Former President of Romania, Emil Constantinescu
…. messages from former presidents of Croatia, Romania delivered to South Koreans
The expectation of achieving peace in the Korean peninsula has risen as heard the news that the two leaders of Korea successfully concluded the third inter-Korean summit in Pyeongyang. To support the long-cherished wish of Korea, in Seoul, special lectures on peace in the Korean peninsula as well as over the world were held by former presidents of Eastern Europe.
For this special lecture, Former President of Croatia, H.E. Ivo Josipović, and Former President of Romania, Hon. Emil Constantinescu who experienced the time under the democracy, as well as the communism, stood on the podium in attendance with 2,000 of Korean citizens.
With the topic of ‘Path to Peace in the Korean Peninsula’, the third president of Croatia, H.E. Ivo Josipović, gave a lecture, which centered on the role of cultural exchange to achieve reconciliation of Korea, on 16th of September.
According to the lecture, Croatia is the country experienced the massacre by Nazis during the World War II and at that time music was used as a tool for Nazis’ propaganda but also as a method to build the protest. H.E. Ivo Josipović, explained the power of culture to achieve peace in the divided peninsula by introducing the history of the former Yugoslavia.
“I think music, especially the folk music which has the same roots, is a tool to share the same sentiment from both sides of the borders. There are many supporters for the reunification of the two Koreas from America, China, Japan, etc. But it’s crucial that they, the leaders of both sides, talk face-to-face. Through the cooperation in exchanging cultures such as music and sport, you have to understand each other and to accept the differences.”
He also emphasized the role of political leaders to cease the existing conflicts in the world citing past case in which the treaty signed by Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In relation to the establishment of a legally binding form of international law for peace, “Presenting the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) to the United Nation as a resolution, with our intention to build peace in the world, is novel and important.” he added.
Following the peace lecture by the former president of Croatia, ‘Lecture Concert for Peaceful Unification on the Korean Peninsula’ with the third president of Romania, Hon. Emil Constantinescu, was carried out on 20th of September.
The event was aimed to promote the awareness of the citizen to bring peace into the nation and suggest the ways to steer the ongoing inter-Korean peace process. Ahead of the lecture, Korean youth showed a traditional performance to the audiences including the leaders of Europe, politicians, media, women and youth organizations as well as Korean citizens.
Hon. Emil Constantinescu, the lecturer of the event, started his message with the memories of a life under tyranny. “The Second World War caused the death of more than 25 million soldiers and over 73 million civilians as well as huge economic losses and destructions of the world cultural heritage. The atrocities of the two wars in the first half of the 21st century proved to be insufficient to understand that peace cannot be strengthened only by managing frozen conflicts.”
With the topic of ‘Suggestion on peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula based upon the experiences throughout the transition period of Eastern Europe’, he reminded of the power of people who fought for the freedom and said, “The incredible lack of fear and the solidarity of people forced the dictator to flee and freedom was gained. In one of history’s bright moments, people were willing to die for the ideals of freedom and democracy. The answer regarding the future of freedom and democracy is the choice of each generation and, in the end, of each of us.”
He concluded the lecture by saying that the peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula is possible and to fulfill that, all people from the leaders and politicians to the youth must have consciousness to achieve peace.
This event, organized by International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), was co-hosted by the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization (ISACCL) and YIRUM ART.
At the end of the event, an MOU promising further cooperation for peace in the Korean peninsula and the world was signed by ISACCL, where Hon. Emil Constantinescu is as the president of the organization, and HWPL, an international peace NGO where the IPYG is affiliated with.
Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL, delivered his congratulatory message to the audience saying, “In the Korean War, 4 million Korean died. Then should we kill each other more? The two leaders with holding hands each other achieve peaceful reunification for the people in this peninsula.”
“I express the gratitude to the two former presidents, who delivered good lectures for the citizens of Korea with great concern and support. Now let all the people in all levels of society become the messengers of peace to bring peace a step closer to us.” said Chairman Lee.
The two leaders of Eastern Europe have visited Korea also to attend the 4th WARP Summit hosted by HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), registered in UN ECOSOC and UN DPI.
