Paris Peace Forum 2018 : Words from The President Emmanuel Macron

The 1918 Armistice put an end to the First World War, with one desire: never again. As Europe was coming out of four years of horrific conflict which had killed millions of people, it had a desire to put an end to these conflicts. But in the years that followed, democracy lost ground, doubted itself, and both nationalism and totalitarianism seized their chance. And the Second World War was just around the corner. This risk haunts us. The risk of division, nationalism, inward-looking attitudes, the great fears which can cause democracy to doubt itself, the lack of international cooperation, this is what our world might currently be going through. On 11 November 2018, we will celebrate the centenary of the 1918 Armistice. In Paris, we are inviting the Heads of States who participated in the first world war and many other Heads of States will also be present, not just to commemorate the centenary of the armistice of the first global conflict, but to try together to keep the promise that we made 100 years ago: never again. We have therefore decided to organize our Peace Forum on this occasion. This forum will be held in Paris on 11, 12, 13 November 2018, and will bring together Heads of State and Government, leaders of international organizations, NGO leaders, intellectuals, stakeholders, all those who want to think, take action, drive modern multilateralism, build peace, because it is in danger. The Paris Peace Forum has one goal: think together, propose concrete initiatives, reinvent multilateralism and all modern forms of cooperation to ensure peace gains ground every day. Because peace is currently losing ground every day. I therefore invite you to come and win this positive fight together, to put forward your much-needed projects. Concrete projects, whether you are Heads of State and Government, heads of NGOs, company CEOs, citizens, intellectuals, put forward your concrete projects for the Paris Forum. Whether you are from North, Central or South America. Whether you are from Africa, the Levant, Asia, the Pacific, any continent, we need your initiatives and your projects to make this forum a success, to enable the forum to think and take action for today and tomorrow. I am counting on you and look forward to seeing you on 11 November in Paris for our peace forum.