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Mozambique "fully shares the ideals of UNESCO, especially concerning the promotion of a culture of peace" and is determined to 'make the culture of peace and democracy the pillars of Mozambican society". Eritrea, Haiti, Paraguay also committed their countries to the principles of a culture of peace. In Morocco, His Majesty King Mohamed VI has launched an appeal to all Moroccans to manifest their engagement to the principles of the culture of peace in their lives and their everyday behaviour.

Mali proposed that UNESCO create a commission of reflection on the concept of the culture of peace and its significance for democracy and development.

The adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace by the recent session of the United Nations General Assembly was cited as evidence of UNESCO's leadership by Belarus, Russian Federation, Morocco, Ukraine* and Vietnam.

The International Year for the Culture of Peace was welcomed by Algeria*, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados*, Cameroon, Canada*, El Salvador*, Equatorial Guinea*, Georgia, Iran, Lesotho, Lithuania, Malawi, Mali*, Mauritania*, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sudan*, Thailand, Uruguay*, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe, and special support for it was pledged by Aruba, Bangladesh, Colombia, Liberia, Mongolia, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Togo, Uganda and Ukraine* among others (see also the following paragraphs).

The following countries made specific commitments to the International Year for the Culture of Peace:

* Australia is planning an international conference on the intellectual foundations of a culture of peace;

* Austria will open a European Museum of Peace;

* Lithuanian cyclists have initiated the "Great Millennium Peace Ride around the World";

* Moldova has established a national commission to implement the celebration of the International Year and the Decade to follow;

* Mozambique will hold the conference on DEMOS AFRICA;

* In Qatar, many organizations and cultural, educational, social and youth centres, as well as the Associated Schools are preparing programmes and activities for the International Year for the Culture of Peace.

* Saint Lucia has developed a comprehensive, far-reaching programme for the Year with the support of government, private sector and non-governmental and civic organizations, designed to reach students and young people.

* Morocco has formed a national commission to make a strategy to celebrate the International Year for the Culture within the framework of a university chair for the culture of peace recently created at OUJDA under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohamed VI.

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