Federatie voor Universele Vrede Universal Peace Federation-NL = interreligieus, interraciaal, internationaal - 2006.12.01/03.UPF-E Symposium.Report

On the weekend December 1-3, the Universal Peace Federation hosted a symposium entitled "Leadership and Good Governance - Innovative Approaches to World Peace", at Hotel Huize Glory, Bergen aan Zee.

The symposium was attended by some 25 guests, contacts and UPF Ambassadors for Peace from a number of European countries, including Finland, Serbia, Bulgaria, Norway, Denmark, Estonia and France, with seven from The Netherlands.

Following a brief "Orientation and Introduction to the Universal Peace Federation", by drs. Willem Koetsier, Secretary General, UPF-NL, the first day’s program included two sessions dedicated to "UPF’s Founding Principles", subheadings being Humanity - One Family under God; Living for the sake of Others; The Spiritual and Moral dimension. There were similar sessions on Saturday, addressing: the Roots of Conflict; Conflict Resolution - The Path to Peace and Cooperation; and The Family as the School of Love and Peace; and, on Sunday, A Life for World Peace: The life and work of UPF Founder, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, delivered by Tim Miller, Vice President, UPF-Europe.

On Friday evening, there was a presentation about UPF’s project "Middle East Peace Initiative" and on Saturday, Dr. Willem F. van Eekelen, who had attended a UPF-E organized MEPI in October - see www.mepi-eu.org/Reports/Report16.aspx, including photo, bottom left -. gave a talk entitled "The European Union and the Middle East", which fuelled much discussion. Time was also given over to an cultural/entertainment evening on Saturday, which included a mini-concert from a Bulgarian Romany Evangelical Christian pastor tenor and dancing to the rock 'n roll songs of an enthusiastic Guatemalan UPF staff member, and to walks in the grounds surrounding Huize Glory, and further afield for those whose Sunday afternoon schedule permitted it.

"The European Union and the Middle East" - address by Dr. Willem F. van Eekelen Dr. Van Eekelen has had a very distinguished career as a diplomat, including Ambassador to India, and politician, including serving as a Dutch government minister responsible for Defence. He has been Secretary General of the Western European Union and now chairs the European Movement in The Netherlands, in addition to being active in many organizations. In June of this year, he addressed the UPF-NL Conference on Europe - UPF-NL Conf. June 23: "Europe: Heading for which Future?"

He testified that attending the October MEPI had been a "fantastic experience", then, referring to his time as a diplomat, he suggested that the task of a diplomat was to "raise the ladder for others to climb down on (meaning, to assist parties to find common ground for meeting, discussion and possible reconciliation; actually, how MEPI seeks to work).

There had been a rise in a feeling for "Europe" since WW2. His father would not drive through Germany, nor buy anything German, but his children made no distinctions between countries.

In 1989, the Berlin Wall came down, and soon after that the Soviet Union came to an end. It marked the beginning of a new stable period in Europe, and now former Soviet Block countries were joining the European Union (EU).

He felt the best way for the EU to succeed was through collective leadership and the challenge was to find a voting system that would prevent the big nations from dominating or, say, one small nation from vetoing development. He was helping to create a new EU Constitution, which it was hoped would be acceptable to the voters, at the movement they were considering a compromise regarding majority voting, that to succeed a motion would need the support of 55% of the member states, representing 65% of the total EU population.

More important than resolving any difficulties within Europe was the creation of a common foreign policy, in particular to deal with three matters: the threat of terrorism, the possible proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ‘failed states’.

This led him onto his second subject, the Middle East. The situation was very complicated there, and the US and Israel were both finding that it was "easier to win the war than win the peace". How could one do that?

Firstly, the aim should be to create economic stability – and to publicize such activities. It did not help to report that 40 Taliban had been killed: the resentment could lead to 80 more recruits. Rather report that a cement factory had been rebuilt which would create jobs for the local population.

The most valuable thing that Europe could do with regard to helping resolve the Israel/Palestine division was to be a good example: France and Germany had a long history of conflict, but now had found the way to live together. If they could achieve this, why not others? Europe also needed to be seen as trustworthy.

The United States was not accepted in much of the Arab world, in the mind of many Arabs, the US was on Israel’s side.

In the time of Israeli Prime Minister Rabin, when Mr. Van Eekelen had been in the Dutch government, he had called Rabin and asked "can we help?" Rabin had said no, and had candidly added "we don’t trust you".

US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice seemed determined to break through the deadlock and maybe she could have some success, but while solving the Israeli/Palestinian problem would be very significant, it would not solve everything in the Middle East.

He suggested that "security" and "development" went hand in hand, but that security was marginally what was needed to be aimed at first. Then, the establishment of "good governance".

Overall, he was quite positive, but admitted it was sometimes hard to stay that way, in particular because "both sides" were trying to manipulate everyone. He mentioned that when Arafat’s headquarters was bombed by the Israelis it looked from reports as if the area devastated was the size of "four football pitches", whereas it was about the same area as Huize Glory. It was dramatic, yes, but not as much as reports made it seem. Both sides needed to calm down.

In the discussion that followed, one participant opined that Israel had no right to exist. Mr. Van Eekelen concluded that there was so much history, but he urged all participants to turn another way, to look to the future.

Symposium conclusion with appointment of new UPF Ambassadors for Peace and reflections and gifts Two new UPF Ambassadors for Peace were appointed, Evangelist E.B. Botchey, who has set up educational projects in Amsterdam (South East) and Ghana - www.computerbrainfoundation.com, and Mw. A.Z. Chotkan-Santoe, Lid in de Orde van Oranje Nassau: "Zij zet zich sinds 1975 in voor de Surinaamse gemeenschap in Rotterdam, met name voor de vrouwen en meisjes in de Hindoestaans/Surinaamse gemeenschap, zowel in haar werk als als vrijwilligster" - www.nieuwsbank.nl/inp/2000/04/0428B013.htm, a sister of UPF AfP A.A.S. Santoe, who introduced her.

Some of the Moslem participants were so moved by the "longing for peace" atmoshere that they planned to issue a document to that effect. The symposium ended with everyone sitting in a circle and sharing their reflections on the weekend. There was a unanimous desire to work together to help further UPF's aspirations for peace, sharing and cooperation; and as a spontaneous expression of this, a number of participants gave ties and jewelry to their new found friends, one Dutch professor even inviting an African evangelist who helps disadvantaged children in Ghana to his home so he could give him a computer. He said it was extra to his needs, but that should not diminish the charitable gesture from his heart. Participants were moved when they received Christmas trinkets donated by a UPF-NL supporter businessman.

Notes.

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