Peace Forum

On 1 October 2014, the first International Crimean Peace Forum was held at Livadia Palace in Yalta, aimed at uniting world public opinion around the idea of maintaining peace throughout the Earth. It brought together prominent public and cultural figures both from the Russian Federation and from other countries of the world.

The work of the forum was attended by UNESCO and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors, world-renowned actors, directors, musicians and athletes, as well as governors, members of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, representatives of international humanitarian and charitable organisations, of Russian and international business, ambassadors of foreign states, and public figures.

The awards ceremony of the PAX TECUM «Peacemaker» prize became one of the central events of the forum.

Among those honoured with this significant public award was, among others, the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Crimea, Arina Vadimovna Novoselskaya, whose contribution to the organisation of the First International Peace Forum can scarcely be overstated.

The signing of the Memorandum of Peace was another landmark of the gathering, for it was this document that laid the foundations of the peacemaking movement in Russia and in Crimea in particular.

The First International Peace Forum took place with the direct support of the Ministry of Culture of Crimea and of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Within the forum, questions of peaceful cooperation and cultural exchange were discussed.

For the Republic of Crimea today, public support in building a peaceful and prosperous future for the region is of the utmost importance — and that is why. It was precisely at Livadia Palace, whose walls had witnessed great peacemaking decisions, that special meaning attached to the gathering of representatives of the authorities, activists of civic organisations, figures of culture and the arts, and people of worldwide standing — all those who, not in words but in deeds, prove that peace and prosperity are possible today!

On 1 October 2015, at Livadia Palace, Yalta, Republic of Crimea, the Second International Annual Peace Forum 2015 was held. The event brought together more than 300 people, including laureates of the International Award PAX TECUM «Peacemaker», journalists, representatives of the leadership of the Republic of Crimea, prominent public figures and guests of the forum.

The principal event was the awards ceremony of the International Public Award PAX TECUM «Peacemaker», established in 2008 by the Foundation for the Support, Development and Promotion of Peace Ideas «Peacemaker». Among those honoured with the International Award PAX TECUM «Peacemaker» of various degrees of distinction were: V. A. Konstantinov, Chairman of the State Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea; Elizaveta Glinka, head of the Fair Aid Foundation; Johan Bäckman, human-rights defender (Finland); Petr Chromčák, conductor of the national orchestra (Czech Republic); Andrei Babitsky, independent journalist (Russia); and many other authoritative figures of science, the arts, sport and politics.

Among the guests and honourees were representatives of Russia,

Ukraine, Finland, the Czech Republic, the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries. Thus,

the Peace Forum 2015 achieved its principal aim — it established a platform for dialogue at

the international level and affirmed the forum’s motto: “Crimea is a territory of peace!”.

As part of the Peace Forum, a festival of peacemaking cinema, “I Love

Peace”, was held. In the Livadia cinema-concert hall, audiences were shown

short films of a social character.

The event became a vivid occasion in the cultural life of Yalta and Livadia.

The Second International Annual Peace Forum was covered by dozens of leading

media outlets in Russia and abroad, and it resonated widely in society.

The ceremonial presentation of the International Award PAX TECUM «Peacemaker», within the Third Annual International Peace Forum, took place on 3 October within the walls of Livadia Palace. This year the Peace Forum was dedicated to the Year of Russian Cinema.

The forum was held as part of the long-term programme "Promotion of Peace Ideas and Peace Initiatives", implemented by the Peacemaker Foundation with the assistance of the Government of the Russian Federation. The event took place with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Crimea; the Livadia Palace-and-Park Museum-Reserve acted as co-organiser.

A welcoming address was given by Andrei Rostenko, Head of the Yalta Administration, who noted the immeasurable contribution of the nominees to a peaceful and prosperous life on our planet.

"All who are gathered here are united by the idea of peace. I am certain that every good deed, even those that at times seem modest, will never be forgotten, and will be remembered because they bring benefit and help," Andrei Rostenko observed.

Yet the most important thing, in the view of the city’s leader, is the inner satisfaction that comes from a deed accomplished, one that has brought happiness to another.

Andrei Rostenko also thanked all who take part in the forum, and those who duly honour these merits.

"Continue to do good deeds," Andrei Rostenko addressed those present, "because there will always be people who kindle the fire of war. On our planet, regrettably, there are cities and countries where blood is shed, where children cannot play, study or walk — and that is the most terrible thing of all."

It has come to pass! The International Peace Forum, held in the framework of the opening of a solo exhibition by the Honoured Artist of Russia Nikas Safronov in Manama, capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain, brought together civic leaders, figures of culture and the arts, prominent businesspeople and politicians. Within the forum a ceremonial presentation of the peace award PAX TECUM took place.

The opening was attended by the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

His Majesty the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, was honoured with the highest award of the World Charitable Alliance Peacemaker — the Golden Star «Pax Tecum», which, in the Alliance’s many years of history, has been conferred only upon heads of state.

The award was presented to His Majesty at an audience by Nikas Safronov, member of the Board of Trustees of the World Alliance Peacemaker.

Joining in the congratulations of those present, among whom were representatives of Bahrain, India and Russia

Yuri Evgenyevich Safronov, Secretary General of the World Alliance Peacemaker, noted that “soft power”, in the form of art and science, is capable of representing any country with dignity and of resolving any international conflict.

He sees Russia’s special spiritual mission today in the fact that it is a global peacemaker and a guarantor of the spiritual transformation of civilisation upon the foundation of true values.

Meeting the acute challenges of our time through a policy of peace, concord, culture and mutual respect, we lay a firm foundation for true stability; if such a worldview becomes predominant, we shall be able to say with full responsibility: truly, the fate of the planet is in reliable hands.

On 1 October 2017, the Fourth Annual International Peace Forum was held on the grounds of Massandra Palace in Greater Yalta. This blessed place was not chosen by chance, for the famous estate belonged to the Russian Emperor Alexander III «Peacemaker». Crimea, and Yalta in particular, is a place that has always drawn outstanding figures of art and culture. Beneath the vault of the Crimean sky, vivid personalities are born and momentous events take place that play a great role in the history of Russia. Our blessed land is a home for people of many nationalities, who live in peace and labour for the good and prosperity of our Homeland and of all humanity.

On 22 November 2017, in the Republic of Benin, in the city of Abomey-Calavi, the International Peace Forum was held. Within the forum a ceremonial presentation of the peace award PAX TECUM took place.

For their contribution to the cause of peace and for the development of cooperation between the city of Abomey-Calavi and Russia, Mayor Georges Bada, the municipal councillors of Abomey-Calavi (Christophe Ayissi, Chantal Houenha, Léopold Zinsou, Emmanuel Koi, Pierre Houézo, Séverine Dossou-Yovo) and the Secretary General of the Town Hall, Sébastien Kinsicloun, were honoured in Benin with the award of the Russian foundation «Peacemaker».

The foundation’s delegation consisted of its head, Mr Artur Ksenofontov, as well as Irina Yasakova, deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Vologda Region, and her Special Adviser Ivan Svetly.

It should be noted that the bridge between the Town Hall of Abomey-Calavi and the cities of Russia was created by the NGO "House of Africa" together with the Embassy of Benin in the Russian Federation.

On 1 October 2018, the 5th International Peace Forum was held. The forum is conducted within the long-term programme “Promotion of Peace Ideas and Peace Initiatives”, implemented by the Peacemaker Foundation with the assistance of the Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Republic of Crimea, and international and Russian civic organisations.

The VI International Crimean Peace Forum was held in Yalta, within which the Peace Award was presented. The event took place on 1 October at Livadia and Massandra Palaces, in places where the Russian Emperor Alexander III once loved to rest. This gathering brought together in one place many vivid and outstanding people — politicians, civic activists, actors, musicians, entrepreneurs, figures of sport and of science — with the principal aim of building "bridges of friendship" that can help strengthen spiritual, cultural, economic and political ties between states and between peoples.

The organiser of this vivid occasion was the Foundation for the Support, Development and Promotion of Peace Ideas, headed by the Secretary General of the Alliance, Yuri Evgenyevich Safronov.

The forum has existed since 2014. Over this period the Peace Award has been conferred upon: UNESCO and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors, world-renowned actors, directors, musicians and athletes, as well as governors, members of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, representatives of international humanitarian and charitable organisations, of Russian and international business, ambassadors of foreign states, and public figures.

Among young public figures, Azamat Isaevich Dushaev was honoured with the Silver Order of the Peacemaker for his contribution to the cause of peace. He was recognised after the "Caspian" youth forum, held in Makhachkala, for the initiative he showed before the Head of the Republic of Dagestan: to hold so-called small forums for young people.

After this constructive proposal, the head of the Khasavyurt District put forward Azamat Dushaev’s candidacy for the Silver Order «Peacemaker» of the Alliance Peacemaker.

A distinctive feature of the forum this season was the birthday celebration of the Sevastopol motorcycle club HIDALGO MC. During the day of 1 October, as part of the Forum programme, flowers were laid at the monument to Alexander III, together with a column of bikers from the Night Wolves motorcycle club. Later in the day came the "March of Peace" procession and the principal event — the presentation of the Peace Award to the forum’s laureates. In the afternoon, towards evening, there were performances by popular artists of the Russian stage, DJs, and figures of culture, science, the arts and business. An easy, friendly atmosphere adorned the close of this eventful and most interesting day.