Meeting with WCC Secretary-General Jerry Pillay
President Lee Jaemyung met with Jerry Pillay, Secretary-General of the World Council of Churches (WCC), a Protestant ecumenical organization, and expressed his hope that the WCC would support efforts to improve inter-Korean relations if possible.
On the afternoon of August 11, at the presidential office in Yongsan, President Lee received Secretary-General Pillay and said, "I hope that the activities of the WCC, which strives for peace, security, and solidarity around the world, will continue in the future."
President Lee also stated, "I am well aware of the significant role the WCC played in the democratization process of the Republic of Korea, and I am deeply grateful for it. The WCC also campaigned to save the respected President Kim Dae-jung and brought much attention to human rights violations in Korea, making a great contribution to the growth and development of our democracy."
He added, "The WCC has also played a major role in peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as in inter-Korean dialogue. I understand that the WCC was the first to open dialogue between churches in the North and South, and I am truly grateful for that as well."
In response, Secretary-General Pillay said, "You are very well informed about the WCC," and went on to introduce the organization's activities. He also congratulated President Lee on his inauguration, saying, "I know there are high expectations within Korean society. I can see that trust and expectations for the new government are rising."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
