Wishes for Peace from the Mayors of San Diego and Our Sister
Cities
Susan Golding, Mayor
San Diego, United States of America
Tonight we end a century filled with many great achievements. In the
last 100 years, we have accomplished much as a City, as a Nation, and as
a global community.
We have seen the skies open up to allow passenger travel and space
exploration, as well as the ground open to to urban development and
natural disasters.
We have also experienced two World Wars and countless conflicts that
have destroyed lives and torn apart countries.
Today, however we stand on the edge of a new Century, and we take a
moment to recognize the simple beauty and comfort of peace.
I remember one woman's reflection of the atrocities of war -
specifically World War II. After seeing the war first hand, she realized
that much to her dismay, she had something in common with Adolph Hitler.
She, like Hitler, had a propensity to hate.
She soon determined that she could not live that way. And she would
do all she could to combat hate and affliction. That woman became known
to the world as a symbol of peace and compassion - Mother Theresa
Tonight, we begin a new millenium. And we are filled with
expectations and dreams.
I dream a world in peace.
Tonight, we join all our Sister Cities and the citizens of the World,
in a "Pause for Peace".
Let us make the moment of silence a sign of our commitment. A
commitment to follow the example of Mother Theresa, and the countless
others who have given themselves to promote a world in harmony.
Timoteo O. Encarnacion, JR. City Mayor
Cavite City, Republic
of the Phillipines
The future has always been the focus of both fear and optimism. A lot
of us have used it as a target for our dreams, hopes and aspirations.
But as we now welcome the advent of the year 2000, the City of
Cavite, Philippines joins the rest of the world in wishing everyone a
new beginning and an auspicious start.
As we approach the momentous juncture in human history, all of us
must collectively work to achieve what the previous generations failed
to do the attainment of global peace and worldwide cooperation
Let us not pass up this renewed opportunity to give the children of
our children a world that they could really live with.
Wan Joo, Kim
Mayor of Chonju City
Dear San Diego Citizens!
It is my great honor that I can send my greeting as a mayor of your
sister city, Chonju in this very moment of welcoming the new millennium.
Chonju is doing out best to prepare the 2002 World Cup, the first
global festival in this new millennium. I hope all of you can visit your
sister city and I will give my word that I will serve you with all my
heart as much as you are my brothers and sisters.
I sincerely wish that the last year was a happy year for all of you
and that the new year will be more happy and successful. May all you
wishes come true and Happy new year.
The Right Honourable
Eric Milligan, J.P.
Lord Provost,
Edinburgh Scottland
I am delighted to have this opportunity of sending a "Wish for Peace"
from the City of Edinburgh to our Sister City of San Diego.
As we welcome the dawn of the new Millennium, we all have many hopes
and wishes that we would like to come to come to fruition to make our
world a better place.
As the year 2000 begins, I wish that in the years ahead, we will see
more equality in the world with wealth being spread more evenly between
the rich nations and the poor nations. I wish that we might have a more
inclusive world where everyone can have access to the opportunites and
benefits enjoyed by the more privledged societies and individuals. I
wish that we might have a world where great advances are made to combat
the dreadful diseases that too many people have to suffer. Most of all I
wish that we may have a world where conflict and war can at last be
eradicated and where people can live in peaceful co-operation.
It is my hope that some of these wishes will be granted in the years
ahead. In the meantime, it is my pleasure to send the very best wishes
of the citizens of Edinburgh to the the citizens of San Diego for a
happy and peaceful new year
City of Edinburgh Web
Page
Yang Jinjing, Mayor
Yantai, Peoples Republic of China
As the new millennium is nearing, I'm greatly honored to be given an
opportunity to send a message to your pause for peace ceremony.
Peace is an issue of common concern and also one of the challenges
our mankind confront. Maintaining world peace is our due responsibility.
As the new millennium is approaching, people of Yantai are willing to
make our continuing commitment, together with people of San Diego and
all peace loving people around the world, to enduring peace and
stability and create a better world where all people will enjoy happy
lives under peaceful sky. Then the 21st century will be a century of
peace and progress for all people. Let us work together to build a
beautiful planet for the 21st century.
Best wishes for success on your millennium celebrations
Manuel Peinado Lorca
Mayor of Alacala' de Henares and
President of its City Hall
From this city of art and knowledge, we send a message of peace
happiness now that one millennium is ending and another is beginning. To
San Diego, our sister city with a multitude of peoples and cultures from
the fartherest corners of the world, we want to send a wish for harmony
to all our brothers and sisters there.
Alcala' De Heneres will herald in the year 2000, now that we have
completed one year since the University of Alcala' and the Historical
Site of the City was declared "Cultural Heritage for Humanity", with the
hope an desire that we will share it with all sister cities.
As mayor of Alcala', I toast the new year with you and invite you to
acquaint yourselves with our city, which awaits with open arms, all
citizens of the world
Councillor, Michael W Sutherland, Deputy Lord Mayor
Perth,
Australia
The people of the City of Perth send their greetings to the people of
San Diego and to the people of its other Sister Cities.
We wish you all the very best for the year 2000 and beyond.
We trust that our bond of friendship will strengthen in the 21st
Century and that the Sister Cities movement will prosper.
Yuri M Kopylov, Mayor
Vladivostok, Russia
The Pause for Peace takes place at a historic period for the people's
of the earth - at the turn of the century, on the threshold of a new
millennium. The beginning of the third millennium is not just an
astronomic or time boundary. It is the threshold of a new stage of
develpoment in civilization, when one should evaluate the past and set
prioirites for the future. In the cirumstances, the importance of sister
city ties to strengthing world peace is increased, for establishment of
development of such ties between cities of the USA and Russia is the
basis for American-Russian regional cooperation. It is the most
important factor for the creation genuinely good-neighbor relations
between the USA and Russia based on principles, agreed among the leaders
of the two countries: trust, close economic sooperation, mutual benefit,
and and an empasis on the future.
May this Pause for Peace become one more step on the way towards
cooperation and mutual understanding between all the nations of the
world in the name of Peace on out planet.
Wen Ying Chang, Mayor
Taichung City, Republic of China
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I would like to offer my warmest wishes to Mayor Golding and all the
citizens of San Diego.
I am also sending my wish for worldwide peace as San Diego celebrates
the New Millennium on December 31st. As this much anticipated day
approaches I hopes my dreams of world peace and good health travel to
every corner of the world.
It is also sincere desire of myself and the people of Taichung city
that the great friendship between our two cities will last forever.
Once again, my best wishes for a success New Millenium celebration in
San Diego and great prosperity for the future.
Jorge Carlos Obregon Serrano, Mayor
Leon, Mexico
We are at the point of ending a century filled with discoveries and
feats, great medical and scientific accomplishments, etc. But also a
century filled with wars and disasters, not only natural but also
provoked by man.
Yet in spite of the great feats and accomplishments, we have yet to
reach peace.
For this new millenium, we want to work diligently to establish peace
among cities. Sister Cities is an ideal means to understanding between
nations, to teach tolerance, respect, and as a result establish peace
and happiness for mankind.
We, the citizens of Leon, wish that the citizens of San Diego have
peace and happiness today and always, and that our united hearts help
spread that peace to other cities around the world.
Hidenobu Takahide, Mayor
City Of Yokohama
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!
I understand you are now just moments away from the arrival of the
21st century. Although I unfortunately cannot be with all of you to ring
in the New Year in beautiful Balboa Park, I have the pleasure and honor
of delivering a message to you on behalf of the 3-4 million people of
Yokohama on this historic occasion.
I celebrated the arrival of 2000 with the people of Yokohama at the
venue of our "Countdown Festival." The city looked even lovelier than
usual last night; red and green searchlights were sweeping its skies,
and much of its distinctive architecture was lit up. Each New Year's
Eve, all of the boats moored in the port of Yokohama blow their whistles
and horns at once and they sounded even more impressive this year.
As you may know, we are about 17 hours ahead of san diego, so are
entering the afternoon of the first day of 2000. In Japan, New Years Day
is one of the biggest holidays of the year, and is celebrated in the
home with the family. In all Japanese homes, families are now gathering
together for a feast of traditional delicacies that can only be enjoyed
once a year.
Situated about 30 kilometers south of Tokyo, Yokohama is the second
largest city in Japan. Thanks largely to the good offices of
Japanese-American residents of San Diego, we. concluded a sister-city
agreement with your city in 1957. Over the more than 40 ensuing years,
our two cities have promoted exchange and interaction in numerous
fields.
I hardly need to mention that, just a little more than a half-century
ago, Japan and America were fighting a terrible war with each other. We
must never forget that the firm ties of goodwill now linking our
countries were built with a lot of hardship and pain on the part of
many. Perhaps those who suffered the most in the war were those who most
wanted Japan-U.S. friendship. We. must remain determined to prevent the
tragedy of war from occurring ever again.
In 1987, Yokohama was given the title of "peace messenger" by the
United Nations. We therefore have a mission of furthering the cause of
worldwide peace. In my view, our most vital task is to foster mutual
understanding among people in all countries and regions across the
globe. This is because wars are bred largely by ignorance and hatred. To
build peace, we must nurture knowledge of and goodwill toward people
with all sorts of backgrounds and heritages.
In this connection, I would like to add that Yokohama will be the
site of the final match of the 2002 World Cup soccer games to be
cohosted by Japan and the Republic of Korea. We are currently busy
making preparations for this event of global proportions. As I see it,
the World Cup brings people from all countries together for a collective
experience of joyous festivity and gripping drama through the medium of
sports. As such, it is an event that can make a vital contribution to
world peace. This is a big reason why we are so proud that the final
match of these splendid games will be played in our city.
in closing, I would like to express our warmest wishes for further
development ent of the friendship between our two cities and our fervent
hope that all people in the world will one day be able to live in peace
with each other.
Here's wishing you all a very happy New Year!
City of Yokohama Web Page
Antoni Pietkiewicz
Governor of Warsaw and Mazovia Province,
Poland
As the threshold of the new Millennium I enthusiastically support the
PAUSE FOR PEACE initiative forwarded to us by our Sister City, San
Diego, California. We will join you, Madame Mayor and all citizens of
San Diego in dedicating the last ten seconds of the year 1999 to reflect
on and to pray for permanent PEACE ON EARTH.
A Governor of Mazovia whose capital, Warsaw was almost completely
destroyed in World War II, I am especially pleased to send this message
of peace. I also sending this message as a citizen of Poland, a country
that suffered tragedies of WW I and WW II as well as oppression during
the period of communist totalitarianism. I am joining our compatriot,
Pope John Paul II, to pray and work for peace.
Let PEACE live in our homes and in our hearts - all around the world
in the New Millennium.
City of Warsaw Web Page
