The International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace
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EUROPEAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 23-24 SEPTEMBER 2017 - PRISTINA, KOSOVO IAPP The International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace Dr Thomas Walsh, Chairman, Universal Peace Federation In February 2016, UPF launched the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace, building on the foundation of work with parliamentarians over the past decade. The launch of the IAPP represents an effort to provide an informal network of parliamentarians who can work together collaboratively for the sake of peace and human development. The regional-level launch of the IAPP has been held in 2016 through International Leadership Conferences in venues around the world, including Nepal, Burkina Faso, the United Kingdom, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Zambia, Japan, and concluding in the United States. In February 2017, the Inaugural World Assembly was convened in Seoul, Korea. National inaugural conferences are currently being held on every continent. Parliamentarians are uniquely qualified to serve as advocates for peace and human development. As representatives of the people, they stand as mediators between government and civil society. Their experiences with the practical challenges related to law-making and public policy give them a unique set of skills and insights that are required in building a world of lasting peace. IAPP will provide a forum for parliamentarians from all nations and political parties, allowing them to come together in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation to search for solutions to local, national, regional, and global problems. Inaugural meeting of IAPP Europe, Eurasia and the Middle East House of Commons of the British Parliament, London, United Kingdom | September 7-9, 2016 EUROPEAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 23-24 SEPTEMBER 2017 - PRISTINA, KOSOVO IAPP PROGRAMME SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 Sessions I and II are held at the Parliament Building 15:00 Session I: A Shared Cultural Heritage, a Common Base for Peace & Stability in the Balkans MC: Mr. Jack Corley, Chairman, UPF Eurasia Welcoming remarks » Hon. Kadri Veseli, Chairman, Kosovo Parliament » Dr. Thomas Walsh, Chairman, UPF International Speakers: » H. E. Alfred Moisiu, President of Albania (2002 – 2007) » H. E. Stjepan Mesić, President of Croatia (2000 – 2010) » H. E. Fatmir Sejdiu, President of Kosovo (2006 – 2010) » Dr. Vladimir Petrovsky, Expert, Russian International Affairs Council, Russian Federation » Dr. Walther Lichem, former Director, Dept. of International Organizations, Austrian Foreign Ministry 17:00 Break 17:30 Session II: Inter-Parliamentary Diplomacy and Regional Cooperation: the Parliamentarians for Peace Initiative MC: Mr. Jacques Marion, Vice President, UPF Europe Speakers: » Dr. Katsumi Otsuka, Regional Chairman, UPF Europe, Eurasia and Middle East » Hon. Jakup Krasniqi, President of the Assembly, Republic of Kosovo (2008 – 2014) » Hon. Talat Xhaferi, President of the Assembly, Republic of Macedonia » Hon. Anto Domazet, former Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament, Bosnia and Herzegovina » Hon. Slobodan Petrović, Member of Parliament, former Deputy Prime Minister, Republic of Kosovo » Hon. Dashamir Shehi, Member of Parliament, Republic of Albania 20:00 Dinner Program Speakers: » Hon. Hydajet Hyseni, former Member of Parliament; former UPF Chair, Republic of Kosovo » Hon. Hatixhe Hoxha, former Member of Parliament; Chairwoman, UPF Kosovo » Hon. Gaqo Apostoli, former Minister of Transport and Public Works; Chairman, UPF Albania » Cultural program EUROPEAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 23-24 SEPTEMBER 2017 - PRISTINA, KOSOVO IAPP SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Sessions III and IV are held at the Nartel Hotel 09:00 Session III: Strengthening the Family, Core of the Balkans’ Cultural Heritage MC: Mr. Giuseppe Cali, Honorary President, UPF Italy Speakers: » Dr. Saemira Pino, former Deputy Minister of Education; Deputy Chair, UPF Albania » Mrs. Carolyn Handschin, United Nations Offices Director, Women’s Federation for World Peace » Prof. Daut Demaku, Founder, Positive Thinking Kosovo, Vice Chairman of UPF Kosovo » Mr. Jack Corley, Chairman, UPF Eurasia 10:30 Break 11:00 Session IV: Building an Environment of Shared Prosperity for Future Generations MC: Mr. Ali Laçej, Coordinator, Albanians’ Peace Council Speakers: » Hon. Ismajl Kurteshi, Member of Parliament, Republic of Kosovo » Hon. Sead Šahman, Member of Parliament, Republic of Montenegro » Ms. Anita Mitić, President, Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Republic of Serbia » Mr. Gani Rroshi, Secretary General, UPF Albania 12:30 Closing » Closing remarks: Mr. Jacques Marion, Vice President, UPF Europe » Ambassadors for Peace appointment 13:00 Lunch and departures EUROPEAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 23-24 SEPTEMBER 2017 - PRISTINA, KOSOVO IAPP IAPP BALKANS INAUGURAL RESOLUTION In February 2016, UPF launched the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) at the National Assembly in Seoul, Korea, and subsequently convened IAPP programs throughout the world. On February 4, 2017, the Inaugural World Assembly of IAPP was convened as part of the World Summit 2017. We, the participants in the Inaugural Conference of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace, Balkans, • Recognizing that it is time for humanity to embrace universally shared values, to pursue a path of mutual cooperation leading to mutual prosperity, and • Acknowledging that government officials, and especially parliamentarians, as representatives of the people, have a very significant role to play in contributing to peace and human development, • Centering on the vision of UPF and its Founders, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, Hereby affirm and resolve to uphold the following principles and objectives: • Promoting practices of good governance, including transparency, accountability, collegiality, and public service • Working for the common good of all people, going beyond barriers of nationality, culture, ethnicity, race, gender, religion, and political ideology • Seeking solutions to the critical challenges of our time, including territorial disputes, religious and racial conflict, environmental degradation, violent extremism, poverty, hunger, nuclear proliferation and corruption • Living for the sake of others, and for the sake of future generations • Building a world of lasting peace, a world in which all people live as members of one universal family, or as one family under God. Addressing these critical challenges of our time: • Resolving conflicts around the world • Protecting and preserving the environment from pollution and degradation • Strengthening the family as the fundamental unit of stable societies • Overcoming various forms of religious, ethnic and racial hostilities • Improving education systems and methods for our youth We the undersigned affirm and declare on this day our resolve to work toward solutions to critical global problems in order to build a world of universal and lasting peace. Signed this day, September 23rd, 2017, in Pristina, Kosovo EUROPEAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 23-24 SEPTEMBER 2017 - PRISTINA, KOSOVO IAPP About the Speakers Short CVs of conference speakers and moderators in the order of appearance Mr. Jack Corley Chairman, UPF Eurasia A native of Ireland, Mr. Jack Corley has worked with the Unification Movement in Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia, the former Soviet Union and China. Between 1990 and 2005 he worked in the former Soviet region as Vice President of the International Educational Foundation and Secretary General of UPF Eurasia, and organized numerous conferences on character education in the People’s Republic of China. From 2006 to 2009 he served as assistant Secretary General of UPF International. He currently serves as Director of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification and Chairman of the Universal Peace Federation for Eurasia. Hon. Kadri Veseli Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo Hon. Kadri Veseli was a leader of the Kosovar students’ movement that fought for the rights of Kosovo Albanians, including the right for independence. During the Kosovo war he led the Counter Intelligence Service, then the Kosovo Intelligence Service, until it disbanded in 2008. In 2012 he formally joined the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), becoming its deputy head in 2013. He was elected Chairman of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo on 8 December 2014. In May 2016, he was unanimously elected as President of PDK. Following the 2017 Kosovan parliamentary election, he was re-elected as Chairman of the Assembly on 7 September 2017. Dr. Thomas Walsh Chairman, UPF International Dr. Walsh is the Chairman of UPF International and Secretary General of the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation. He has been a teacher, author, and editor specializing in the areas of interfaith, religious studies, peace studies, philosophy, and social theory. Dr. Walsh serves on the International Council of the World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations and the International Coalition for Religious Freedom. He has contributed to and edited more than 30 books related to interfaith, peacebuilding and renewal of the United Nations. H. E. Alfred Moisiu President of Albania (2002 – 2007) President Moisiu comes from a military background. After his Golden Medal graduation from the Academy of Military Engineering in Moscow in 1958, he served in high positions at the Ministry of Defense and received in 1979 his PhD in Military Science. He served twice as Vice Minister of Defense in 1981 and 1991. By establishing the Albanian North Atlantic Association in 1994, he became a major figure