From: "Vladimir Krsljanin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 18:07:52 +0100 Subject: [L-I] NATO OUT OF THE BALKANS (2) - Jovanovic Zivadin Jovanovic (Author is vice-president of the Head Committee of the SPS and federal deputy of the Federal Assembly of FRY, former Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs. These are edited closing remarks at the special session of the Council for international co-operation of the Head Committee of the Socialist Party of Serbia that took place on January 26, 2001, opening remarks given by Ms. Aleka Papariga, secretary-general of the CP of Greece.) THE BALKANS WITHOUT FOREIGN TROOPS AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS Ideas and suggestions aimed at strengthening of mutual co-operation of the democratic, left, patriotic parties and movements of the Balkans have in the current geopolitical conditions higher degree of significance then ever before. By the brake-up of former Yugoslavia (SFRY) and creation of a number of small statelets mutually burdened by old and new problems, Balkans entered into a long period of destabilisation. Expulsion of over one million of Serbs from their ancient homes in Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, and more recently from Kosovo and Metohia, with all the insurmountable obstacles to going back to their homes, remains important feature of destabilisation. Instigating Albanian separatism and terrorism at Kosovo and Metohia, allaying of NATO with the KLA terrorist in the aggression against FR of Yugoslavia has further strengthened the trend of destabilisation. Organised transfer of the Albanian terrorism from Kosovo and Metohia, with the support of KFOR, to other parts of the south of Serbia (municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja), encouraging separatism of the of the current leadership of Montenegro, separatist tendencies of Albanians in Macedonia in line with the idea of creation of so-called Greater Albania, are supporting the assessment that trend of instability is continuing. Deployment of international forces, whose backbone are NATO troops, first in Bosnia & Herzegovina (SFOR), then at Kosovo and Metohia (KFOR) was formally explained by the wish to contribute towards stabilisation. In reality, role of these forces is to justify the existence and moving the focus of NATO, continuation of "controlled destabilisation", opening of the markets to the military-industrial complex and speeding -up of NATO expansion towards East. Symbolic participation of Russian troops and forces of some other countries, not members of NATO does not have any bearing to the basic assessment. We support opening of the Centre in Salonika that will by three-days long activities mark second anniversary of the NATO aggression (23rd to 25th of March 2001). On our side, we in Belgrade and Yugoslavia will joint these activities. That is our obligation as the largest opposition, left and patriotic oriented party in Yugoslavia, the direct victim of the NATO aggression. We ask all the friends, parliamentarians, creative individuals, friendly parties to, in their contacts with other parties and partners, in their media and in the manner they may deem appropriate mark this anniversary: scientific gatherings, round tables, expositions, messages, demonstrations, parliamentary initiatives, humanitarian actions. No doubt all these activities are significant not only as expression of solidarity and support of the people of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Party of Serbia, but they have wider, civilisational , political and humanitarian importance. NATO aggression against Yugoslavia have had objectives that are exceeding significance of one country, one people, one region. Consequences and lessons of aggression particularly have wider and long-term significance. In that aggression, Yugoslavia and the Balkans were object of and experiment, direct victims of the proponents of the world order based on policy of power and hegemonism, and also victim of other experiments, including the experiment of use of uranium and other banned weapons. Conditions are changing in the region and in the world. Truth is irrepressibly spreading. With the passage of time and the second anniversary of aggression(1) a lot of information and facts are braking out to the light of the day that NATO used to cover while spreading falsehood and misinformation in order to justify aggression on one sovereign and independent country. Proponents of policy of force, hegemonism and neo-colonialism are confronted with more and more organised resistance of inteligencia, humanists, youth, trade unions, public in general. Possibilities for action of parties such as Socialist Party of Serbia and other parties of the left, democratic and patriotic orientation are getting more and more favourable.. Certain changes are under way in the domain of global relations: Europe-America, America-Russia, America-China, America- Third World etc. While not over-estimating their reach, and especially not summarising them down to any kind of stereotype, there is a measure of common features. It is a certain resistance to the policy of domination, dictate and arrogance that was symbolised and imposed by former (Clinton) American administration or at least non-acceptance with such policies. Requests to build world relations on the respect to the UN Charter and international law in general, on the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and equality of all countries, regardless of their size, military or financial power are growing stronger. Doctrine of the limited sovereignty, interventionism and humanitarian interventions are understood as expressions of the ideology of new imperialism and degradation of rule of law and democratic principles. Within the frames of Europe there are indications of certain adoption of the concepts of the international relations, new doctrine that are, for example, reaffirming significance of the state, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Up to now, it used to Beijing and developing countries where from warning were coming from that human rights should be respected, but also that human rights could not be above the sovereignty of the states an that in assessment of the state of human rights it is not allowed to apply double standards. These days news are arriving from Paris of the elements of new French foreign policy doctrine: state is not synonymous to repression, human rights, non-governmental organisations , civil society and other so far sacred categories of the Western model of international relations are not ipso facto of absolute value. Need to respect differences among the countries, particularities of the history, culture, geo-strategical position of every country and other elements are being reaffirmed(2). On the other side of the Atlantic it is getting more and more difficult to ignore rising anti-Americanism, anti-NATO disposition and aversion towards arrogance so successfully symbolised by Ms. Allbright, Mr. Holbruck, Mr. Koen and others. Goal of the forces of the Left and patriotic orientation, and I believe of the large majority of every nation of the Balkans - is Balkans without nuclear weapons and without foreign, above all NATO troops. Peoples of the Balkans do not need nuclear weapons, that is a great evil both in war and peace. As far as NATO and foreign troops in general are concerned, they are not here to protect interests of the Balkan peoples, but to keep them in submission and to warn others what shall ensue if they relay to much on the UN Charter, Helsinki OSCE Document, Charter of Paris and international law in general. Peoples of the Balkans are having an interest for free internal development, equitable co-operation, open borders, free movement of goods, people, information, scientific and cultural values. We are advocating creation of the zone of free trade (BAFTA) that would be connected with other similar integrations, for establishment of the consultative parliamentary assembly of the Balkan countries, for creation of the Balkans programme for protection of the environment (VER), advisory centre for new technologies and similar projects essentially aimed at the stimulating of the regional co-operation. That is the only right way, guaranteeing peace, stability and progress of Balkans as the integral part of Europe. We are deeply concerned by amassing of foreign troops and weapons, spreading of the military bases in the countries of the Balkans. No one could claim it is in the interest of the peoples of the Balkans or in the interest of peace and stability. The least connection it have with the democracy and human rights. That is, above all, result of the policy of hegemonism, whose goals are less tied to the Balkans, but much more to the plans of domination over Europe as well as for the penetration towards Russia and Euro-Asia. Why should Balkans be victim of such policy and such objectives? Balkans to the Balkan countries by no means signify the autarky of the Balkans, its close up, but its gathering, integration of its economic, market, geo-strategic, natural and especially intellectual and human potentials for accelerated development, better life for its peoples, greater contribution to the peace and progress in the region and in Europe. We are against policy of spheres of influence, domination in the Balkans, armament race, against rivalry of foreign factors who, for their global objectives do not shy away of co-operation with the terrorists and separatists. Does not NATO co-operation with the terrorists and separatists at Kosovo and Metohia, forming of so-called KZK and transferring of terrorism to southern Serb municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja bear witness to that? In parallel, old, trite methods, among them dominating "divide and rule" are used. Proponents of the policy of domination at the Balkans have concluded over a thousand years ago that " Serbs are invincible when united, thus some by flattering, some by money, other by threat and blackmail - disunite, divide..." Then it would be easier to rule over Serbs and the Balkans. In the last decade of the 20th century and at the beginning of the Third Millennium we are confronted with the method of division and brake-up of the Serb national body and the states in the Balkans. Brake-up of the former Yugoslavia under the influence and with active participation of the foreign factors, brought about violent fragmentation of the Serb national body. Over a million of Serbs from Croatia, Bosnia as well as Kosovo&Metohia province are even to-day refugees and displaced persons finding safe heaven in Serbia. By the eight-years long sanctions and military aggression of NATO in 1999 Serb nation was exposed to the third genocide in the 20th century. The Communist Party of Greece and the Greek people and many friendly countries around the world understood very well that what was endured by the Serb people is not pointed out only against Serbia, against one nation, but represents danger for all the nations of the Balkans, for human, democratic and cultural values in general. Policy of re-drawing map of the Balkans , brake-up of old nations and states, on one side and making possible creation of some new, "greater' states, endangers the very basis of the stability at the Balkans and is sowing the seeds of long-term instability and lagging behind. Such policy, if it is allowed to continue, will endanger stability of the European continent. As far as the weapons with depleted uranium are concerned, at this moment in Yugoslavia and the Balkans as a whole, a danger is lurking that these who are responsible for use of that weapon keep the monopoly for explanation of its nature and consequences. Since huge financial interest are in question, monopolists shall wish to continue to maintain that the weapons are not dangerous, that there are no proof of cause-consequence relation between use of uranium weapons and cancer disease, that the diseases are of very wide spectrum so as to be assigned to only one cause etc. We listen and read daily that NATO scientists, their councils or representatives established that these weapons are legitimate, not forbidden nor should be forbidden and that their use is not dangerous for environment and the health of humans! We must not allow such explanations only to be present in the public or to dominate. Interest of their authors is not to establish truth, but to protect manufacturers, politicians and generals of the responsibility, including the financial one. We have many reasons to believe that these are decreed explanations with the goal to protect interest of the military-industrial complex and the states against the legitimate claims for compensation of damages - firstly to the country and citizens who are direct victims of the use of inhuman, cancer bearing weapons, and then of the soldiers serving with the international forces in Bosnia, Kosmet, Gulf war. A high degree of enlightening of the public, especially experts has been reached so far, on the perilous consequences of the use of such weapons. It is especially important knowledge that these consequences may not be limited in time nor in space. Science, intellectuals, public are moved. However, we have noted lack of appropriate activities at the level of the state. Yugoslav government, for instance, is not doing anything closely adequate to the danger and the concrete situation. It is a first class state and national issue. Deliberations upon that and especially measures and activities should not be rendered only to the spontaneity and self-orientation of the different subjects. There is a tactic present of calming down public discourse, minimising danger allegedly not to disturb people to much. That reason may not be accepted. It is not accepted in other European countries and institutions. Governments and parliaments of many European and Balkan countries deliberated already upon the use of the depleted uranium ammunitions, European parliament assigned funds for research, aid and decontamination and Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted on 23rd of January a special recommendation on the matter. Lack of appropriate positions and activities of the Yugoslav Government is in favour only of these who bear the responsibility for manufacture and use of these criminal weapons. Analysis of the facts which are more numerous daily, and especially removal of long-term effect of pollution of soil, water, environment in general - require organisation, multy-disciplined approach and significant funds. Those may not be ad hoc bodies since it is a long-term state and national task. A permanent organ of the Government should co-ordinate activities of all the governmental and non-governmental bodies in the country as well as co-ordination with appropriate international factors, such as UN Programme for Environment Protection (UNEP), World Health organisation (WHO), UN Atomic Energy Agency and others. Together with the international experts it is requisite to, on our territory, in all the researches representatives of our Government are fully engaged as well as our scientist and experts. Public should be constantly informed of their work and findings. We should not allow ourselves to come into situation that some scientist, in four or five years, discover that effects of uranium and other similar weapons in Serbia and Yugoslavia are greater and more dangerous then we supposed. We have heard from the esteemed professor from the Vinca Nuclear Institute that situation in the Republic of Srpska is far more dangerous than here. Over there about 10 tons of uranium missiles was used, while in our country three or four time more. We are obliged to respect these scientific opinions that are pointing out that real consequences are arriving only after two or more years. Thus, no one has the right to put his head in the sand before the findings and warnings of competent scientists and persons in Europe and the world. It is requisite t examine information coming form the experts claiming that NATO, in the war against Yugoslavia, used nuclear coctails, including plutonium and uranium 236. In any case, it is responsibility of politicians and the state to step forward in a transparent manner, to provide mechanisms for systematic long-term work that will guarantee highest possible degree of protection. In a situation when Europe and the world are in a virtual state of emergency, no one in our country has no right to sit on the fence. Is it normal to worry more in Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Greece then in Yugoslavia!? We are advocating a state and national responsible position that is not present right now. Government must respond to news and comments that here there are also sick and dead due to the effects of the depleted uranium. Such issues may not be left only to the participants of the TV panel discussions, interviews and lateral statements of certain persons, however they may be learned and conscientious. Public requires official, timely and complete information of the highest state organs. The fact that such information would most probably be accusing and compromising to NATO and governments of some countries new Yugoslav authorities obviously want to have close relations, must not be paid by endangering the health of the nation, of new generations, of the nature. At the international level, as we have already publicly stated, we are requesting Security Council to adopt the resolution on establishing international monitoring over all the stocks of depleted uranium ammunitions, over the raw materials used for production and over the plants manufacturing such ammunitions. If there are weapons of mass destruction, these are exactly uranium, plutonium and similar. These are even more perfidious since their destructive, cancer-bearing effects may not be limited nor controlled both in time and space. The objective should be to destroy the stocks, to ban production, to compensate victims and regenerate the environment. In the mean time, United Nations should engage best world experts and scientists to gather and review the facts regarding use and the consequences of such ammunitions currently at disposal. Special attention should be devoted that experts and organisations engaged at that project of epochal significance are shielded off the possible pressures of the factors responsible for manufacture and use of such ammunitions. America, as we have heard to-day, banned use of such weapons at its territory in 1986, but now Department of State and American generals are claiming that such ammunition is not banned, nor dangerous! Only, when dropped on Yugoslavia. Republic of Srpska, Iraq, against other countries and peoples! That is additional reason for alert. We have no reasons to cover up anything. To the contrary, we are seeking truth and that is not only our interest. Campaign with the objective to minimise consequences is designetd to protect manufacturers and users of that ammunition of huge cost of damage compensation. That is, at the same time, an attempt to shield all these who decided to the use of such weapons, that is a crime and uncovers the real character of the NATO aggression. (1) Aggression of NATO against FRY commenced on March 24, and ended on June 10, 1999 (2) H. Kissinger "Cold War is over, but history and geography are not abolished." (Welt am Zontag, January 2001) To join or help this struggle, visit: http://www.sps.org.yu/ (official SPS website) http://www.belgrade-forum.org/ (forum for the world of equals) http://www.24casa.co.yu/ (the only free daily newspaper in Yugoslavia) _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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