|
AppeAl FOR PEACE IN MIDDLE EAST
FM expressed on more than
one occasion, its deepest concern regarding the current situation in Lebanon
and the Palestinian Territories, in particular the Gaza Strip.
Already under siege for several
months, the population of Gaza is undergoing perpetrated destruction of
civil infrastructure, as well as, growing human losses.
The destruction of civil targets
in Lebanon, and the civil losses which were caused by the military actions
carried out in this country lead back to the darkest moments of its history.
Human losses and the state of fear
experienced by Israeli people who are coming
under fire from Hezbollah can only foster the vicious circle of war
putting the
prospect of trust and peace further out of reach.
In Iraq, the daily civil war kills
innocent victims, destabilizing the region and fostering fundamentalism and
terrorism.
FM appeals to all involved to
liberate detainees and those captured on all sides.
FM condemns and rejects all acts of
violence against civil populations. Nothing justifies the collective
punishment inflicted on civilians, or the destruction of civil
infrastructure vital to the achievement of peaceful coexistence and
development of a civil society.
FM strongly
condemns all aggressions, which are a striking violation of International
Law, in particular the Geneva Convention, and can only lead to a
humanitarian catastrophe, and most of all, turn any peace perspective out of
reach.
Civil society of the Greater
Mediterranean has said no to this war. This rejection of war is based on
tragedy of World War II, which was the result of a degeneration of Darwinism
into Eugenics, of national liberation changed to nationalism, and of the
expanding force of civilization into colonialism. Europe has re-awakened to
the values that three centuries of civil conscience have created: social and
human rights, peace between nations, the value of dialogue over war, and
consensus over individuality.
It is true
that the world is full of dictatorships. But this is particularly so in
countries where exploitation over the centuries has produced a degradation
of life, society and politics. We are all responsible for these dictators,
not only those Nations who supported them for a certain period, when it
suited them, and who now while fighting against them make alliances with the
others.
We are
determined now to shake off these responsibilities, to revive the U.N. so
that it will oppose the power of one member against its collective
decisions, and ensure that no one State invades, represses, impoverishes and
offends; so that the smaller States will be respected in the same way as the
larger ones, that the weaker elements may have the same dignity as the
powerful; that no one assumes a divine mission, and in the name of God
brings destruction on earth.
Dialogue,
International Law, the spirit of equality, the power of compassion-these
constitute the means by which this millennium that has started with
suffering and strife can be transformed into an era of solidarity and
justice. These conditions depend on us as European citizens, who have used
our aggressive modernizing force to shake the world, and who now want to
transform it into a modernity of reconstruction and peace.
The demands of dialogue, justice and peace, laid in the
BARCELONA Declaration and which the peoples of the region need so much, is
undermined by bureaucracy and lack of sensibility as shown by the poor and
ephemeral results achieved.
We call upon the EU
and its member states to put an end to this imbalanced policy that denies of
the right of existence to all victims of this absurd massacre - Palestinian,
Iraqi, Israeli and Lebanese citizens.
We call upon the international
bodies and all the states of the Greater Mediterranean region to act
urgently to put an end to this unbearable situation.
Naples, 19th
July 2006
| 
