His Holiness the Dalai Lama
New York, 29 May 1997

Of course my English is very poor, and I'm also getting older. So it is something difficult. I'll try to speak in my own English.

Brothers and sisters, I'm extremely happy to participate in this Nobel Peace Forum. Some time ago, in Berlin, on one occasion, the former president of Costa Rica, Arias, when I briefly saw him, told me of this idea. I fully supported it. Now I'm very happy to see that his idea has materialized. I'm also very pleased to see that many other Nobel laureates fully support it. I think it's very encouraging. Also to see so many young people here, it seems that you are responding. Great to see that.

(cheers)

Very encouraging, but not enough. We must all carry the responsibility of effectively making this idea materialize. I think it's very important. My part, as a simple Buddhist monk, is to promote peace and try to reduce violence. I think everybody has the clear desire or genuine lust for peace- on the international level, the national level, the family level and even at the individual level. Everyone wants peace because peace gives us happiness. Violence and destruction only give us more suffering. Quite a simple reason. Therefore, in order to achieve peace I always emphasize that there should be two kinds of disarmament: one, internal disarmament and two, external disarmament. So we are processing, reducing weapons, restricting the arms trade, and eventually, completely disarming at the global level. Meanwhile, through the family as well as various educational institutions, we have to make every effort to carryout internal disarmament. Now that is to say trying to make it clear, what's the use of anger? What's the use of hatred? The problems are always there. It is wrong to expect a world without problems. That is impractical...unrealistic. So the problems are bound to happen. But we must find a way to solve these problems without using violence.

(applause)

So that is what I often tell people. Anyway, from certain aspects, at the end of the century, one can almost certainly say it is a century of violence. Now we have to make every effort so that next century is a century of dialogue.

(applause)

So now, everybody is here, especially the young people, and also the media, I think more people will get this idea. Please try to make a contribution to each one. From there, from such efforts, then there is a real possibility of transformation of humanity.

Thank you very much.

(Exerpts are taken from His Holiness' speech at the public signing of the Nobel Peace laureates' International Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers.
Transcript courtesy of Globalvision.)

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