From
Hiroshima
August 17, 2005
Dear Mr. Levashov,
I hope that this letter finds you in the best of health and spirits.
Please allow me to express my deep respect for your founding of the
"Origami Peace Tree" project, which links the hearts of the people
of the world through origami and continues to deliver the message of
peace.
The fact that each year many
people participate in "Origami Peace Tree" events held in cities
around the world is very encouraging to Hiroshima, a city which experienced the
first use of a nuclear weapon in human history, and which is striving for the
abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of everlasting world peace.
Also, the fact that during this year, marked by the 60th anniversary of
the atomic bombings, an "Origami Peace Tree" event will take place in
Japan, and that we will be able to pray for peace along with this events
participants, is a great honor.
I firmly believe that through the recurrence of events such as this in
which various people of the world join together and act for the realization of
peace, Hiroshima wish for peace will be understood by a great number of people,
and our efforts toward the abolition of
nuclear weapons and the realization of everlasting world peace will
spread.
Along with the City of Nagasaki, the City of Hiroshima presides over the Mayors for Peace organization, calling for cities all over the world to participate in inter-city solidarity for the purpose of realizing world peace and abolishing nuclear weapons, and at present we have sent information to Novorossiysk regarding membership in this organization.
It is our hope that we can
begin accumulating citizen-centered exchange, including exchange in the area of
peace.
In closing, please accept my best wishes for your health and further
success, and for the further development of the "Origami Peace Tree" project.
Sincerely yours,
Yoshinori Matsumoto
Director
International Relations Division
International Peace Promotion Department
Citizens Affairs Bureau
The City of Hiroshima
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