His sincere welcome we quote here because it expresses very precisely what the Peace Run is about.

"Dear runners, dear visitors, dear friends,
It is great honour for me to welcome you in our village Nova Ves, which means simply New Village. I would like to welcome you as sportsmen, as long distance runners, but above all as people from many nations, who are by sport supporting and carrying the idea of peace and respect between nations.
I think that the opposite of peace is not war; the opposite of peace is hatred. And unfortunately these days in the world there is too much hatred against anything which is different. Against different people, different nations, different religions, mostly against anything unknown. And unknown things create fear. Fear creates hatred.
Your Peace Run is not just a run; it is more of a social event. You are visiting many foreign countries, meeting many foreign people, but after the Run the countries will not be foreign anymore. The people will become your friends; by knowing you; you by knowing them. So this unknown thing between people will disappear. Any kind of a visit to foreign countries and meeting local people leads to understanding and mutual respect. After visiting different foreign countries you quickly recognize that everywhere in any nation there are many good people and, like in any nation, some not so nice people. So you start to look at that particular person not based on the nationality and prejudices, but based on personality. And this is the best prevention of hatred.
The best way to have contact with the locals is to walk, run or cycle throughout any country and to depend on the help and hospitality of locals.
I have traveled a lot. I have met a lot of nice people in Europe, in Asia as well as in South America. Therefore I feel that I got a lot from the travels and that I owe a lot to the travellers I will meet in the future.
So it is really my great pleasure to welcome you as friends and honourable visitors. Thank you for visiting our village.
Please enjoy small refreshments prepared by the members of the senior club of our village and enjoy a small performance of the children and the teachers of our nursery school.
I wish you good running further on and wish you to meet many nice people. Let the peace will spread over the world and over the minds."