I.P.O. Information Service

"Towards a New World Order"

The Bangalore Declaration
 

Bangalore/Vienna, 6 June 2003//18213c-is

"The U.S. led attack on Iraq is the most serious development at the beginning of a new millennium, that has raised some fundamental questions about the international order, the rights and obligations of sovereign nation-states, and the use of force in pursuit of objectives that are questionable.

The massive military attack by Anglo-American forces was carried out in spite of globally widespread demonstrations by peace-loving people against the war, and against the opposition of a majority of members of the UN Security Council, especially of three permanent members of the Council. It is significant that in spite of the majority of the UN Security Council strongly supporting it, the process of a peaceful resolution of the situation, especially Iraq's disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, was not allowed to be undertaken through the established UN inspection system which was proceeding satisfactorily. Since the matter was under active consideration by the UN Security Council – whose primary responsibility continues to be international peace and security –, the U.S.-U.K. decision to proceed with the war on their own, without a UN mandate, assumes an even more serious dimension. The war, in fact, was launched in great hurry.

The charges that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction in violation of her international treaty obligations and UN resolutions, and that Iraq supported international terrorism, were used as the main reason for launching the war, under the principle of pre-emption, against a supposed threat to U.S. security. However, in continuation of the reports of the UN and IAEA inspection teams, and in spite of the most intrusive and extensive search by the occupation forces during and after the war, no evidence to support U.S.-U.K. claims has been found so far. On the other hand, there are many media reports according to which U.S.-U.K. intelligence reports, cited in support of their case at the UN favouring the use force, are considered highly questionable.

The reason for the war was ostensibly based on the concept and goal of "regime change." The United States administration has also raised the prospect of the need to change regimes in other countries. It must be emphasized that this concept completely, and cynically, undermines the very notion of the sovereignty of states and violates the UN Charter, the bedrock of the international system. We call upon major countries like China, France, Germany, India, Japan and the Russian Federation to initiate a process of dialogue with the United States so as to develop a common approach for effectively meeting the challenges of international peace and security in the future, one that is based on the principles of the UN Charter and Panchsheel.

As a consequence of the war on Iraq, the global situation demands of the people of the world to come together. In simultaneous demonstrations in 354 cities all over the world before the start of the war, the people showed that they are willing to take an active part in promoting peace and prosperity, based on dignity and social justice. Establishing a just an equitable economic order in the world is an urgent necessity if the vast majority of people are to enjoy the benefits of human and scientific progress. The peoples' will of expanding democratization of the world is the surest way to guide the political will in that direction.

Development leading to war, especially the position adopted by some of the leading powers, demonstrates that the international order is becoming less aligned. This opens new opportunities to strengthen the process and build a more cooperative international order. What we need is a new community of nation-states, non-aligned  in military terms, but aligned against all forms of political, social and economic injustice, and a global movement to pursue a new and just political-economic order.

The people of Iraq, having lived for years under severely adverse conditions, have again suffered immensely from the war, the long-term effects of which are not yet clear. Administration in the country has completely broken down and little or nothing has been done by the occupying powers to control widespread lawlessness, criminal activity, looting and killings that, with the pervasive insecurity, have led to severe humanitarian hardship and challenges. There is an urgent need for all countries to render humanitarian assistance in order to rebuild a shattered society. Above all, a government representing the people of Iraq must assume full powers without any further delay. Regardless of the events that have led to the war, this now must constitute the highest priority for the world and the UN."