Cairo, 23 February 2004

Dear Friends,

The Permanent Secretariat of the Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organisation-AAPSO- is happy to note that, with the International Peace Commission (IPC) newly emerged, the peace movement is being reinforced worldwide. AAPSO hails this event and wishes IPC a successful struggle for the noble cause of humanity.

AAPSO is an international non-governmental organisation founded in 1958 and has its headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, since its inception.

As a mass organisation, AAPSO struggled firmly and resolutely against colonialism, racial discrimination, oppression and wars, and relentlessly endeavored for peace. AAPSO supported the liberation struggles which were behind the birth of independence of numerous Afro-Asian countries. With its basic principles gaining momentum with the process of liberation movement, it witnessed the victory achieved by peoples recovering their independence and putting  an end to the apartheid in Africa.

In the wake of tremendous changes occuring in the world today, a situation that demands new forms of action, new vision of the future, new orientations of tasks from the part of international organisations, AAPSO has put as main priorities in its activities the development, democracy, human rights, environment, disarmament, peace, the combat against all forms of discrimination and poverty, South-South cooperation  and North-South dialogue. For these objectives to be realized, enhancing the mass movement for peace and security should constitute the basic foundation of any action in these directions.  Having  consultative status with ECOSOC, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNCTAD and being granted observer status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, AAPSO maintains close relations and works together with Peace organisations within the United Nations, as well as with many relevant international organisations.

At the international level, achievements of any of these objectives reflecting the genuine aspirations of peace-loving peoples, is fundamental and crucial element for confidence-building among nations paving the way to the promotion of peace worldwide. All conflicts and other kinds of internal and external confrontations should be resolved peacefully for the benefits of all the parties. AAPSO standed firmly on these principles during relevant gatherings, like seminars or conferences it organized.

AAPSO is deeply concerned about the situation in the  Middle East, with the war waged by the Israeli zionist, racist regime against the  Palestinians. It is sad to notice that in the wake of the Third Millennium, this Israeli colonial and oppressive policy is a strange anachronism, being a factor of permanent instability in  the region. AAPSO strongly condemns such policy.

Far from creating peaceful environment, the occupation of Iraq by foreign coalition forces is generating destabilisation and destruction, leading to more violence and death of populations with the consequences everybody knows. The country is denied of its sovereignty and the people the freedom to rule their own nation.

The sufferings of peoples under various natures of conflicts is appalling, be it in Africa or elsewhere. Massacres and killings of innocent peoples become usual practices for those who pursue selfish interests, soaring in a number of circumstances by endless appetite for  natural resources of international superpowers, institutions and transnational corporations. In addition, the fight against terrorism turned out to be  the fight against human resources for development, leaving a lot of world populations on the permanent state of fears, insecurity, frustrations and uncertainties.

AAPSO is of the view that, for peace to prevail and to ensure security for all, the root causes of poverty  should be eradicated. Poverty engenders violence and, in turn, violence may lead to bloody confrontations, criminal acts and unbearable intolerance. It is well known worldwide that such a situation is the product of the negative effects of the globalisation, widening the gap between the rich and poor countries.

Today, the challenge to build peace worldwide is monstrous, given the dimension reached by factors which are at the root of many conflicts-ridden, hatred-inspired animosities among various categories of people. Diseases, malnutrition, starvation and famine continue to affect the health condition of populations in developing and poor countries in the South.

AAPSO is much alarmed by the proliferation of arms on the international level. Small arms fall easily to the hands of those, including children, who use them to kill or commit massacres. According to Oxfam, 639 million of small arms were in circulation around the globe. Despite minor improvements in some countries of Africa in  terms of having emerged from civil wars, each at different stages; and despite the ongoing process of reconciliation, the conflicts in other parts of this continent  are still looming and constitute a threat to peace and security. If only the tenth of the global military expenditure, which was estimated in 2002 to $700 billion, were devoted to peace, the situation in the world would be much better.

For the humanity to be able to build up a world of peace, cooperation and solidarity should be strengthened and given a strong impetus. A  World of Peace is possible.

AAPSO wishes to work together with the IPC and to be its partner for peace.