WOMEN IN BLACK - BELGRADO

STOP TO WAR THREATS!

Belgrade, 28th January

The U.S.A. government has been stepping up military preparations for an offensive against Iraq. Under the pretext of "preventive war" and overthrowing Sadam Husein's dictatorship, the U.S.A. government has resolved to install an undemocratic regime that will prolong the suffering of the civilian population in Iraq and affect the other countries of the region. Such a military intervention could lead to global war, environmental disaster and rise of terrorism.

All wars are unjustified and unjust, even when the international community wages it in accordance with the UN Resolutions. Not only is there no formal vindication, but also it is also openly opposed by a large number of European governments. We see this as a particularly encouraging development.

With this protest, we express our solidarity with the civilian population of Iraq, exhausted both by S. Husein's dictatorship and by international sanctions. We also hold S. Husein's regime, with its enormous repressive apparatus, accountable for the present humanitarian catastrophe. Although this regime stifles, and even crushes in bloodshed any form of resistance in Iraq, we know that democratic forces exist in that country and that there are peace groups and women's groups that loathe S. Husein's policy inasmuch as they reject Bush. We lend our support to them and consider them to be our allies in the struggle against all forms of militarism, nationalism and fundamentalism.

On this occasion, we appeal to:

- The authorities of Serbia and Montenegro to publicly announce their opposition to the war in Iraq, and to join numerous European governments in their demand to U.S. President George Bush to renounce to his belligerent schemes, threats and preparations. Taking such a public and open stance would represent a form of integration of our country in the European and international institutions.

- All non-governmental organizations, trade unions and all democratic forces to join our protest against the war in Iraq. Women in Black consider that non-violent resistance to war, both in Iraq and everywhere else, is part of the civic society responsibility.

On this occasion, we reconfirm:

- Our solidarity, closeness and mutual support with the peace movement in the U.S.A., especially with Women in Black, who have been manifesting their opposition to the war policies of the U.S.A. all the more massively, thus managing to engage more and more American citizens against the war in Iraq;

- Solidarity with all peace initiatives in Europe, in region, which are trying with great effort to avert the war. As part of the international peace movement, Women in Black will organize actions together with the peace movement in the U.S.A. and Europe, and particularly with the International Network of Women in Black.

Activists from the women's peace network from many cities in Serbia and Montenegro will join the protest: Kraljevo, Women from Leskovac, Novi Sad, Nis,Novi Pazar, Tutin, Niksic,Vranje, Cacak, Cetinje, Pljevlja, Zajecar and Velika Plana.

This protest is also organized on the occasion of 30th January - International Day of Peace. This date is marked throughout the world as the anniversary of the assassination of M. Gandhi, one of the precursors of the non-violence movement.

The protest will be held on Saturday, 1st February 2003, from 14:00 until 15:00 hours at Republic Square in Belgrade.

TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THIS WAR!

WOMEN IN BLACK Belgrade, 28th January

The following groups join this appeal: The women's Centre - Leskovac Committee for Human Rights - Vranje Impulse - Tutin Damad - Novi Pazar Students' Association Filonus - Belgrade Women's Studies - Belgrade Urban-in - Novi Pazar Feminist 94 - Belgrade Azrael - Kraljevo Women are coming - Cacak Women's Forum of the LSV - Novi Sad Eva - Novi Sad AD - Novi Sad SOS hotline for women and children victims of war -Niksic SOS hotline - Pljevlja Bonafide - Pljevlja Civic house / Women's Forum - Cetinje Women in Black activists from Nis, Velika Plana and Zajecar The creative workshop - Kraljevo Social-democratic league of Vojvodina's youth - Novi Sad ®MIG - Pancevo Civil initiatives- Beograd Women's Voters League in Montenegro Women's Forum - Prijepolje