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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The
European Federation of Green Parties (EFGP) published a resolution
opposing the unilateral military action by the U.S. in Afghanistan in
retaliation for the September 11 attacks and urging internationally
cooperative efforts to resolve conflicts in Israel and Palestine and in
central Asia. 31 Green Parties from 31 nations are represented in the
EFGP.
"We're pleased that our European brothers and sisters have chosen
to support in principle the position of the Green Party of the United
States in the demand for adherence to international law and respect for
human rights," said David Cobb, a Texas Green and Legal Counsel for
the national party.
The statement expressly opposes President Bush's order for military
tribunals to try those implicated in the September 11 attacks. The use
of secret military tribunals and the possible imposition of the death
penalty may complicate efforts by the U.S. to have suspects extradited
from some European countries.
The EFGP's member parties include representatives in parliaments and
national legislatures and other national officials throughout Europe.
The resolution, approved at the EFGP's 2001 annual meeting in Budapest,
Hungary in early December, is appended below.
MORE INFORMATION
The Green Party of the United States http://gpus.org
& http://www.gp.org
The European Federation of Green Parties http://www.europeangreens.org/
Statement on the September 11 attacks, from the Green Party of the
United States http://www.gpus.org/articles/9_11_01.html
* * * * *
EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF GREEN PARTIES
EFGP 12th Council Meeting
Hungary, Budapest, 30th November - 2nd December 2001
Adopted Resolution
International terrorism, global security and building democratic
Afghanistan
1. NEW ERA FOR GLOBAL SECURITY.
The European Greens, deeply concerned at the terrorist attacks of the
September 11th 2001, the humanitarian crisis and war in Afghanistan, and
the new round of violence in Israeli-Palestine conflict, are asking the
UN and the governments to form new global peace policy for the 21st
century and to find juridical and political means to fight international
terrorism, to end conflicts and to foster peaceful societies where the
human rights of all people are guaranteed. They reaffirm their political
orientations aiming the building of a new international security system,
supported by law, the joined management of police and justice functions,
the prevention of risks and conflicts, a strategy of resorption of
global inequalities, the non-proliferation of massive destruction
weapons and technologies, the fight against economical and financial
corruption. The new situation should be seen as a challenge to
strengthen global security through the UN and through international,
non-violent action.
2. CONDEMNATION OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ATTACKS.
The European Greens reiterates its condemnation of the international
terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001. We also condemn the act of bio
terrorism that have been taking place after September 11th in the
form of anthrax attacks and has been a concern all over the world. We
express our solidarity with the people of the United States and our
sympathy with the injured and the bereaved families of the victims from
the USA and many other countries. We recognise the heroism displayed by
the emergency services of New York and Washington, notably the fire
fighters, many of whom gave their lives to save others.
3. CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.
The Sep 11th attacks must be considered as crimes against humanity and
as crimes against international peace and security. It is important that
all states will co-operate under international law in finding the
perpetrators still alive, and that these people should face an
international criminal court envisaged for this purpose - not a military
tribunal - where they should be tried on the basis of clear-cut
evidence.
4. THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT.
As part of the global governance new effective multilateral instruments
are needed to combat terrorism. Current events have shown existing
instruments and international co-operation to be highly unsatisfactory.
Therefore the European Greens are strongly supporting the establishment
of The International Criminal Court, which in the future should have
sufficient mandate and means to deal with all acts against humanity,
including terrorism. The Greens are calling all governments to ratify
the treaty on The International Criminal Court as soon as
possible.
5. NO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST CIVILIANS - ENDING VIOLENCE IN
AFGHANISTAN.
These crimes should be countered by justice, not revenge. The criminals
must be found, arrested, disarmed, tried and punished. So we
condemn military action against civilian targets. The
international
community should exert all its influence to prevent massacres and acts
of revenge of the anti-Taleban forces against defeated forces and all
use of violence against civilian population against the civil
population. The Talebans have to be treated as prisoners of war,
according to the existing international conventions. Also every
political effort should be made to prevent new fighting between
different anti-Taleban forces.
6. HUMANITARIAN AID TO AFGHANISTAN.
The reports by organisations working on the ground in Afghanistan show
that a new humanitarian crisis for many Afghans is imminent when Afghan
refugees are now returning back to their homes. Therefore the European
Greens are asking the UN to co-ordinate all humanitarian assistance that
is needed in the region and all international humanitarian organisations,
the EU and all the governments to insure that all humanitarian aid that
is needed will be given to help the situation of people in Afghanistan
and in the region. The European Greens are strongly urging to open
all borders, including the Uzhbekistan-Afghanistan border, for
humanitarian aid.
7. THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE NEW AFGHAN GOVERNMENT.
It is vital that the international community now works harder than ever
to encourage a stable democratic government in Afghanistan. The European
Greens are supporting the efforts under the aegis of the UN to create a
democratic, multi-ethnic and broad-based Afghan Government. We are
deeply convinced that in this process the women in Afghanistan must have
an important role and they should fully take part in these negotiations.
Women should also play an equal role in the whole Afghan society.
8. STRENGTHENING REGIONAL STABILITY.
The fight against international terrorism must not lead to the
struggle of cultures which would only contribute to the increasing
fundamentalism. It is therefore necessary to ensure the maximum
political support to all the democratic forces operating in Afghanistan
and the neighbouring countries in order to strengthen the already weak
stability of the region. The reconstruction of the civil infrastructure
and substantial help for the domestic economy is a precondition for a
democratic political solution. Therefore we call for a new Stability
Pact-like framework for Afghanistan and for the region, financed by the
international community. The Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe
could be as a model for this. As all the northern neighbours of
Afghanistan, like Kirghistan, Uzhbekistan and Tadjikistan, are also
members of the OSCE, also OSCE should be used as a tool to strengthen
stability. The European Greens also express their deep concern on the
dangerous tensions of the Kazhmir conflict where confidence
building measures are immediately needed.
9. PROTECT THE CIVIL LIBERTIES.
In many countries, anti-terrorism action and new legislation is taking
place. The European Greens are concerned that in some countries there is
already evidence that a wide definition of terrorism has resulted in
innocent people and organisations being made targets when exercising
their legitimate right to peaceful and democratic resistance. The Greens
do not accept any unneeded act to limit civil liberties in the name of
anti-terrorism action.
10. MINORITY RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS SHOULD BE
RESPECTED
The current global action against terrorism should not be used as an
opportunity by countries to conduct repression against their own
national, cultural, religious or ethnic minorities. The European
Greens are following with concern the activities like those of the
Russian authorities in Chechnya and of the Chinese authorities in
Xinjang and in Tibet.
11. AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE.
The terrorist attacks in the USA, being acts against humanity, cannot be
justified or understood in the framework of any ongoing international
political conflicts. Anyhow, to eliminate the ground for any such acts
in the future, it is important to build on justice, democracy,
environmentally and socially sustainable development and respect of
human rights all over the world. For this reason the European Greens
call for the unconditional resumption of international negotiations in
order to create an independent and viable Palestinian state respecting
the right of Israël to live in security. A lasting solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian problem would be of great help in the fight against
the so-called 'Islamic fundamentalist inspired' terrorism.
12. NO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST SO-CALLED "ROGUE STATES"
The European Greens are worried about the indications of the US
Administration to undertake military action against the so-called
"rogue states" like Iraq and Somalia. We agree to put
political and economic pressure on all states which do not strictly
condemn terrorist actions, but further military actions would harm the
existing international coalition against terrorism and could only lead
to an ongoing radicalisation among fundamentalists.
13. THE UN SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED.
The United Nations is the only global platform that we have and the only
suitable forum to deal with the new challenges of global governance,
like international action against terrorism. All actions taken
internationally should be in the limits of the UN Charter and should
respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UN funding should
be secured, and the UN must be democratised and strengthened at all
levels.
EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF GREEN PARTIES
European Parliament - room PHS 2C85
rue Wiertz, 1047 Brussels, Belgium
ph: 32 2 284 51 35, fax : 32 2 284 91 35
email : EFGP@europarl.eu.int
http://www.europeangreens.org
END
Forwarded by the D.C. Statehood Green Party
http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org
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