[HWPL]

[HWPL] HWPL Peace Tours of Man-hee Lee (24): The World Speaks the Universal Language of 'Peace'

Chairman Man-hee Lee is delivering a keynote speech at the symposium “The Levant Initiative for Global Peace”, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics (IPCGE), at UNESCO Headquarters in France on July 2, 2014

In the end, the universal language of peace is 'authenticity'. Man-hee Lee, Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), visited 54 countries in 3 years and travelled the globe 12 times to present the solution to realizing peace for humanity. Chairman Lee's sincerity has moved the hearts of people worldwide, as various invitations by those who seek the “answers to peace” followed one after the other. Chairman Lee and his peace delegation embarked on their 12th tour to Europe from mid-June 2014, two weeks after their 11th tour. The 19-day tour included visits to Croatia, France, Germany, Montenegro, Spain, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In response to the fervent invitation of the European Commission and UNESCO, the first stop of the 12th tour was Croatia, which is also known as Europe's jewel.

Chairman Lee, who arrived in Croatia on June 29, 2014, was the main Korean representative at a symposium held in Southeast Europe under the theme of 'The Levant Initiative for Global Peace', where he was keynote speaker to an audience of leading figures in politics, law, culture, and the media who had gathered to share their thoughts on cultural exchange in the Balkans. At that meeting, Chairman Lee introduced the organization ‘Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL)’ as “the answer to peace.” He emphasized, “I wish to convey a heavenly culture of peace to the world”, and said, “Amidst the crises in the global village, we can only protect humanity and all creation when we become one for peace.”

A meeting was held between Chairman Lee and Croatia's incumbent and former presidents in Croatia. In an interview with the then President Ivo Josipović, Chairman Lee said, “The task of uniting religions for the sake of ceasing wars and attaining peace is crucial in determining the actuality of peace in the global village. This is why the presidents of every country, and their people, should come on board.” Chairman Lee directly placed a chest pin badge on President Josipović as a clear sign of what the president needed to do to achieve peace together.

Chairman Man-hee Lee meets and holds peace talks and agreements with the incumbent and former presidents of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 12th peace tour, which was held from June 29 to July 18, 2014

The former President of Croatia Stjepan Mesić, who survived the Second World War and the Yugoslav Civil War, has expressed deep sympathy for Chairman Lee, who was a veteran of the Korean War, in his longing for peace. “I am convinced that peace can be achieved through Chairman Lee,” said former President Mesić. “I will support Chairman Lee’s peace movement.”

A Croatian faith leader also came to visit Chairman Lee after hearing the news of the visit of the Messenger of Peace. Hafez Alili Imam, a Croatian representative of the Islamic faith, personally visited Chairman Lee's lodging and asked him to share a message of peace. Chairman Lee emphasized, "If you are a religious leader, you should have the mind to work together for peace more than any president in the world." As the head of the largest mosque in Croatia, Hafez Alili Imam was of the same mind as Chairman Lee, stating that Islam is in the greatest need of peace, and he signed the peace agreement. Hafez Alili said, “My first impression of Chairman Lee was one of great surprise and it was quite overwhelming. The pure sincerity of the Chairman (toward peace) was clearly felt.”

Chairman Man-hee Lee poses for a commemorative photo after signing a peace agreement with Hafez Alili Imam, a Croatian representative of the Islamic faith, at Esplanade Hotel, Croatia on June 30, 2014

Paris, France, marked the second stop of the peace tour of Chairman Lee and his peace delegation on July 2nd.

A peace symposium hosted by the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics (IPCGE) was held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris with 25 members of Parliament, religious and academic leaders from many countries, including former President of Romania Emil Constantinescu and former UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Gianni Picco. At the symposium, Chairman Lee delivered a keynote speech.

Chairman Lee received a certificate of appreciation from UNESCO in recognition of his contribution to the realization of world peace. Leaders from political and religious groups who attended the conference signed the peace agreement and promised to act as messengers of peace alongside Chairman Lee. Words of gratitude to Chairman Lee were delivered by leaders including Shoshana Bekerman, an Israeli lawmaker who organized the conference, and Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who had served as the sixth UN Secretary-General.

The French representative of Judaism invited Chairman Lee and his peace delegation to his synagogue. Sealed to the public, Rabbi Moshe Sebbag opened and showed Chairman Lee the world's largest storage room of Torah materials inside the Grande Synagogue de Paris. Torah means 'law' in Hebrew, and it is scripture written on parchment scrolls over a 1000 years ago. Chairman Lee surprised everyone by accurately conveying the meaning of the scriptures contained in the Torah upon first glance. Rabbi Moshe Sebbag said, “I feel that Chairman Lee is a man of peace and someone who strives for peace. I have met a deep well of wisdom and knowledge.”

Chairman Man-hee Lee is having a peace discussion with the French representative of Judaism, Rabbi Moshe Sebbag, at the Grande Synagogue de Paris in France on July 3, 2014

The third stop on the peace tour was Germany, home to the Potsdam Conference held in 1945. Chairman Lee expressed his dismay at the outcome of the decision made in Potsdam that resulted in the division of Korea and emphasized that “to stipulate the cessation of war in international law is to make world peace a reality.”

Chairman Lee held peace talks with religious leaders, including the heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Taiwanese Buddhist Centre in Berlin, as well as the heads of social community groups and local peace activists, and signed a peace agreement.

Chairman Man-hee Lee is taking a commemorative photo with the Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Domi Kolungitz, at the Serbian Orthodox Church in Berlin, Germany on July 6, 2014

Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau to Germany, Malam Djassi, concluded a peace discussion with Chairman Lee, saying, “Chairman Lee’s peace organization is well organized for the world, peace and youth. I will actively support the activities of Chairman Lee and the peace delegation.”

The last destination of the tour was Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is in the midst of a whirlwind of civil conflict rooted in religion and ideology and desperately desires peace more than any other country.

Chairman Man-hee Lee shakes hands with Mufti Husein Smajić, President of the Interreligious Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina-Religions for Peace (IRC), after a peace discussion held at the IRC office in Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 12, 2014

Religious leaders such as Jakob Finci, President of the Jewish Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vesna Banović, executive director of International Rescue Committee, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and Cardinal Vinko Puljić, who gathered upon hearing the news of the messenger's visit, were of one accord with the Chairman's will for peace. By signing a peace agreement, they agreed to end religious disputes.

Chairman Lee also met with Nedžad Branković, former Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and informed him that there was an answer to peace. Former PM Branković also pledged to become a messenger of peace. He said, "You have come with the very noble mission of peace. Living a life devoted to peace like the Chairman is something that should be truly respected."

Chairman Lee gave a peace lecture at International University of Sarajevo, instilling love and courage in the hearts and minds of Bosnian youth.

Chairman Man-hee Lee greets a priest from the Orthodox Church of Sarajevo, Vanya Yovanovich, after a peace discussion with religious leaders at the Interreligious Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina-Religions for Peace (IRC) office in Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 11, 2014

The interest in Chairman Lee's steps for peace intensified during the 12th peace tour. Global requests for interview from reporters flooded in, and visits were even made to the hotel where Chairman Lee and the peace delegation were staying at in order to ask for an interview. Casarhema TV, ERF (Christian) Television, Balkan TV, and Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina - to name a few media outlets - all reported on Chairman Lee's steps for peace.

"He is truly a messenger of peace," said Claire Sangura, a reporter from Casarhema TV, France's oldest Christian broadcaster, who interviewed Chairman Lee curious about his clear solution to peace. "You can tell by his voice and actions. He showed that God is with him, and I think that this is most important.”

Peace!!