Kathmandu: The Permanent Mission of Nepal organized a High-Level Panel Discussion on the theme “Buddha, Geneva Conventions, and World Peace” on the occasion of Buddha Purnima at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on May 8.
Ram Prasad Subedi, Permanent Representative of Nepal; Markus Leitner, Head of the Asia Pacific Division at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation; Davasuren Gerelmaa, Permanent Representative of Mongolia; Usana Bernanda, Permanent Representative of Thailand; Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), David Fernandez Puyana, Ambassador and Permanent Observer of UPEACE; Eva Svoboda, Director for International Law, Policy, and Archives at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); and Marie-Laure Salles, Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute delivered insightful remarks on the theme and shed light on the complementary of Buddha’s teachings of non-violence (ahimsa), compassion (karuna), mindfulness, and the pursuit of peaceful co-existence with the humanitarian ethos underlying in the Geneva Conventions to limit wars and protect people.
Ambassador Subedi set the scene for the panel discussion through his opening remarks reflecting on Buddha’s teachings and closing thoughts recognizing peace as a common good. Speaking at the program, Ambassador Leitner recalled the contribution of International Geneva to global peace. In view of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Switzerland, he underscored the connection between mountains and people and recalled the seventy years of cooperation as friendship extending from cheese to peace.
Following the interventions from the panelists, Ambassador and Permanent Representatives of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Lao PDR, Mexico, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Representatives of Norway and Pakistan, delivered remarks from the floor. More than 100 participants comprising the representatives of the Government of Switzerland, Permanent Representatives, Head of the International Organizations, and representatives of academia, civil society, and other stakeholders attended the panel discussions.
The event provided an opportunity to showcase 70 years of diplomatic ties between Nepal and Switzerland, revisit the complementary between Buddha’s teachings and Geneva Conventions, reconnect Lumbini and Geneva and prioritize peace.
