For Peace and Development
by Arab NGO Network
Source : ARAB NGO NETWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT
Between the 14th and 15th of September 2001, members of the Arab NGO Network for Development and the Forum Civil Euromed held an open meeting in Beirut to discuss the agenda and proceedings of the Euromediterranean Partnership meeting to be held in Brussels between 19 and 20 October 2001.
Due to the gravity of the terrorist attack on the United States that led to the loss of innumerable innocent lives, the participants issued the following joint statement:
Terrorism is a horrible and condemnable act. Today, we are all appalled and saddened, together with all those who refuse indiscriminate attacks against innocent victims. The tragedy that has struck the people of the United States should be considered, without a doubt, a heinous crime worthy of condemnation. On the other hand, we believe that this terrible act should not, in any way, justify the direct or indirect accusations that would lead to grave damage to international and regional relations. In this context, we call the attention of politicians, media, and organizations working on democracy, civil rights, and public opinion to the dangers of the continuation of hostile rhetoric and smear campaigns that link - directly or indirectly - terrorism, on one hand, and the Arab and Islamic world and the Palestinians, on the other.
No area in the world is today immune to terrorism, neither is any group or person safe from the acts of national or international groups that use terrorism as a means for imposing their demands and goals. The absolute poverty, terrible injustice, and absence of social justice facing the peoples of this world is a fertile breeding grounds for the growth and thriving of terrorism.
We call on the United Nations to deal with the above issues according to international law and the respect of democratic principles. On the other hand, we are gravely concerned about the creation of a new western security front and the extravagant use of war rhetoric by the government of the US and its NATO allies. Years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, we reject the attempts to build a new wall of hatred along the Mediterranean. We call on Europe to respect its commitments to support the creation of new spaces and frameworks for the free movement of persons in the Mediterranean. This should be in parallel to strengthening democracy, human rights, diversity, and socioeconomic development in the context of the mutual respect of the welfare of the peoples living on both shores.
Moreover, we cannot even contemplate the guarantee of the free movement of goods and services in the Mediterranean, in addition to the strengthening of democracy and mutual security, without putting an end to the continuous Israeli aggression against the Palestinians and without the removal of Israeli settlements, the creation of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, and the insurance of the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland according to the resolutions of the international body.
It is in the interest of Europe to work diligently to achieve a just, durable, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East and to strengthen the Euromediterranean partnership on the bases of justice, mutual respect, and common interests.
Beirut, 15 September 2001
ARAB NGO NETWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT
2001 / -0 / 9-
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