Participants in Global Peace Conference in Sarajevo call for century without war

The conference is being held in cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the City of Sarajevo, and the Interreligious Council of BiH, with support from the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator.

UNAOC High Representative Miguel Ángel Moratinos and RfP Secretary-General Francis Koria said the initiative aims to make a world without wars not just an ideal, but a realistic and urgent goal.

They emphasised the crucial role of religious leaders, especially those in Bosnia, a country that has endured war yet continues to demonstrate how people of different faiths can coexist and collaborate through the Interreligious Council in building shared spiritual and social initiatives.

“Spiritual diplomacy is an essential part of diplomacy; we cannot ignore it,” Koria said. “In your role, you will contribute by sending a message that peace is a value worth striving for.”

The organisers noted that no global movement currently counters the prevailing narratives of war, and this initiative seeks to fill that void.

“We need a new story, a new initiative, a new movement, one that proves it’s possible to live without war. That is the purpose of this conference,” Moratinos said.

They expressed hope that global citizens would unite behind the movement, stressing that peace requires religious leaders who understand that the sacred purpose of creation lies in compassion, coexistence, and goodness.

Religious leaders from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Husein ef. Kavazovic, Grand Mufti of the Islamic Community; Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabar-Bosna; Archbishop Tomo Vuksic of Vrhbosna; and Igor Kožemjakin, hazzan of the Sarajevo Synagogue, welcomed participants from around the world.

They reminded that in difficult times, people of faith must not retreat inward but must bear witness, in God’s name, to truth and justice. Expressing satisfaction over the ceasefire in Gaza, they voiced hope that “weapons will fall silent everywhere.”

“Welcome to our homeland, to our city, a place whose history and people’s faith make it uniquely suited to send messages of peace and calls to end war,” said Grand Mufti Kavazovic. “Empathy and mutual respect are key to building lasting peace.”

He added that the conference is an opportunity to publicly reject and condemn all forms of antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and racial, ethnic, or religious hatred.

Metropolitan Hrizostom called for an immediate and unconditional end to military operations worldwide and the start of peace talks, stressing that “peace negotiations have no alternative.”

Archbishop Vuksic reminded that while no religious community can solve all global problems, “each was founded to set an example and offer hope, and we can and must do that.”

Reflecting on the mission of the Interreligious Council, founded in 2007, Kožemjakin said that its strength lies not only in dialogue but in listening, rebuilding trust shattered during Bosnia’s war.

“The story of our city tells the world that coexistence is not just a memory of the past but a living responsibility. If one message leaves Sarajevo these days, let it be this: peace is possible when we choose understanding over fear and compassion over indifference,” Kozemjakin said.

The conference will conclude on October 18 with the adoption of a joint declaration, which will serve as a new global platform to promote peace, end conflict, and uphold international law.