I.P.O. ANNUAL
REPORT 1988
Vienna,
27 December 1988
NEW
PUBLICATIONS
-- Zur Lage der Menschenrechte in Palästina. (35 pp., 1988, ISBN 3- 900704-03-1).
-- The International Campaign Against Austrian President Kurt Waldheim. Documents of the International Solidarity Committee (21 pp., 1988, ISBN 3- 900704-04-X).
-- Socio-Philosophical Aspects of Partnership in Production. (22 pp., 1988, ISBN 3-900704-02-3).
-- Foreign Policy and Democracy: Reconsidering the Universality of' the Democratic Principles. Studies In International Relations, vol. 14 (35 pp., 1988, ISBN 3-900704-05-8).
ADMISSION
OF NEW MEMBERS
The Executive Board, at its session in Vienna (16 December 1988), has admitted new members from Australia, France, Germany (FRG), Ghana, Iraq, Italy, Maldives, Mexico, and Nigeria.
INTERNATIONAL
COMMITTEE FOR PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS
The I.P.O. has convened a meeting of legal experts on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories (Vienna, 2 February 1988). A delegation of Inquiry was sent to the occupied territories in March. The I.P.O. has published its report (see book listing above). In order to closely monitor the human rights situation in Palestine, the I.P.O. has set up the International Committee for Palestinian Human Rights (ICPHR) which is formed by over 30 experts from all continents and which will report to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. The I.P.O. has also participated in the International NGO Conference on the Question of Palestine (Geneva, 30-31 August 1988). The President of the I.P.O. has held consultations with the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Mr. Yasser Arafat (11 June 1988).
INTERNATIONAL
SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF THE AUSTRIAN PRESIDENT (ISC)
The ISC has successfully continued its activities and has issued a special documentation (see book listing above). Several consultations with President Waldheim have taken place. Prominent personalities from over 40 countries have joined the Committee. The President of' the I.P.O. has taken part in a live discussion on British television, presenting the views of' the ISC (London, 21 February 1988). Mr. Ramsey Clark, former Attorney-General of the United States, made a special public statement in February this year when the campaign had reached its peak.
INTERNATIONAL
COMMITTEE FOR PEACE IN THE GULF
The Committee has noted with great satisfaction the coming into effect of a ceasefire between Iran and Iraq as a result of the acceptance of Security Council resolution 598 by both parties in July 1988. The President of the I.P.O. earlier had met with United Nations Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar in New York (16 June) in connection with an international peace mission to stop the Iran-Iraq war. A meeting was also held with the President of' the Security Council. In conformity with a resolution adopted by the Executive Board at its last meeting in Vienna the I.P.O. will pay special attention to the question of' the return of all prisoners of' war according to the requirements of' the Geneva Convention and of' resolution 598 of' the Security Council.
LAWYERS'
APPEAL AGAINST NUCLEAR WAR
The I.P.O. has continued the signature campaign in cooperation with the International Peace Bureau. Approximately 12,000 signatures have been collected up till now. The campaign will be finalized in January 1989.
INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCES
During 1988 the I.P.O. has participated in several major international conferences, among them the Seminar on "Disarming the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Region" (Sydney, 9-10 September 1988), the Model International Conference on the Middle East (Prague, 6-8 December 1988), and the meeting of the Mediterranean Peace Committee (Malta, 20-21 December 1988).
RESEARCH
PROJECT ON FOREIGN POLICY AND DEMOCRACY
At the invitation of the Harvard Club Austria the President of the I.P.O. has given a lecture on " Foreign Policy and Democracy" (20 October 1988). The research paper on this question is being published by the I.P.O. (see publication list above).