Dear all friends, Let me first express my happiness with this meeting that brings together a number of Nobel Prize laureates in a such wonderful and energetic country with a great capacity for achievement like Korea.

Dear friends, 

Sad to say the world isn't fine due to the growing number of political instabilities and economic decline arising from the coronavirus pandemic, as well as because of not having taken reform policies and measures in most countries of the world. Amid such critical circumstances, regimes tending towards authoritarian policies are on the rise, which poses an existential threat to democracy. We are all aware that going back on democracy is the greatest threat to international peace and security. Democracy not only establishes a real political process, but also supports and consolidates peace internally and externally. Those with negative attitude towards democracy tend to be authoritarian and never hesitate to commit human rights violations.

In this context, I would like to point out to the key threat to democracy and human rights at the present time, namely racism. It is being fueled by some politicians, parties, and the media, which imposes a real risk event to democracies described as strong and well-established. Let us remember that democracy has nothing to do with an atmosphere of hatred, fanaticism and extremism. It is perhaps appropriate to refer to the great political ascendency of some currents and trends driven by authoritarian and racist ideas and theories, as well as by a discourse that incite extremism and hatred.

 

Therefore, there is an urgent need for democracy and human rights principles to prevail so as for the world to become more just and less vulnerable to extremism and racism. Of course, I do not want to say that democracy is the magic solution to all problems, but it makes feel that we are human beings and that we can live in dignity.

 

Dear friends, 

Authoritarian regimes cause wars and crises because they pay little attention to development and improvement of conditions for their citizens. So, policies should be developed to isolate such regimes and reduce opportunities for cooperation with them until they adopt reform policies. A world composed of tyrannical governments stands in fact on the brink of an abyss. It is definitely a world of wars and chaos, designed to impoverish peoples and destroy nature and human diversity.

Yesterday, we visited a border area between South Korea and North Korea, and we were so happy because it has become a mine-free area. This is a good sign, although many worrisome things are still there with respect to relations and stability in this region as a consequence of having regimes that do not believe in politics, as well as their non-respect for democracy and human rights. I know this is a extremely complicated issue, but I’m sure all this will change. Let’s first preserve our democracy, then everything will follow.

Back to the subject of mines, you know my own country is suffering from a multi-sided and level war designed to fragment it and its entity with the aim of easy control over it. One of the tragic aspects that is rarely paid attention to is the random laying of landmines by the thousands, without any maps. This heinous crime is exclusively committed by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia. So, it will be crucial in the future to put an end to this destructive weapon that imposes an ever-present threat to people's lives for long periods. It is true that the world pays huge sums of money for mines to be removed, but unfortunately, until these efforts bear fruit, we will have lost many innocent people.

 

Dear all friends,

We the Nobel Prize laureates have many duties, the most prominent of which may not tolerate landmines and its threat to people and development. Not only that, we shouldn’t also turn blind eye to a no less serious form of mines that threatens a decent life and human rights, that is authoritarian and extremist regimes and groups. All of these are tantamount to landmines and a grave danger to human lives. In order for our voice to be more effective, we must act collectively on just causes. The Nobel Prize is not an instrument to do what to want. I believe that this prize is a great responsibility, so we should act accordingly.

We have done many good things in the past, and we must do more. We should be representatives for people's conscience. This is how I have been thinking since I was a child. It has been my dream to have a platform to represent people, convey their pains and sorrows and stand up for their rights and dignity. Since receiving the Nobel Prize, I have tried my best not to give up this role, despite the troubles it has caused me. I have chosen to stand up for what is right. Unlike the falsehood, the righthood, as you know, don’t possess any temptations or glamour, but it yields peace of mind, people’s love, and God’s approval.

Hopefully, this summit, the Summit of Nobel Laureates, will achieve the success necessary for a new phase of noble struggle to help people everywhere live in peace and dignity. Peace without dignity is just surrender. Sad to say that some tyrannical regimes impose surrender on their people, and practice oppression and humiliation against their citizens. It has come to the point that just a like on Facebook or Twitter may put a person in prison for many years.

One of our major goals, as I think, is to work more on spread the culture of human rights, and to strive to be the voice of the weak and the oppressed everywhere. On this occasion, I call for the release of political detainees, as it is shameful to continue detaining people just their political opinions. This must stop.

I know that many issues will be discussed at this blessed summit, and they, by the way, are crucial. Let’s work in a team spirit for supreme values, and for a world free of tyranny, landmines, hatred, fanaticism and terrorism.

Thank you so much!