* OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE WORLD FORUM The Normandy for Peace World Forum is launched by speeches from Hervé Morin and Ramon Luis Valcarcel Siso, vice-president of the European parliament. It is followed by a presentation of the Vitae project on the theme "Objectif Lune: a union of art and science for peace and freedom" by the sculptress Anilore Banon. * CONFLICTS, TENSIONS AND CONTEMPORARY VIOLENCE : THE STATE OF THE WORLD This introductory conference, part of the official opening of the Normandy for Peace 2018 World Forum, lays the groundwork for the debate on the changing concept of war and draws up an inventory of contemporary conflicts. The collective imagination often refers to war as a head-on opposition between two States. This vision of armed conflict seems today to be no longer valid because of the proliferation of non-state stakeholders. How can we characterize, identify and define these new forms of violence? * PRESENTATION OF LEADERS FOR PEACE BY ITS PRESIDENT Speech by Jean-Pierre Raffarin as president of Leaders for Peace.