(Moscow, September 21, 1997) -- The two-days session of the General Council of the Antimilitarist Radical Association (ARA) which has been held on September 20 and 21 in Moscow's Hotel Izmajlovo, has finished today.

Apart of GC members, elected on the First Congress of the ARA (Moscow, June 29 and 30, 1996), there were also invited activists from Moscow and a several other cities taking part in the session - totally about 40 persons.

At the very beginning of the proceedings, General Council elected its President (this position has been taken by Ljudmila Obrazcova, member of the Coordination Council of the Russian Committee of Soldiers' Mothers), as well as two vice presidents: Tatjana Kotljar, member of Obninsk City Council, and Kirill Shulika, cadet in the Tax Police Academy.

General Council heard and approved reports of the Secretary (Nikolaj Khramov) and of the Treasurer ad interim (Anna Zajceva). There was also intervention of Valerij Borscev, President of the ARA and member of the State Duma (Jabloko).

During general debates, participants of the session discussed plan of ARA's activities on the implementation of last congress' decisions for the period till the end of current year. After the debates, General Motion has been approved, which pointed basic directions of work for the nearest future.

In particular, General Council confirmed engagement to reach the soonest adoption of a democratic and non-discriminatory federal law on alternative civilian service - the basic priority of the ARA since its founding in May 1995. It was expressed support to the Civil Obedience Campaign for passing such a law, a campaign aimed onto increasing the amount of conscientious objectors up to 7,000.

General Council called up for immediate liberation and ceasing the criminal persecution against Andrej Pastukhov, who objected on reasons of conscience to participate in the Chechen war and currently imprisoned under accusation in desertion, as well as other conscientious objectors.

General Council deliberated to concentrate during next two and a half months all the forces and resources on Moscow front, doing all possible in order not to loose a chance to impart an essential and visible antimilitarist element to the electoral campaign for Moscow City Duma, to give voters the possibility to express about distinct and clear goals, which unite those adhered to the values of democracy, antimilitarism, freedom and nonviolence. General Council expressed in this context its support to the decision taken by Nikolaj Khramov, its secretary, and Sergej Sorokin, member of secretariat, to run for Moscow Duma election.

General Council pointed to the danger for Russian democracy which represents mobilization of militarist forces which oppose reforms and have picked out rebel general Rokhlin and his Movement in Support of Army as their banner. In this context, General Council called up for consolidation of efforts of all Russian antimilitarists on the base of the initiative for establishing of a direct dialog between the government of liberal reformers and civic society. General Council charged executive bodies of the ARA to elaborate the Antimilitarist Appeal to the President and Government and to launch campaign for collecting adhesions from side of public associations, organizations, groups and individuals.

On Tuesday, September 23, at 2.00 PM in the National Institute of Press (ex Russian American Press & Information Center), ul. Prechistenka 10, will take place news conference on results of General Council. In particular, there would be made public the text of the Antimilitarist Appeal to the President and Government, which should become a common platform for antimilitarist forces and a base of their possible dialog with the government of liberal reforms. In the news conference would be participating:

- Valerij BORSCEV, President of the ARA and member of the State Duma (Jabloko);

- Nikolaj KHRAMOV, Secretary of the ARA;

- Anna ZAJCEVA, Treasurer ad interim of the ARA;

- Ljudmila OBRAZCOVA, President of General Council of the ARA and member of Coordination Council of Russian Committee of Soldiers' Mothers.

Additionally, there would probably participate representatives of associations which could adhere to the Antimilitarist Appeal during the remaining time.

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Antimilitarist Radical Association (ARA)

Ul. Trubnaja 25-2-49, 103051 Moscow, Russia

Tel./Fax: +7-095-923.9127

E-mail: ARA@glasnet.ru

Internet URL: http://www.glasnet.ru/~ara