Zivadin Jovanovic, Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals

Uniting against terrorism but - under UN umbrella. Immigrants and terrorism to deal with roots. Readmission, 21st century deportation method.

This month, 24rth and 25th of November, Serbian capital Belgrade will be the venue of the Scientific International Conference titled “Yalta, Potsdam, Helsinki, Belgrade: in search of security order”. The gathering of scientists, diplomats, politicians and public personalities from about 20 countries of Europe and the World is devoted to 70th anniversary of Yalta and Potsdam conferences (1945) and 40th anniversary of adoption of the Helsinki Final Document (1975). The Organizers are The Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals and two Russian organizations – Center of National Glory and the Fund of Saint Andrew. One week later (December 3rd and 4rth) Belgrade will host Ministerial OSCE Conference in order to sum up results of one year of Serbia`s presiding of this organization, commemorating important jubilee and giving impetus to strengthening its peace, security and cooperation role today and in the future.

Security and stability in Europe is indivisible from security and stability in surrounding regions and the world. That’s why the future of peace and stability in Europe cannot be properly perceived if it is not closely linked with peace and stability in the Middle East, Asia, Northern Africa (Maghreb) and Africa, as a whole.

Unfortunately, nowadays world is faced with growing risks and threats to security and stability. Mutual respect and trust among powers is in profound crisis. Some powers have proclaimed themselves exempted from the Law Order established and developed after the Second World War. Whenever the law stays on the way of their imperial expansion they simply ignore or remove it and abide by rule – might is right! Taking the role of an ultimate arbiter and executor at the same time, power centers have been intervening militarily all over the world. Violations the basic principles of International Law, including UN Charter, Helsinki Final Document, bypassing the authority of UN Security Council since 90th of the 20th century have become order of the day. It is appropriate to remember that Serbia (FRY) was the first European victim of unprovoked and illegal military NATO aggression in 1999. This turned to have become a blue-print to ensuing aggressions and military interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Yemen, Mali Syria… We need to ask ourselves what these aggressions have brought to the peoples of the Balkans, Europe, Middle East, Maghreb, Africa…? To the world? To UN and OSCE? To the International Law Order? Who can profit from fragmentation of viable states, from national, tribal and religious divisions, from chaos, hundreds of thousands of killed people, millions of refugees, displaced, emigrants…? Who were (are) those leaders, masters of our destiny, “independent” thinkers, philosophers, journalists, public figures in general, who believe(d) that taking part in, or publically defending, or justifying military aggressions, illegal regime changes and destabilization of sovereign states was the right way to reinforce human rights, introduce democracy, freedom and prosperity?

Following the first NATO war on European soil since Yalta and Potsdam agreements we have witnessed kind of a new edition the old strategy “Drang Nach Osten”, namely mushrooming in USA military basis towards Russian borders.

In 1999, taking part in NATO aggression, Europe participated in the war against itself, against own stability. More than that: This was a turning point binding NATO/EU member countries to take part in many other imperial wars and regime changes. Regrettably, Europe participated in destabilization of Ukraine and in sanctions, apparently, against Russia, in fact, again, against own interests.

Europe can hardly be amnestied of responsibility for destructions of Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria... Unprecedented flow of refugees and immigrants which has caused state of emergency on the continent has to be attributed to the lack of responsibility, vision and statesmanship of EU (NATO) leaders.

Nowadays, Europe is suffering consequences of own terrible mistakes. Of hazardous behavior. The level of egoism and unwillingness of EU leadership to recognize real causes of the problem and deal with roots, not only with consequences – are astonishing and do not promises positive outcome. Enormous flow of immigrants is certainly not only humanitarian, social and economic problem. It is security problem, too. Nevertheless the problem cannot be solved by erection of new wars, massive police and military border patrols, refugee centers like concentration camps of 21st century, even less by invoking the Dublin principles or so-called readmission agreements, kind of 21st century deportation models.

Right now the world public is mourning the victims of unprecedented terrorist attacks in Paris. While sincere expressions of solidarity with bereaved families and with the whole French nation come from all corners of the world, sense of uncertainty, insecurity and fear - who is next – is very much in the whole atmosphere. No doubt that the terrorism is universal, extremely serious threat to the security, stability and cooperation - in Europe and the world. In spite of all various actions and “successes” in the struggle against terrorism, it has not diminished, in reality, it has been rapidly growing. Spectacular military actions against international terrorism after 2001 may have killed some terrorist leaders, may have destroyed some terrorist headquarters but certainly have not dealt with ideology and roots of this evil. Calls to unite the world in the struggle against terrorism are logic, welcome and necessary. To act seriously and responsibly, to our opinion, means uniting under the authority of United Nations, i.e. UN Security Council. Further, this require coming to consensus as to definitions of terrorism, terrorist and terrorist acts in the manner that excludes “good” and “bed”, “our” and “your” terrorism and terrorists. Double standard approaches and abuse of the struggle against terrorism for promotion of egoistic or geopolitical objectives must be excluded. Struggle against consequences of terrorism, processing and punishment of the terrorists are beyond any dilemmas. But, what has been lacking is understanding of the complexity of the problem and dealing with its socio-economic, political and other roots as terrorism is long lasting problem of contemporary civilization.

Is it not the right moment to initiate convening of the UN World Conference on the struggle against terrorism with the objective to set up organization, mandate and time/table for adoption of World Convention on Terrorism?