[HWPL]

[HWPL] HWPL Peace Tours of Man-hee Lee (3-1): 1st Meeting between Chairman Man-hee Lee and former East German Chancellor Lothar de Maizière - “Reunification of the Korean Peninsula is Very Important,” “History is made by God”

Man-hee Lee, Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), is attracting attention for his epochal peace achievements by presenting solutions to peace in the form of the ‘Enactment of an International Law for Cessation of War’ and ‘World Alliance of Religions’. As a veteran of the Korean War, Chairman Lee is encouraging the largest number of people in the history of the global village to join the peace movement, proclaiming, “Let’s create a world without war and pass it on as an eternal legacy to future generations.” From the 1st to 31st peace tours, Korean peace activist Man-hee Lee has brought inspiration and hope to the global village with the message “Peace, We Can Make It.”

Chairman Man-hee Lee (right) meets with former East German Chancellor Lothar de Maizière in Potsdam on May 11th, 2012 to hear the past process of German reunification and to discuss the prospects for inter-Korean reunification.

“The reunification of Korea is important to achieve world peace and religious freedom” - Chairman Man-hee Lee 

“Politicians have sometimes provided plans (for reunification) from above, but it is also important that people from the bottom do so” - Former East German Chancellor Lothar de Maizière

During his first Peace Tour, Chairman Man-hee Lee of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) met with former East German Chancellor Lothar de Maizière, who served as the last Prime Minister of East Germany just before German reunification, in Potsdam, Germany, where they discussed the reunification of the Korean Peninsula for about three hours. The meeting, held on May 11, 2012 during the European peace tour of Chairman Lee, who is a Korean War veteran on a mission to “end war and achieve world peace,” was arranged in order to learn about the former Chancellor's experience of reunification. After leading the East German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to victory in the final general election in March 1990, the former Chancellor was able to achieve German reunification through negotiations with West Germany.

Chairman Lee said, “I would like for you to provide much help and guidance for the reunification of our country. Korea must be unified.” In response, former East German Chancellor Lothar de Maizière said, “It is impossible to break apart people of the same nationality for a long time. German reunification was not something expected, either.” He also said, “It seems like history is made by God,” and, “The basis of German reunification came from the peaceful protest of its citizens.” He explained that because the links between East and West Germany were never completely severed, it was possible to send post, make phone calls, and watch West German TV in East Germany. There was constant exchange between the divided countries.

"Germany was in the middle of Europe, and when Germany split, Europe itself was divided," Maizière said. He emphasized the importance of education, saying, "What is important is the education of the Korean youth regarding the need for Korean reunification." He also said, "We must seize the opportunity for reunification when it comes and achieve it as quickly as possible."

In agreement with the former Chancellor, Chairman Lee said, “It is really good to educate students to think about reunification at school or at home. They don't even know that our country was subjected to aggression and oppression." In response, the former Chancellor said, "Korea's reunification depends on how much the North Korean ruling class gives freedom of thought and opinion to the people," and, “It is impossible to break apart people of the same nationality for a long time. I do not think the Korean Peninsula will remain divided for long. Reunification will happen soon.” Chairman Lee argued that reunification cannot be achieved if the Koreas continue to engage in conflict with the other on the grounds of “reunification according to my standard.” Chairman Lee said, “First of all, we need to ask the people what kind of political ideology we should assume after achieving reunification.”

Chairman Lee said, "If Korea has been appealing for world peace, yet itself remains divided, how will other countries view it?" He said, "The reunification of Korea is important to achieve world peace and religious freedom." He continued, “If South Korea works with another nation to form a team for reunification and goes to the North to engage in discussion, and the North also forms such a team with another nation to engage in discussion for reunification, we will be one step closer to reunification.”

Chairman Lee is actively working not only for the reunification of Korea but also for world peace. He said, "Let's become one family that achieves world peace. Let's become one by helping each other like the light, rain and air of the skies. I hope that the world will have a policy to achieve world peace."

Exterior view of Cecilienhof Palace in Potsdam, Germany

Peace!!