*** Italy - Soviet Union
FROM NATIONALISM TO FEDERALISM: MEETING BETWEEN SOVIET PERSONALITIES AND THE RADICAL PARTY
Rome, 17 October 1990. A meeting on the topic "From nationalism to federalism: a federalist, lay and non-violent International for the Europe of democracy and law" was held in Rome in the Radical Party's conference-hall with several exponents of the internal and emigrate Russian and Soviet culture and press. Among them, prestigious names of Gorbachev's new "course", editors of newspaper such as "Komsomolskaja Pravda", famous exiles who have been returned Soviet nationality a few weeks ago. In a wide, open debate, the participants dealt with major problems such as the crisis of nationalities, nationalism and the possible federalist reply to that which appears as one of the most serious dangers of our time.
The meeting was introduced by a report read by the first secretary of the Radical Party, Sergio Stanzani, and by an intervention by Marco Pannella. Also spoke: Natlija Gorbanevskaja (poet, vice-directress of "Kontinent"), Vladislav Fronin (director of "Komsomolskaja Pravda"), Vladimir Bukovskij (writer), Anna Pugach (of the "Junost" magazine), Vladimir Maksimov (writer, director of "Kontinent"), Leonid Pljusc (mathematician, joined the Radical Party in 1986), Serghieij Zalygin (writer, editor of "Novij Mir", people's deputy of USSR), Evghenij Averin (editor of "Literatrnoe Obozrenie"), Andreij Dementiev (poet, editor of "Junost"), Igor Vinogradov (literary critic, freelance journalist), Igor Zolotusskij (literary critic, member of the editorial committee of "Literaturnaja Gazeta"), Feliks Medvedev (journalist), Tatjana Pirozhkova (of the University of Moscow), Ruslan Kozlov (of the "Sobesednik" magazine). Representing the Radical Party there were also the president, Emma Bonino, the honorary president, Bruno
Zevi, Paolo Vigevano, Adelaide Aglietta, Virginio Bettini, Lorenzo Strik-Lievers, Roberto Cicciomessere, Giuseppe Calderisi, Sergio D'Elia, Marino Busdachin, Antonio Stango, Angiolo Bandinelli, Anton Uncu (editor of the "Free Rumania" daily newspaper, who recently joined the Radical Party), and for the European Federalist Movement Edmondo Paolini.
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*** Czechoslovakia
FRANCE COULD REPORTEDLY SOON RESUME TRADE OF MILITARY MATERIAL WITH CHINA.
Prague, 16 October 1990. On behalf of the radical Association for the United States of Europe, today Richard Stockar sent an open letter to the French Ambassador in Prague, in which he says: "(...) We have received the Reuter agency bulletin according to which the French government will reportedly resume the commercial relations with China. Not just general trade, but also the trade of missiles and radars, military technology and material. Faced with news such as this, the feeling of having carried out a useless work (...) is almost inevitable.
But we don't think this is a right feeling. We are convinced that all that we have accomplished, we have accomplished it in the right direction. It is for this reason that we are ready to prove this belief before the French embassies of Prague, Warsaw, Moscow, Belgrade, Budapest, Rome, Brussels, Madrid and elsewhere. Especially for French citizens, so that they will not become the accomplices of one of the most terrible regimes of the world".
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MEMBERS OF THE RADICAL PARTY AMONG THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE COMING ADMINISTRATIVE ELECTIONS IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
Prague, 17 October 1990. There are several members of the Transnational Radical Party in the list of candidates running for the coming administrative elections in Czechoslovakia, to be held on the 23rd and 24th November 1990. We would like to mention: Milan Kozelska, candidate for the Civil Forum ticket in Karlovy Vary; Sasa Blazik, for the Civil Forum ticket in Prague; Milan Jilek, candidate for a ticket supported by a vast coalition in Zdar, with a strong Christian-democrat component.
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"PREMIER MARIAN CALFA HAS BEEN ATTACKED BECAUSE IDIOTS ALWAYS NEED AN ENEMY TO HIDE THEIR OWN INCAPACITY"
Prague, 18 October 1990. Following the polemics concerning Czechoslovakian Prime Minister Calfa, who has been more than once blamed for his Communist past, the Radical Association for the United States of Europe diffused a communiqué that reads: We have deliberately kept silent until this moment, waiting for the attacks against Marian Calfa to be replaced by something more serious. (...). The problem is this: if we take a global look at the minor political or pseudo-political organizations, we can easily see the almost total lack of imagination and the capacity to make projects and build. These people need an enemy to fight against to hide their own incapacity. None of the strongest critics of Premier Calfa has been capable of formulating a political proposal, suggesting an idea, showing a path to be taken. (...). But clearly there is more and worse. This disparaging campaign is clearly intended to gather votes and small shares of power at the coming administrative elections in November, on the basis of easy
slogans (...). We repeat that the policy conducted by Calfa, and first of all the policy concerning Czechoslovakia's integration in the European Community, is intelligent, and is moving in the right direction, because it is concrete and leaves little space for prattle, which, instead, seems to be other people's favourite sport.
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*** Soviet Union
THE RADICALS TOOK PART IN THE SEMINAR ON NON-VIOLENCE
Moscow, 19 October 1990. Radicals Alexandre Kalinin, Nikolaj Khramov, Andrej Kuzin, Irina Podlesova, Alexandre Pronozin, and Sergej Vorontsov took part in the seminar on non-violence organized by the "Soviet-U.S. Humanitarian Initiative". The topic of the seminar, presided by the well-known U.S. activist for peace Bill Moyer, was "theory and praxis of non-violence today". At the conclusion of the seminar, the "Soviet-U.S. Humanitarian Initiative" and the Radical Party decided to organize further seminars on this topic open to the public.
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*** Czechoslovakia
ASSEMBLY OF RADICALS RESIDENT IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA: UNITED STATES OF EUROPE AND THE ANTIPROHIBITIONIST INITIATIVE AT THE CENTRE OF THE DEBATE. THE ASSEMBLY WAS ATTENDED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE RADICAL PARTY, EMMA BONINO.
Prague, 21 October 1990. An "assembly-congress" was held yesterday in Prague, gathering members of the transnational Radical party living and operating in Czechoslovakia. At the centre of the debate, the relaunching of the campaign on the 5 transnational petitions (in addition to the one to change the electoral system to a uninominal system, for which the radicals are collecting signatures in Czechoslovakia), and especially of the one for the adhesion of Czechoslovakia to the European Community.
Several exponents of the Catholic movements, among whom a parliamentarian, also attended the Assembly-Congress (introduced by three main reports, the one by Paolo Pietrosanti, Richard Stockar and John Bok). A debate was then opened on the subject of abortion - the defence of which is becoming one of the most important fields of action of the radicals.
The assembly was attended by approximately 70 people, mostly members of the transnational Radical Party. Among them, Emma Bonino, President of the Party, who intervened in the debate on the subject of abortion, expressing her fear that abortion will be prohibited in Czechoslovakia and announcing that the Radicals will be at the fore front in asserting women's right to decide according to their conscience.
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*** Soviet Union - Russia
PRESENTATION OF THE RADICAL PARTY AT THE LENINGRAD TELEVISION
Leningrad, 22 October 1990. Fedor Ciub, exponent of the Radical Party in leningrad, took part together with other 17 parties and movements in the televised round table for the presentation of the parties.
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*** Czechoslovakia
LIDOVA DEMOCRACIE, THE POLISH POPULAR PARTY'S PRESS ORGAN, ATTACKS THE RADICAL ASSEMBLY THAT MET LAST SATURDAY WITH THE MOST TYPICAL OF DISHONEST MEANS: OPINIONS AND SLANDERS DISGUISED AS NEWS. THE RADICALS' REPLY.
Prague, 24 October 1990. The 23 October issue of "Lidova Democracie", the Czechoslovakian Popular Party's press organ, contained a long article concerning the assembly of radicals living and operating in Czechoslovakia held in Prague on Saturday the 21st of October. The article is all built with the typical and well-known technique of mixing facts and opinions, disguising subjective opinions as news.
Radicals Paolo Pietrosanti and Richard Stockar replied today with a long and detailed letter to the newspaper's editor.
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*** Hungary
A VICTORY OF DEMOCRACY: THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ABOLISHED THE DEATH PENALTY. STATEMENT BY ATTILA PAL SOMHAZY, OF THE RADICAL COORDINATION AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
Budapest, 24 October 1990. The Constitutional Court sanctioned the elimination of the death penalty from the Hungarian juridical code with a sentence. Attila Pal Somhazy stated on the important event: "It is a great achievement of democracy and of all those who fought to cancel this residue of barbarity. I would also like to thank all those who signed the Radical Party's petition for the abolition of the death penalty, and especially Ivan Peto, SDS leader at the national Assembly; Alajos Dornbach, SDS deputy, vice-president of the National Assembly; Imre Frajna, Fidesz deputy; Istvan Vass, SDS deputy; Karoly Mezey, MDF deputy; Rudolf Novak, SDS deputy; Geza Futaki, SDS deputy.
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*** Soviet Union - Russia
MILITARY RECRUITMENT CENTRE BLOCKED
Moscow, 25 October 1990. For the first time in history, the Military Recruitment Centre was prevented to carry out its activity. Over 150 radical, pacifist militants and parents of soldiers met before the military building. The demonstrators asked the immediate approval of a law on alternative military service and the cessation of all violations of human rights in the armed forces. A delegation of which Alexander Kalinin was part of, member of the Radical Party's federal Council, was received by the Military Commissary of Moscow, General-Major Bespalov, who assured them that he would have transmitted part of the requests expressed by the demonstrators.
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*** Soviet Union - Italy
APPEAL BY THE SOVIET RADICALS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ITALIAN COMMUNIST PARTY TO JOIN THE RADICAL PARTY
Moscow, 25 October 1990. In a long appeal addressed to the members of the Italian Communist Party, about fifteen Soviet radicals among other things recalled the deep divergences that divided the Radical Party and the Italian Communist Party for decades, but also the courageous stances taken by the PCI on the Prague Spring, the invasion of Afghanistan, and dissidents. The radicals continue stating that "For our and your perestroika, we consider the creation of Left-wing forces capable of resisting the pressures of nationalism, isolationism, neo-partyism, of fundamental importance". Among the reasons for which it is extremely urgent for the members of the the Communist Party to join the Radical Party, there is, according to the Soviet Radicals, that of confirming their decision to "fight for the United States of Europe, a new, democratic and non-violent association, based on federate principles and on the acknowledgement of human rights, for the association of the European populations (including the population
s of Central, Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union)".
These are the names of those who signed the appeal to this moment:
Nikolaj KHRAMOV, member of the Radical Party, Moscow; Aleksandr TENIANOV, member of the Radical Party, Moscow; Irina PODLESOVA, vice-treasurer of the Radical Party for Soviet Union, member of the Democratic Union, Moscow; Aleksandr KALININ, member of the Radical Party's Federal Council, deputy of the Moscow Soviet; Julia KALININA, member of the Radical Party, Moscow; Andrej KUZIN, member of the Radical Party, Moscow; Dmitrij ZAPOLSKIJ, member of the Radical Party's Federal Council, deputy at the Leningrad Soviet; Jonas CEKUOLIS, member of the Radical Party, Vilnius; Olga LIPOVSKAJA, member of the Radical Party, member of the organizational Committee of the SAFO (Free Association of Feminist Organizations), Leningrad; Elena ZAGORODNEVA, member of the Radical Party, Magadan; Natalja ALESHINA, member of the Radical Party, former member of the PCUS, Kouibyshev; Mihail NIKITIN, member of the Radical Party, Kouibyshev.
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*** Rumania
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS. RADICAL DELEGATION.
Timisoara, 25-28 October 1990. A delegation of the Radical Party composed by Emil Iovanescu, Antonio Stango, Violetta Barascu, Eduardo Rozsa and Olivier Dupuis took part together with several Rumanian radicals in the first conference on human rights in Rumania.
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*** Rumania
FREE CIRCULATION OF PEOPLE AND IDEAS. 9 PERSONS ARE ON A HUNGER STRIKE FOR DORU BRAIA, WHO WAS DENIED ACCESS TO RUMANIA, HIS OWN COUNTRY.
Timisoara, 25-29 October 1990. Doru Braia, a Rumanian citizen, who was expelled by the soldiers and with no legal justification on the order of the Rumanian intelligence service last April, should have taken part in the first conference on human rights in Rumania, organized by the Heinrich Böll foundation. Braia arrived at the frontier station of Nadlac (Hungarian-Rumanian border) together with about fifty other participants, and was denied access to the country in spite of the fact that he had a valid UNO passport.
As soon as he was informed of the denial to enter the Rumanian territory, Doru Braia stated he intended to remain at the customs station until the Rumanian authorities allowed him to enter his country or showed him the legal documents justifying the measures adopted against him. He also decided to go on a hunger strike.
The news reached Timisoara at about two a.m. Vladimir Petrescu and Florian Mihalcea, members of the Timisoara Society and of the Radical Party, immediately decided to support Braia's initiative, also going on a hunger strike and reaching the frontier station. The following morning, Gheorghe Serban, President of the Timisoara Society, Eduardo Rozsa and Olivier Dupuis of the Radical Party, Ladislau Gagyi, Lucia Robitu, Victoria Suchici and Marcel Mihalaché of the Timisoara Society, announced their adhesion to the hunger strike. At the end of its proceedings, the International Conference on Human Rights charged one of its delegations to meet the Internal Minister and to ask for explanations on the Doru Braia case. In the mean time, the Radicals of Budapest met Doru Braia at Mako, Hungary, and informed him of the initiatives taken.
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APPEAL BY KALININ, DEPUTY OF THE MOSCOW SOVIET, TO BOYCOTT THE DRAFT
Moscow, 28 October 1990. In the course of a demonstration on the human situation in the Soviet armed forces, organized by the Russian Democratic Party (Travkin), Alexander Kalinin, member of the Radical Party's Federal Council, publicly asked to boycott the draft in consideration of the absolute want of any improvement of the situation concerning the respect of the soldiers' human rights.
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"DORU BRAIA AFFAIR": OPEN LETTER BY THE HUNGER STRIKERS TO ENRIQUE BARON, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Timisoara-Budapest, 29 October 1990. In an open letter to the President of the European Parliament, Enrique Baron, the 9 hunger strikers among other things wrote: "(...) We believe it useless to linger on the character of this episode, which is in absolute contradiction with human rights. A firm condemnation on the part of the European Parliament of this act strikes us as being all the more necessary, in that the institution you preside has just decided to give new credit and trust to the Rumanian authorities. In the belief that you will understand the importance of this sorrow episode, it is with hope that we write to you and through you to all of the European Parliament, urging it to do all that is in its power to recall the Rumanian authorities to reason, legality and to the respect of the international commitments signed by Rumania.
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*** Rumania
DORU BRAIA AFFAIR. THE RUMANIAN AUTHORITIES CHANGE THEIR MIND. THE RUMANIAN EMBASSY OF BUDAPEST GRANTS BRAIA A NEW PASSPORT.
AN ACHIEVEMENT OF DEMOCRACY: STATEMENT BY EMIL IOVANESCU, EDUARDO ROZSA AND OLIVIER DUPUIS OF THE RADICAL PARTY.
Budapest, 31 October 1990. Doru Braia, who had been denied access to Rumania Thursday night to take part at Timisoara in the first conference on human rights in Rumania, was informed by the Rumanian Internal Ministry that he could obtain a new passport at the Rumanian embassy of Budapest.
The Radical militants who had gone on a three-day hunger strike together with Doru Braia and other militants if the Timisoara Society at the frontier station of Nadlac at first and then at the Conference, joyfully welcomed the gesture of the authorities, who thus proved capable of leaving the road of intolerance and violence to take the road of legality, law and tolerance.
