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The Canadian Peace Congress hosted the 2nd Tri-Lateral Conference with our fraternal intenational organizations in the US and Mexico which was held in Toronto ON October 2-4, 2009.

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Outcome of the meeting of the Secretariat of the WPC, September 9-10, 2008

10/12/2008 8:54:24 AM - World Peace Council Secretariat

Outcome of the meeting of the Secretariat of the WPC, September 9-10, 2008
Palmela (broader Lisbon), Portugal
The first meeting of the Secretariat of the WPC after the Assembly was convened by the President Socorro Gomez and General Secretary Thanassis Pafilis and was hosted in excellent manner by the Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation (CPPC). Almost all members of the Secretariat were present. The Organisations attended were the Brazilian Center for the solidarity of the peoples and the struggle for peace (CEBRAPAZ), the Greek Committee for International Dtente and Peace (EEDYE), the Cuban Movement for Peace and the sovereignty of the peoples (MOVPAZ), the Vietnam Peace Committee (VPC), the Palestinian Committee for Peace and Solidarity (PCPS), the Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation (CPPC), the US Peace Council (USPC), the Japan Peace Committee (JPC), the German Peace Council, the All India Peace and Solidarity Organization (AIPSO) and the National Peace Council of Syria (NPCS). The delegation from the Committee for International Solidarity (COSI) of Venezuela attended the meeting as special invited.
The members of the Secretariat from Africa could not attend the meeting in last moment. The Congo Peace Committee because of difficulties in obtaining Shengen Visa in time and the South African Peace Initiative because of busy national agenda at the last moment.
The Meeting took place in a very friendly and smooth atmosphere. It reviewed the results and evaluated the holding of the Assembly and World Conference last April in Caracas as extremely positive and discussed about the current political situation in the world, the ongoing wars and occupation as well as the new threats towards peoples and nations. The meeting received regional reports from the various regions, examined some organizational and internal matters and set up a plan of action for the coming period.
As regards to the political evaluations of the current world the Secretariat reaffirms the assessments of the recent Assembly and based on the Speech of the President and the Report of the General Secretary which were presented to the Secretariat meeting (see attached docs), it added some new elements regarding the latest developments in the Caucasus:
The war in Ossetia was started on the orders of the USA and NATO by the Georgian government, which is under their control, making use of the differences between Georgia and Russia. It is the result of the exacerbation in differences and rivalries amongst the imperialist powers in the large, broader region stretching from North Africa to the Arctic and from the Balkans to the Caucasus and Caspian. These rivalries concern the control over the wealth- producing reserves, the fuel pipelines, the shares of the market and spheres of influence.
These developments, however, are also linked to the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and the military preparations being made against Iran. They are dangerous and could give rise to a chain of events all over the region. The concentration of large NATO forces (more than ten warships) in the Black Sea and the exacerbation of the situation have already created the danger of a more general flare-up.
The Georgian attack gave Russia the opportunity to proceed to regain lost ground and the same time triggered the proclamation of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, having as a precedent the illegal proclamation of Kosovos independence and its recognition by the imperialists.
These developments (e.g. the recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia are contrary to international law and the U.N. Charter) and are likewise interconnected, resulting from the attempts made by the USA and NATO to safeguard their leading position, particularly against Russia. This is why they are preparing to install the so-called Missile Defence Shield in the Czech Republic and in Poland, are seeking to bring Georgia and Ukraine into NATO and are setting up new bases in the Balkans.
The WPC expresses its solidarity with the Ossetian and Georgian people and all the peoples of the region which are victims of the games of the imperialist powerful forces and especially declares its support with the Georgian Peace Committee which is suffering harassments and intimidation because of the principle positions it represents.
The holding of the Assembly was analyzed as an overall success of historical dimension. From all aspects the WPC and its prestige have grown after Caracas essentially. The huge numbers of participants, Member and Friendly Organizations and Countries, the 15 newly affiliated Organizations (out of total 30 in four years), the political discussion and the constructive conclusions, along with the new elected Executive Committee and Secretariat are the results of hard and collective work in four years. The fact that it took place for the first time in South America, especially in the Bolivarian Venezuela, was an additional important factor for the success of the WPC events. The WPC expressed its full-hearted solidarity with the revolutionary process in Venezuela as well as with the other peoples of the regions who are under imperialist threats.
The largest WPC Assembly of the last twenty years was an evidence for the strengthening of the WPC. The goals set up in the E.C. of Hanoi in November 2007, were fully over scored. More than 500 participants from 80 countries and more than 130 Organizations attended the WPC events declaring Caracas the world capital of peace and anti-imperialist struggle.
The Assembly deliberations were characterized by a high level of mature and committed anti-imperialist awareness, expressed also in the resolutions adopted unanimously.
The Secretariat underlined the decisive contribution of COSI and its membership for the successful hosting of the events and thanked its President Victor Hugo Morales and its General Secretary Yul Jabour for their hard work. The report of COSI about the preparatory work and the involvement of broad sectors of society were received positively.
WPC expressed once again its gratitude to the Venezuelan authorities and the government led by President Hugo Chavez for their support.
The Secretariat reviewed also the results of the World Peace Conference, a correct choice aiming in the broader involvement of Friendly Organisations and individuals from all corners. The numerous presence of invited guests in this framework honored the WPC and gave a precious and important contribution to the discussion of the matters related to the struggle for world peace and its dangers. The technical and organizational problems of the last day caused unfortunate problems to the closing session and act of the conference, facts which do not change the overall success of the event.
The Secretariat of WPC received regional reports by the respective coordinators (see attached four (4) reports).
Despite the absence of the African representatives at the meeting, the Secretariat decided to welcome the general readiness of the South African Peace Initiative to host a WPC African event in their country and explore seriously all possibilities how to support the realization of such an event after long time.
One important element valid for all the five regions is to proceed in cooperation with the regional Coordinators, the Secretariat and Executive Committee members in each region for regional meetings of the WPC in the near future.
As regards to the organizational matters the Secretariat took note of the change of leadership of two members of the Executive Committee (the Cyprus Peace Council and the Peace Association of Turkey) as well as of the expressed will to become member of the WPC by certain Organisations (COSOP Mexico, Organisations from Trinidad and Tobago, Curacao, Suriname and French Guyana).
The Secretariat also exchanged views and ideas around the next venue of the Executive Committee of WPC in the year 2009. Taking into account the explosive situation in the Middle East and the need to express our solidarity with the peoples of the region the possibility to have the E.C. in Damascus/Syria was analyzed. The Secretariat will keep on evaluating the appropriate and convenient moment in closed consultations with the National Peace Council of Syria whose general readiness and disposition was very welcome.
The Secretariat discussed and set up also a Plan of Action in general lines, taking into account the rich plans and activities of the member organisations in each region. The four (4) main themes of focus will be the struggle against:
1. the ongoing wars and occupation, or new plans for war, against the threats or aggressions towards peoples and nations which are resisting imperialism and its policies
2. themilitary bases (US, NATO, Britain, France and others) as an instrument war and aggressions as well as of imperialist domination and interference in domestic affairs
3. the war machinery of NATO and its 60th anniversary in April 2009 and the 10th anniversary from the bombing of Yugoslavia- The struggle for the dismantling of NATO
4. the Nuclear weapons and forthe immediate start of nuclear disarmament with the goal for its complete abolition
As regards to the topic 1:
The WPC Secretariat reiterates its clear and unconditional demand for immediate withdrawal of all occupation forces from Iraq, Afghanistan, without illusions about partial solutions. Likewise the withdrawal from the Arab territories (Palestine, Syria, Lebanon) occupied by Israel. WPC underlines that the only viable solution can be found on the basis of an independent Palestinian State in the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The WPC rejects the US war plans against Iran under the pretext of the Iranian Nuclear program and strives for a Middle East free from Nuclear weapons and Weapons of Mass destruction. Thus the WPC demands that Israel be subjected to international control in this field.
The Secretariat expresses its support to the people of Cuba in its 50th year of the Revolution and the full hearted solidarity with the victims of the hurricanes which destroyed huge number of housing and agriculture units. The WPC demands the unconditional lifting of the economical blockade against Cuba and the release of the Cuban Five illegally and unjustly imprisoned for ten years. In this matter the WPC will appeal to the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights to exercise his influence so that the wives of Gerardo Hernandez and Rene Gonzalez will be given US Visa and the right to visit their husbands respectively.
Likewise the WPC denounces all subversive actions of Imperialism in Latin America and declares its full support to the legitimate and popular governments of Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador against the domestic and exterior interventions to destabilize the country and its integrity.
The WPC reaffirms its principle position in support of the Vietnamese people and the victims of the toxic Agent Orange and particularly the appeal to the high court of New York for the compensation of the hundreds of thousands Vietnamese from the dirty imperialist war of the USA against Vietnam.
Important events:
The International conference in support of the people of Western Sahara in their strive for self determination to be held in Seville/Spain on October 3-5, 2008 co-organized by CEDESPAZ of Spain.
The Asia-Europe Peoples Forum, to be held in Beijing from October 14-16, 2008
The Congress of Afro-Asian Peoples Solidarity Organisation (AAPSO) 14-15 December, 2008 in Hyderabad/India hosted by AIPSO
1st January 200950 years from the victory of the Cuban Revolution, solidarity events with Cuba around the world
The World Social Forum in Belem/Brazil 29th January-2nd February 2009
As regards to the topic 2:
The WPC decided in Caracas to give special attention and priority to the struggle against the Foreign Military Bases (USA, Britain, France, NATO and others) as an instrument of aggressions and war, of imperialist domination, terrorization and interference in domestic affairs. Thus it will continue the initiatives on all continents for the shut down and withdrawal of all Bases and for the international solidarity and cooperation. The WPC expresses its support and solidarity to Japanese struggle against the deployment of a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Yokosuka as well as the construction of new U.S. marine base in Henoko/Okinawa. It also expresses the categorical condemnation to the plans for the Missile Defense Shield bases in Poland and Czech Republic, the reactivation of the 4th US Navy fleet in South America and the reinforcement of the US command in Africa (AFRICOM). The WPC welcomes a recent decision of Venezuela which prohibits the existence of foreign military bases in its territory, and the same decision is envisaged in the draft constitution of Bolivia.
The WPC will participate actively in the NO BASES network as such and maintaining always its autonomous profile and actions.
As regards to the topic 3:
NATO is becoming officially the world executive organ for the crimes of imperialism, involving day by day new partners and affiliates, expanding not only towards Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, but also on other continents. In its summit of the 60th anniversary to be held in Strasbourg/Kehl on 3-4 April 2009, new aggressive plans will be elaborated and ratified. At the same time 10 years from the NATO aggression against Yugoslavia are completing around the same time. The WPC is of the firm opinion that NATO has to be dismantled. Following previous traditions in Istanbul, Bucharest, Seville the WPC will organize political events and public protests around the NATO-summit in several countries and also at the venue of the summit.
Important events:
International Conference organized by the European Peace Forum with the support of WPC in Berlin for the 14-15 March 2009, dedicated to the NATO anniversary and the crimes of imperialism
International Roundtable in Belgrade on the eve of the 10th anniversary(23rd March 2009) of the brutal bombing of Yugoslavia organized by the Belgrade Forum for the world of Equals with the support of the WPC
Anti-NATO summit events in Strasbourg on 3rd and 4th April 2009
As regards to the topic 4:
The WPC since its founding is fighting against the possession and use of Nuclear Weapons. For decades the issue of nuclear disarmament towards the total abolition of all types of nuclear arms is of highest importance. the WPC believes that main responsibility in nuclear disarmament must be taken by the ones who have used the nuclear terror and posses the vast majority of the nuclear contingent. The WPC demands nuclear weapons states of implementing their commitment for the abolition of nuclear weapons agreed in 2000, and of taking concrete steps for this aim in the next UN Review Conference in spring 2010 in New York. The Secretariat decided to promote a signature campaign: "Toward the 2010 NPT Review Conference --- Appeal for a Nuclear Weapon-Free World" (http://www.antiatom.org/sig/2010/E_index.html) issued by the World Conference against A&H bombs in 2008 and to call upon its membership to equally do so.