PRESS RELEASE

Perpetual Peace…

Wars, attacks and conflicts could not be ended, no matter how much effort was made throughout the history of humankind. Exploding bombs, because of ongoing conflicts, wars and attacks, cost the lives of hundreds of people almost every day and moreover cause material and moral damage. Millions of people are forced to flee from their lands and their warm homes that the places they live in. The violence, hostility, hunger and poverty created by wars and conflicts make everyone a target, especially women and children.

In this regard, local governments are crucial and indispensable public legal entities of the public administrations of countries. Local governments have an important place in the consolidation of democratic regimes. The success of the democratic order at the local level is a proof that the local democratic order will also be successful at the international level. For this reason, we have been following the news of the abduction of local government representatives in Ukraine, which has been reflected in the press recently.

The world has been experiencing the effects of the war between the two neighboring countries in the Black Sea for days. The economic and social dimensions of the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine have begun to be felt in other countries and cities, as well as its humanitarian dimension. As the World Academy for Local Government and Democracy (WALD), we are on the side of the peace that we wish to rule the world, without being a party to one of the two “neighboring” countries. We repeatedly emphasize that our duty as a country must be fulfilled in terms of lowering the tension and opening up a space for diplomacy.

In this context, as WALD, we wish that individuals and societies, with different religions, languages, cultures, worldviews and lifestyles, will practice living in a harmony together. We hope to continue our lives in a world where the living in harmony principle is adopted and that the conflicts and wars in different parts of the world will be ended immediately based on Immanuel Kant's norm of "Perpetual Peace". We also hope that the conflict in the North of the Black Sea will be ended as soon as possible and peace and stability will be rebuilt under the mediation of Turkey.

WALD Board of Trustees Members