[HWPL]

[HWPL] Follow-up Agreement between HWPL and the Baltic Black Sea Council at Goseong Peace Institute

A commemorative photo of signatories to the follow-up agreement adopted between HWPL and the Baltic Black Sea Council, following the Goseong Peace Conference, at the HWPL Peace Institute in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi province on September 16, 2018. Prior on that day, the two organizations attended the 4th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to conduct the work of peace.

Working for "world peace" is done for the sake of humanity, but it is not a simple task for a civil organization to move the heads of state in every country to adopt an official agreement, because progressing a draft document into an agreement carries with it the great expectation and responsibility that it will be implemented. An active civil peace movement, which is comprised of everyday people, can only operate with a global agenda when the heads of state and those in positions of major influence are well informed and pressed about it. However, that does not happen quickly, because a private organization's structure and its practical ability to execute its policy statement are scrutinized.

Yet, sufficient attention was drawn to the agreement held at the Peace Institute in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi province, Korea on September 16, 2018. In the presence of heads of state, who included the former presidents of Eastern Europe, a follow-up agreement was adopted for the ideals of world peace and the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsular. The Goseong Peace Conference was held the day before the three-day WARP Summit.

A commemorative photo of Chairman Lee of HWPL (center left) and former First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and the then President of the Baltic Black Sea Council Gennady Burbulis as signatories to the adoption of a follow-up agreement, whose content was discussed following the peace conference. On that day, the two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) detailing the specific tasks of this follow-up agreement.

The Baltic Black Sea Council, comprised of the heads of Eastern European countries, visited Korea and held a discussion for world peace with Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL, Chairman Man-hee Lee), and subsequently adopted a follow-up agreement. This fruit of peace was the result of a four-year relationship that was first established during the 2014 WARP Summit, which numerous heads of Eastern European countries attended and were left markedly impressed by.

The Baltic Black Sea Council was established to respond to conflicts and threats occurring in the Baltic Black Sea region.

Those in attendance on that day included HWPL Chairman Man-hee Lee, the former President of Romania and President of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization Emil Constantinescu, the former President of Moldova Petru Lucinschi, the former Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus Stanislav Shushkevich, the former President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, and the former First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Gennady Burbulis.

Within this agreement, both organizations recognised that an approach founded on collective cooperation is key to ending global conflicts and attaining peace, which is top priority as partners on this peace project. The agreement also stipulated a promise by the two groups to cooperate to maintain peace not only in the Korean Peninsular and in the Baltic Black Sea region, but also throughout the world for posterity.

Both organizations said, “Through this summit, the two organizations are placing the utmost priority on resolving disputes through peaceful means. We equally recognise its importance.”

In particular, the President of the International Centre for Black Sea Baltic Studies Iryna Vereshchuk, said, “HWPL and the Baltic Black Sea Council held this peace meeting to reach an agreement on the cessation of war and peace on the Korean Peninsular and in the Baltic Black Sea. We have decided to provide peace education to pass on a peaceful earth to future generations and to establish a culture of peace.” She continued, “(HWPL) strives to resolve conflicts through peaceful means, and shares the recognition that community cooperation is necessary to resolve armed conflicts." She added, "We adopted the follow-up agreement to co-operate globally beyond the boundaries of the Korean peninsular and the Baltic Black Sea region."

The then President of the Baltic Black Sea Council Gennady Burbulis (left) speaks, and Chairman Lee delivers a message of peace to Eastern European countries' heads of state, who are members of the Baltic Black Sea Council, at the Goseong Peace Conference held at the HWPL Peace Institute in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi province, on September 16, 2018

There are three main contents to the agreement. First, it appeals for the development of international law in the form of the DPCW, which embodies the spirit of peace.

This provision was stipulated through evidence of HWPL's various peace activities, including, among others, its 31 world peace tours, the 9.18 WARP Summit (and subsequent annual commemorations), the Peace Walk, the 5.25 Declaration of World Peace (and subsequent annual commemorations), and the 3.14 Proclamation Ceremony of the DPCW, which all included regular meetings with youth and religious groups. The follow-up agreement is practical and achievable in bearing substantial fruits of peace.

Specifically, the two organizations confirmed that the 'Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)' proclaimed by HWPL on March 14, 2016, holds the ultimate solution to ending global wars and armed conflicts.

Accordingly, they decided to appeal to the UN Secretary-General and UN ambassadors of every country to pay close attention to, and cooperate with, all processes and procedures for the proposal and enactment of the DPCW into a legally binding document by the United Nations. Furthermore, the heads of state, including the presidents and prime ministers of every country, decided to appeal to their respective governments for support of the DPCW through national declarations and other charters, with a heart of true love and protection for their country and people.

In particular, the former heads of state, including presidents and prime ministers of each country belonging to the two organizations, have recommended and urged incumbent heads of state to support the DPCW for the sake of world peace and respect for human dignity.

Furthermore, the ministries of education, various academic institutions and educators of each country agreed to implement peace education that embodies the true value of peace and the content of a culture of peace. In particular, they also agreed that they would appeal to future generations to establish and maintain a culture of peace in the global village through educational peace-building programs for youth.

The second part of the agreement is centered on a Declaration of support for the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsular.

The two organizations shared the viewpoint that a peace settlement and unification between the Koreas (South and North) is of great significance along the journey to realizing a world of peace. Accordingly, the two organizations made the decision to support the unification process through the spirit of self-determination, without third-party intervention, and through voluntary dialogue between the two Koreas.

Moreover, in the hope of the historic moment when the leaders of the two Koreas would hold hands as a promise of lasting peace and allow the people of the two Koreas to freely engage and travel back and forth, they committed to supporting the active dialogue and cooperation between the leaders of the two Koreas. 

The Baltic Black Sea Council said, “As a party or neighboring country that facilitated the collapse of the Soviet Union and the birth of new European countries by signing the Convention on the Commonwealth of Independent States in December 1991, we express our sincere regret for the reality of the division of the Korean Peninsular, a product of the Cold War era. We support the peaceful unification of the divided Korean Peninsula."

The final part of the agreement is for a comprehensive and permanent cooperation between the two organizations.

HWPL and the Baltic Black Sea Council stated, “It is our common mission and duty to establish a comprehensive and feasible strategy for the cessation of war and world peace. We agree to do our best to maintain a lasting relationship that can achieve world peace.”

Meanwhile, in addition to adopting a follow-up agreement centered on the content of the Goseong Peace Conference on that day, HWPL and the Baltic Black Sea Council held an MOU signing ceremony, which affirmed the promise by both sides to mobilize their specialized infrastructure in each field to achieve peace. To this end, individually listed detailed tasks include the formation of a consultative body for global peace, academic activities such as seminars, conferences, public lectures and discussions, and cooperation in media reports. In particular, the Baltic Black Sea Council signed an agreement to participate in various projects, including HWPL's peace movement and peace education.

Peace!