With the demise of communism, Reverend Moon turned his attention to the problem of immorality and spiritual malaise that has infected the developed world. The Family Federation for World Peace addresses this problem by helping to promote strong families, the wellspring of values and morality. In the following speech, Dr. Pak also gives further details of the first conference of the Federation of Island Nations for World Peace in Tokyo. The following introduction to the Founder was given by Dr. Bo Hi Pak on the occasion of the inauguration of the Family Federation for World Peace at the Sheraton Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C., on July 31, 1996. Guest speakers included former U.S. Presidents Gerald Ford and George Bush.

Reverend and Mrs. Moon, Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. It is my distinct honor and privilege to speak to you tonight at the close of this auspicious World Convention of the Family Federation for World Peace. I just came back from Tokyo, Japan, from another momentous event initiated by the Reverend and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon.

I would like to report to you about that event. It was the founding of the Federation of Island Nations for World Peace.

Ladies and gentlemen, there are at least 51 independent island states in our world. Several are millions of square kilometers in size, and the smallest is the Republic of Nauru, only 21 square kilometers. The most populous island nation is Indonesia, with 190 million people, and the least is again Nauru, with only 8,500 people. The largest economy among island nations is Japan's, with a per capita income of $31,490, while the smallest is only $220 per person.

Each country has its special characteristics, culture, and idiosyncrasies, as well as its vulnerabilities. The Rt. Hon. Amata Kabua, president of the Marshall Islands, noted, "With only a four-foot-high tidal wave, our entire country would be wiped out. We survive day by day by the grace of God." This is one typical example.

Due to their strategic locations, many small island nations were lured to one superpower's side or the other. But in the post-communist era, many small island nations perceive they have been forgotten and feel lonely and isolated. They have sought someone to genuinely look after their true interests and care for their needs. That is the role Reverend Moon has assumed.

This is why the idea of the Federation of Island Nations has become so attractive and had a certain electrifying effect. It indeed has caught the imagination of all 51 island nations with a total population of 599 million people. From June 17-18, world leaders, statesmen, ambassadors, scholars, and scientists from over 40 island and oceanic nations convened in Tokyo for the World Convention of the Federation of Island Nations for World Peace.

At the farewell banquet, one participant said, "We're just like a small boat floating on the vast ocean in a storm. This Federation of Island Nations is like a giant ship that comes to rescue us. We thank Reverend Moon for this wonderful idea to found the Federation of Island Nations."

Why the Federation of Island Nations? Reverend Moon would like to protect the world's oceans, which cover 70 percent of the earth's surface. The ocean is the Mother of Life and Mother of Civilization. He sees that island and oceanic nations are vital in the survival of humanity in the 21st century. The ocean produces a phenomenal array of living beings and is a treasure store of natural resources. He does not want to see the ocean abused and victimized by human selfishness, as was our land.

The Rt. Hon. Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, former prime minister of Barbados, concluded this conference by saying, "Our encounters and discourses here have fortified us in our view that (1) it is only through cooperation that island nations can survive and achieve their full potential; and ( 2 ) that the Federation of Island Nations for World Peace can become a powerful voice for peace, progress, and development in the world."

Ladies and gentlemen, here in Washington, you have all joined Reverend and Mrs. Moon in founding this Family Federation for World Peace, which goes to the core of bringing about world peace and prosperity. Reverend Moon has dedicated his entire life as a peacemaker and unifier. This Family Federation is not the only federation he began. He first founded the Federation for World Peace in 1991; he continued to found the InterReligious Federation for World Peace; the Women's Federation for World Peace; the Youth Federation for World Peace; of course, the Federation of Island Nations for World Peace; and finally and ultimately, this Family Federation for World Peace. I say ultimate because it is Reverend and Mrs. Moon's view that a strong, moral family is the very fabric of a moral and healthy society, nation, and world. So you can see you have participated in the best and crowning event these past three days in Washington, which will have worldwide impact.

Ladies and gentlemen, the city of Washington is almost my second hometown. Reverend Moon sent me here for almost a quarter of a century in various capacities. The nation's capital-actually the capital of the free world-is where Reverend Moon has made the most historic impact over and over.

Perhaps the most enduring contribution with the greatest impact Reverend Moon made to this city was the founding of The Washington Times in 1982. Reverend Moon gave me the honor to be the founding president of The Washington Times for its first 10 years. Could you imagine what Washington would have been like with only one newspaper for the past 14 years?

In 1981, with the demise of the 128-year-old Washington Star, Reverend Moon waited for someone to step in and start a new newspaper to fill the void. No one did. On January 1, 1982, Reverend Moon declared, "I see it as the will of God to create a God-centered newspaper in Washington, even at the sacrifice of our Movement." Less than six months later, on May 17, 1982, The Washington Times was on the streets. This is our headquarters building. This is our famous newsroom. And here is our printing plant.

However, you may not know this hidden story. Reverend Moon undertook founding this newspaper while in prison in Danbury, Connecticut. Instead of being vindictive against the country that committed terrible injustice against him, he repaid this nation many times over during his incarceration by giving it a voice for democracy, family, and God. As House Speaker Newt Gingrich has said, "The Washington Times has the real interests of America at heart."

In April 1990, at the height of Soviet power, the world's leading anti-communists, Reverend and Mrs. Moon, boldly entered Moscow and had a oneon-one meeting in the Kremlin with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. It was another miracle that this could have occurred. For what purpose did they meet? There was only one purpose: to prevent the outbreak of nuclear war.

Reverend Moon also stressed to President Gorbachev the value of religion for social and national development and persuaded him to enlarge Soviet religious toleration so God could enter the Soviet Union. In my opinion, this meeting was held by the will of God. Reverend Moon indeed motivated President Gorbachev in the direction of peaceful reform. The greatest miracle that occurred in this century was the liberation of the Soviet Empire without nuclear war. Thank God.

After that meeting with President Gorbachev, Reverend Moon told me, "Now I must meet with North Korea's Kim Il Sung." I was shocked. It seemed a sheer impossibility. Yet Reverend Moon said, "God will lead me to Pyongyang." Why was he so determined to see Kim Il Sung? Again, only one purpose: to prevent the outbreak of another Korean War.

On November 30, 1991, I escorted Reverend and Mrs. Moon on a special flight to the North Korean capital. Six days later, the world's foremost anti-communist, Reverend Moon, embraced with President Kim Il Sung and sat down with the world's foremost communist dictator in the presidential palace. This was truly the manifestation of the spirit of loving one's enemy. I was there as the entire world was shocked by this news. Yet for me, it was probably the greatest peace-making event ever. Reverend Moon's visit greatly enhanced peace and stability on the Korean peninsula by assuring President Kim he would be a friend, a brother, and look after his well-being. Just one week later North and South Korea signed their unprecedented Basic Agreement on Reconciliation and Cooperation thanks to Reverend Moon.

President Kim II Sung passed away on July 8, 1994. I went to Pyongyang representing Reverend and Mrs. Moon to mourn the late president. I was proud to be part of this humanitarian gesture and to convey the condolences of Reverend and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon. I was the only outside mourner to be received by top leader Secretary Kim Jong Il, heir of his late father, President Kim. Today, Reverend Moon is one world leader whom North Korea can trust. For this reason, Reverend Moon played a crucial role in encouraging the dialogue that led to the landmark nuclear agreement between the United States and North Korea in October 1994.

At the same time, Mrs. Sun Myung Moon is another champion for peace and family. On July 28, 1993, Mrs. Moon made a historic speech on Capitol Hill on family values before U.S. senators and congressmen. Sen. Orrin Hatch introduced Mrs. Moon. It was a landmark speech. The U.S. Congress was so moved and inspired by her speech that both houses passed unanimously and enacted the Parents Day Resolution. President Clinton signed it into law and declared the third Sunday of July national Parents Day in the United States. Thus, Mrs. Moon spearheaded the enactment of Parents Day as the law of the land. Would you join me in giving her a big applause? What America and the world need is not just Mother's Day or Father's Day, but Parents Day. Don't you agree? If you want a national Parents Day in your country, all you have to do is invite Mrs. Moon. Then it will happen.

I cannot close this testimony without mentioning Reverend Moon's deep compassion for Latin America. Today, Latin America has made great progress in the area of free trade and the countries of this region are moving toward the removal of economic barriers to eventually create the largest free market on this planet. But did you know that in 1983, Reverend Moon founded AULA, the Association for the Unity of Latin America, as a movement to enlighten and reawaken the leadership of the Americas towards integration of the continent from Argentina to Alaska? Reverend Moon devoted his resources toward symposia and educational programs for AULA, and its sister organization, CAUSA International, which focused on family values education. He inspired people at the highest levels and brought them together to revive that spirit of continental integration that lay dormant since the time of Simon Bolivar.

These leaders did not just think about it; they acted upon it. They became advocates and activists that have carried out the work we see manifested today as NAFTA, Mercosur, and the revival of the Andean Pact. Reverend Moon helped transform ideas into reality.

Since last year, Reverend Moon has poured his heart and soul for the sake of solving Latin America's problems. He has committed the full resources of the Unification Movement to address the age-old North-South problem. He has declared war against poverty, disease, and ignorance. Incidentally, Reverend Moon is also absolutely determined to eradicate the AIDS epidemic from the face of the earth. Won't you join this crusade?

Another achievement of Reverend Moon I'd like to mention is in the performing arts. One of the purest forms of performing arts is ballet. Since its founding in 1889 in St. Petersburg, Russia, the renowned Kirov Ballet had always wanted to bring its style of dance to the American shores. Unfortunately, because of the rise of Bolshevik Communism and later the Cold War, the Kirov was unable to fulfill its dream.

Thanks to the vision of Reverend and Mrs. Moon, the Kirov Academy of Ballet has been in existence here in Washington, D.C., since 1991. Reverend Moon was able to persuade President Bush and President Gorbachev that it was in the mutual interest of both countries for the Kirov to make a Western home here. So, the two superpowers agreed. As a result, the Kirov's artistic director, Oleg Vinogradov, became the head of Reverend Moon's Kirov Academy in Washington. That was the first time a Soviet artist did not have to defect to seek artistic freedom in the West. In a mere five years, the Kirov Academy now stands as one of the premier ballet academies in the world. Last week, the Kirov Academy achieved another milestone, which was so phenomenal that even our rival newspaper, The Washington Post, had to acknowledge it.

Let me quote from a front-page story in its Style section entitled "A Gold-Medal Pas de Deux":

While the Americans have been exceeding gold medal expectations at the Games in Atlanta, contending with Russian and Eastern European rivals, a similar pattern emerged at a different world-class contest. At the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgariaconsidered by many the Olympics of ballet-the unprecedented has happened: For the first time in the competition's 32-year history [and of course for the first time in U.S. history], American dancers won the gold medals in both the men's and women's junior divisions. And to sharpen the surprise: Not only were the two winners both from the Washington area, but they also train at the same school, the Kirov Academy of Ballet-[established and] funded by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon.

How do you like that? This was the first time I ever applauded a Washington Post article! By the way, The Washington Post's coverage of this conference has been vicious-and they are jealous.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is no small miracle. U.S. history was made and a world record achieved. You know, as the saying goes, if you want to win, join a winner.

Ladies and gentlemen, in closing I want to say I have been a follower of Reverend Moon for the past 39 years. In those nearly four decades I have eye-witnessed Reverend Moon giving his blood, sweat, and tears to relieve the pain and suffering of humankind, and by so doing, relieving the pain and suffering heart of God. I have never imagined a man who is so completely and totally dedicated to God. The Bible says, "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13 ). I see Reverend and Mrs. Moon living these words every day. "Peace begins at home, and the home is the school of love," Reverend Moon believes. Reverend Moon suffers most when he sees broken families anywhere in the world. That is why he has founded this Family Federation for World Peace.

I'm sure by now you will all agree with me that indeed Reverend and Mrs. Moon are peacemakers and unifiers. This Family Federation for World Peace is another milestone on their journey for world peace. I sincerely wish all of you to become apostles of peace. God bless you. Thank you very much.

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