WORLD LEADERS FORUM

Lech Walesa, former President of Poland December 1, 2005
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Solidarity leader and the first democratically-elected President of Poland, Lech Walesa, addressed a crowd of nearly 1,500 in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Solidarity, a grassroots union movement that brought an end to the communist government’s control of Poland. While at Seton Hall, President Walesa received an honorary doctorate degree given to him in absentia more than 23 years ago.

Mikhail Gorbachev, former President of the Soviet Union April 19, 2005
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Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev addressed students as part of the Whitehead School of Diplomacy World Leaders Forum, in conjunction with the Philip and Mary Shannon Seton Hall Speaker Series. In his speech, Mr. Gorbachev addressed the challenges that have faced democracy throughout history and the potential roadblocks to its future success.

"Today we can say that perestroika gave democracy to our country — cultural and ideological pluralism, freedom of religion, economic growth," Mr. Gorbachev said. "I am convinced that the choice in favor of freedom was the right choice."

Mr. Gorbachev said that even victories come with challenges, referring to the situation in Iraq and the fall of communism during the Cold War. He discussed the need to take advantage of globalization, consider the interests of other countries and address the problems of the environment and international security, as ways of helping democracy progress into the future.

Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister of Israel September 29, 2004
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Former Israeli Prime Minister and Nobel Peace laureate Shimon Peres addressed an audience of over one thousand students and received an honorary doctorate degree from Seton Hall University for his lifetime commitment to peace. Mr. Peres spoke about the war on terrorism saying, "It is not a war against Muslims. It is a war for everybody, including the Muslims." He also addressed the conflict in Israel, saying that it cannot be resolved without the creation of two states, one Palestinian and one Israeli.

Mr. Peres has been politically active since the age of 16. After the resignation of Yitzhak Rabin in 1977, Peres became acting Prime Minister. He served again as Prime Minister in 1984 after the establishment of a National Unity Government. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, he initiated negotiations with Jordan, which led to the Oslo Accords between the Palestinians and the Israelis. In 1994, Mr. Peres was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in bringing about this historic agreement. Following the assassination of Rabin in 1995, Mr. Peres became Prime Minister and Minister of Defense until the June 1996 elections. After leaving office, Mr. Peres founded the Peres Center for Peace, with the aim of realizing his vision of a "New Middle East" in which Israelis and Palestinians work together to build peace through socio-economic cooperation and people-to-people relations.

John Hume, Member of the Northern Ireland Parliament March 18, 2004
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John Hume, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, parliament member and founder of Northern Ireland’s Social Democratic and Labour Party, was presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at Seton Hall University. In his address, Mr. Hume drew on his experiences in the Northern Ireland peace process. He began by telling students that his father once warned him never to get involved in politics because: "You can’t beat the flag." He went on to describe his personal reflections on the peace process over the last 30 years, including the Good Friday Peace Agreement, and the Hume-Adams talks.

Mr. Hume led the Social Democratic and Labour Party from 1979 until 2001. He has served as a MEP in Europe and a MP at Westminster as well as a member of the Northern Ireland parliament. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in the political history of Northern Ireland and one of the architects of the peace process there. Mr. Hume was the co-recipient of the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize.

Mr. Hume has been acknowledged throughout the world, receiving many awards for his extraordinary achievements including the Irish People of the Year Award, the International League for Human Rights Award for Peace and Human Rights, the President Roosevelt Award, the International Human Rights Award, the Global Citizens Award, the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize, and the American Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award.

Mohammad Khatami, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran with Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington November 9, 2001
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The Whitehead School of Diplomacy welcomed Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to campus as part of the culmination of the School’s work on the UN Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations. It was President Khatami’s first official U.S. visit. The School of Diplomacy served as the coordinating Secretariat for the project, which culminated in a special session at the United Nations.

According to Ambassador Clay Constantinou, dean of the School of Diplomacy, President Khatami has called for a dialogue among civilizations since 1998, a year after being elected. "This visit proves how important Seton Hall is in the Dialogue Among Civilizations," Constantinou said. "We are at the forefront."

President Khatami urged that a new process be initiated to replace hostility and confrontation with discourse and understanding. Following President Khatami's proposal, the General Assembly unanimously proclaimed the year 2001 as the United Nation's Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations. To support the Dialogue, the Secretary-General appointed a group of eminent persons and designated as his personal representative, former UN chief hostage negotiator Giandomenico Picco.

Gil Carlos Rodríguez Iglesias, President of the Court of Justice of the European Communities November 5, 2001
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President of the Court of Justice of the European Communities, Gil Carlos Rodríguez Iglesias, spoke about European Union expansion and global leadership. During his speech, Mr. Rodríguez Iglesias said that, "… the citizenship of the European Union is another building block for Global Citizenship, and not simply a redefinition of identities, of circles of inclusion and exclusion, of us and them." Following his address, Mr. Rodríguez Iglesias was presented with a crystal globe, a symbol of global citizenship.

Mr. Rodríguez Iglesias also touched on the topic of ideals and quoted the philosopher Immanuel Kant on several occasions, explaining how the European Union has its "own system of law." He stressed the importance of the "Dialogue Among Civilizations," and pondered whether the tragic events of September 11 were meant to prevent the emergence of global citizenship.

Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General February 5, 2001
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United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan delivered a major address to inaugurate the 2001 United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations and honored the School of Diplomacy for its work as coordinating Secretariat for the project. The Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations focused on increasing tolerance and understanding among the world’s peoples and cultures. During his visit, Mr. Annan was also awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters from Seton Hall University.

In his address, Secretary-General Annan said: "Alongside an infinite diversity of cultures, there does exist one, global civilization based on shared values of tolerance and freedom. The diversity of human cultures is something to be celebrated, not feared."

Mr. Annan has served as UN Secretary-General since 1997. As Secretary-General, his priorities have included a comprehensive UN reform program focused on strengthening the UN’s work in the areas of development and maintenance of international peace and security; encouraging and advocating human rights, the rule of law, and the universal values of equality, tolerance and human dignity as found in the UN Charter; and restoring public confidence in the organization by reaching out to new partners and, in his words, by "bringing the United Nations closer to the people."

Angelo Cardinal Sodano, Secretary of State of the Holy See September 5, 2000
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Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Cardinal Sodano visited Seton Hall University, addressing Whitehead School students on the Holy See’s presence in international affairs. Cardinal Sodano said, "The lofty religious aim that inspires the Holy See’s involvement in the international community, [is] that world affairs be imbued with the Gospel of the dignity of the person and the family, the gospel of harmony and peace, and, moreover, the Gospel of truth, justice, and love."

Cardinal Sodano oversees the Vatican’s relations with states and international organizations. He also directs the activities of the various offices of the Roman Curia, the body that assists the Pope in the pastoral care of the Church.

HRH Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg October 19, 1999
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At her address at Seton Hall, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg discussed microlending. Microlending is an initiative that brings economic opportunity to low-income people, especially women, in the world’s poorest nations by extending small loans to help them create their own employment. The Grand Duchess told students she believes that, "the most fundamental change brought about by microcredits is the social change that happens to be connected with gender in many developing countries. The role of women is undergoing considerable change."

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa serves as the Honorary Chair of the Whitehead School of Diplomacy Board of Overseers. She actively supports the Luxembourg League of the Blind, the National Nurses' Association and the Association Luxembourg-Alzheimer. She also chairs a foundation for the handicapped and is honorary chairman of the Foundation for Research on AIDS.

Glafcos Clerides, President of the Republic of Cyprus September 24, 1999
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Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides received an honorary Doctor of Human Letters from Seton Hall University. During his address to students, President Clerides reaffirmed a statement he had made at the United Nations the day prior on the impediments to resolving the Cyprus problem. Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided de facto into the government-controlled southern two-thirds of the island and the Turkish-Cypriot northern third. Though the government of the Republic of Cyprus is still the internationally recognized authority, its power extends only to the Greek Cypriot-controlled areas.

President Clerides was a pilot in the British Air Force during World War II and spent time as a prisoner of war in Germany. He attended law school in London and participated in the delegation which negotiated the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus. He served as President of the House from 1960-1976, and was elected President of the Republic in 1993 and was re-elected in 1998.

President Clerides told students: "If there is going to be a breakthrough for the solution of the Cyprus problem, it will greatly depend on the international community: what pressure it would exercise to bring the two sides to the negotiating table and to help them find a solution to the problem. It is of vital importance that the international community play a role."