Brno, Czech Republic hosted the eighth International United Nations (UN) Missions Service Members meeting earlier this month. The conference was organized by a Czech Republic association Czechoslovak Legionnaire, a member of the Soldiers of Peace International Association/Association Internationale des Soldats de la Paix (AISP-SPIA), a World Blue Beret Association.
The meeting took place under the auspices of the Czech Republic Minister of Defense (MoD), Martin Stropnický, Governor of the Southern Moravian Region Michal Hašek, and Commander of the Defense University in Brno. Brigadier General Bohuslav Přikryl. The conference was attended by the President of AISP–SPIA (www.aisp.fr), Laurent Attar Bayour (FRA), along with many distinguished guests from the Ministry of Defense, and Parliament, of the Czech Republic.
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For the first time, the President of the World Veterans Federation (WVF), Dan-Viggo Bergtun of Norway, attended. The WVF is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO), which is independent from governments, and is non-political and non-sectarian. It does not discriminate on the basis of racial, ethnic, religious, gender or national identities, nor does it allow its members to do so. It is a federation of 172 veteran organizations from 121 countries representing some 45 million veterans worldwide (http://www.wvf-fmac.org).
The WVF was established in Paris, France in 1950. The founding members were veteran’s organizations from 8 countries: Belgium; France; Italy; Luxembourg; Netherlands; Turkey; USA; and Yugoslavia. Its original name was “The International Federation of War Veterans Organization.” The WVF maintains its consultative status with the United Nations since 1951 and was conferred the title of “Peace Messenger” in 1987.
Among the distinguished guests were: CIOR’s President, Lieutenant Colonel Arnošt Líbezný: President SPIA Poland, and Vice-President AISP/SPIA C.E. Europe and Chairman of Zrzeszenie Weteranow Dzialan Poza Granicami Panstv, Colonel Jerzy Banach; and President SPIA Slovakia, Colonel Pavel Marko.
During the event, a working session was conducted between Lieutenant Colonel Libezny, and Dan-Viggo Bergtun. Both presidents discussed the possibilities of closer cooperation, as they both believe it will be mutually beneficial to each of their organizations, especially in light of the current security situation worldwide.