Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, host and founder,

Dr. Hong Il-sik, the Chair of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee,

Your excellencies,

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

And guests from all around the world,

It is very nice to meet you all. More than anything, I am very honored and highly delighted to attend today’s Sunhak Peace Prize Ceremony in commemoration of Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s centennial.

Congratulations to our laureates, Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, President Macky Sall, and Bishop Munib A. Younan for receiving today’s award. The three laureates have all made outstanding achievements in promoting world peace. And that is why we are here. I would like to sincerely thank Secretary–General Ban Ki-moon for his interest in Africa during his time in office as Secretary-General of the United Nations. I recollect with nostalgia the various bilateral talks and visits we had when you were in office and I was also the President of Nigeria. I also thank President Macky Sall, my good friend, for his good governance in Africa. Lastly, thank you Bishop Munib Younan for your great contribution to religious harmony in the Middle East.

President Macky Sall has shown me a model of good governance through democratization and economic development in Senegal, from which I could also gain lots of inspiration. Soon Africa will become a land of opportunity, and it will grow into a major leading force in the 21st century.

The next award winner, Bishop Munib A. Younan, has practiced interreligious dialogue in Jerusalem, one of the most intense places afflicted by religious confrontation. The first condition for coexistence is listening to the opponent and having a conversation. For us to enjoy coexistence, the world must embrace dialogue among civilizations.

In that sense, I strongly support the practical activities of Bishop Younan through interfaith dialogue.

Youth from around the world will respect and learn from the lives of today’s laureates as they pursue their dreams. Please allow me to extend my heartfelt respect to the winners today.

The founder of the Sunhak Peace Prize was a great leader who promoted world peace under the clear vision of “one global family.�

I would like to recall the deep objectives of the founder and hope that the Sunhak Peace Prize, which is celebrating its 4th anniversary, will continue to contribute to promote world peace, mutual prosperity and the happiness of all global citizens.

Let me commend the Chair and members of the Peace Prize Committee for an excellent work.

Respected laureates,

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

Please continue to take part in promoting world peace. Once again, congratulations to our distinguished award winners and all the best to the progress of Sunhak Peace Prize.

And to our host and founder, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, we appreciate your contributions to world peace and economic development.

I thank you all.