Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo - The International Day of Peace was celebrated in Kinshasa on September 21. A ceremony was organized for this purpose in the conference room of the Notre Dame de Fatima Catholic Church in the community of Gombe.
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Approximately 100 Ambassadors for Peace responded to the invitation to participate; the audience included journalists and guests.
The meeting began with presentations by four Ambassadors for Peace. The UPF Declaration of Peace was read by Mr. Alain Monga, Adviser of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic. The message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about the International Day of Peace was read by Mr. Dosité Hadelin Mbusu Ngamani. US President Dwight D. Eisenhower's speech on disarmament when he left office in 1961 was read by Mr. André Ipakala, editor of the newspaper Référence Plus. Prof. Dr. Kiaku Bunza spoke on the theme of disarmament on behalf of the Ambassadors for Peace in the Congo.
After these four messages, the Secretary General of UPF-Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rev. Michel Futila Di Mayeko, gave the UPF educational presentation on the Cause and Resolution of Conflicts. An estimated 3 million people have died in five years of fighting in the eastern part of the country. This central part of the program was followed with particular attention by all participants, especially two Army officers, General Mbuyi Musangu A. Ngweg and General Faustin Munene.
Two private television channels covered the event, Radio TV Lisanga and Canal Congo Television, as well as two newspapers, Agence Congolaise de Presse and Référence Plus.
To read UPF's Declaration on the International Day of Peace 2009, click here.