Leadership of Peaceful Transition of Eastern European Power Becomes the Asset for Peace in Korea
High-Level Meeting of Former Political Leaders in Europe to Spread the Culture of Peace and Call for Support for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea
In Eastern Europe, divisions and conflicts caused by the confrontation from ideologies during the last century were overcome by dedication of citizens and leaders at the time of change. As a symbol of the beginning of the Cold War and today’s long-lasting conflict, the Korean peninsula has been one of the major determinants of international peace. The recent Korean issues are on the rise in the international society, the leaders of Eastern Europe who led peaceful transition gathered together to discuss peaceful reunification of Korea.
On May 19, “High-Level Meeting of Former Political Leaders in Europe to Spread the Culture of Peace and Call for Support for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea” on the theme of “Solidarity of Empathy for Peace” was hosted at Palace of the Parliament by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international NGO under the UN ECOSOC in cooperation with Institute for Advanced Studies for Culture and Civilization of the Levant led by Hon. Emil Constantinescu, the third President of Romania.
Chairman Lee said, “Currently our country is at the very crucial point. I confirm that achieving peace of the Korean Peninsula will bring peace to the world.” And he added, “The wars will come to an end and peace will be achieved through 10 Articles and 38 Clauses of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).” Chairman Lee appealed continuous support for the Reunification of the Korean Peninsula and World Peace and said, “Please join us in leaving a legacy of the World without Wars to our future generations”.
“This event seeks to applicability of the efforts of Eastern European states in overcoming conflicts and settlement of peace during the post-Cold War period to stability and peacebuilding in the Korean peninsula. The significance of this discussion is that experts in different sectors including former presidents, former and present ambassadors and academic professionals from international law, women and youth representatives and media participate and discuss plans for effective cooperation for peace,” said Kim Byoung Seok, the Chief Branch Manager of HWPL.
In his congratulatory speech, Hon. Pravin H. Parekh, Senior counsel of Supreme Court of India said, “Chairman Lee did whatever he could do for peace for the last 5 years. Since we gathered here to cease war and achieve peace, I believe each one of us will be able to influence the UN in adopting DPCW”.
In the event, HWPL highlighted international cooperation and civic participation in peacebuilding in relation to culture of peace defined by the UN - Education for a culture of peace, Understanding, tolerance and solidarity, Democratic participation, Free flow of information, Disarmament, Human rights, Sustainable development, Equality of women and men.
In his speech highlighting the role of the international community in exchanging ideas called "cultural diplomacy", Hon. Emil Constantinescu said, "The great humanity conversation must now be encouraged so that the larger and larger groups of people could develop free flocks of ideas and knowledge worldwide. This vision can be developed only if representatives are able to act as plurality of voices, questions and desires of billions of people participating it.” “An important milestone has been the cooperation since 2014 with Chairman Lee of HWPL associated with women and youth organizations which gave extraordinary impetus to the universal peace movement. This global movement promotes a culture of peace,” he added.
Advocating peace and stability in the Korean peninsula has been pursued by HWPL since 2014 when a group of former heads of state from Eastern Europe as HWPL Advisory Council was appointed at the 25th Anniversary Event of the Fall of Communism. Also this month HWPL has opened a series of peace forums in Ukraine, Germany, Sweden and Norway in collaboration with government officials and civil society representatives. In Germany and Sweden, members of city council, youth leaders and citizens presented “peace letters” to support reunification and peace in Korea. According to HWPL, the peace letters of support collected around the world will be delivered to the leaders of the two Koreas.
HWPL has proposed global peacebuilding efforts through the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). The DPCW addresses principles of conflict resolution and international cooperation for peacebuilding such as respect on the international law, peaceful dispute settlement, and spreading a culture of peace. As a part of peace initiatives, 138 educational institutions around the world are designated as HWPL Peace Academies to develop peace through education.
Participants
Congratulatory Speech
Mr. Pravin H. Parekh, Senior counsel of Supreme Court of India
Session 1: Empathy
Chair of the discussion
Hon. Emil Constantinescu, former President of Romania
Speakers
Hon. Rexhep Qemal Meidani, former President of Albania
Hon. Stanislav Stanislavovich Shushkevich, former Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus
Hon. Stjepan Mesic, former President of Croatia
Hon. Viktor Yushchenko, former President of Ukraine
Hon. Haris Silajdžić, former Cukhairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hon. MilkaRistova, Judge of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Macedonia, retired
Session 2: Solidarity
Speakers
Mr. Darko Bekić(Croatian historian), former Foreign Policy Advisor of Croatia
Prof. Dr. Zoran Vitorovic, Advisor to the Dean on Global Process and Preventative Diplomacy at FIM, and Executive Director of East West Bridge (EWB) Swiss
