Seoul, 9 June 2001/P/RE/17196
At a lecture meeting held yesterday at the National University of Pusan
(Republic of Korea), the President of the International Progress Organization
(I.P.O.), Dr. Hans Koechler, called for the peaceful reunification of Korea on
the basis of a constitutional model to be mutually agreed upon between North
and South Korea.
At the meeting sponsored by the Korean Human Rights Center Dr. Koechler
emphasized the view of the I.P.O. that the reunification of Korea is a matter
to be decided by the Korean people themselves; no solution can be imposed by
outside powers or through any kind of pressure upon the people of Korea, he
said. The principle of non-interference in the internal affairs is to be
strictly adhered to if lasting peace should be achieved on the Korean
peninsula.
The President of the I.P.O. reiterated the organization's long-standing
position that the use of the United Nations flag in the devastating war of
1953 was not legitimized because, at the time, the composition of the Security
Council was not in conformity with the UN Charter.
Dr. Koechler reported about his earlier visits to the People's Democratic
Republic of Korea and expressed the hope that Chairman Kim Jong Il will
reciprocate President Kim Dae Jung's courageous gesture who visited Pyongyang
in June last year.
The President of the I.P.O. concluded today a visit to East Asia in the course
of which he discussed the organization's research project on humanitarian
intervention with the President of the China Institute for Contemporary
International Relations in Bejing and with the President and researchers of
Myongji University in Seoul and of the Pusan National University.
END/PEACEFUL REUNIFICATION OF KOREA/P/RE/17196