The “Lakes of Peace” symbolism and an ideal location for the “Board of Peace” meetings
Colonel Muhaedin Bela has written a public letter to the President of the United States of America in which he proposes that North Macedonia serve as one of the host countries for meetings of the newly minted “Board of Peace”.
Bela, who has a PhD in Defense Studies, and counts the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard among his education credits, further proposes that Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa be declared “Lakes of Peace” due to the well-known agreements signed near them and their important strategic position between Albania, Greece, and North Macedonia.
The Albanian colonel from North Macedonia expresses his readiness to offer his help in realizing this vision and informs the American president about prominent figures who have emerged from these lands, such as Albanian Nobel laureates Mother Teresa and Ferid Murad.
Below is the full text of the letter:
OPEN LETTER
Addressed to the President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump
Dear President Trump,
As a Colonel with many years of experience in peacekeeping missions, including direct cooperation with the United States Central Command, as well as research and active engagement in humanitarian and peace operations, I support every initiative aimed at promoting peace, stability, and global well-being.
Following information regarding the establishment of a “Board for Peace” I decided to address you through this open letter in order to express my support and to propose an idea that I consider noble, meaningful, and of particular value not only to me and my country, but also to the United States of America and the international community as a whole.
My proposal is that the Republic of North Macedonia, as a relatively young state with unique historical and geographical characteristics, serve as a host country for meetings of this Peace Board. This country has already been the venue for several internationally significant agreements, including the Kumanovo Agreement (1999), the Ohrid Framework Agreement (2002), the Prespa Agreement (2018), and the Ohrid dialogue processes (2023).
I propose that you, as President of the United States and Strategic Partner of North Macedonia, together with representatives of my country and the region, proclaim Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa as “Lakes of Peace.” This would position our country as a “home of peace,” welcoming initiatives, agreements, and dialogues that promote peace, tolerance, and global coexistence.
Such an initiative would have a multifaceted impact, it would convey a powerful message of peace to the world, strengthen friendly ties among parties in need of dialogue, and foster sustainable economic, cultural, and historical development for the region.
These two lakes are located at the three border area of North Macedonia – Albania – Greece, and each has its own unique characteristics. On the shores of Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest known human settlements in the world has been discovered, area of the village of Lin, the lake is included on UNESCO’s list as a combined natural and cultural World Heritage site. Lake Prespa, on the other hand, is the highest tectonic lake in the Balkans, rich in extraordinary biodiversity of flora and fauna.
This idea gains even greater significance when we recall that Mother Teresa, laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize, was born and raised in these lands, and that globally distinguished figures such as Nobel laureate Ferid Murad have roots here. This region has also produced many athletes who have won Olympic, European, and world medals, demonstrating its human and cultural potential.
The presence of a “Board for Peace” in a Western Balkan country would have an undeniable effect on fostering dialogue, building trust, and addressing challenges that have historically made this region complex.
If the Balkans has often been symbolically associated with divisions and painful histories, I respectfully hope that through such an initiative peace, cooperation, and hope will prevail.
As a military officer, I consider it my duty to emphasize that, although a small country, North Macedonia has contributed and continues to contribute to peacekeeping missions led by the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, and NATO, including Iraqi Freedom, UNIFIL, ALTHEA, EUTM CAR, ISAF, KFOR, and Enhanced Forward Presence.
As a Colonel and Doctor of Defense Sciences, educated also at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, I express my full readiness to contribute professionally and institutionally to the realization of this vision, should it be considered acceptable.
With deepest respect,
Colonel Muhaedin Bela PHD