Democratic Left: after the war

Chris Burford cburford at gn.apc.org
Mon Jun 14 23:45:47 PDT 1999


This resolution concentrates on reforms. Some will consider it reformist, but the range of reforms proposed is extensive.

Even if it seems weak to people who put a lot of energy into opposing the war, it is important now to debate what could possibly be done, now that the war is over, rather than to sink into revolutionary cynicism.

Chris Burford

London

------------------------------------------------------------- The following emergency resolution was passed at Democratic Left's National Conference weekend, 5/6 June 1999: -------------------------------------------------------------

Recognising that members of Democratic Left disagree strongly about the war in former Yugoslavia, this conference nevertheless believes that, in the aftermath of the war, DL should seek to influence public debate about future defence and security policy in Europe. In particular, we ask the new EC to consider, as a matter of priority, convening a broad-based conference to discuss the following issues:

* the safety and well-being of the Kosovo Albanians and all

other victims of the break-up of Yugoslavia

* the physical, economic and social reconstruction of Serbia and its

re-integration within the international community

* the steps that need to be taken to secure a wider regional settlement,

including the possibility of a pan-European conference on the Balkans

and the establishment of an intergovernmental Balkan Council

* the reform of and relationship between NATO, the UN, the EU and

the OSCE

* the balance between military force, international diplomacy and

social development as instruments of security policy and the role of

non-government and community organisations as agents of conflict

prevention

* the promotion of multi-cultural institutions and norms as integral

elements of European civilisation

* the revision and updating of just war doctrines to take account of the

causes of modern wars and the nature of modern warfare

* the regulation of the arms trade, the prevention of nuclear

proliferation and the pursuit of nuclear disarmament



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