CILRECO’s Presidency Meeting
In its latest bulletin, No. 301, February 2000, just
received, "For a reunified and independent Korea", The International
Liaison Committee for Reunification and Peace in Korea (CILRECO) carries an
article on its Presidency meeting, held in Paris on February 5, 2000, which
launched an appeal to the international community in favour of the respect of
the sovereignty of the Korean nation, the withdrawal of all the American troops
from South Korea, and the peaceful reunification of Korea, a factor of
international security and peace. The articles follows:
People of different political views from different
continents met in Paris on February 5th, at the annual session of the
Presidency of the international movement of solidarity with the Korean people,
to assess the situation in the Korean peninsula and the evolution of the
reunification problem.
Members of the progressive forces from different countries
expressed at this meeting their serious concerns over the persistence, on the
eve of the new century, of the arbitrary division of the Korean nation.
They described the current situation as a real challenge to the right of
people to self-determination in accordance with the basic principles of the
Charter of the United Nations.
The participants reaffirmed that this division of Korea, the
source of numerous problems for the entire nation, and a potential threat to
stability in Asia and international security, is, at this day and age, an
unacceptable affront to humanity.
Accordingly, they have taken steps to encourage people
world-wide to support the patriotic struggle of the Korean people, and to
incite them to intervene with the international community to make it assume its
responsibilities towards the Korean nation.
In his opening speech, Honorary President M. Amar BENTOUMI,
former Algerian Minister of Justice and President of the International
Association of Democratic Lawyers, emphasised the responsibility of the United
Nations for this long-lasting division of Korea.
Namely, he mentioned that the resolution of the 30th
General Assembly of the United Nations, held in 1975, had not yet been applied,
even though it had recommended some positive measures for the solution of
the "Korean problem", such as the dismantling of the
commanding forces of the UN in Korea, the withdrawal of all foreign troops
(the American troops stationed in South Korea), and the replacement of
the 1953 armistice agreement by a peace treaty.
"What gives the right to the US troops stationed in
South Korea to use the UN flag?" he said, denouncing the
illegality of this 55 year long military occupation, defying the sovereignty of
the Korean nation.
M. BENTOUMI also questioned the accuracy of information
denigrating systematically the D.P.R.K. and its policies, and cited examples
proving that often it was a question of "unwarranted
allegations" and unsubstantiated accusations. Honorary President of
CILRECO ended his opening speech by saying:
"Despite all the attempts to carry out ‘the
unification of Korea’ according to projects envisaged by the United
States and their allies, despite all the measures taken to liquidate the
D.P.R.K. in order to facilitate this objective, despite all the campaigns to
distort the problem of reunification of this country, this question remains one
of the most important ones people are concerned with and motivated by, because
they are becoming more and more aware of the fact that it is closely tied to
fundamental problems of sovereignty and international security.
If we agree with this assessment, is there any need to
emphasise the responsibility incumbent upon CILRECO, which has the honour to be
the modest leader of this combat, aware of the fact that it is significantly
contributing to the struggle of all people for justice, independence and peace
in the world."
(to be continued)
