The Committee for National Solidarity Tolstojeva 34, 11000 Belgrade, YU One of the comments regarding the potential appointment of George Robertson for NATO's Secretary General: Committee for Peace in the Balkans c/o Alice Mahon MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- NEWS RELEASE, Saturday 31st July 1999 For immediate release Response to the nomination George Robertson as NATO Secretary General Alice Mahon MP, Chair of the Committee for Peace in the Balkans, issued the following statement in response to the nomination of George Robertson for the post of NATO General Secretary. 'Claims that George Robertson is well qualified for the post of Secretary General of NATO because he had "a good war" in Yugoslavia are as distasteful as they are disturbing. Surely a more suitable basis for choosing a candidate would be a proven commitment to conflict resolution through negotiation and reconciliation? 'NATO continues to maintain the illusion that it launched a "humanitarian" war against Yugoslavia. Far from preventing a humanitarian catastrophe, NATO bombing created one. As the United Nations Inter-Agency Needs Assessment Mission recently reported, the air raids 'created a new type of complex humanitarian emergency'. 'NATO bombing had, in the words of the UN, 'a devastating impact' on the environment, industry, employment, essential services and agriculture. The destruction of power supplies and water purification systems are an on-going threat to the health of the whole population, which is why Kofi Annan has called on western government to help fund their reconstruction. Drinking water and some food supplies are contaminated. 'Thousands of innocent civilians, Albanian and Serb alike, were killed and maimed by NATO bombs. Many more are likely perish in the months ahead. And those who don't face severe privation. 'Hundreds of thousands of people are facing a winter without adequate electricity, heat, water or food. Some will not even have a permanent roof over their head when the temperature drops below freezing. And the most vulnerable will be hardest hit - children, the sick, disabled and elderly, as well as refugees and displaced persons. 'For the vast majority of ordinary citizens whose lives have been shattered by the bombing of their country - and who are in no position to influence the terrible circumstances in which they find themselves - NATO's war against Yugoslavia was anything but 'good'. Peace and stability in the Balkans will be best served by the NATO states providing funds for the reconstruction of civilian infrastructure and cleaning up the poisoned environment. For information: 0171 275 0164 Secretary General Mrs. Jela Jovanovic Art historian
PROVISIONAL ASSESSMENT OF DESTRUCTION AND DAMAGES (Ipart).eml (Internet E-Mail Message)
PROVISIONAL ASSESSMENT OF DESTRUCTION AND DAMAGES (IIpart).eml (Internet E-Mail Message)
