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Symposium on the War in the Balkans - Summary


Des Brough, Senior VP of the Peace Council, Summary of the day.

The symposium uses the model of Multi-Track diplomacy with one important exception; it reverses the order by presenting speakers from non-governmental organisations first, followed by academics, then politicians or professional diplomats.

In his opening remarks Gerald O'Brien (President of Honour) introduced three dimensions of disillusionment, doom and despair. These are widely shared feelings about the NATO Bombing of Yugoslavia (FRY). They arise partly from a historical perspective of the seminal role played by a former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Peter Fraser, in setting up the United Nations in 1946; partly they arise from the failure of the League of Nations members to perform their duties and partly these negative feelings relate to our government's actions to support the NATO action, without allowing debate about the need for New Zealand to return to an independent role in world affairs which truly reflects the will of the people.

EDWINA HUGHES- Peace Movement Aotearoa "Bombing is not a solution"

PMA pointed out mass media in NZ had failed to cover the extent of the continued international opposition to NATO bombing of FRY. She said this action by NATO had no basis in international law. It ignored the protocols of the Geneva Convention and that such bombing does neither support, nor does it advance, human rights in FRY. NATO bombing is not the solution; it is the problem. It promotes the continued repression off the peoples of FRY, it has the effect of reducing internal opposition to government polices and propaganda has the effect of demonising the Serbs. The bombing is having catastrophic environmental effects including toxic contamination resulting from the use of DU ordinance. Mass media coverage has resulted in contradictions of perception between image and event. The more you watch TV coverage the less you will know about actual events. The deliberate under-resourcing of the Organisation of Security & Cooperation in Europe was a planned failure, which justified the decision of NATO to bombing FR Y.

The main beneficiaries of such action is the military /industrial complex of the USA.

MICHAEL GILCHRIST, General Secretary, Trade Union Federation "Economic aspects of the War and impact on Workers'.

The underlying process of globalisation together with its well-known doctrine of non-negotiation around the demand that the FRY economy must function as free market principles has resulted in a grave negative impact. The IMF, World Bank and WTO have freed the imposition of a structural program based on macroeconomic regulation and reform, which has led to the destructing of the local economy. This has created a market with a Labour surplus, massive unemployment and poverty. The fact that international union action has been every slow can be explained as the fact of complicity between non-governmental organisations and NATO. The TUF has received communications from FRY unions, but more work has to be done to build international union solidarity, particularly with unions in France and Italy.

GILLIAN SOUTHEY, representing World Council of Churches and the Christian World Service "War in the Balkans- Humanitarian Crisis"

International aid and cooperation for development was already going in all the countries of FRY, long before the bombing began. The sudden exodus of refugees has shown up a lack of resources available for refugee resettlement. The immense problem of refugees is as symptom of a crisis about the power and control of FRY. This includes the control of mineral resources in the Balkan region. Indeed the horrific events suffered by the refugee's means that the very concept of humanity is under threats.

DR ROUBEN AZIZIAN, Political Studies Dept, Auckland University, Former Russian diplomat. " NATO airstrikes: Limited War with Far reaching Consequences."

Dr Azizian opened by questioning the title of his paper by asking whether there is such a thing as a limited war either in location or use of military strategy? He went on to identify how the changing role of NATO, its enlarged membership and its new agenda, have provided a rationale for intervention in ethnic conflicts. This has caused the unleashing of powerful feelings related to the identity of minority groups. As NATO grows so does the temptation for it to intervene in hot spots of ethnic conflict on its doorstep, which eventually reaches the Caucasian region. Inside NATO there is pressure of a spread of Western values to member states such as Turkey. Outside NATO, pressures may lead to radicalisation of minority movements together with a move away from consensual politics. A powerful combination of these trends he identified as the KOSOVO FACTOR. He suggested that comparable conditions in other parts of the world could lead to similar situations ie former states and autonomous regions of the former USSR such as the Ukraine, could again station nuclear weapons on their soil. In Asia ethnic conflict in Indonesia could lead to the spread of the KOSOVO FACTOR. If other Kosova's are to be avoided in the future, then countries must improve their ability to accommodate ethnic minorities and put more resources and effort into diplomatic solutions. The KOSOVO FACTOR raises the question of where countries like NZ stand on NATO's universal application of human rights in relation to ethnic conflict and geopolitics. It is this KOSOVO FACTOR and NATO's change of role, which should lead NZ to review its policy on foreign affairs towards a more independent position.

DR JOEL HAYWARD, Programme Coordinator, Defence & Strategic Studies, Massey University

The redefinition of the role of NATO raises the questions about its so-called "Partnership of Peace". NATO's strategy of announcing non use of ground troops, limiting itself to air strikes only, is a clear violation of the Powell Doctrine, which uses the concept of being " the meanest dog in town." If you are going to hit them, hit them hard, begin with airstrikes, then swiftly follow up with-assembled ground troops of overwhelming proportions and swiftly overrun all opposition and achieve victory with superior technology and minimum casualties. President Clinton has been poorly advised on military strategy, and is "going off the rails " by not following the Powell Doctrine. The over capacity of the defence industry has pressured President Clinton as Commander in Chief of the US military to use high technology to ally public opinion and in abhorrence of casualties to it own forces. By departing from the Powell Doctrine NATO intervention has lost its effectiveness, the conflict will be drawn our for some consi derable time than would otherwise been the case.

Dr ANDREW LADLEY, International law Specialist, Law Faculty, Victoria University " International law and the use of Force in Kosovo."

Doctor Ladley revisited the Charter of the UN, which provides a reference for the prevention of war, and attempts to define the conditions for the use of force, if absolutely necessary. He reviewed the concepts of crimes against humanity and he said there was fuzziness around the interpretation of international law. How does it condemn the use of force? Is it time to re-engage the UN Security Council albeit in urgent need of restructuring? With the power of the veto vote, how will the agreement to reform the UN Security Council be achieved? Another approach is to engage legalistic arguments around the interpretation of the concept of self-defence. Could it be that in the context of precent international law, NATO bombing is a one off exception to the rule? In terms of the evolution of humanitarian law what are the consequences of such international intervention?

His paper suggested the application for "situational ethics", which in certain circumstances may either override, or limit the sovereignty of nation states. Such an approach would endanger security and challenge notions of self-defence from the point of view of " the international community" or the " national interest"

This is a 'busking" approach to international law that questions the present model, authority, and values of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A "make it up as you go along approach" allows military alliances and key figures to either override or simply re-interpret international and humanitarian law on their own terms, backed by superior sophisticated military technology. A return to gunboat diplomacy.

Political Party Positions on War in the Balkans

Dr Wayne Mapp, National Party, Government, Member of Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

The fact is that President Milosevic has been indicted as a war criminal by the International Criminal Court. There is a role for the UN in settling this conflict. Part of the problem is the evolving nature of international law. Sovereignty is not an absolute concept. As there is a broad mandate behind the NATO action, then it should be seen to have tacit approval. Logistic military targets have been set and NATO has admitted " military errors". It is the New Zealand government's view that such actions are lawful and those NATOs actions are justified.

Graham Kelly, MP, Labor Party, Member of Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

Military bombing has never been the solution to ethnic conflicts or international disputes. It didn't work in Viet Nam and it won't work in FRY. The lack of parliamentary debate leaves MPs vulnerable in view of the lack of informed public opinion. How can a position be arrived at without considering wide formal and informal debate around the NATO action and the role of the USA? An analysis is required on the internal pressure of commerce, business and defence industry on the NATO decision to interfere in FRY. What about the role of New Zealand as a small nation to again give leadership to international debate and re-examine the role of the UN, just as it did in 1945?

Matt Robson MP, Alliance party, Member of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

NATO was never set up to defend human rights. He denounces the concept of "Partners of Peace" and drew attention to the hidden agenda behind the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. It is an expression of the New World Order and the goal is the destruction of sovereignty of the FRY states, the struggle for control of economic resources and geopolitics in order to secure control of Europe. New Zealand has an opportunity to develop an independent policy and recognise we have a responsibility to Kosovo and other regional conflicts such as East Timor. Who is this "international community" that NATO claim it is acting on behalf, aside from the NATO states? NZ must focus on reform of the UN and question the unpaid dues owing by the USA. We should pull aback from support of the NATO bombing of FRY and together we should build a campaign of NZ people against the War in the Balkans, just as we did against the bombing of Viet Nam.

Paul Bruce, Spokesperson from Green Party

Green politics are based on a set of clear values foremost of which is promoting peace and non-violence with an emphasis on peace education and conflict resolution. The US has a long history of military intervention to support US interests, notably in Central and Latin America. He drew on recant reports from the Conference on the Hague Appeal for Peace to support the emphasis on the Green party policy. He condemned the use of DU weaponry in the Balkans War and pointed out the disastrous environmental effects of chemical toxicity and radioactive residues to human health. NZ should support negotiated resolution to the War, address economic disparities and reduce ethnic conflict.

Discussion from the floor led to the following unanimous resolution being carried with acclamation by the over 100 people present at the Symposium. "The Symposium is concerned at the continuing tragedy and conflict in the Balkans, with its huge waste of human lives and resources. We call on the Parliament of Aotearoa New Zealand, in unanimity to condemn the conflict and demand an immediate cessation of the bombing campaign by NATO, as a first step towards restoring peace in the region."

With strong support from the Yugoslav community the symposium has developed a clear analysis of the many paradoxes in the present situation, NATO bombing FRY in order to protect human rights. The economic process of globalisation which creates mass unemployment and poverty through the policies of the IMF, World Bank and WTO. It stimulates radicalisation of ethnic minorities to preserve their identity and creates a counter-force of "glocalisation". This symposium was organised to widen public debate and emphasise how biased reporting of mass media stereotypes ethnic groups into " oppressor" and "oppressed" roles with the promise of NATO bombing intervention in order to build up a "Partnership for Peace". Such paradoxes not only show the complexity of the War in the Balkans. It could also spill over into other regions of the world.

The broad New Zealand peace movement must continue to build public opinion that NATO must stop bombing Yugoslavia and return to a negotiated settlement of the conflict.

The Symposium raised $550 for the Red Cross Appeal for victims of the War.

Return to "War in the Balkans' symposium, 29 May 1999, Wellington"

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