ABSTRACT: Article in two parts, published in issues 7 and 8 of the Bulgarian regional fortnightly "Kamcha Pont", edited by journalist Svetoslav Slavchev, the radical party's point of reference in Varna.

(KAMCHA PONT, 15 - 20 April 1993)

In the Rome-based Radical Party, people can join directly, maintaining at the same time their membership to the national party.

The radical party counts 37,000 Italian members, 5,000 members of the republics of the former Yugoslavia, 1,000 members from the countries of central and eastern Europe, United States and other countries of America, Asia and Africa.

In 1992 it counted five ministers of the Italian government: the minister of justice, Claudio Martelli, vice-secretary of the socialist party; Francesco De Lorenzo, health minister, liberal; Carlo Ripa di meana, minister for the environment, socialist; Maurizio Pagani, minister of Telecommunications; Ferdinando Facchiano, minister of civil defense, socialdemocrat, and other ministers from 20 nations: Jean Miche Baillet, minister for tourism, France, the minister for health and social security of Macedonia, Iljaz Sabriu, the minister of education and culture of Israel, Shulamit Aloni, the vice president of the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria, Valentin Karabashev, the minister of industry Rumen Bikov, Hristo Bisserov, Ilian Shotlekov, Liubomir Pavlov and others of the SDS; Professor Nikolaj Vassilev, Assen Michkovski, Radka Vassileva from New Alliance for Democracy, Sonia Mladenova, Yanaki Stoilov, Rossen Karadimov and others of the BSP, Ilhan Mustafa of the DPS.

From the United States: writer Gore Vidal, the Nobel prize for medicine George Wald, Mairead Corrigan (Ireland), Nobel Prize for Peace, and others. In Bulgaria the Radical Party has members in Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna.

More than 1500 people took part in the seconf session of the 36th congress of the transnational radical party in Rome from 4 to 8 February 1993, half of whom were representatives of European, American and African nations. Present at the congress were the Italian prime minister Giuliano Amato, the president of the Senate Giovanni Spadolini, the secretary of the Christian Democratic Party Mino Martinazzoli, the president of the Chamber Giorgio Napolitano. More than 250 MPs who represent some 50 national parties, from many nations, took part in the Congress.

The only condition to be able to join the Radical Party for Bulgarians is paying the membership fee. For 1993 the minimum fee is 91 lev, but the Radical Party's leadership in Rome recommends a fee of at least 125 lev or more. For people who are well off it recommends 626 lev, for people with incomes higher than average 1250 lv, for rich people 6250 lev.

The membership fee can be paid either personally, at the Radical Party's office in Sofia, ul. Sveti Naum (Traycho Kostov) N.43, vh.B, et.3; by post, at the same address (Radical Party) or in Varna through Svetoslav Slavcev, tel. 446750 for members of the Varna region. The coordinator of the Radical Party for Bulgaria and Macedonia lives in Sofia, Mr. Michele Boselli, tel. 02-662972.

The next issue will contain a summary of the transnational radical party's main ideas. The radical party is the party of non-violence, federalism and political, economic and cultural cooperation on an equal basis among the people of Europe and of the world.

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PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES OF EUROPE, RADICAL PARTY

For peace, against war and violence. For understanding and cooperation among the peoples on an equal basis.

The 36th congress of the radical party, which took place in Rome, Italy, from 4 to 8 February, concluded that in the context of the wars, violence, and misery of the world, a TRANSNATIONAL PARTY is highly needed.

This issue and the next ones will contains extracts of the working documents of the Radical Party, "Federalism and nationality", edited by Olivier Dupuis (*), in order to divulge the fundamental objectives of the party.

THE CRISIS OF EUROPE

Four years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, many of our hopes have turned into nightmares. From Bosnia to Kosovo, from Nagorno Karabakh to Iraq, there are wars or fierce repressions. Thus, in many respects the European federalist ideals and the objectives of the United States of Europe have been revived with new force. That the European Community is experiencing a terrible crisis is no mystery. More uncertain, instead, is the awareness of the nature of this crisis. A certain type of attitude, made of mystification and disinformation, provided by the governments and the national bureaucracies on the one hand, and by the vast majority of the media on the other, makes it difficult if not altogether impossible for the public opinion of the EC and of the other European nations to understand the nature and the vastness of this crisis. From the "no2 of the Danish referendum to the small "yes" to the French referendum for the Treaty of Maastricht, from the world recession to the "reform" of European agriculture an

d the GATT, from the national issues to growing surge of intolerance against immigrants in the West, from the inadequacy of the measures to put an end to military conflicts to the religious and ethnic conflicts in the former USSR, in the former Yugoslavia and in other countries, have made it furthermore difficult to understand the crisis that is taking place in the process of the construction of Europe.

A crisis which is not, therefore, dependant on circumstances, but is inherent in the very model which underlies the process of "community" construction, i,e, the one based on the FALSE PREMISE OF THE SUPREMACY OF ECONOMY ON POLITICS, on the dogma according to which the convergence of the economies of the Western countries would have supposedly led in an almost natural way to the political unification of the continent. The restructuring measures within the Members States have progressively led citizens, namely farmers or worker of the co-called "old" sectors of the industry to perceive the European Commission as the body responsible for all evils.

On their part, the EC bodies have understood the appeals of the European parliament and of several federalist groups, including the radical party, about the need for a DRASTIC CHANGE OF STRATEGY far too late. A REFORM IS NECESSARY, capable of giving solid democratic foundations to the community construction according to the RULES OF DEMOCRACY AND OF CLASSICAL FEDERALISM, I.E. THE DIVISION OF POWERS, AND THE TRANSPARENCY AND CONTROL THEREOF.

The radical party hopes to participate in writing and divulging the CONSTITUTION OF THE FUTURE UNITED STATES OF EUROPE.

Olivier Dupuis

Please not that membership to the Radical Party is direct, since members may be members of other parties. The membership fee can be paid personally, at the radical party's office in Sofia ul. Sveti Naum (Traycho Kostov) 43, by mail at the same address, o in Varna - for residents of the region - through Svetoslav Slavcev, tel. 446750. The radical party's coordinator for Bulgaria and Macedonia in Sofia is Mr. Michele Boselli - tel.02-66. For 1993 the recommended minimum fee is 91 lv. The radical headquarters in Rome suggest a fee of 125 lv or more; people without financial problems 625 lv, people with incomes higher than average 1250 lv, rich people 6250 lv.

Translator's notes

(*) DUPUIS OLIVIER. (1958). Belgian conscientious objector, surrendered himself to the Belgian justice system and served an 11-month sentence in the prison of Saint Gilles. Worked at the French-speaking edition of "Radical News". Organized and participated in nonviolent and antitotalitarian demonstrations in the countries of Eastern Europe, and was for this reason expelled from Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. Currently coordinates the party's activities in Rumania and Hungary. Works at the project on the "New Party".