YUGOSLAV ACTION GROUP OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION "NEZAVISNOST"
_______________________________________

Demand for Restoration of the Peace Process

Belgrade, April 13, 1999

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

Since the effects of erratic policies are mass destruction of human life and devastation of the country, 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 interests 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 Trade Union Confederation «Nezavisnost», can contribute to a successful course of the peace process, initiate a dialogue between appropriate segments of the Serbian and Albanian communities 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 nationalistic policies, including the KLA that was taken for 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 Yugoslavia that have signed this document and Trade Union Confederation «Nezavisnost» demand:

1. Participation of representatives of these organisations in all future crisis solving processes 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 the rest of Europe, that would actively take part in these processes and create ground for political, economic and social developments aimed at stabilising this region.

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

· Association of Citizens for Democracy, Social Justice and Support to Trade Unions

· Belgrade Circle

· Belgrade Women’s Studies Center

· Center for Free Elections and Democracy

· Center for Policy Studies

· Center for Transition to Democracy (ToD)

· Civic Initiatives

· District 0230 - Kikinda

· ECO Center

· European Movement in Serbia

· Forum for Ethnic Relations

· Group 484

· Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia

· Peace and Crisis Management Foundation

· Society for Truth About Antifascist War 1941-1945

· Student Union of Yugoslavia

· Trade Union Confederation NEZAVISNOST

· URBAN IN - Novi Pazar

· WIN (Weekly Independent News)

· Women in Black Against War (WIB)

· YU Lawyers Committee for Human Rights