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From Bandung to Jakarta
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Bandung Conference; held in
Indonesia in 1955; which proclaimed the ten famous principles which
served as compass by which African and Asian countries; even Latin
American ones, were guided in their struggles for liberation in 1950s;
1960s and 1970s, in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, on April 22 and 23
2005, a conference comprising more than one hundred African and Asian
countries (roughly 73% of the world population), 42 of them were
represented by their heads of states, was held to mark the occasion.
The Bandung Conference gave birth to the establishment of the Afro-Asian
Peoples' Solidarity Organization(AAPSO) as the popular and
nongovernmental face of the Conference on 1 January 1958. the
Organization was established and raised with the full support of
liberation powers at then, both popular and ruling, to carry the flame
of Bandung and play a distinctive and pioneering role in supporting
movement of the emancipation of African and Asian peoples. Then,
sprouted from Bandung also, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was created
in 1961 as a governmental movement comprising all South non-member
states in any of the military alliances, be that Western or Eastern
ones.
50 years dragged on, which are not very much in the life of peoples, but
with the welter of events crowded in them are of profound effects upon
the history of the whole world.
The celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Bandung Conference comes
amidst grave and cruel circumstances encircling the South-countries on
the whole and the African and Asian countries in particular.
The colonialism returned again, the imperialist military invasion came
back and one dominating power took charge of the destiny of the world
and its inhabitants. The two continents have been facing the challenges
of domestic and border disputes, unemployment, poverty, social
injustice, deadly diseases, burdens of debts, pernicious rules of the
world trade, the stumble of development, water problems, the lack of
democracy and freedoms, the reign of oppressive and dictatorial regimes,
terrorist activity which is proliferating in density and aggravation,
transnational crimes, cultures' tremble, and strident demands for
backwardness.
Commemoration of Bandung anniversary comes to stress important point
that reflects the dire need to the has-been Bandung Principles and the
rise to restore the approach and spirit of the past. Undoubtedly, the
world of today is not the world of the past, but the principles are
still true, the necessity to enhance practical cooperation between the
two continents in various fields such as trade, industry, investment,
finance, tourism, information, communications technology, energy,
health, transport, agriculture, water and fisheries is of an urgent
need. The South-South cooperation, especially between the two
neighbouring continents, is crucial and important. The need to
solidarity now is pressing more than it was 50 years ago. This need is
not dictated by geography alone, but by the virtual existence in the
current time and the future. It is a necessity of life or then the
inevitable collapse.
Hence comes the great importance of the Jakarta Conference which is not
a mere celebratory gathering, rather, with its weight by which it was
held and with its vision which it produced, represents an important leap
in the time in which we live.
The participants agreed unanimously on the necessity of the existence of
a new Afro-Asian strategic partnership that can reaffirm the commitment
to the values laid down by the original Bandung Conference and its
spirit. A strategy that should be based on broad array of agreed-upon
principles, in which African and Asian countries believe, and were
embodied in the Bandung 10th Principles.
The partnership between the two continents defines a futuristic frame
with a view to lay the foundation of bridges of understanding and mutual
support covering three broad areas of relations to reach a more firm
political solidarity, greater economic cooperation, and more developed
social , cultural and civilisational relations.
The Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization wholeheartedly greets
the Jakarta Conference, but it sees that the continuity of the Bandung's
values and spirits and the historic and constructive important call of
the Jakarta Conference, will prove real togetherness only when the
peoples of Africa and Asia, along with the governments concerned with
interconnection and partnership, catch hold of the task.
The Organization, for its part, declares that it will continue to adhere
to the spirit of Bandung and enkindle its spark and remain faithful to
the historic Jakarta's call, hoping that a new rise will be achieved in
the real world, carrying the aspirations and hopes of the peoples of
Africa and Asia for a better future.
****
Congratulation
* Your Excellency Mr. Kim Jong II
* General Secretary of the Worker's party of Korea
* Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the D.P.R. of Korea
* Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army
It is great pleasure for me to send my warmest greetings and best wishes
to Your Excellency Mr. Kim Jong I1 General Secretary of the Worker's
party of Korea, Chairman of National Defence Commission of D.P.R. of
Korea and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army on the 12th
anniversary of your election as a Chairman of the National Defence
Commission of the D.P.R. of Korea..
I take this opportunity to wish you great success in your noble work to
reunify Korea and to build a prosperous country .
Best regards
Nouri Abdul Razzak Hussain
General Secretary of AAPSO
****
AAPSO Issued the following Press Release
No To Terrorism
A terrorist-carried explosive bomb exploded at the center of the Al
Azhar popular square on Thursday 7th of April 2005. The attack resulted
in several casualties as one French tourist died and another 18 were
injured; 8 of which were Egyptian and the other 8 were tourists.
Such criminal act that targeted Egyptian and foreign civilians is but an
attempt to spread terror and strike at the heart of tourism. Hence, this
crime appears as an attempt to revive the old scheme that aimed at
horrifying tourists; one that resulted in grave damages to many
important fields economic activities and had such appalling effects upon
various social classes in Egypt.
The Afro-Asian Peoples’ Solidarity Organization incriminate such a
terrorist act and offer their heart-felt condolences to the family of
the French victim; and their sympathies to the foreign and Egyptian
casualties.
****
Muzaffarabad-Srinagar
Bus Link
Today the 7th April 2005 is a great day for the people of India and
Pakistan . After 56 years the bus route linking the two cities of
Muzaffarabad and Srinagar in the divided territory of Kashmir was opened
to regular passenger travel.
The first batch of passengers from Muzaffarabad crossed the bridge and
were warmly welcomed by the Chief Minister of Indian Kashmir who was
present among the officers. This bus service will not only help both
people to travel between two sectors, it also provide a great
opportunity for the divided families to meet each other after many
years.
For the Kashmir people it is an emotional development and for India and
Pakistan, it is a great step in the peace process.
AAPSO Congratulates the leaders of India and Pakistan for their wisdom
in coming together to resolve all their problems through peaceful means
and dialogue.
Nouri Abdul Razzak Hussain
Secretary-General
Dr. Morad Ghaleb
President
****
THE APARTHEID WALL DASHES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
PALESTINIAN STATE
The Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization (AAPSO) in a symposium
entitled "Arab and African Affairs", held in the World Social Forum in
Porto Alegre on 28 January 2005, launched the call for an international
campaign to dismantle the Apartheid Wall.
Israel has used military pretexts to construct settlements. Currently,
Israel uses security pretexts to build its Apartheid Wall which will de
facto annex more of the Palestinian land to Israel. The Wall is
preventing the establishment of Palestinian state, forcing the
Palestinians under the pressure of unemployment and blockade to
emigrate, imprisoning them in their homeland and tightening Israel's
grip on many of important water resources.
Despite the ruling issued by the International Court of
Justice(ICJ)declaring illegality of the Apartheid Wall and the necessity
of ceasing its construction and the UN General Assembly's call to Israel
to abide by the ruling, Israel irrevocably rejected the ruling and
claimed that the Wall would prevent suicide bombers from accessing the
Jewish state while pressing ahead towards the construction of the Wall.
The Wall is blocking the establishment of a viable Palestinian state
under international legitimacy laws.
We call upon you to participate with us in this campaign and to kindly
put forward your suggestions and proposals on the means and ways for the
enhancement of the campaign.
Yours faithfully,
Nouri Abdul Razzak Hussain
Secretary General of AAPSO
Dr. Morad Ghaleb
President of AAPSO
*****
Jakarta Summit
Professor Husin Ali from Malaysia represented AAPSO in the Asian-African
Summit 2005 and commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the Asian African
Conference, Bandung Conference 1955.
****
NPT
Dr. James A. Harris Sr. will attend on behalf of AAPSO the 2005 Review
Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons to be held at New York from 2nd to 27th May 2005.
***
Baghdad, Iraq
The Iraqi Peace and Solidarity Council
In Baghdad the Iraqi Peace and Solidarity Council held an expanded
organizational meeting on 22/4/2005.
The expanded organizational meeting explored the Following three themes:
the national tasks, the organizational situation and the preparation for
the Second conference of Iraqi Peace and Solidarity Council in order to
achieve their objectives for democracy establishment in Iraq.
The presidency council asserts more than once its intention to be one of
the main supporters to the Iraqi national movement with its heritages
and Sacrifices.
During the expanded meeting, the conferees discussed the organizational
situation through the following four items:
1) The organizational situation of the branches established in the
governmentes.
2) Review the financial status and define the branches needs. Then find
the financial resources to meet some of the financial deficiency.
3) Discuss widening of the participation in the branches as to include
the utmost numbers of national democrats who will be able to understand
the council policy aiming at establishing a major popular base to
support the democratic directions for all Iraqi peoples.
4) Discuss the essential procedures for convening the general conference
for electing new presidency council.
In connection to the national tasks, the conferees discuss the following
fields:
1) The escalation in all council activities against terrorism with all
its aspects in order to expose its methods. As terrorism is considered
the major challenges nowadays, the council has to activate peoples'
actions and invest the positive conditions aroused after holding the
elections. Also, it has to encourage the national struggling initiative
and to call for nations forces to combat terrorism as they are the main
utilised from this.
2) The establishment of forums for women, students and youth in the
governments for cooperation and solidarity between the political and
social forces. Also, the spread of the human rights culture and
forgiveness among all Iraqi society. In addition to that, the council
discussed the ideas of forming committees and delegations ; and
mobilizing civil society forces including institutions, unions and NGOs
as to raise their activities in different democratic practices
especially this related to the discussion and adoption of the
constitutional project.
3) The political contravention and social conflicts preceded the
elections forced the democratic forces to spread dialogues based on the
cultures of democracy and human rights. This needs big thinking
activities to enable the council to do these tasks.
4) The Iraqi Peace and Solidarity Council as considered a national
democratic cadre could contribute much in the field of exploring what
all forces agreed on.
5) As the next period is short, this requires unifying all forces,
prominent national personalities and social figures together for the
following important democratic experience which is the election in the
beginning of 2006.
*****
A.R.E. Cairo
The Egyptian Solidarity Committee
The Egyptian Solidarity Committee organized a ceremony on the occasion
of 50 years Anniversary of Bandung Conference under the title of "The
Future Perspectives for Reviving Bandung Spirit and the Challenges of
the New Century" on 16/4/2005.
The Egyptian Solidarity Committee will host the Cuban Ambassador to
Egypt Mr. Angel Fernandez to talk about the Cuban symbol in development
"Perspectives and Challenges" on 4/5/2005.
****
The Preparatory Meeting of the WSIS
The General Assembly of the Arab League (The Department of NGOs and
Civil Society) sends its greetings to Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity
Organization. We would like to invite you to the 17th Meeting for the
team work of WSIS on 7/5/2005 at the Headquarters of the Arab League.
Also, we invite you to the High Level Arab Preparatory Conference for
the Second Phase of the WSIS which will be convened in May 8th-10th ,
2005.
In this regard, the Department of NGOs and Civil Society at the Arab
League wishes you all the best.
*****
Greek Committee for International Détente and
Peace
Invitation
Egyptian Peace Committee
Mostafa Bahig Taha Mostafa Nassar
Dear comrade and friend
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary from the foundation of the Greek
Committee for International Détente and Peace (EEDYE), we took the
initiative to organize an international conference in Athens, from May
13-15, 2005. The Meeting will be dedicated to the following three
themes:
* 60 years from the victory of the peoples over fascism with an event on
"the strategy of NATO and the EU and the new role of their armed
forces".
* No the EU-Constitution with an event "against the ratification of the
Constitutional treaty", in the framework of the respective campaign of
the World Peace Council (WPC).
* The Imperialist plans in the Balkans and the Greater Middle East, with
an event dedicated to the anti-imperialist solidarity of the peoples of
the region.
We would be very glad to receive one delegate of your
Movement/Organization in the above-mentioned conference, counting on
your active participation and exchange of views and experiences,
strengthening by this way also the common struggle against imperialist
domination and war.
Invited to the Conference will be Peace Movements from eastern and
western Europe, the Middle East, as well as Greek and Foreign retired
military officers and International organizations and personalities.
The International Conference will last two (2) days (May 13-14) and on
May 15 will take place the Marathon Peace March, in the closing part of
which all international guests will take part.
Waiting for your positive respond
On behalf of the Secretariat of EEDYE
Patilis Thanassis
General Secretary
****
The Arab Organization for Human Rights
The Organization renews its appeal to the Saudian Authority to Free the
Detaineed Reform Callers and Demands for a Just and Public trial to them
The Arab Organisation for Human Rights follows with concern the
continuous detention to the national reform callers by Saudian
Authority. Dr. Matrouk Al Faleh, Dr.Abd El-Hamid, and the poet Ali
Aldemeny are detained for more than a year when they presented a reform
plea based on a national vision of reform Mid March 2004.
What worries the organization more was the detention of Mr. Mohamed
Mehana Alfateh, the cousin of Dr. Matrouk AlFateh, and the decision
issued by the court two days ago which postponed the trial till 23rd
April under the excuse of collecting more evidence for the third time.
All these procedures reflect the intention of the Saudian Authority to
continue the detention of these accusers since last November. Also, the
Saudian Authority imprisoned some relatives and press representatives as
to forbidden the media from covering the details of the trial.
The organization condemns the violations committed against the reform
callers, their lawyers and relatives. Moreover, the organization
reassures its completely support to Free them and their insists on their
rights for a just and a public trial.
*****
The Arab Organization
for Human Rights
The Organization condemns Al-Azhar Explosion
Arab Organization for Human Rights condemns the terrorist explosion
occurred in Al-Azhar, Cairo last Thursday night. In this explosion, two
tourists were murdered, a French and an American , besides the one who
committed this operation. Also, there were 18 injured citizens, tourists
and foreigners.
The organization considered this terrorist act as an action against all
conventions, laws and blessed religions. It contradicts with the values
of Islam by killing innocent peoples. Also, it contradicts with the
national law that has to keep the security and liberties of all peoples
without discrimination between Egyptians and foreigners. Therefore,
terrorism is considered a gross violation to the international
legitimacy for human rights that guarantee the right to life and peace.
The organization calls upon the authority to do investigation on this
explosion, to expose all its details, to arrest and sue the accused.
The organization asserts that these actions shall not hinder the
political and democratic reforms in Egypt based on the respect and
enhancement of human rights and general liberties which will improve the
solidarity of the society to face terrorism.
****
The National Planning Institution
Attention to : Dr. Morad Ghaleb
President of AAPSO
The National Planning Institution invites you to participate at the
activities of the 9th session of the Annual Scientific Season known as
"Tuesday Seminar". It will take place at Ibrahim Helmy Room (7th floor
at the headquarters of the institution which is located at (Nassiat Al
Tayran and Salah Salem St.), next Tuesday 12/4/2005 from 10:00 a.m to
1:00 p.m.
The subject of the seminar will be "Decentralization of Education....
From Theory to Practice". The speakers will be Prof. Mai Al-barady- A
professor at the Faculty of Economic and Political Sciences, Cairo
University- and Prof.Zenat Tebalah- the Counselor and Director of Human
Development Center in the institution.
The presentation will be followed by a discussion.
We look for your valuable contribution and discussion.
Best Regards,
Dr. Ashraf Alaraby
Seminar coordinator
****
Arab Lawyers' Union
Dr. Morad Ghaleb
President of AAPSO
Mr. Nouri Abdul Razzak
Secretary-General
The Arab Lawyers' Union sends its greetings and best wishes to you.
In regard to the activities of the Center of the Arab Lawyers' Union for
Lawful Researches and Studies, we would like to invite you to our
seminar on "The Constitutional and Legitimate Structure of Democracy and
Human Rights." Dr. Tharwat Badawy-the professor at Cairo University- and
Dr. Mohamed Atef Albana- the professor at Cairo University will present
papers. Also, selective prominent professors of constitutional law and
political sciences will be presented at the seminar which will be
organized in April 30th, 2005 at the Headquarters of the Union at 6:00
p.m.
We are certain that your participation will enrich the discussion.
Ibrahim Alsemlaly
General-Secretary
*****
The Ministry of Information
The Press Center
Seminar on the Russian-Egyptian Relation
Greetings
On the occasion of the prospective visit of the Russian President Mr.
Vladmir Putin to Egypt, our Embassy in Moscow suggested that we could
convene a seminar on the Russian-Egyptian Relation and its perspective
through the video conference in association with "Ria U Vocity" that is
a Russian News Agency.
We hope you would be able to participate at this seminar which will take
place at the headquarters of the Association of the General Information
next Tuesday 26/4/2005 at 5:00 pm.
Best Regards
Atia Shaqran
General-Director
The press center-
the Association of Genral Information
*****
World Congress of the Family
You Are Cordially invited to participate at the World Congress on the
Family.
Theme:
"Restore Family Life and Sustain World Peace"
Date: 1 January - 5 January 2006
Venue: Chennai – India
The World Congress aims at gathering the main Family Program actors and
multipliers from around the world in order to mobilize action and
awareness, plans and participation in promotion of "Family" at the
regional, national, local and grass roots levels.
*****
UNCTAD
Thirty sixth executive session of the Trade and Development Board
The Thirty sixth executive session of the Trade and Development Board
will be held on Tuesday, 3 May 2005 in the Palais des Nations, Geneva.
*****
United Nations Office on Drugs
and Crime
Mr. Nouri Abdel Razzak
Secretary General
Afro-Asian People’s Solidarity
Dear Mr. Razzak,
I am pleased to infrom you that the fourtheenth session of the
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will be held at the
Vienna International Centre from 23 to 27 May 2005.
Should the Afro-Asian People’s Solidarity wish to be represented at the
fourteenth session of the Commission, it would be appreciated if the
name(s), address(es), facsimile and telephone numbers of the
representative(s) could be forwarded directly to the Secretary of the
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
Yours sincerely,
Eduardo Vetere
Executive Secretary
Eleventh United Nations
Congress on Crime Prevention
and Criminal Justice
*****
UNCTAD
Commission on Science and
Technology for Development
The eighth session of the Commission on Science and Technology for
Development is to be held from 23 to 27 May 2005 in Geneva.
*****
DPI. NGO
Department of Public Information
Non-Governmental Organizations
Dear NGO Colleagues,
We are pleased to invite you to attend the 58th Annual Conference for
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) associated with the United Nations
Department of Public Information (DPI), which will be held in New York
from Wednesday to Friday, 7 - 9 September 2005. The Conference, the
premier NGO event at United Nations Headquarters each years, is
organized by the NGO Section of DPI in partnership with the Executive
Committee of NGOs associated with DPI.
This year’s Conference, entitled Our Challenge: Voices for Peace,
Partnerships and Renewal, will be assuming an enhanced role as the
central civil society gathering prior to the Millennium + 5 Summit the
following week. It is expected that a broad range of civil society
partners at the highest levels will participate in this event. All NGOs
associated with DPI and/or in consultative status with ECOSOC are
invited to the Conference.
Paul Hoeffel
Chief, NGO Section
Department of Public Information
Co-chair, Planning Committee
58th Annual DPI/NGO Conference
Joseph Donnelly, International Delegate,
Caritas Internationalis
NGO/DPI Executive Committee
Conference Chair and Co-chair,
Planning Committee,
58th Annual DPI/NGO Conference
****
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