UPF-IEF in Georgia: Moral Leadership as a Foundation for World Peace

On March 20th in Tbilisi at the Ambasadori Hotel, about 30 participants from Georgia (as well as some from Armenia and Russia) attended an introductory conference about the work and core ideas of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) in co-operation with the IEF, under the title "Moral Leadership as a Foundation for World Peace".

Local Caucasus UPF and IEF representatives were joined by others from UPF and IEF Eurasia offices in Moscow as well as several guests new to these organizations. Participants were welcomed by emcee and presenter, Mr. Konstantin Krylov, Secretary General UPF Russia and by Tamaz Pavlovich Tamadze, president of the Georgian Roerich Society, "Mother of the World".

The opening keynote address was given by Mr. Shin Jae Park on behalf of IEF President and UPF Eurasia Chairman, Dr. Joon Ho Seuk who was unable to attend the conference as previously planned. Following a group photo, IEF Vice-president and Secretary General UPF Eurasia, Mr. Jack Corley, gave a presentation on some of the core principles of the Federation entitled "Moral Values as the Foundation for Good Governance and World Peace". Many of the participants remarked on the importance of the ideas presented by Mr. Corley and expressed interest in studying these ideas further.

Later, Mr. Krylov gave an overview of the activities of the Universal Peace Federation around the world. And finally, ten participants were called to the stage to be awarded as Ambassadors for Peace. All participants were then asked to find among their peers others who are devoted to the ideal of the living for the sake of the greater good and each then nominate at least ten of those peers to also become Ambassadors for Peace. In the future, UPF will hold other seminars to educate these ambassadors on their role and importance in building a culture of peace.

Finally, all the participants gathered on the 4th floor of the hotel in a beautiful terrace restaurant for a luncheon banquet. There all shared a special toast to the sacredness of the family and renewed promises of love and fidelity to their spouses.

The keynote address was given by Mr. Shin Jae Park, Vice-chairman of UPF Eurasia

Mr. Konstantin Krylov giving an overview of the activities of the UPF around the world

The new ambassadors for peace of Georgia

The participants gather on stage for a group photo

Lively discussion with Prof. Giorgi Tsagareshvili and Mr. Cliff Yank, Eurasian director for IEF

Mr. Park invited several representatives of the Georgian Roerich Society to join him at lunch.