From: "Vladimir Krsljanin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [L-I] NATO OUT OF THE BALKANS (1) - Papariga Aleka Papariga, secretary general of the Communist Party of Greece (opening remarks at the special session of the Council for international cooperation of the Head Committee of the Socialist Party of Serbia, held in Belgrade on January 26, 2001) NATO OUT OF THE BALKANS! We are feeling special pleasure for being this days in Belgrade and for having a chance to conduct talks with the leaders of the Socialist Party of Serbia. I believe that we all agree that it would be very useful to organise one international gathering attended by all the progressive and anti-war movements with only one, single request - NATO to leave our countries and the Balkans. One special aspect of our struggle is fight against further dismembering of Yugoslavia. We are of the belief that Yugoslavia at this very moment is in the centre of a real problem, that not meaning that other countries, including Greece, are not under the threat of similar danger. Of course, it does not suffice only to put across request for NATO to leave the Balkans. We have to prove that peoples of Balkans have the right and are able to live and develop without NATO presence in the Balkans. Also, we have to show that there exist a real, alternative road- a concept of regional co-operation, concept giving answers to political, economic and social needs and relations in our region. Perhaps it sounds somewhat idealistically since it posses the question - how is it feasible under to-day's conditions when at the Balkans area, in some of Balkans countries there are in power pro-NATO governments, governments suffering of delusions that only European Union guarantees their development. Whether, under the present conditions, we may speak of realistic regional inter-Balkans co-operation, co-operation that is sustainable? We have no illusions that we may achieve full regional co-operation in the Balkans in one go. In our opinion, that co-operation firstly has to be adopted as our objective, and then, everyone of us should give his contribution to the joint struggle. We have now an opportunity to use one tragic event - uncovering of the utilisation of depleted uranium in our region - to transform it into an impetus towards regional co-operation. We have put the issue of the depleted uranium in our parliament back in 1999. Of course, the then PASOK Government replied it does not know anything on the issue, as it is to-day saying it does not know anything on the issue. In Greece, one case of a soldier getting sick as consequence of the depleted uranium was reported. He was there for 19 months, and got sick of leukaemia. Earlier one or two more cases were registered with the symptoms of the sickness. Greek Government sent its scientists to Kosmet, but they are able to examine only five persons per day. Other scientist are claiming that findings of such examinations are not precise enough. There are claims that in Urosevac, where Greek forces are based, there are no problems. It seems to me that the issue of depleted uranium is closely linked to the leukaemia, as possible disease caused by the depleted uranium. A month ago serious discussions were underway in Greece and we believe that correct and very interesting view -points of the experts claiming that the consequences are many-sided. Physicians are claiming that immunity is getting diminished and that there is danger due to the food chain. We agree with the opinion of the scientists who are claiming that in five years we shall know what actually happened, and after twenty years we are going to cry. We deem that research should continue and, at the same time, we should insist (to get the answer ) why that war was waged. There are no healthy wars. War is not conducted with the carnations and roses! It is clear that between scientist may exist different view-points and that politicians should not support one scientist against the other one. After the problem was posed, American side gave to all of us an immense material whereby their scientists claim that depleted uranium is not more dangerous than cigarette smoking. They do not say that depleted uranium was not dropped, but claim it is not dangerous. American Embassy stated that they are glad that European Union established a commission to examine consequences of the use of depleted uranium, that the commission shall confirm American claims. In Greece, there is a joke going around, which appeared as title of an article in one pro-government paper: *Stop smoking, try uranium!* Greek Government does not agree to withdraw soldiers from Kosmet. However, Greek soldiers are submitting requests to be allowed to go home. Between 80 to 100 soldiers returned by their own will so far. Now, in the units, there is a prevailing atmosphere of disobedience. Government allowed the return of 80 persons, so as to calm down the situation, to alleviate the tension. It was published that these soldiers will be given salary increases, that their parents will be given tax reductions.. . However, soldiers are appearing in the media under their own names saying: *We are not going back, and you better do not go!* In all these anti-NATO demonstrations soldiers are in the front lines. They did not dare, up to now, to discharge them from the Army. We are daily bombarding our Government in the Parliament with the questions. Also, we are bombarding them with the organised rallies in the streets. Regarding the co-ordination of the activities of the anti-imperialist forces, we believe so far we already made the first step. We have organised one step in the city of Salonika. The decision was reached there to establish the centre for anti-imperialistic activities of anti-NATO forces. We are thinking on organising three-days manifestations on the day of second anniversary of bombing of Yugoslavia. There is no doubt that joint activities require repeated examination of some forms of co-operation, tactics and so forth. I do not know whether there is a need to conduct discussion on the strategies implemented in the past. It is my opinion that we should move forward using experiences gained over the last decade, and more concretely, ever since the nature and the real objectives of the NATO intervention and their presence in the Balkans are more clear. In European Parliament, 25 Left and progressive parties submitted recently a draft resolution condemning NATO war against Yugoslavia, condemning use of depleted uranium ammunitions. Also, a request was submitted that NATO and all the European countries pay compensation for the damages. European Parliament did not accept that resolution. Socialists and social-democrats in European Parliament limited their initiative so as only the ban on use of depleted uranium weapons was accepted. However, we consider initiative and draft resolution of the left and progressive parties very important. For the first time we managed to unite on such a resolution a large number of progressive and anti-imperialistic forces, for the first time to condemn NATO intervention. Few days ago large scale demonstrations were organised in Lisbon and in Italy. Party of Communist Refoundation in Italy represents same positions and struggles for their acceptance. Fact is that NATO war against Serbia and occupation of Kosmet did not solve a single problem. It caused even larger contradiction and problems - for you, for the Balkans, Europe. With us in Greece, Government is panicking since every day there are new, previously unknown elements. We believe that on this issue exist possibility to establish long-term joint activities of all the anti-NATO forces in our region. No one to day in Greece does not doubt very dangerous consequences of the NATO aggression. People are panicking to the extent that there are cases of all settlement close to the military firing ranges requesting the closing of such ranges, especially at places where the military exercises were done and dangerous weapons used. A few days ago, Society of Greek Chemists unveiled that in USA as early as 1996, after the US Army manoeuvres, use of the depleted uranium ammunition was banned. However, latter they dropped some forty thousand shells in the Aegean and Ionic Sea's respectively. The main political theme in Greece to-day is exactly that. Greek Government was made to accept discussion in the Parliament on this issue. We are doing everything possible, we are requesting renewal of the investigation, compensation, undertaking of necessary measures. Of course, we must not delude ourselves, the conditions in West Europe for the successes of all those actions are not very favourable. However, anti-NATO feelings grow there too. Also, the second tragic motive is the role of the Hague Tribunal. Let us also use the tragic happenings in the south of Serbia today, on Kosovo, the attempt of secession of Montenegro. It is necessary to use some other contradictions on the Balkans area for the strengthening of our co-operation. Today, even within NATO part of the Greek borders are contested. This is not the time for details. The relevant fact is, however, that there are a great number of facts, very important ones, that we can take advantage of for the waking of consciousness of our peoples and organising a centre of resistance, rebellion, solidarity, unison action, despite the potential differences between certain political forces at the Balkans. I would have to say that today there perhaps exists fertile soil for nurturing a few mistaken notions. I don't mean you and your party, but in general. For example, it is being said now, after the elections in the USA and the coming of the new administration, that at least a partial withdrawal of American forces from the Balkans may be expected. Even though we assess that it is not likely to happen, as a party we can not exclude the possibility totally. However, despite that, we believe that NATO will remain at the Balkans, in one form or the other. The major countries of the European Union will find an opportunity to show their trump card and ambitions. Not only do the foreign military forces threaten the Balkans but also the stationed military units. Yes, them! but not only them! The European Union was the first to proceed with the division of Yugoslavia, which is a method of subjugating smaller countries. That especially applies to the leading countries of the European Union, who have experience in using capital as means to impose their interests. And we know they are interested in owning, if not all of the Yugoslav market, at least some parts of it. They will probably use the tragic consequences of the use of depleted uranium and plutonium to limit the agricultural production in Yugoslavia, the production and export of a number of products. Presenting themselves as humanists they wish to force their own products to the Yugoslav market and suffocate your own production. The European Union, and especially the USA, wish to form a political surroundings here that suits their interests. They wish to further dismantle Yugoslavia, to use it in a game they play with other governments. Apart of the army factor, the NATO expansion , a process of imperialistic subjugation includes usage of other levers and methods - economic capital, technology, information. The expansion and domination of foreign capital we must analyse with great care in order to have an alternative concept for efficient protection of the employed. We insist that nuclear bases and nuclear weapons that are stationed at the Balkans territory be taken back. Greece had weapons with depleted uranium and it threw those weapons into the Aegean and Ionic seas during military manoeuvres. If major political parties of Greece support NATO, you should be certain that the Greek people do not support it. That is why the Communist party of Greece advocates the idea of creating a strong anti-NATO movement, for an activity program that can contribute to a larger awakening of the masses, help part of the Greek people that already has an anti-NATO conscience to gain an even greater trust in the efficiency of that fight. 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. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
