The Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals
NEVER TO FORGET
THE FINAL DOCUMENT OF THE BELGRADE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Held in Belgrade, 23 & 24 March, 2009
The Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals, in cooperation with the other
independent associations in Serbia and in coordination with the World Peace
Council (WPC), held in Belgrade on March 23rd and 24th,2009, International
Conference titled „Objectives and consequences of NATO Aggression against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) – 10 Years After“.
The Conference gathered some 700 scientists and experts in the area of
international and security relations from Serbia and 45 countries from all
continents, except Australia. About 60 participants submitted their papers on
various aspects of the aggression and ensuing developments.
Opening ceremony was attended by Prof. Slavica Đukić Dejanović, the Speaker in
the National Assembly of Serbia, Mr. Petar Škundrić, the Energy Minister, as
well as by the representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church veterans’, youth
and other organizations.
Mr. Ivica Dačić, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government and the Minister of
Home Affairs addressed the Conference and welcomed foreign guests on behalf of
the Government.
The special participants of the Conference were Ms Socorro Gomes, the President
and Mr. Thanasis Pafilis, the Secretary-General, of the World Peace Council.
The Conference was also attended by a number of ambassadors and senior
diplomatic representatives accredited in Serbia.
The participants paid their respect to the victims of the 78-day bombardment
and placed wreaths at the monuments dedicated to the victims of the aggression.
The debate with over 60 papers presented was held in the spirit of friendship,
openness and solidarity of all organizations and individuals struggling for
peace, development and prosperity.
The participants of the Belgrade Conference agreed on the following:
NATO Aggression against FR of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) was an
invasion that had been prepared long time in advance, with the following global
goals: setting a precedent for military interventions worldwide; bringing
American troops to the Balkans and expanding NATO to the East; encircling
Russia; changing the International Law Order established after Second World War
by imposing the rule that might is right; imposing neoliberal capitalistic
system; weakening Europe and the role of the United Nations. The ultimate goal
has been to reinforce the U.S. concept of unipolar world order for the purpose
of establishing the control over all the economic, natural, and human resources
of the Planet. The reinforcement of US/NATO in Europe, its expansion to the
East and to the other continents proves a will to become the gendarme of the
multicorporate capital all over the world.
The aggression was preceded by spreading lies and deceptions, with the special
role assigned to the thesis on „avoiding humanitarian catastrophe“, the mock
negotiations in Rambouillet, and staged „massacre of civilians“ in Račak.
The aggression, coupled with its run-up and the aftermath, is evidence of a
deep moral and civilization crisis of the ruling Western elites, whereas its
blowback effect, ten years on, comes to haunt them as a profound global
economic crisis whose end remains beyond the horizon.
The leaders of the NATO countries are responsible for use of armed force
without the UN Security Council approval; for the breach of the United Nations
Charter, the OSCE Helsinki Final Act, the Paris Charter and international
conventions, in what amounts to the crime against the peace and humanity.
They are responsible for more than 3,500 deaths and for more then 10,000
wounded people, two thirds civilians, for the use of inhuman non-authorized
weapons such as depleted uranium ammunitions and missile warheads as well as
cluster bombs.
They are also responsible for human losses and suffering in the meantime as the
consequence of the aggression, for the lasting pollution of soil and water, as
a consequence of the wide-spread use of depleted uranium projectiles and of the
deliberate bombing of chemical plants that amounted to chemical warfare. And
they are responsible for economic damage costing in excess of 100 billion USD.
Serbia is entitled to compensation for war damages.
USA/NATO/EU 1999 aggression was the first war on Europe’s soil after the World
War Second. It was not only a war against an old sovereign European state but
primarily a war against Europe. Paradoxically, participated by Europe itself.
It was conducted in the unique alliance between an international state
organization (NATO) and the notorious terrorist organization (OVK/UCK).
The aggression was an historic mistake of the West which, sooner or later, will
be recognized. Consequences of the aggression will extend throughout of 21st
century. The West owes to apologize to Serbia for all the victims and pains, if
not to face even deeper moral and overall crisis.
The participants to the Conference expressed their high esteem to the Yugoslav
and Serbian Army for their patriotism, professionalism and bravery in defending
the freedom of their country against the assault of the aggressors.
The aggression has subsequently continued over the past ten years employing
other means such as political, economic and propaganda blackmail, by
dismantling the Yugoslav (Serbian) Army and, eventually, abolishment of FR of
Yugoslavia.
The culmination of the imperialist anti-Serbian policy was embodied in the
illegal and unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo and Metohija on 17
February 2008. This was followed by recognition of that criminal NATO/EU
creature by their member states, with the exception of Greece, Romania, Spain,
Slovakia and Cyprus.
The secession of Kosovo and Metohija and its subsequent recognition by majority
of NATO/EU member countries represents violation of the basic principles of the
international relations and the ones approved by UN Security Council Resolution
1244 (1999). As a binding decision, this Resolution remains in force with the
right of Serbia to insist on its strict and complete implementation. This
particularly refers to the provisions concerning the safety and freedom of
movement of the remaining Serbian population still living in barbed wired
ghettoes, repossession of the illegally occupied private and state property,
the right to free and safe return of 220,000 displaced Serbs and other
non-Albanians and the right to redeployment of the Serbian Army and Police
contingents.
Serbiashall never recognize such blatant violation of its sovereignty,
territorial integrity and national dignity. Serbia has the univocal right to
defend its sovereignty and integrity by all legitimate means as any other
sovereign country.
Ten years after, it became obvious that the direct goal of the aggression was
to depose the legitimate President of FR of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milošević for
the purpose of depriving Serbia of 15% of state territory, to hinder the role
of Serbia as a political stakeholder in the Balkans, and to place it under
control of the West.
The same power centers that took decisive role in braking apart SFR of
Yugoslavia in 1992 - 1995, went on to launch the military aggression in 1999,
and later on in dismembering of FR of Yugoslavia in 2006.
After the illegal secession of Kosovo and Metohija they continue to tacitly
incite and support separatist forces in other parts of Serbia.
On the other side, the West has been engaged revising the Dayton-Paris Peace
Agreement in order to dissolve the Republic of Srpska introducing step by step
unitarian Bosnia and Herzegovina contrary to the said Agreement guarantied by
Serbia.
Policy of the West led to creation of 7 new puppet states, dismantling
Yugoslavia which had existed as multinational, relatively prosperous state, for
over 70 years. Its fragmentation left thousands of human victims, strained
relations, economy in shambles and still unresolved problem of over 500.000
Serb refugees and displaced persons. Serbian nation was fragmented and instead
of the status of constitutive nation, transformed into right-less minority.
Overall policy of the West during the last 20 years has surfaced as retaliatory
toward Serbian nation. Such a policy raises many questions concerning the
future of Europe itself, particularly having regard that Serbia has always
played constructive role in the new European history. At the end of the XX
century Serbia righteously resisted the policy of capitulation and occupation
introduced by US led Alliance like any sovereign country would do. Isolation,
sanctions, military aggression and finally support to secession were admittedly
intended to prove to the Muslim world, as if the West protects the interest of
Muslims in the Balkans what is false pretention.
The Conference participants held that the “International Criminal Tribunal for
the Former Yugoslavia” in The Hague, the ICTY, represents a prolonged arm of
NATO, the instrument of revenge. Its goal is to protect the aggressors and
justify their crimes declaring the victim, the entire Serbian nation, to be the
culprit. The Tribunal displayed neither interest nor readiness to review
irrefutable evidence on crimes of the leaders of actual perpetrators, Albanian
terrorists and NATO.
The participants called for the dissolution of the Hague Tribunal as a
political not judicial body existing beyond the law, contrary to the United
Nations Charter. There are no grounds to have Serbia, the Serbian nation, and
their leadership stand accused for the past civil wars in former Yugoslavia,
nor for the consequences of the Albanian separatism and terrorism.
The Conference called for initiating an independent inquiry on the causes and
circumstances of death of the former President of Serbia and the FR of
Yugoslavia, the late Slobodan Milošević, and also of the deaths of all the
other Serbs who died under unclear circumstances while detained by the Hague
Tribunal.
They expressed their indignation towards the recent penalties of the Hague
Tribunal against high Serbian and Yugoslav political, military and police
leaders, as retaliatory, stressing that the Tribunal failed to prove the
personal responsibilities of any of the sentenced.
The so-called “independent Kosova” is but an extended U.S. “Camp Bondsteel” and
a spring board for the ongoing military expansion eastwards.
The aggression against the FR of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) proved that
NATO is neither a defensive nor a regional alliance. It is military
organization whose role is to impose global dominance of the richest countries
led by the USA, over the vast majority of the less developed countries that
happen to possess energy resources, or strategic raw materials, or substantial
markets and outstanding geo-strategic position. NATO aggressive policy presents
a true danger for peace and security in the world.
The mushrooming of foreign military bases in the Balkans, Europe and the world,
the constant rise in military budgets of the NATO and the EU member states the
spiraling armament race must stop. The militarization of the political decision
making process is gravely endangering democracy, inhibiting the social
development, massively violating human rights, thus paving the way to the
totalitarianism and the twilight of civilization.
The participants of the Belgrade Conference appealed to all the forces of
peace, law and justice, to unite in the quest to abolish NATO, to dismantle
foreign military bases, and to decrease the military spending for the benefit
of the poor and oppressed. They have expressed their appreciation and
solidarity with all peace movements and associations which are taking part in
various activities aimed at memory to the victims and other consequences of
NATO aggression on Yugoslavia in 1999.
The constant rise in military spending leads to further aggravation of the
current world crisis. Reduction of USA/NATO/EU and other countries’ military
spending is the key condition to overcome the world crisis.
NATO crimes must not be forgotten. Therefore it is a moral obligation to
initiate the procedure for determining responsibility of the then-leadership of
NATO before the competent international and national courts, aiming at
establishing concrete individual accountability.
Apart from this, the Conference noted initiatives to activate existing
international tribunals for processing those responsible for NATO aggression,
as well as to establish the International Human Conscience Tribunal (le
Tribunal Internationaux de la Conscience Humaine) securing moral satisfaction
to the victims of the aggression and to the entire Serbian nation.
It was noted that Serbia has never belonged to any military alliance; over 60
years it has been nonaligned and is the only European country victim of the
NATO aggression.
Therefore participants voiced their profound conviction that Serbia should not
seek nor accept membership in NATO being an offensive alliance with the role
and objectives above UN and contrary to the existing International Law Order.
It is believed that Serbia should be developing an open and balanced foreign
policy, good neighborly relations and cooperation with all major stakeholders
in the international relations, including with nonaligned countries, remaining
militarily neutral.
Serbiashould host the Nonaligned summit in 2011 celebrating 60th anniversary of
the First nonaligned Summit held 1961 in Belgrade and seek return to full
membership status in NAM.
Recalling forthcoming 70th anniversary of the start of WWII, the participants
expressed their concerns over the systematic attempts to revise the history of
both the First and the Second World War, and unanimously condemned the revival
of fascism and Nazism in certain European countries. A warning was sounded that
such incidents are anything but accidental and that they seek to invoke
conflicts, and therefore all the countries have the duty to stop them.
The Conference condemned the abuse of the struggle against international
terrorism for the purpose of the expansion of the self-centered interests of a
superpower or of a group of the richest countries. Double standards are not
acceptable in combating terrorism.
So called independent Kosovo, Albanian terrorism and organized crime represent
the most dangerous source of destabilization of the Balkans and Europe.
Stability in the Balkans depends on the respect of universal principles of
international relations, first of all, principle of sovereignty and territorial
integrity, without exceptions. Renewal of the negotiations on the status of
Kosovo and Metohija respecting UN SC Resolution 1244 is the only way to return
to peace, stability and progress.
The Conference expressed its solidarity with the Palestinian people who has the
right to freedom, independence and own country, just like any other nation in
the Middle East has.
The illegal military occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq have no justification
whatsoever and therefore should end up. The Conference called on the relevant
foreign governments to withdraw their troops and terminate the operations.
Peace, security and development are inseparable. Aggression and the so-called
low-intensity wars in any part of the world jeopardize other countries, nations
and peoples. Therefore, peace, security and development may only be achieved
through the broadest possible cooperation of the peace movements, intellectual
and scientific forces.
The Belgrade Forum’s International Conference on occasion of the 10th
anniversary of the start of the NATO aggression, makes an important step to
that end.
The unipolar world order era is collapsing. The processes of building a
multi-polar world order is in progress. The conditions are conducive for
democratization of the international relations on the basis of sovereign
equality of all states and of restoring respect for the fundamental principles
of the international relations.
The appeal was addressed to the leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement countries
to keep on strengthening unity and action capabilities strengthening the role
of United Nations and basic principles of international relations.
The process of deepening global economic crisis obliges the Non-Aligned
Movement to strengthen unity in order to prevent the richest countries from,
once again, passing the burden of the problems onto the underdeveloped world.
The time is ripe for unity, accountability and action of all forces of and for
peace, development, and equality. The Conference was preceded by the photo and
book exhibition as well as by the review of documentary films organized by the
Association of former generals and admirals of the Serbian (Yugoslav) Army.
The participants have expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the
Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals for the initiative to convene this
Conference, for the high level of organization, and hospitality it provided.
THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE BELGRADE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Serbian News Network - SNN
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