Speeches
- Written by: Professor Viggo Mortensen, University of Aarhus, Denmark
“For all to live together peacefully, we do not need to agree on everything. But to live peacefully together, it is necessary to identify some common ground.”
- Written by: Dr. Raffaela Di Marzio, Founder and Director, LIREC
“The presence of multiple religions in a country appears to have a pacifying effect if they are free of restrictions. There are many other ways in which religions can facilitate greater peace: through the common benefits of group membership or the power of interfaith dialogue for conflict resolution.”
- Written by: Prof. Yeon Ah Moon, President, Women’s Federation for World Peace, International, Korea
“The presence of multiple religions in a country appears to have a pacifying effect if they are free of restrictions. There are many other ways in which religions can facilitate greater peace: through the common benefits of group membership or the power of interfaith dialogue for conflict resolution.”
- Written by: Frederick Russell-Rivoallan, Head, Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO
“Intercultural dialogue is both the standard and the instrument to sustain peace for the benefit of more inclusive and equitable development.”
- Written by: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, former President, House of Representatives, Luxembourg
“We learned so much about each other, and we all have to tell young people what we learned.”
- Written by: H. E. Anote Tong, President (2003–2016), Kiribati
“Today we are here to join in celebrating an event that has impacted the four corners of the world: the births of Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the founders of the Universal Peace Federation.”
- Written by: George Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia (delivered by Varney A. Surlief)
“We must challenge ourselves as leaders never to take peace for granted; we must invest in peace and conflict prevention and take concrete steps towards promoting the achievement of genuine peace and reconciliation.”
- Written by: Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister (2006–2015), Canada
“From a repressed and brutally poor country after World War II, South Korea has become one of the wealthiest, most peaceful, and most progressive countries on earth. And I hold out a similar hope for the North.”
- Written by: H. E. Jerry Rawlings, Head of State and President (1981–2001), Ghana
“Peace will happen if we learn to speak up as a people. The time to stop hiding behind economic and political vulnerabilities is now. A select few cannot afford to cower the majority into submission if they rise up to speak to the truth and defend the ideals of true accountability to all the peoples of the world.”
- Written by: H.E. Dalia Itzik, President (2007), Israel
“I am one of you, a member of this big family, and would like to conclude with a prayer I love very much. I will say it first in Hebrew. Now the translation in English: God, the one who makes peace in His heavens, He will be the one to make peace on earth, and to bring peace to all humanity of the world. And let us say together: Amen!”
- Written by: Rt. Hon. Kwassi Klutse, Prime Minister (1996-1999), Togo
“May our wishes for a world of peace begin with the transformation of the heart; the education of peace; and, above all, by witnessing peace from oneself, thus contributing to the creation of a mentality and culture of peace.”
- Written by: Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President, African Development Bank, Nigeria
“I am fully dedicating the whole of the $500,000 cash award of the Sunhak Peace Prize to my foundation, the World Hunger Fighters Foundation, to carry on the Lord's request to provide "daily bread" for everyone around our world.”