“Peace is possible” – that was the common mood at the opening ceremony of the international Peace Event 2014, on June 6th 2014 in Sarajevo. We don’t want “any more wars, conflicts have to be solved peacefully”, that was the message of the over 900 peace activists from 32 countries.
The ceremony, attended by well-known international and national guests, was marked by the common concern for peace in the face of increasing international confrontations, but also on the certainty – as a lesson of history, that peaceful solutions to conflicts are possible and the only way to avoid war. This must be politically desirable and will be enforced by the people who yearn for peace worldwide.
Three keywords are central: “cohesion”, “enthusiasm”, “Peace spirit”. It was the ceremonial start of a promising four-day peace event series; the first “tangible” result of a long working process; the convincing start of an international event, in which different countries, cultures, languages and nationalities form a whole and jointly from the city of Sarajevo (with all its historical drama and peace political symbolism) send their “Message for Peace”.
The messages of peace, of Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire, Noam Chomsky, Hildegard Goss-Mayr, Verdiana Grossi, Chico Whitaker, Jasmila Žbanić, with their deep substantive impact, emotionally loaded and unique expressiveness, united in the program with the expressive Peace Messages by many Bosnian pupils and students who strive together for peace and are actively engaged. The traditional singing of the Sarajevo-choir “Pontamina” and the lively rhythms of the young musicians of the group “BalsiKa” full of strength, vitality and positive energy have thrilled the national and international audience.
“We need to accept and celebrate diversity and otherness” were the words by Mairead Maguire, who then appealed to all participants of the Peace Events: “Let Sarajevo where peace ended, be the starting point for the bold beginning of a universal call for peace through the wholesale abolition of militarism.”
The Peace Event Sarajevo, with its more than 190 workshops, a big youth camp and a lot of cultural activities is going to continue today. The highlight will be the international solidarity and peace concert at 8 pm, which is dedicated to the victims of the flood disaster.