Deutsche - Global Balance

A Decade of Reconciliation
The Chairman of the S.E.R.-Foundation, Prof. Stanislaus von Korn, outlined the scope of
functions and assignments the Foundation carries out. He presented the steps of development
from its establishment in 1996 up to its acceptance as an NGO at the UN and explained how
Reconciliation arose from an impulse and developed into a world-wide project- from a week
extended to years. He recommended extending the UN-Reconciliation Year to an entire
decade. This would quote the former UN-Secretary Kofi Annan saying “Reconciliation is the
highest form of dialogue”. For the young guests from the University of Hamburg, the lecture
proved to be fascinating, especially when one sees, as a member of the community, how
ideas affecting the entire world can be set into motion.
Building bridges between people overcomes boundaries
Chairman of the BSF, the retired former Chancellor Kurt Bodewig, described once again the
development of the Forum: the beginnings after the fall of the IronCurtain as a German-
Finnish initiative to the integration of the Baltic States still carrying the name “Pro Baltica” up
to the present structure of a partnership connecting the entire Baltic. Always remaining equal,
the motto would be “Building bridges between people overcomes boundaries.” In the same
way it was unavoidably proved as Russia was removed from the East Bloc-concept and
introduced into the Baltic Community. Then, dialogue is always superior to confrontation.
Bodewigs special gratitude applied to the joint-founder of the Forum, the winner of the Nobel
Peace-Prize Martti Ahtisaari.
Markus Köhl
The United Religions Initiative at the United Nations (URI-UN) is a Cooperation Circle of the
United Religions Initiative (URI) comprised of members of the UN community. URI-UN has
chosen to focus on the 2009 UN International Year of Reconciliation, highlighting this important
year for both the UN NGOs and people of faith worldwide through a series of events on the
general theme of “The Journey to Reconciliation.”
Thursday, Jan. 29 th Interfaith Service for Reconciliation and Peace
Church Center of the United Nations, Chapel, 9:15-10:15am
Organizers: Deborah Moldow, World Peace Prayer Society UN Representative and
Monica Willard, URI UN Representative
Partners: The Office of the Chaplain, the Committee of Religious NGOs and the NGO
Committee on Human Rights
Program: URI-UN welcomes members of the Trail of Dreams World Peace Walk, a
Cooperation Circle of the URI, and blesses the last leg of their 3-1⁄2 year journey with a
World Peace Prayer Ceremony.
Thursday, Jan. 29 th Journey to Peace: Nonviolence • Reconciliation • Human Rights
Church Center of the United Nations, Hardin Room, 11 th Floor, 12-3pm
Organizer: Audrey Kitagawa, Chair, Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global
Concerns-NY
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