The international conference, held under the banner, “The UN at 70: Towards a Resolution of Tensions on the Korean  Peninsula,” was attended by about 180 scholars and UN representatives from 40 nations. The event was cohosted by the Universal Peace Federation and the Women’s Federation for World Peace, and aimed to predict the future of the UN and gain wisdom in regards to attaining peace in Northeast Asia.

In Dr. Han’s keynote address, titled “The Mission of the United Nations for securing Peace in the World,” she warned the UN that they needed to “change their mindset in order to continue for another 70 years.”

 “This year marks the 70^th anniversary of many historical milestones: the restoration of Korean independence, the establishment of the United Nations and the end of World War II,” said Dr. Han. “The United Nations has led the way over the last 70 years in the path towards peace, and yet we still have been unable to establish peace or a world of freedom.”

 “If all of humankind attends God as their parent, it will be impossible for dispute to exist between nations, races and religions. I hope that the UN can lead the way in making this possible,” she continued. “I hope that all of you can help us not only to solve the problems of the Korean Peninsula, but to transform it into a region of peace.” There is a limit to human judgment in solving the complicated issues of the world. Solutions can be found when humans understand the ideal of God, who is absolute.

 “Throughout history, whenever faced by an external threat, Europe has always banded together in solidarity,” said UPF International President Thomas Walsh in his keynote address. “Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon’s vision is for people of different nations and races to come to understand and love each other through exchange marriage,” he explained. “Dr. Han has predicted that religion needs to intervene in order for world peace to be possible in the future. We can solve the various pending issues of the global village all at once if an interreligious federation was created within the UN.”

Specialists from Europe and Korea held a debate on the role of the United Nations in bringing about peace in Northeast Asia.

Former Head, Department of International Organizations, Austrian Foreign Ministry, Dr. Walther Lichem spoke on “The role of 'good citizen countries' in the community of the United Nations." Former Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, Dr. Willem Van Eekelen spoke on “Unifying North & South Korea. What can be learned from the European experience?” Sun Moon University Professor Heung-Soon Park spoke on “Perspectives for North-South Unification.” Throughout their talks, the leaders discussed strengthening the role of the UN in creating a plan for peace in the Korean Peninsula, the plan for the construction of a peace park and the 5^th UN Executive Office at the DMZ and many other topics.

This is the third time that Dr. Han has given a keynote address at the UN, having previously spoken at the UN Headquarters in New York in 1993 and in Geneva, Switzerland in 2002 at the 2^nd UN Executive Office. The cohosts of the event, UPF and WFWP, are NGOs created by Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon in order to bring about peace in the global village. The organizations both manage global networks and maintain a close relationship of cooperation with the UN.