we hope it will not affect traditional friendly relationships between the peoples of Georgia and Russia. UPF is ready to act as a mediator, to facilitate dialogue and reconciliation. It is for this purpose that UPF Eurasia has launched the South Caucasus Peace Initiative.
For more information about the South Caucasus Peace Initiative, click here.
If you find this page helpful and informative please consider making donation. Your donation will help Universal Peace Federation (UPF) provide new and improved reports, analysis and publications to you and everyone around the world.
UPF is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and all donations are tax deductible in the United States. Receipts are automatically provided for donations of or above $250.00.
Donate to the Universal Peace Federation: Your donation to support the general programs of UPF. |
Donate to the Religious Youth Service (RYS): Your donation will be used for service projects around the world. |
Donate to UPF's Africa Projects: Your donation will be used for projects in Africa. |
Related Articles
Switzerland
UPF-Switzerland Discusses Neutrality as Potential Path to Peace on the Korean Peninsula
Geneva, Switzerland—Experts set out proposals for Korean reunification during a discussion co-sponsored by UPF.
Cambodia
ILC Cambodia 2023: Executive Report
Phnom Penh, Cambodia—UPF, in cooperation with the Asian Vision Institute, convened the ILC Cambodia 2023 on the theme “Peace and Democracy.”
Sri Lanka
UPF Conference at Sri Lankan Parliament Calls for Regional Cooperation
Colombo, Sri Lanka–The Parliament of Sri Lanka, in collaboration with ISCP and IAPP, co-organized a Parliamentarians Leadership Conference.