APPEAL IN SUPPORT
OF THE GLOBAL ANTI-WAR DAY – 20 MARCH 2004

The parties of the Initiative Group for the foundation of a Party of the European Left on the occasion of their meeting in Athens on 14-15 February 2004, make a special appeal in support of March 20 2004 declared a European Day of Anti-war action by the European Social Forum and subsequently a day of global anti-war action by the Mumbai World Social Forum.

One year after the launching of the Bush-Blair war on Iraq, a war which is now completely exposed as an illegal, unjustified and barbarous act, we call upon the citizens of Europe to mobilize for peace and justice in the broadest possible, unitarian and multiform ways.

To protest and to mobilize against the policies of war and terrorism, which feed each other. To oppose any new wave of arms race.

To demand an end of the occupation of Iraq, the withdrawal of all military occupation forces and the restoration of its independence and sovereignty under the aegis of the UN so that the Iraqi people may decide freely for a democratic and peaceful future.

To support the Palestinian people and the Israeli peace forces in their efforts for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, alongside the state of Israel, within secure borders, through a credible peace process on the basis of the UN resolutions.

To ask for the transformation of the entire Middle East region into a zone of peace, free of nuclear and other mass destruction weapons, with democracy, common security and co-development.

To oppose the extremely dangerous Bush doctrine for “preventive wars” and demand an autonomous peaceful role of Europe, free of euroatlanticism and NATO, a role based on a new concept of all - embracing security – political economic, human and ecological – to the benefit of the whole of humanity.

To strengthen the relationship and contacts with left-wing parties, political organizations, militants of peace and social movements, trade unions in the US for the common struggle for peace, justice and democracy all over the world.

Athens, 15 February 2004
Second meeting of the initiative parties for the foundation of the Party of the European Left