MESSAGE TO THE USA PEACE MOVEMENT AND WORLD PEACE COUNCIL

Dear friends,

We congratulate you on holding National Conference against US foreign military bases, to be held in Baltimore, Maryland, from 12-14 January 2018.

The Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals fully supports your initiative for convening a GLOBAL CONFERENCE AGAINST U.S. FOREIGN MILITARY BASES. Rising tensions in the global relations and hot beds of old and new crisis call for unity and efforts of all peace forces for closing foreign military bases, particularly U.S. and NATO foreign military bases, around the globe. The peace forces are obligated to send clear message that U.S. and NATO foreign military bases represent the tools of hegemonism, aggression, occupation, and that as such must be closed.

Peace and inclusive development, elimination of hunger and misery require redistribution of spending for maintence of military bases in favor of development needs, education and heath services. After the end of the Cold War the whole humanity expected stability, peace and justice in the world of equal states and nations. Such expectations, however, turned to be futile beliefs.

In the last two decades, instead of closing U.S. and NATO military bases in Europe, the continent has been interneted by new U.S. military bases. As a consequence there are today more U.S. military bases in Europe than at the pick of the Cold War. Peace and security have become more fragile and quality of life jeopardized.

This dangerous development was triggered in 1999 by NATO- US led aggression against Serbia (FR Yugoslavia). At the end of the aggression US established military base in zhe occupied part of the Serbian territory Kosovo and Metohija, called Bondsteel, which is one of the most expensive and the largest military bases, established after Vietnam War It was not only an illegal, but brutal act disrespect sovereignty of Serbia and basic principles of international law. Now, there is even plan to expand the base Bondsteel and to turn it into a permanent location of American troops and into a hub of U.S. military presence in South East Europe.

We strongly oppose such belicions plans, being contrary to the interests of the peoples of the region and source of further rising tensions between East and West. We demand that the Bondsteel military base be closed as well as all other U.S.  military bases in Europe and in the World. Preparations for war are sensless waste of money, energy and development opportunities.

The Belgrade forum  as integral part of the world peace movement headed by the WPC, stands firmly by the initiative to close all  military bases in the world and direct resources to development and better life of people.

We express our solidarity with efforts of the COALITION AGAINST U.S. FOREIGN MILITARY BASES and wish the Baltimore conference full success.

Friendly yours,
Zivadin Jovanovic
President of the Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals