The Hindu : National : U.N. decision momentous: Sonia

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Sunday, Jun 17, 2007
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U.N. decision momentous: Sonia

Special Correspondent

October 2 is "International Day of Non-violence"

NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday termed "a momentous occasion" the decision of the United Nations to declare Mahatma Gandhi's birthday as the "International Day of Non-violence."

In a statement here, she said representatives of 90 countries and eminent world leaders, who gathered in New Delhi for an international conference on "Peace, Non-violence and Empowerment — Gandhian Philosophy in the 21st Century" in this January, adopted a resolution to this effect.

Yearning for peace

"The tremendous support in favour of our appeal is a reflection of the international community's collective yearning for peace and continuing relevance of Mahatma Gandhi and his ideals in today's world confronted with violence, terrorism and intolerance," she said.

Ms. Gandhi placed on record her sincere thanks to all those who took part in the Satyagraha conference as well as all those who stood in support of India's appeal to the U.N. for declaring October 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, International Day of Non-violence.

Commemoration of this important day globally would provide a solemn occasion for "all of us around the world, across nations, civilisations and cultures to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and to remind ourselves of the values, principles and methods he championed and adopted in his quest for peace and understanding," Ms. Gandhi said.

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