BELGRADE NGOs _________________________________________________

SERBIA THREATENED WITH ECOLOGICAL DISASTER

Belgrade, April 19, 1999

NATO intervention in Yugoslavia is increasingly gaining a dimension of retaliation. The number of civilian casualties rises every day. The destruction of economic sites has long term dramatic consequences for civilian population and puts cities, country and the entire region under serious danger.

The bombing of the chemical plant in Pancevo, near Belgrade, has already caused severe ecological damage and seriously threatens to turn into an ecological disaster. In the last fire that broke out in the refinery and factory producing artificial fertilizers, only the favorable direction of the wind prevented the whole city and all its inhabitants from suffering much more serious ecological and health problems.

In the last few days, chemical plants in Novi Sad and Belgrade have been bombed. Their destruction could lead to the tragedy exceeding the one in Bhopal, India.

Stop the brutal and senseless bombing.

Those who are making the decisions must be aware of the effects of their actions. No subsequent apologies, or calling upon "collateral damage" could justify this action, the consequences of which could lead to the permanent destruction of civilian population and their natural environment.

In the name of the people and in the name of Nature we demand that the use of force stops immediately and a solution is found to use negotiations for solving the difficult crisis facing Europe and the world.

§ 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 on 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