Serbian NGO Demand for Restoration of the Peace Process

NATO bombardment and armed conflicts in Kosovo must stop. The only way out of the crisis is an unconditional restoration of the peace process.

Since the effects of erratic policies are mass destruction of human life and devastation of the land, restoration of the peace process shall be a difficult task which will require participation of everyone who is able to make contributions to development and implementation of suitable solutions.

If this issue continues to be resolved only by the people who have caused the explosion of the Kosovo crisis and the whole Yugoslav tragedy, an effective, just and rational solution to the Balkan crisis will not be achieved.

In the past ten years, embracing the principles of human rights, democratic transition, dialogue and understanding, a strong network of civic organisations has been established, representing the interest of a large number of citizens from the troubled region.

These organisations had both Serbs and Albanians active in their membership working on projects together.

This is why these organisations, including the Nezavisnost Trade Union Confederation can contribute to a successful course of the peace process, to initiation of a dialogue between appropriate segments of the Serbian and Albanian societies that could lead to reconciliation and solutions acceptable to the conflicted parties,

In all previous attempts to solve the Yugoslav crisis, international representatives have approached government representatives and those social structures in Serbia and Kosovo which they considered influential. Unfortunately, these structures mostly had radical views and nationalist policies, including even the KLA taken for the partner. At the same time, initiatives and opinions of democratic structures in the civil society that eventually turned out to be correct and well grounded, were not taken into account.

After these considerations, the civic organisations in Serbia that have signed this document and UGS Nezavisnost demand:

1. Participation of representatives of these organisations in all future peaceful solving processes of the Kosovo crisis and other problems generated by the disintegration of Yugoslavia.
2. Establishment of a permanent International Conference of civic organisations from the Balkans, South-east Europe and, finally, the whole of Europe, that would actively take part in these processes and as well as in finding ways to political, economical and social developments aimed to stabilise this region.

We believe that you shall consider our arguments and support our initiative.

Belgrade, April 13^th 1999.

• Association of Citizens for Democracy, Social Justice and Support for Trade Unions
• Belgrade Circle
• Center for Democracy and Free Elections
• Center for Transition to Democracy
• Civic Initiatives
• EKO Center
• Belgrade Women Studios Center
• European Movement In Serbia
• Forum for Ethnic Relations end Foundation for Peace and Crisis Management
• Group 484
• Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia
• The Student Union of Yugoslavia
• Union for Truth About Anti-Fascist Resistance
• VIN - Weekly Video News
• Women in Black
• YU Lawyers' Committee for Human Rights
• District 0230 Kikinda
• Urban - in Novi Pazar, and
• NEZAVISNOST Trade Union Confederation