World Peace Council (Athens, May 2004)
1. Declaration of The Assembly of The World Peace Council
2. BELGRADE FORUM AT THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL
=== 1 ===
Da: "Vladimir Krsljanin" <slobodavk @ yubc.net>
Data: Mer 19 Mag 2004 17:53:07 Europe/Rome
Oggetto: Declaration of The Assembly of The World Peace Council
**************************************
WORLD PEACE COUNCIL
10 Othonos Str, 10557 Athens Greece
Tel.: +30-210-3316326, Fax: +30-210-3224302
http://www.wpc-in.org , e-mail: info@...
**************************************
Declaration of The Assembly of The WPC Athens, May 6-9, 2004
=============================================
The Assembly of the World Peace Council was successfully held on May
6-9, 2004 in Athens, Greece, with the participation of 134 delegates
from
62 Organisations from 47 countries.
After a rich and very fruitful discussion the participants of the
Assembly
concluded with the following declaration to the peoples of the world:
The developments that have taken place since the last WPC Assembly in
May of 2000 have been ones of particular significance and have given
rise
to a situation which is crucial for humanity, one marked by the
intensity of
the increased aggressiveness of the world strategy of the USA as it
strives
to impose and consolidate the new world order of war and oppression. At
the same time day by day it faces increasing political isolation
deriving from
its arbitrary and unilateral acts of violation of human and peoples'
rights.
Humanity is alarmed by the developments regarding world peace and
security in recent years. Never before in recent history have the
peoples stood up and organized such huge protests in the anti-war
movement as those against the imperialist war of the US and its allies
on Iraq. There is a growing worldwide trend towards peace. The WPC has
been and is strongly involved in this movement through its members and
friendly organizations, together with millions of people on all
continents and in all corners of the world.
The terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York and on the Pentagon
on September 11, 2001 was used as a pretext for an overall offensive to
be
launched on the peoples and countries of the world in all sectors. The
announcement of the so-called counter-terrorist campaign by the USA,
with
the support of its allies, serves many purposes and has been used in
order
to unleash two new wars, against Afghanistan and Iraq and to target many
countries that resist US domination or do not align themselves with it.
The WPC condemns terrorist acts, including the ones, which are acts of
state terrorism. Those to blame for these acts should be brought to
justice. The hypocritical and militaristic approach of the USA and the
EU on this issue cannot eliminate the causes of such phenomena. Causes
like the poverty and underdevelopment of the majority of the world's
population, the exploitation and plunder of the natural resources of
the third world by multinational corporations, the accumulated
injustice and oppression of peoples for decades, are factors which are
being used, often by criminal elements which the USA itself has
recruited, trained and financed, for actions which do not have the
slightest relation to the fight of the peoples for their freedom and
national sovereignty, which we firmly defend.
At the same time basic principles of international law and the Founding
Charter of the UN, are being flagrantly violated. The new doctrine is
"might
makes right". Through the new doctrine NATO reserves its rights, to
intervene on a global scale wherever their interests are allegedly at
stake.
In this framework a series of positive international conventions and
accords
signed in the past few years are being abrogated. The goal is, on the
one
hand, to accelerate the further militarization of international
relations,
the setting up of new intervention forces and the development of new
weapons systems and on the other to intensify authoritarianism and
repression inside countries and to pass new laws that restrict or
abolish individual and collective democratic rights. It therefore
becomes a most important task to fight against the "new world order",
defending the rights of the peoples to determine their own fate, and
for a world order of peace based on the peaceful principles of the UN
Charter.
Neo-liberal globalization has been utilized by international capital,
day by
day, as an instrument of unprecedented and exploitation control over
peoples and national policies. Conflicts are increasing; the gap
between developing and developed countries, between rich and poor, is
increasing at a tremendous rate.
In 2001, according to a UN report, one hundred thousand people a day
were dying of starvation, three times more than six years before. Five
million
people have died in the last ten years in Africa in dozens of clashes
and
wars. Three large wars (in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq) have cost
the
lives of thousands of people and caused tremendous destruction. Almost
half of the world's population lives on less than two euro per day
This situation, which is accompanied by rivalry amongst the main powers
to
secure control over and division of the spheres of influence and markets
create tremendous dangers of intensification in warfare and, furthermore
the probability of generalized conflicts having an impact global in
scope.
The US administration has proclaimed the new doctrine of pre-emptive
war,
which runs counter to International law. It has openly listed the states
making up the "axis of evil", thus determining its next targets. Many
countries have been placed on the list, which remains open-ended, ready
to include those countries, peoples and all movements that do not comply
with the domination of the US and its allies.
The USA has adopted the strategy of pre-emptive nuclear strikes,
abandoning the commitment made by all nuclear states to not make the
first use of nuclear weapons. The USA and France are planning to
develop new types of nuclear weapons for use even in urban
battlefields. All nuclear powers must implement their undertakings for
the elimination of nuclear weapons made in the NPT Review Conference in
2000 under article 6. However, the world peace movement has raised its
voice in favor of making the year 2005- 60th anniversary of the bombing
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and a year of the NPT Review conference in
New York- a turning point for the abolition of nuclear weapons
In the recent period it has been announced that a European Army would be
established, which constitutes a further reactionary militarization of
the
EU. At the same time the situation in Palestine deteriorated, while in
Latin
America a plan to intervene in Colombia ha been announced, pressure on
Venezuela has been intensified, increased pressure has been exerted on
Cuba and in Asia events giving rise to tension have been triggered by
the
USA. A further enlargement of NATO has been decided on.
Just as Yugoslavia had been the field for the application of the new
NATO
doctrine previously, Afghanistan and especially Iraq were the first
victims
of the new and horrific doctrine of pre-emptive war.
The policy of military alliances, (NATO, Japan -US security treaty and
others) is being further intensified in order to involve the allies
more the
US strategy and, along this line, US and other foreign military bases
abroad
are also being reinforced and reorganized all over the world. Thus the
movements against US military alliances, NATO and foreign military
bases are growing worldwide. In this context the WPC will support
popular
mobilizations against the NATO summit in Istanbul in June 2004.
All of these decisions, particularly the US pre-emptive attack strategy,
overturn the statutory principles of the UN, as well as the principles
of
international law as they were formulated after the Second World War.
The WPC demands the decolonization of all territories, which remain
under
colonial rule. The WPC expresses its solidarity with the Indigenous
peoples
for their inalienable and indivisible rights, including their rights for
self-determination.
One year after the US-led imperialist invasion and occupation of Iraq
by the
imperialists, the Iraqi people's tragedy continues. In solidarity with
the
resistance of the people of Iraq against the occupation, we demand the
immediate and complete withdrawal of all occupying forces in order to
allow
the Iraqi people to determine their destiny alone.
The Assembly expresses its vehement condemnation of the brutal torture
of
prisoners by the occupation forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo
Base.
We denounce the ongoing NATO occupation of Afghanistan, a "first" on the
Asian continent, which is being used as a model by the US for its future
plans in Iraq.
The genocide of the Palestinian people continues, while new, inhuman and
reactionary measures are being taken by the Israeli government, like the
construction of the wall. The suffering of the Palestinians doesn't
count
for the powerful forces, which back Israel.
In accordance with the UN resolutions, the WPC demands the immediate
withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from all territories occupied in
1967, including the Golan Heights of Syria and the establishment of the
independent state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital,
alongside
Israel. Likewise we support the right of return of the Palestinian
refugees.
The WPC condemns the occupation of the 37% of the Cyprus Republic,
which has continued since 1974, as well as the de facto division of
the country. The WPC salutes the struggle of the Cypriot people-both
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots- to end the occupation and supports
the efforts to reach a solution soon which will lead to the
reunification of the country.
The WPC takes note of the recent initiatives of India and Pakistan
towards
normalization of bilateral relations, and expresses support for the
peoples'
activities to promote an atmosphere of peace and harmony on the Indian
sub-continent.
The WPC voices its concern over the US pressure on Bangladesh for a
bilateral military agreement to be reached and the establishment of a US
military base to be established in the Bay of Bengal.
The WPC expresses its solidarity with the people of Korea, which is
fighting
against the US hegemonic and hostile policy and for peace on the Korean
peninsula .The WPC supports the peaceful solution of the nuclear problem
between the DPRK and the USA through negotiations. It demands the
complete withdrawal of US troops from the Korean peninsula.
The WPC expresses its sympathy and firm solidarity with the millions of
victims of the toxic chemical AGENT ORANGE used by the USA during the
Vietnam War and calls for action to help alleviate their sufferings.
The WPC expresses its solidarity with the peoples of Yugoslavia in their
struggle against the consequences of the barbarous NATO aggression,
which led to the occupation of part of Serbian territory, Kossovo, and
its
transformation into a NATO protectorate. The so-called Hague Tribunal
is one example of the manipulation of truth and an attempt to
legitimize the
aggression and other crimes of the USA and NATO.
The WPC denounces the imprisonment of the five Cuban political prisoners
who fought against terrorist plans in the United States, while Cuban-
born
convicted terrorists are walking free in the same country. We express
our
firm support and solidarity with the Cuban people which is fighting in
difficult conditions to defend its dignity and sovereignty and demand
the
end of the criminal US blockade against Cuba which has lasted for four
decades.
The WPC demands the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from
Haiti.
We condemn the acts of the reactionary forces of the local oligarchy to
overthrow the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela in cooperation with
the USA and its allies in the region and Europe. We support the efforts
for
constructing one society of justice, peace, and solidarity in accordance
with the wishes of its people.
We salute the struggle of the peoples of the Americas against the Free
Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and against the payment of the
foreign debts as well as against the Plan Colombia, which are two
components of the US policy of domination over the resources and wealth
of Latin America and the Caribbean on the one hand and of the military
threat and interference in the region in order to guarantee and protect
its interests on the other. In this context we salute the Bolivarian
Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) as a sovereign proposal against the
neo-liberal plans of imperialism.
Africa is paying the heavy cost of the neo-colonial and imperialist
interventions, combined with sometimes inefficient economic and social
policies, violation of human rights and democratic principles and
various
other forms of social, political and cultural exclusion. Instead of
bringing
more peace and better prospects of a just and sustainable development to
them, the poverty of the African peoples is increasing, dangerously
threatening the lives of millions every day and aggravating the
instability
of their countries. Precious resources are often being wasted on
armaments
instead of being used to efficiently combat pandemics like AIDS and
malaria and for the education and health of the peoples. The WPC
strongly
supports the effective implementation of the UN resolutions on arms
circulation and mine dissemination and use on the continent, as well as
on
its general disarmament.
The WPC denounces foreign interference in the internal affairs of
African
countries and we condemn in particular the imposition of sanctions on
Zimbabwe by the British and US governments.
Challenged by the imperialist attempts of the USA to dominate the world
along with its allies, we the delegates of the Assembly of the WPC,
express
our confidence and trust in humanity for its future. Through the
massive and
coordinated struggles of our peoples we can achieve our objectives. The
21st century has just begun. As never before the peoples of the world
have become conscious of the new dangers, millions of people have
marched in the streets demanding peace and justice. New uprisings of
the peoples and struggles for social transformations will appear. The
new century is holds many surprises for the enemies of the peoples'
demands and rights.
On the occasion of the 55th Anniversary from the foundation of the WPC,
the Assembly calls upon all organizations and movements on the national,
regional and international levels that are ready to work and fight to
defend
peace against imperialist plans, to unite our voices and action for a
world
of peace, equality, justice and solidarity.
******************************************************************
TRUTH
OR SLAVERY, HUMILIATION AND DESTRUCTION OF SERBIAN NATION
http://www.icdsm.org/battle.htm
THE DECISIVE BATTLE FOR TRUTH NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW!
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http://www.icdsm-us.org/ (US section of ICDSM)
http://www.icdsmireland.org/ (ICDSM Ireland)
http://www.wpc-in.org/ (world peace council)
http://www.geocities.com/b_antinato/ (Balkan antiNATO center)
=== 2 ===
BELGRADE FORUM AT THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL
http://www.artel.co.yu/en/reakcije_citalaca/2004-05-19.html
Belgrade, May 19, 2004
The Assembly of the World Peace Council (WPC) was held in Athens
(Greece) from May 6-9, 2004, in which 167 delegates from 54 countries
and 7 international organisations participated.
The member of the Managing Board of the Belgrade Forum for the World of
Equals, Mr. Dragomir Vucicevic, attended the Assembly.
Taking part in the general debate, Mr. Vucicevic adressed the Assembly
with the following speech:
"Esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Belgrade Forum for the World of
Equals, permit me to most cordially thank you for your kind invitation
to attend today's Convention of the World Peace Council. It is my
particular pleasure to extend to you the warmest of greetings of the
Board of Directors of the Belgrade Forum, as well as all of its
members, who are forwarding their wishes for a fruitful dispensation of
this Convention and for every success in your mutual endeavours.
I am extending special greetings and sincere thanks to our hosts, our
Greek friends for their extended solidarity, friendship and aid during
the most difficult periods for the Serbian people.
The Belgrade Forum for the World of Equals is an independent and
voluntary non-government organization which assembles renowned
intellectuals from Serbia and Montenegro. The basic aims of the
Belgrade Forum are: the promulgation of peace, understanding, equality
in international relations, democratic standards, civic, political,
social, economic and cultural rights of individuals. In its pursuit to
achieve these aims, the Belgrade Forum has engaged affirmed supporters
of established humane, democratic and civic principles.
During its five year existence, the Belgrade Forum has organized many
national and international conferences, round tables and other public
gatherings dedicated to current national and international questions.
In many of these conferences we had the honour and pleasure to greet
the participants of the World Peace Council. In the organization of
these activities, the Belgrade Forum has affirmed itself as an
authentic focal point and disseminator of constructive ideas, analysis
and principles.
Our current problems are: the hermetic cloister and imprisonment of all
the media in the country and the absence of any form of financial aid
from the so-called "democratic" authorities who are presently in power,
and who have so far supported the so-called "independent" medias, all
of which have been imported and financed by NATO, Soros and foreign
intelligence agencies. It remains to be seen whether the current
authorities will discontinue with this practice.
The Belgrade Forum has recently organized a Round Table on the fifth
anniversary of the NATO aggression against the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia. Today, like five years ago, we are of the opinion that the
aggression was a crime against peace and humanity. The aggression was
not only a war against the Serbian people, but an overt act against
Europe, against the United Nations, and against the basic principles
which govern relationships in the world. The developments which ensued
in the region after the aggression have confirmed that the instigated
crime has not brought anything constructive either to the Balkans, or
to Europe and the world as a whole.
The tragic consequences of that illegal, inhuman armed attack against
an independent and sovereign country, are visible at every step. Five
years after the aggression, Yugoslavia has disappeared from the face of
the map. This disappearance concluded a process which was initiated at
the beginning of the 1990's with the forcible dissipation of the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a process that was aided by
the same international factors who during the aggression of 1999.
rendered the final thrust to the name of Yugoslavia. Serbia and
Montenegro, the successors of the former Yugoslavia, are confronted by
difficult economic, social and political problems. Both in Belgrade and
Podgorica one can talk only of a hypothetical sovereignty, since the
governments in neither of the two republics cannot instigate any
decision without the approval of foreign mentors. The methods of daily
blackmail and threats, to which Serbia and the Serbian people are being
exerted, only prove that the aggression is being continued, using
different methods. In all of this a pivotal place and aim has been
rendered to the Hague Tribunal, which has become an instrument of NATO
retribution against the Serbian people for its resistance to the
break-up of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the
incurred aggression of 1999 against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The continuation of legal proceedings against ex-president Slobodan
Milosevic in circumstances when not a single valid piece of evidence
has been presented to prove the accusations against him has, in the
eyes of the world, turned the Tribunal into a laughing stock, while
international justice and international law have followed suit. By
insisting on the Tribunal process, as well as in the charges against
other high ranking political and military leaders of the Serbian
people, NATO and some of the great powers wish to conceal their
responsibility for the break-up of the former Socialist Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and for their numerous crimes against peace and
humanity. Further, the Hague Tribunal has become an instrument for the
implementation of colonial authority in the Balkans by the United
States and NATO, all in the interest of their imperial aims.
In the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija we see the
continuance of Albanian terrorism, which is directed against what
remains of the Serbian people. This is attested by the recent bloody
terrorist ventures of the Albanian separatists, instigated on the 17th
and 18th of March of this year against the remaining Serbian population
in Kosovo and Metohija. On the stated dates, more than thirty people
were killed and six hundred badly wounded, more than five thousand
Serbs and non-Albanians were ethnically cleansed and more than three
hundred Serbian houses were burned. What is even more painful, thirty
Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries, dating from the middle ages,
were also torched, where the aim was to destroy any historic vestiges
of the Serbian existence in this region. These bloody acts of terror
and genocide have, unfortunately, been met by meek reactions from
international institutions and factors, which only proves that a policy
of double standards is being continued towards the Serbian people and
the crimes which it sustained.
What are we striving for ?
To preserve what is left of Yugoslavia, the functioning and development
of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro; the termination of further
redrawings of frontiers in the Balkans; the strict respect and
implementation of the Dayton Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, as
well as Resolution 1244 of the Security Council of the United Nations
pertaining to Kosovo and Metohija.
We are endeavouring for strict respect of the principle that Kosovo and
Metohija is an integral part of Serbia. We are further endeavouring for
the free and safe return of some 300.000 displaced persons from Kosovo
and Metohija, and for the implementation of a programme of
reconstruction of all that has been destroyed or burned since 1999. As
for the final status of Kosovo and Metohija, the same can only be
negotiated in the framework of Resolution 1244 of 1999, and this only
after the safe return of all expelled Serbs and other non-Albanians,
the repatriation of all illegal aliens, the disarming of the terrorist
"KLA" and the termination of terrorism in any colour.
The Balkans are an integral part of Europe, and therefore it goes
without saying that all the accepted standards which pertain to Europe
must also pertain to every region of the Balkans. It is based on these
principles that we endeavour the establishment of a Conference on the
Balkans under the auspecies of the Europena Organization for Peace and
Security, which would discuss frontiers and the rights of national
minorities. We are further endeavouring for the establishment of a free
trade zone in the Balkans, which would act as a conduit for a more
efficient and successful cooperation of all the Balkan countries, and
for their quicker incorporation in the European integration streams.
In the end, permit me to underline our great interest to further
develop and strengthen our good cooperation with the World Peace
Council. It is for this reason that we are rendering our full support
for the expansion and strengthening of the World Peace Council, as an
original international organization fostering peace, equality and
respect for international law.
Tank you for your respect and attention".
The participants of the Assembly adopted, after a rich and very frutful
discution, the political Declaration underlying the need to strengthen
the role of the WPC in achiving the World peace through the opposition
to imperialist wars and policies.
The Declaration has devouted the following paragraph on Yugoslavia:
"The World Peace Council is expressing its solidarity with the peoples
of Yugoslavia in their struggle against the consequences of the
barbarous attack of NATO, which led to the occupation of part of the
Serbian territory, Kosovo and its transformation into a NATO -
protectorate. The so-called Hague Tribunal is one example of
manipulatio of the truth and an effort to legitimize the crimes of the
USA and NATO".
---
BELGRADE FORUM FOR THE WORLD OF EQUALS
Belgrade, Misarska 6/II, 11000 Serbia and Montenegro
T/F; (+381 11) 3245601
E-mail: beoforum @ verat.net
www.belgrade-forum.org
1. Declaration of The Assembly of The World Peace Council
2. BELGRADE FORUM AT THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL
=== 1 ===
Da: "Vladimir Krsljanin" <slobodavk @ yubc.net>
Data: Mer 19 Mag 2004 17:53:07 Europe/Rome
Oggetto: Declaration of The Assembly of The World Peace Council
**************************************
WORLD PEACE COUNCIL
10 Othonos Str, 10557 Athens Greece
Tel.: +30-210-3316326, Fax: +30-210-3224302
http://www.wpc-in.org , e-mail: info@...
**************************************
Declaration of The Assembly of The WPC Athens, May 6-9, 2004
=============================================
The Assembly of the World Peace Council was successfully held on May
6-9, 2004 in Athens, Greece, with the participation of 134 delegates
from
62 Organisations from 47 countries.
After a rich and very fruitful discussion the participants of the
Assembly
concluded with the following declaration to the peoples of the world:
The developments that have taken place since the last WPC Assembly in
May of 2000 have been ones of particular significance and have given
rise
to a situation which is crucial for humanity, one marked by the
intensity of
the increased aggressiveness of the world strategy of the USA as it
strives
to impose and consolidate the new world order of war and oppression. At
the same time day by day it faces increasing political isolation
deriving from
its arbitrary and unilateral acts of violation of human and peoples'
rights.
Humanity is alarmed by the developments regarding world peace and
security in recent years. Never before in recent history have the
peoples stood up and organized such huge protests in the anti-war
movement as those against the imperialist war of the US and its allies
on Iraq. There is a growing worldwide trend towards peace. The WPC has
been and is strongly involved in this movement through its members and
friendly organizations, together with millions of people on all
continents and in all corners of the world.
The terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York and on the Pentagon
on September 11, 2001 was used as a pretext for an overall offensive to
be
launched on the peoples and countries of the world in all sectors. The
announcement of the so-called counter-terrorist campaign by the USA,
with
the support of its allies, serves many purposes and has been used in
order
to unleash two new wars, against Afghanistan and Iraq and to target many
countries that resist US domination or do not align themselves with it.
The WPC condemns terrorist acts, including the ones, which are acts of
state terrorism. Those to blame for these acts should be brought to
justice. The hypocritical and militaristic approach of the USA and the
EU on this issue cannot eliminate the causes of such phenomena. Causes
like the poverty and underdevelopment of the majority of the world's
population, the exploitation and plunder of the natural resources of
the third world by multinational corporations, the accumulated
injustice and oppression of peoples for decades, are factors which are
being used, often by criminal elements which the USA itself has
recruited, trained and financed, for actions which do not have the
slightest relation to the fight of the peoples for their freedom and
national sovereignty, which we firmly defend.
At the same time basic principles of international law and the Founding
Charter of the UN, are being flagrantly violated. The new doctrine is
"might
makes right". Through the new doctrine NATO reserves its rights, to
intervene on a global scale wherever their interests are allegedly at
stake.
In this framework a series of positive international conventions and
accords
signed in the past few years are being abrogated. The goal is, on the
one
hand, to accelerate the further militarization of international
relations,
the setting up of new intervention forces and the development of new
weapons systems and on the other to intensify authoritarianism and
repression inside countries and to pass new laws that restrict or
abolish individual and collective democratic rights. It therefore
becomes a most important task to fight against the "new world order",
defending the rights of the peoples to determine their own fate, and
for a world order of peace based on the peaceful principles of the UN
Charter.
Neo-liberal globalization has been utilized by international capital,
day by
day, as an instrument of unprecedented and exploitation control over
peoples and national policies. Conflicts are increasing; the gap
between developing and developed countries, between rich and poor, is
increasing at a tremendous rate.
In 2001, according to a UN report, one hundred thousand people a day
were dying of starvation, three times more than six years before. Five
million
people have died in the last ten years in Africa in dozens of clashes
and
wars. Three large wars (in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq) have cost
the
lives of thousands of people and caused tremendous destruction. Almost
half of the world's population lives on less than two euro per day
This situation, which is accompanied by rivalry amongst the main powers
to
secure control over and division of the spheres of influence and markets
create tremendous dangers of intensification in warfare and, furthermore
the probability of generalized conflicts having an impact global in
scope.
The US administration has proclaimed the new doctrine of pre-emptive
war,
which runs counter to International law. It has openly listed the states
making up the "axis of evil", thus determining its next targets. Many
countries have been placed on the list, which remains open-ended, ready
to include those countries, peoples and all movements that do not comply
with the domination of the US and its allies.
The USA has adopted the strategy of pre-emptive nuclear strikes,
abandoning the commitment made by all nuclear states to not make the
first use of nuclear weapons. The USA and France are planning to
develop new types of nuclear weapons for use even in urban
battlefields. All nuclear powers must implement their undertakings for
the elimination of nuclear weapons made in the NPT Review Conference in
2000 under article 6. However, the world peace movement has raised its
voice in favor of making the year 2005- 60th anniversary of the bombing
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and a year of the NPT Review conference in
New York- a turning point for the abolition of nuclear weapons
In the recent period it has been announced that a European Army would be
established, which constitutes a further reactionary militarization of
the
EU. At the same time the situation in Palestine deteriorated, while in
Latin
America a plan to intervene in Colombia ha been announced, pressure on
Venezuela has been intensified, increased pressure has been exerted on
Cuba and in Asia events giving rise to tension have been triggered by
the
USA. A further enlargement of NATO has been decided on.
Just as Yugoslavia had been the field for the application of the new
NATO
doctrine previously, Afghanistan and especially Iraq were the first
victims
of the new and horrific doctrine of pre-emptive war.
The policy of military alliances, (NATO, Japan -US security treaty and
others) is being further intensified in order to involve the allies
more the
US strategy and, along this line, US and other foreign military bases
abroad
are also being reinforced and reorganized all over the world. Thus the
movements against US military alliances, NATO and foreign military
bases are growing worldwide. In this context the WPC will support
popular
mobilizations against the NATO summit in Istanbul in June 2004.
All of these decisions, particularly the US pre-emptive attack strategy,
overturn the statutory principles of the UN, as well as the principles
of
international law as they were formulated after the Second World War.
The WPC demands the decolonization of all territories, which remain
under
colonial rule. The WPC expresses its solidarity with the Indigenous
peoples
for their inalienable and indivisible rights, including their rights for
self-determination.
One year after the US-led imperialist invasion and occupation of Iraq
by the
imperialists, the Iraqi people's tragedy continues. In solidarity with
the
resistance of the people of Iraq against the occupation, we demand the
immediate and complete withdrawal of all occupying forces in order to
allow
the Iraqi people to determine their destiny alone.
The Assembly expresses its vehement condemnation of the brutal torture
of
prisoners by the occupation forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo
Base.
We denounce the ongoing NATO occupation of Afghanistan, a "first" on the
Asian continent, which is being used as a model by the US for its future
plans in Iraq.
The genocide of the Palestinian people continues, while new, inhuman and
reactionary measures are being taken by the Israeli government, like the
construction of the wall. The suffering of the Palestinians doesn't
count
for the powerful forces, which back Israel.
In accordance with the UN resolutions, the WPC demands the immediate
withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from all territories occupied in
1967, including the Golan Heights of Syria and the establishment of the
independent state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital,
alongside
Israel. Likewise we support the right of return of the Palestinian
refugees.
The WPC condemns the occupation of the 37% of the Cyprus Republic,
which has continued since 1974, as well as the de facto division of
the country. The WPC salutes the struggle of the Cypriot people-both
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots- to end the occupation and supports
the efforts to reach a solution soon which will lead to the
reunification of the country.
The WPC takes note of the recent initiatives of India and Pakistan
towards
normalization of bilateral relations, and expresses support for the
peoples'
activities to promote an atmosphere of peace and harmony on the Indian
sub-continent.
The WPC voices its concern over the US pressure on Bangladesh for a
bilateral military agreement to be reached and the establishment of a US
military base to be established in the Bay of Bengal.
The WPC expresses its solidarity with the people of Korea, which is
fighting
against the US hegemonic and hostile policy and for peace on the Korean
peninsula .The WPC supports the peaceful solution of the nuclear problem
between the DPRK and the USA through negotiations. It demands the
complete withdrawal of US troops from the Korean peninsula.
The WPC expresses its sympathy and firm solidarity with the millions of
victims of the toxic chemical AGENT ORANGE used by the USA during the
Vietnam War and calls for action to help alleviate their sufferings.
The WPC expresses its solidarity with the peoples of Yugoslavia in their
struggle against the consequences of the barbarous NATO aggression,
which led to the occupation of part of Serbian territory, Kossovo, and
its
transformation into a NATO protectorate. The so-called Hague Tribunal
is one example of the manipulation of truth and an attempt to
legitimize the
aggression and other crimes of the USA and NATO.
The WPC denounces the imprisonment of the five Cuban political prisoners
who fought against terrorist plans in the United States, while Cuban-
born
convicted terrorists are walking free in the same country. We express
our
firm support and solidarity with the Cuban people which is fighting in
difficult conditions to defend its dignity and sovereignty and demand
the
end of the criminal US blockade against Cuba which has lasted for four
decades.
The WPC demands the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from
Haiti.
We condemn the acts of the reactionary forces of the local oligarchy to
overthrow the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela in cooperation with
the USA and its allies in the region and Europe. We support the efforts
for
constructing one society of justice, peace, and solidarity in accordance
with the wishes of its people.
We salute the struggle of the peoples of the Americas against the Free
Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and against the payment of the
foreign debts as well as against the Plan Colombia, which are two
components of the US policy of domination over the resources and wealth
of Latin America and the Caribbean on the one hand and of the military
threat and interference in the region in order to guarantee and protect
its interests on the other. In this context we salute the Bolivarian
Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) as a sovereign proposal against the
neo-liberal plans of imperialism.
Africa is paying the heavy cost of the neo-colonial and imperialist
interventions, combined with sometimes inefficient economic and social
policies, violation of human rights and democratic principles and
various
other forms of social, political and cultural exclusion. Instead of
bringing
more peace and better prospects of a just and sustainable development to
them, the poverty of the African peoples is increasing, dangerously
threatening the lives of millions every day and aggravating the
instability
of their countries. Precious resources are often being wasted on
armaments
instead of being used to efficiently combat pandemics like AIDS and
malaria and for the education and health of the peoples. The WPC
strongly
supports the effective implementation of the UN resolutions on arms
circulation and mine dissemination and use on the continent, as well as
on
its general disarmament.
The WPC denounces foreign interference in the internal affairs of
African
countries and we condemn in particular the imposition of sanctions on
Zimbabwe by the British and US governments.
Challenged by the imperialist attempts of the USA to dominate the world
along with its allies, we the delegates of the Assembly of the WPC,
express
our confidence and trust in humanity for its future. Through the
massive and
coordinated struggles of our peoples we can achieve our objectives. The
21st century has just begun. As never before the peoples of the world
have become conscious of the new dangers, millions of people have
marched in the streets demanding peace and justice. New uprisings of
the peoples and struggles for social transformations will appear. The
new century is holds many surprises for the enemies of the peoples'
demands and rights.
On the occasion of the 55th Anniversary from the foundation of the WPC,
the Assembly calls upon all organizations and movements on the national,
regional and international levels that are ready to work and fight to
defend
peace against imperialist plans, to unite our voices and action for a
world
of peace, equality, justice and solidarity.
******************************************************************
TRUTH
OR SLAVERY, HUMILIATION AND DESTRUCTION OF SERBIAN NATION
http://www.icdsm.org/battle.htm
THE DECISIVE BATTLE FOR TRUTH NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW!
******************************************************************
SLOBODA urgently needs your donation.
Please find the detailed instructions at:
http://www.sloboda.org.yu/pomoc.htm
To join or help this struggle, visit:
http://www.sloboda.org.yu/ (Sloboda/Freedom association)
http://www.icdsm.org/ (the international committee to defend Slobodan
Milosevic)
http://www.free-slobo.de/ (German section of ICDSM)
http://www.icdsm-us.org/ (US section of ICDSM)
http://www.icdsmireland.org/ (ICDSM Ireland)
http://www.wpc-in.org/ (world peace council)
http://www.geocities.com/b_antinato/ (Balkan antiNATO center)
=== 2 ===
BELGRADE FORUM AT THE WORLD PEACE COUNCIL
http://www.artel.co.yu/en/reakcije_citalaca/2004-05-19.html
Belgrade, May 19, 2004
The Assembly of the World Peace Council (WPC) was held in Athens
(Greece) from May 6-9, 2004, in which 167 delegates from 54 countries
and 7 international organisations participated.
The member of the Managing Board of the Belgrade Forum for the World of
Equals, Mr. Dragomir Vucicevic, attended the Assembly.
Taking part in the general debate, Mr. Vucicevic adressed the Assembly
with the following speech:
"Esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Belgrade Forum for the World of
Equals, permit me to most cordially thank you for your kind invitation
to attend today's Convention of the World Peace Council. It is my
particular pleasure to extend to you the warmest of greetings of the
Board of Directors of the Belgrade Forum, as well as all of its
members, who are forwarding their wishes for a fruitful dispensation of
this Convention and for every success in your mutual endeavours.
I am extending special greetings and sincere thanks to our hosts, our
Greek friends for their extended solidarity, friendship and aid during
the most difficult periods for the Serbian people.
The Belgrade Forum for the World of Equals is an independent and
voluntary non-government organization which assembles renowned
intellectuals from Serbia and Montenegro. The basic aims of the
Belgrade Forum are: the promulgation of peace, understanding, equality
in international relations, democratic standards, civic, political,
social, economic and cultural rights of individuals. In its pursuit to
achieve these aims, the Belgrade Forum has engaged affirmed supporters
of established humane, democratic and civic principles.
During its five year existence, the Belgrade Forum has organized many
national and international conferences, round tables and other public
gatherings dedicated to current national and international questions.
In many of these conferences we had the honour and pleasure to greet
the participants of the World Peace Council. In the organization of
these activities, the Belgrade Forum has affirmed itself as an
authentic focal point and disseminator of constructive ideas, analysis
and principles.
Our current problems are: the hermetic cloister and imprisonment of all
the media in the country and the absence of any form of financial aid
from the so-called "democratic" authorities who are presently in power,
and who have so far supported the so-called "independent" medias, all
of which have been imported and financed by NATO, Soros and foreign
intelligence agencies. It remains to be seen whether the current
authorities will discontinue with this practice.
The Belgrade Forum has recently organized a Round Table on the fifth
anniversary of the NATO aggression against the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia. Today, like five years ago, we are of the opinion that the
aggression was a crime against peace and humanity. The aggression was
not only a war against the Serbian people, but an overt act against
Europe, against the United Nations, and against the basic principles
which govern relationships in the world. The developments which ensued
in the region after the aggression have confirmed that the instigated
crime has not brought anything constructive either to the Balkans, or
to Europe and the world as a whole.
The tragic consequences of that illegal, inhuman armed attack against
an independent and sovereign country, are visible at every step. Five
years after the aggression, Yugoslavia has disappeared from the face of
the map. This disappearance concluded a process which was initiated at
the beginning of the 1990's with the forcible dissipation of the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a process that was aided by
the same international factors who during the aggression of 1999.
rendered the final thrust to the name of Yugoslavia. Serbia and
Montenegro, the successors of the former Yugoslavia, are confronted by
difficult economic, social and political problems. Both in Belgrade and
Podgorica one can talk only of a hypothetical sovereignty, since the
governments in neither of the two republics cannot instigate any
decision without the approval of foreign mentors. The methods of daily
blackmail and threats, to which Serbia and the Serbian people are being
exerted, only prove that the aggression is being continued, using
different methods. In all of this a pivotal place and aim has been
rendered to the Hague Tribunal, which has become an instrument of NATO
retribution against the Serbian people for its resistance to the
break-up of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the
incurred aggression of 1999 against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The continuation of legal proceedings against ex-president Slobodan
Milosevic in circumstances when not a single valid piece of evidence
has been presented to prove the accusations against him has, in the
eyes of the world, turned the Tribunal into a laughing stock, while
international justice and international law have followed suit. By
insisting on the Tribunal process, as well as in the charges against
other high ranking political and military leaders of the Serbian
people, NATO and some of the great powers wish to conceal their
responsibility for the break-up of the former Socialist Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and for their numerous crimes against peace and
humanity. Further, the Hague Tribunal has become an instrument for the
implementation of colonial authority in the Balkans by the United
States and NATO, all in the interest of their imperial aims.
In the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija we see the
continuance of Albanian terrorism, which is directed against what
remains of the Serbian people. This is attested by the recent bloody
terrorist ventures of the Albanian separatists, instigated on the 17th
and 18th of March of this year against the remaining Serbian population
in Kosovo and Metohija. On the stated dates, more than thirty people
were killed and six hundred badly wounded, more than five thousand
Serbs and non-Albanians were ethnically cleansed and more than three
hundred Serbian houses were burned. What is even more painful, thirty
Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries, dating from the middle ages,
were also torched, where the aim was to destroy any historic vestiges
of the Serbian existence in this region. These bloody acts of terror
and genocide have, unfortunately, been met by meek reactions from
international institutions and factors, which only proves that a policy
of double standards is being continued towards the Serbian people and
the crimes which it sustained.
What are we striving for ?
To preserve what is left of Yugoslavia, the functioning and development
of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro; the termination of further
redrawings of frontiers in the Balkans; the strict respect and
implementation of the Dayton Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, as
well as Resolution 1244 of the Security Council of the United Nations
pertaining to Kosovo and Metohija.
We are endeavouring for strict respect of the principle that Kosovo and
Metohija is an integral part of Serbia. We are further endeavouring for
the free and safe return of some 300.000 displaced persons from Kosovo
and Metohija, and for the implementation of a programme of
reconstruction of all that has been destroyed or burned since 1999. As
for the final status of Kosovo and Metohija, the same can only be
negotiated in the framework of Resolution 1244 of 1999, and this only
after the safe return of all expelled Serbs and other non-Albanians,
the repatriation of all illegal aliens, the disarming of the terrorist
"KLA" and the termination of terrorism in any colour.
The Balkans are an integral part of Europe, and therefore it goes
without saying that all the accepted standards which pertain to Europe
must also pertain to every region of the Balkans. It is based on these
principles that we endeavour the establishment of a Conference on the
Balkans under the auspecies of the Europena Organization for Peace and
Security, which would discuss frontiers and the rights of national
minorities. We are further endeavouring for the establishment of a free
trade zone in the Balkans, which would act as a conduit for a more
efficient and successful cooperation of all the Balkan countries, and
for their quicker incorporation in the European integration streams.
In the end, permit me to underline our great interest to further
develop and strengthen our good cooperation with the World Peace
Council. It is for this reason that we are rendering our full support
for the expansion and strengthening of the World Peace Council, as an
original international organization fostering peace, equality and
respect for international law.
Tank you for your respect and attention".
The participants of the Assembly adopted, after a rich and very frutful
discution, the political Declaration underlying the need to strengthen
the role of the WPC in achiving the World peace through the opposition
to imperialist wars and policies.
The Declaration has devouted the following paragraph on Yugoslavia:
"The World Peace Council is expressing its solidarity with the peoples
of Yugoslavia in their struggle against the consequences of the
barbarous attack of NATO, which led to the occupation of part of the
Serbian territory, Kosovo and its transformation into a NATO -
protectorate. The so-called Hague Tribunal is one example of
manipulatio of the truth and an effort to legitimize the crimes of the
USA and NATO".
---
BELGRADE FORUM FOR THE WORLD OF EQUALS
Belgrade, Misarska 6/II, 11000 Serbia and Montenegro
T/F; (+381 11) 3245601
E-mail: beoforum @ verat.net
www.belgrade-forum.org