The Universal Peace Federation will hold today the Balkan Leadership Conference "Peace, Security and Development in the Western Balkans". The conference brings together eminent leaders from Balkan countries, regional institutions and European nations.

The Conference is sponsored by the Universal Peace Federation, in partnership with the KosovaPress News Agency, the Washington Times Foundation, the International Media Association for Peace (IMAP), and the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP). The Conference is held under the auspices of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, today (Saturday), at 10:00 at the Swiss Diamond Hotel in Prishtina. This event will be broadcast by KosovaPress News Agency. The sessions and topics that will be addressed are: SESSION 1: “Peace, Security and Development in the Western Balkans” SESSION 2-A: “Peace, Security and Development in the Western Balkans” SESSION 2-B: “Ethical Reporting in Conflict Situations” SESSION 3-A: “Raising the Credibility of Journalism in the Balkans” SESSION 3-B: “Youth Interaction and the future of the Balkans” CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS: Universal Peace Federation (UPF) - is an NGO in General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). UPF is a global network of individuals and organizations dedicated to building a world of peace centered on universal spiritual and moral values. UPF and its global network of Peace Ambassadors work to resolve conflict and reconcile the divided human family. KosovaPress - Founded in 1999, KosovaPress is News Agency and is cooperating with regional and European media. From September of last year until September of this year, KosovaPress has the presidency of the Association of Balkan News Agencies in Southeast Europe (ABNA) composed of 12 news agencies. The Washington Times Foundation - Founded in 1982, The Washington Times is the second largest daily in Washington, D.C. Established in 1984, the Washington Times Foundation is a not-for-profit organization which has developed programs to promote the values of family, freedom, and faith. International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP) - is an NGO founded in 2017 to provide a concrete support platform for the development of youth, and to encourage them to apply their talents and skills to build a world of peace. IAYSP empowers youth and students to become global citizens through education for personal development and peace projects supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. BACKGROUND: Since 2006, the Balkans Peace Initiative has been a major focus of UPF in the Europe-Middle East region. Three decades after the breakup of Yugoslavia, although the region has attained general stability, tensions remain, exacerbated by international competition among superpowers. To resolve historical conflicts among peoples and nations, UPF is holding consultations among political, social, media and religious leaders in the region, as well as from the wider European community, to consider paths to peace in the Balkans.