Barış Derneği

Following the Meeting of Balkan Peace Movements held in Thessaloniki on March 1-2, 2008 on the initiative of the Greek Committee for International Détente and Peace (EEDYE) with the support of the World Peace Council (WPC), attended by representatives of ten organizations from eight countries in the region (Greece, Serbia, Croatia, Turkey, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine) as well as a delegation from the World Peace Council (WPC), a communiqué was issued after a fruitful exchange of views, concluding with the following points:

1. We are passing through a difficult and dangerous period for the peoples of the Balkans and in general. Concern prevails in the Balkans, in Cyprus and in our broader vincinity. Our region lies in the eye of the storm. The Balkans constitute a hub of intra-imperialist differences, because the region is of special significance both for the routing of the oil and natural gas pipelines, the energy supply and security of the European Union and for its geostrategic position as a transit point to the Middle East and North Africa. Thus its importance is considerable for all the great powers. One example for the competition of interests is the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline, which is being promoted by Russia, and the AMBO pipeline from Burgas to the Albanian port of Vlore, promoted by the USA. The EU is promoting its own interests by sending its troops into Kossovo, while it already has a military presence in the rest of the Balkans.

2. The unilateral declaration “independence” of the Serbian province of Kossovo, with the prompt support of the USA, NATO and the E.U. threatens to set off a new round of tension, border changes, new hotspots of destabilization and a fresh round of wars and imperialist interventions. It violates the basic principles of the founding Charter of the UN, the final document of the OSCE and the Resolutions of the Security Council of the UN, particularly the 1244/99. Secession does not constitute a solution to the hardships and poverty of the people living in Kossovo. Regardless of their ethnic origin, the working people of the area will continue to lack fundamental rights, as their statelet will be a NATO protectorate.

   The nationalism being cultivated will become a deadly weapon that will be turned against all the Balkan peoples, while it constitutes a negative precedent case for other regions.

3. We express our solidarity with the Cypriot people vis a vis the pressure exerted by the USA and its European allies for an unacceptable solution to be imposed, above and beyond the principles of International law and the UN. Thus, the struggle and solidarity with the Cypriot people must be intensified for a unified, independent, bizonal and bi-communal Federation in accordance with the UN resolutions and high-level talks, without foreign bases and troops, a common homeland for Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots with neither “guarantors” nor “protectors”.
4. With regard to the problem in the relations between Greece and FYROM, we support understanding between peoples and countries beyond, independent of and against imperialist interventions and arbitration, without nationalism and irredentism and with respect for existing borders and the sovereignty of each state. Within this framework, a jointly accepted solution could be found for the issue of the country’s name.

5. It is obvious that it does not suffice for us to feel concern, but rather we must actively oppose imperialist interventions in the Balkans and in the secession of Kossovo. We must make stronger demands for NATO troops and bases to be withdrawn from the Balkan region.

   Only thus can the national sovereignty and independence of each country be secured, with the development of friendship and solidarity amongst the peoples. Minorities can be bridges of friendship rather than a means to be used for manipulation within the framework of imperialist plans. We must make manifest our resolve to not allow any further change in Balkan borders. We must unite the peoples, the nations and the ethnic groups of the Balkans in the great, common struggle to throw off imperialist dependence and exploitation.

   The peoples of the Balkans can look forward to a bright future only if they put aside nationalism and counter it with a united, pro-peace, anti-imperialist front. In this context we condemn the recent Turkish military operations in Northern Iraq which are serving only the interests of the imperialist forces. We demand their immediate end.

   We demand:

   • that the “independence” of the Kossovo protectorate not be recognized by the governments of our countries
   • that the NATO and European Union troops leave Kossovo and the Balkans
   • that all the foreign military bases of imperialist powers be removed from the region.

Balkan Meeting of the Peace Movements

Thessaloniki,March 1-2,2008

List of Participants

Greece “Greek Committee for International Détente and Peace” (EEDYE)

• Vera Nikolaidou, General Secretary of EEDYE,MP
• Grigoris Petropoulos,Organizing Secretary
• Nikos Zokas, member of the Secretariat

Serbia "Belgrade Forum for the World of Equals"

• Zivadin Jovanovic, President of the Belgrade Forum, ex-Foreign Minister

Croatia "Antifascist Forum of Croatia"

• Vladimir Kapuralin, member of the board

Serbia "Anti-Nato Committee Serbia"

• Ljubislav Krunic, member of the board
• Miroslav Lazovic, member of the board

Cyprus "Cyprus Peace Council"

• Aris Georgiou, President

Greece “Movement for National Defense” (ΚΕTHΑ)

• Ioannis Ntouniadakis, Rear Admiral,(retired)

Bulgaria "Bulgarian National Peace Council"

• Ivan Dimitrov, Organizing Secretary
• Philip Philipov, General Secretary

Romania "Romanian Peace Council"

• Constantin Cretu, President

Ukraine "Anti-fascist Union of Ukraine"

• Goergii Buiko, Secretary

Turkey "Peace Association of Turkey"

• Murat Akad, member of the Board

World Peace Council

• Thanassis Pafilis, General Secretary
• Iraklis Tsavdaridis, Executive Secretary