The Prague Appeal
THE PRAGUE appeal was signed on March 11, 1985, and presented to the END convention in Amsterdam the following July. The document was made available by them by AG Brian. Dear Friends, It is 40 years now since there was a war on European soil. Notwithstanding, Europe has not been a continent of peace. Far from it! As Europe has been one of the main points of friction between the two power blocs, tension has been a permanent feature throughout the period, thereby posing a threat to the entire world. Were a war to break out here, it would turn not only into a world conflict but most likely into one that would prove fatal for the entire planet.
The reason Europe has played this baleful role is the divided state of our continent. Our common hope, therefore, lies in overcoming this division. This can only be achieved through a conscious decision by all to gradually transform the very political realities which are responsible for the present situation. A shaky status quo
One reason why the state of nonwar has lasted 40 years is the fact that both sides have respected the situation created when the spheres of military operations agreed on at Yalta degenerated into military and
Palach Press and translated for political blocs. What governs the continued efforts to maintain, defend and strengthen the status quo are fears about destabilisaton of the balance that has been achieved. For this reason, a process of change will call for great sensitivity. It cannot be accompanied by threats of achieving superiority on either side. On the contrary, it will require guarantees and assurances, as well as an evaluation of the present situation in all its component aspects. It will be essential to acknowledge the present state of affairs as the basis for change to dispel fears of a revival of the old dangers which have led to catastrophe twice in this century already. However, the chances of moving beyond the present situation are not altogether as unfavourable as they might seem.
The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and its Final Act signed in Helsinki, are, like the subsequent talks and the final document of Madrid [follow-up conference to Helsinki] not just an acknowledgement of the status quo, but also constitute a programme of European and Euro-American cooperation. Throughout this process, the negotiations have not been conducted between the blocs but between equal International Viewpoint 24 March 1986
partners, a fact which has underlined the independence of all participating states and established in principle the sort of relations which, if implemented, would open the way to the unification of Europe. Furthermore, the principle of the indivisibility of peace, a legacy of European culture, has been embodied in relations not only between states, but also between the state and society, and between citizens and governments.
The requirement that governments should fulfil all their undertakings and obligations has not been made full use of by the peace movement. Such binding agreements sanctioned by international law constitute a framework whereby citizens may not only exercise public scrutiny of governments but also find imaginative ways of loosening ossifed positions. Because of the great variety of conditions in the different countries, there has been a tendency to stress the dissimilarities. However, these must be fully grasped and respected if a common approach and European solidarity are to be achieved.
A democratic and sovereign Europe is inconceivable so long as individual citizens, groups of citizens or nations are denied the right to take part in decisions affecting not only their everyday lives, but also their very survival. Within a framework of cooperation and dialogue among those who genuinely seek to overcome the present dangerous situation, it should be possible to come forward with different disarmament initiatives and proposals: the creation of nuclear-free and neutral zones; the encouragement of relations between individuals, groups and states; support for agreements on non-agression, as well as the renunciation of the use of force or nuclear weapons; and, finally, regional treaties of all kinds, including, for example, rapprochement between the EEC [European Economic Community] (1) and the CMEA [Council for Mutual Economic Assistance]. (2) Within this framework citizens would be able to campaign against the in-
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D'e sensitive treatment of the environment and, taking governments at their word, analyse government policies and their likely effects. In short, it is necessary to support all actions by individuals, groups and governments seeking the rapprochment and free association of European nations while rejecting any measures which might postpone or thwart the achievement of this ideal. The German question
In our pursuit of these aims we can no longer avoid those issues which have so far been taboo, one of which is the division of Germany.
If our aim is European unification, then no one can be denied the right to self-determination; and this applies equally to the Germans. As with all other rights, though, this must not be enforced at the expense of other peoples, nor by way of ignoring their fears. Let us therefore declare unequivocally that no solution shall be sought through a further revision of European frontiers. In the process of European rapprochement, frontiers should gradually lose much of their significance, but even this should not be regarded as an opportunity for the revival of nationalistic backsliding. While appreciating this fact, let us acknowledge openly the right of the Germans freely to decide if or how they wish to unite their two states within their present frontiers. Following Bonn's agreements with its Eastern neighbours and the Helsinki Accords, the signing of a peace treaty with Germany could become one of the most important levers for a positive transformation of Europe.
Another taboo subject has been the withdrawal of foreign troops. Let us therefore propose that NATO and the Warsaw Pact enter forthwith into negotiations on the dissolution of their military organisations, on the removal of all nuclear weapons
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PEACE MOVEMENT either sited in or aimed at Europe, and on the withdrawal of US and Soviet troops from the territories of their European allies. Part of such an agreement should be the scaling down of armed forces in all countries of the European continent to a level eliminating the risk of aggression from any quarter.
These and other aims should be part and parcel of an interlocking process serving the ideal of mutual rapprochement and therefore offering no possible threat to any party. We do not seek to turn Europe into a third superpower, but instead to overcome the superpower bloc strueture by way of an alliance of free and independent nations within a democratic and self-governing all-European community living in friendship with nations of the entire world. The freedom and dignity of individual citizens are the key to the freedom and self-determination of na ions. And only sovereign nations can transform Europe into a community of equal partners which would not pose the threat of a global nuclear war, but instead serve as an example of real peaceful coexistence.
Perhaps this ideal sounds like a dream. However, we are convinced that it expresses the desire of a majority of Europeans. It is therefore an ideal worth striving for; all the more so, in view of the fact that today's world will hardly surmount its crisis unless Europe also takes the path its citizens desire.
We believe that our views will meet with your understanding, and we wish you every success in your proceedings.
Signed: Jarmila Belikova, Vaclav Benda, Tomas Bisek, Daniela Biskova, Petr Cibulka, Jan Carnogursky, Albert Cerny, Jiri Dienstbier, Lubos Dobrovsky, Karel Freund, Jiri Hajek, Milos Hajek, Vaclav Havel, Ladislav Hejdanek, Oldrich Hromadko, Marie Hromadkova, Jirina Hrabkova, Jozel Jablonicky, Vladimir Kadlek, Eva Kanturkova, Bozena Komarkova, Jan Kozlik, Marie Rut Krizkova, Ladislav Lis, Jeromir Litera, Vaclav Maly, Anna Marvanova, Jaroslav Meznik, Pavel Murasko, Dana Nemcova, Radim Palous, Milos Rejchrt, Jakub Ruml, Jan Ruml, Jiri Ruml, Jan Sabata, Jaroslav Sabata, Anna Sabatova jn., Anna Sabatova sn., Libuse Silhanova, Jan Simsa, Petruska Sustrova, Petr Uhl, Vera Vranova, Josef Zverina.
Prague, March 11, 1985 West Germany, Members of the EEC are France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Greece, Spain and Portugal.
2. Members of the CMEA, also known as Comecon, are the Soviet Union, East Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Cuba, Mongolia and Vietnam.
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Peace protest in East Berlin, July 1985 (DR)
International Viewpoint 24 March 1986
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