La Fondazione Transnazionale per la Ricerca sulla Pace ed il Futuro
(TFF), che ha sede in Svezia [ http://www.transnational.org ],
si e' vista tagliare i fondi statali dal Ministero degli esteri svedese
- che pure elargisce cifre consistenti ad organizzazioni non-governative
anche in assenza di adeguata documentazione - e rischia cosi' di dover
interrompere la sua attivita'.
La motivazione e' chiaramente politica, visto che la TFF e' molto attiva
nella analisi e prevenzione dei conflitti nello scenario balcanico, dove
si e' guadagnata un ruolo di primo piano tra le tante organizzazioni
straniere presenti, la maggior parte delle quali dimostrano di avere
solo un ruolo "ancillare" alla penetrazione occidentale nell'area.
Viceversa, la TFF ha avuto il coraggio di vedere e far vedere il ruolo
perverso troppo spesso giocato dalle organizzazioni internazionali
(OSCE, UE, NATO, ecc.), parlandone ad esempio nel recente opuscolo
"Preventing Peace" (Prevenire la pace) nel quale vengono elencati una
sessantina di episodi in cui la "comunita' internazionale" ha
letteralmente cecchinato possibilita' di interruzione dei conflitti
oppure ha aggravato pesantemente la situazione sul campo, fino a
diventare essa stessa parte in conflitto. L'opuscolo, in inglese, si
puo' ordinare seguendo le istruzioni riportate sul sito della TFF.
Alla TFF va tutto il nostro sostegno morale... Quello materiale,
purtroppo, non siamo in grado di offrirlo. I mezzi in tal senso, ahinoi,
ce li ha solo la controparte.
Coordinamento Romano per la Jugoslavia, giugno 2000
---
On http://www.transnational.org from May 27, 2000
Please forward this to someone you think would like to receive the TFF
PressInfos;
to subscribe send a request to <TFF@...>
T F F P r e s s I n f o # 9 4
*********************
T H E S W E D I S H M I N I S T R Y O F
F O R E I G N A F F A I R S D E P R I V E S T F F O F
I T S A N N U A L O R G A N I S A T I O N A L G R A N T -
A N D D I S T R I B U T E S M I L L I O N S
W I T H O U T D O C U M E N T A T I O N
Lund, Sweden - May 27, 2000
Breaking News
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
For the past nine years, TFF has received an annual organisational grant
from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This year, however, the
Ministry has withdrawn this support with immediate effect and without
prior consultation or explanation. The aim seems to be to silence an
independent, critical voice in the field of international conflict
management.
TFF is the only non-governmental centre of peace and security research
in Sweden. It is also the only one in the field of research and
information whose funding has been cut to zero. Since 1991 TFF has
built an internationally respected competence, with particular regard to
the Balkans.
In a period when Sweden's engagement in the Balkans is larger than ever,
with a Swedish battalion in Kosovo/a and considerable aid programs to
that province as well as to Bosnia and the Stability Pact, one would
believe that an organisation such as TFF would have its grant increased
in order to contribute more effectively with comprehensive analyses and
views concerning the fields of peacebuilding and reconciliation.
The organisational support is given to some 15 NGOs in Sweden to secure
continuity and a broad debate about international affairs. No strings
shall be attached. The annual grant TFF has received hitherto is a small
one in the larger scheme of things: a bit more than US$ 30.000. This is
a lot, however, for the foundation; it pays rent, copying,
telecommunication, paper, website maintenance, library, newsletter and
pays helpers on an hourly basis. Some 60 experts and NGO leaders make up
TFF's global network.
All funds raised are used directly for activities. The foundation is
not-for-profit and runs on considerable idealism as no one associated
with it is permanently employed or has a permanent salary. This also
applies to the founders, Christina Spännar and Jan Oberg.
Decision-making minutes postdated, "not public document"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
A Preparatory Committee appointed by the Ministry processes the annual
applications and recommends to the minister how to allocate the funds;
it shall that no political considerations influence who gets how much.
But it is the minister/government which finalises the decision. For the
year 2000, some 10 million Swedish kronor (a little more than 1 million
US$) was granted to 15 NGOs, movements, institutes and foundations.
As TFF was dropped, its chairman requested a copy of the minutes from
the Preparatory Committee meeting at which the fatal recommendation was
made. For reply the Ministry sent a "memorandum" (promemoria) dated five
weeks after the meeting took place, informing us that the PrepCom
recommendations were regarded as personal memory notes, not archived and
not considered public documents.
- Indeed, it is a spicy story that the Ministry hands out money without
keeping dated records of the official decision making process. Without
such documentation, it is impossible to maintain and prove that the
PrepCom is independent and that there is no ministerial rule or other
political pressure or lobbying, says TFF director Jan Oberg. One
hypothesis I have after my conversations with various parties is that
someone has told the PrepCom something to the effect: here you have 100
dollars to allocate to 5 organisations, however four shall have 25
dollars each - and TFF is the fifth.
- I have a hard time believing it when high-level ministerial staff tell
me that TFF lost its grant because the ministry has to reduce costs.
Other NGOs got what they had last year, some even more. The Ministry can
convince nobody that the Swedish government which pours out billions of
dollars on military security and other research institutes could not
find this tiny sum, if it had the slightest respect for or appreciated
TFF's work. Punishment for criticism of Sweden's, the European Union's
and NATO's policies?
- The cut is incomprehensible if you take into account that the
foundation works idealistically for the values and principles you find
in analyses and policy papers from the Ministry itself: conflict
analysis, early warning, violence prevention, negotiations, civil
policies and initiatives for civil society, assertion of the rights of
small countries, emphasis on international law and respect for the norms
and the Charter of the UN.
- But, of course, almost 20 TFF associates around the world voiced
criticism of the international community's (and Sweden's) handling of
the Yugoslav-Kosovo conflict last year. TFF's network, website and TFF
PressInfos served as a leading source of information and debate. CNN and
hundreds of media turned to us for comments. We no doubt influenced the
views of quite a few people.
- Currently, the Swedish government is aiming for a systematic
adaptation to and acquiescence with the European Union as well as with
NATO/the US. When many countries are forced to adopt the same foreign
and security policy - which is predominantly decided anyhow by the
larger players - ruling circles presumably find that independent,
alternative analyses and proposals are more or less of a nuisance - also
for Sweden's image abroad.
- Be this as it may, we perceive the Ministry's decision as a proof that
we have a non-negligible impact in Sweden and abroad to such an extent
that the Ministry evidently seeks to stop our activity. That won't
happen. If ruling circles are permitted to step-by-step limit pluralism
in analyses and debates about these extremely important issues, we will
end up in a dangerous silliness called the 'policy of the only way' -
which is incompatible with any concept of democracy. There is never only
one way to go. So, if governments behave like that, it is the duty of
non-governmental organisations to speak up. If they don't they become
near-governmental instead, politically correct and part of the problem,
not the solution.
- In fact, continues Jan Oberg, there is hardly anything strange about
this type of authoritarian rule. If you don't like the message, kill the
messenger! We are for non-violence and peace by peaceful means, so is
the UN and many others whose influence is reduced these years.
Throughout history advocates of nonviolence have been threatened and
some - like Gandhi and Luther King - have been eliminated for that
commitment.
- Hundreds of billions of dollars are allocated worldwide to violence,
to killing and maiming. The sad misproportions between the forces of
peace and those of violence are also upheld by Sweden: its battalion in
Kosovo costs 3 times more than its contribution to the UNHCR as a whole;
it's support for Swedish peace NGOs makes up a 3-4 thousands (0/00) of
its national military defence budget. And its development aid as
percentage of GNP is falling while its per capita arms export remains
very high.
Background to TFF - and a positive end note
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This Lund-based foundation, established in 1986, has become
internationally respected for its work to promote nonviolent
conflict-resolution, particularly for its analyses, mitigation and
mediation and peace education efforts in all part of former Yugoslavia
since 1991.
It has cooperated with governmental and non-governmental organisations
including the UN, the European Council, the Swedish International
Development Authority (SIDA) as well as with dozens of local and
international NGOs and university centres. It has some 60 experts and
NGO leaders in its global network. It's first report about Kosovo was
published in 1992, Preventing War in Kosovo.
In 1996 it published the result of four years of mediation between
Belgrade and Kosovo. Today it works with the Institute for International
Policy and Economics in Belgrade and trains former KLA soldiers in the
Kosovo Protection Corps, a UN/KFOR program operated by the International
Organisation for Migration.
TFF has conducted some 40 missions, interviewed more than 3000 people in
all the conflicts, conducted seminars with ethnically mixed youth, NGO
and women's groups in Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia and is
supervising a project in Eastern Slavonia, Croatia, initiated by TFF
after the departure of the UN from that region.
Last year it developed a peace and reconciliation training plan for the
Burundian Ministry of Education, to be implemented as soon as Nelson
Mandela has succeeded in mediating a peace agreement.
Over the years it has also conducted analyses in Georgia, Abkhasia and
South Ossetia. Its networkers have published some 60 TFF books and
reports and contributed articles to as many and hundreds of articles,
among them to the UN 50th Anniversary book, to the World Bank, CNN, the
Carter Centre, textbooks, international conferences etc.
- We'll find a way, we have many supporters, says Jan Oberg. We are
going to disappoint those who want TFF to close shop. But it is a bit
hard to face the fact that not only do genuine peace workers have to
struggle hard for peace, we also have to struggle to keep alive and
waste time and energy that could have been devoted to those most in
need. - But let's look at the bright side of life: isn't it encouraging
that idealism, Gandhianism and nonviolent thinking put together in a
shoestring operation like TFF seems to be so frightening in the eyes of
ruling elites?
© TFF 2000
Please reprint, copy, archive, quote or re-post this item, but please
retain the source.
---
On http://www.transnational.org from May 31, 2000
Please forward this to someone you think would like to receive the TFF
PressInfos;
to subscribe send a request to <TFF@...>
T F F P r e s s I n f o # 9 5
*********************
A C T I O N R E Q U E S T -
S U P P O R T T F F
Lund, Sweden - May 31, 2000
From the founders, Christina Spannar and Jan Oberg:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
- We are really moved by all the support letters we have received in
response to PressInfo 94 in which we told you that the Swedish Ministry
of Foreign Affairs has withdrawn its organisational support for the
foundation with no prior consultation, no explanation and no
documentation but with immediate effect.
To those who worry: we will not close down. TFF means too much to too
many.
But the transition period will be tough. We will find ways to fly in the
future...
Most of you ask what you can do to help us now the Ministry of Foreign
has withdrawn its support.
We think the best you can do to help TFF is to:
1. MAKE A DONATION
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
We serve people who want to practise non-violent conflict-resolution. We
help people in conflicts and war.
Our dream has always been to be as people-financed as possible. You can
help us by making a donation.
If 350 people each donate 100 US$ - or 1500 donate 25 US$ - you have
replaced the ministry's grant!
Tell others!
Go straight to: http://www.transnational.org/tff/friendfm.html
or click the cash register on
http://www.transnational.org/sitemap.html.
2. WRITE TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Minister of Foreign Affairs Anna Lindh
E-mail: registrator@...
(write "Attention, the Minister")
Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Jan Eliasson
E-mail: jan.eliasson@...
Other relevant individuals and departments:
anders.bjurner@...
sven-olof.petersson@...
lars-hjalmar.wide@...
ud@...
ud-gs@foreign. ministry.se
Postal address, the same for all
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
S - 103 39 Stockholm, Sweden
Fax +46 (0)8-723 11 76
Phone: +46 (0)8-405 54 60 or 405 10 00
E-mail: registrator@...
3. WRITE TO SWEDISH PARLIAMENTARIANS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Here is a list of selected MPs in Stockholm who have already been
informed about the situation and may need your support to put pressure
on the government:
Email: carina.hagg@..., lars.ohly@...,
yvonne.ruwaida@..., marianne.andersson@...,
karl-goran.biorsmark@..., holger.gustafsson@...,
birger.schlaug@..., birgitta.ahlqvist@...,
lars.angstrom@..., berndt.ekholm@...
Letters
To the MPs - their names are the ones before the @domain above. Thus,
e.g.:
Carina Hagg
Riksdagen (The Parliament)
100 12 Stockholm, Sweden
4. WRITE TO THE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
This Committee of the Swedish parliament's is chaired by Ms. Viola
Furubjelke <viola.furubjelke@...>
Postal address: Riksdagen, 100 12 Stockholm
We would appreciate a copy sent to TFF.
5. TELL OTHERS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Circulate this action request, perhaps with excerpts from our PressInfo
- on your website
- in your organisation's Newsletter
- announce it in your e-group and network
- suggest that sympathisers write to the minister
Thank you very very much.
Yours truly
Christina Spannar & Jan Oberg
Founders
© TFF 2000
Please reprint, copy, archive, quote or re-post this item, but please
retain the source.
---
Dear media, policy-makers, NGOs, TFF friends and associates, link
partners, OneWorld, and others around the world.
TFF P e a c e B r o w s e r alerts you to
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
a) analyses by TFF associates;
b) analyses and columns by others;
c) texts of important agreements, and
d) TFF's "WIRE"
- thinkpieces: a selection of the best critical and constructive
materials on global developments;
- a service that SAVES A LOT OF YOUR TIME since we have browsed the
Internet for you.
Latest news & highlights on the site
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit http://www.transnational.org/sitemap.html
or http://www.transnational.org/new/index.html
TFF PressInfo # 95
ACTION REQUEST - Support TFF
TFF PressInfo # 94
The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deprives TFF of Its Annual
Organisational Grant - and Allocates Millions
without Documentation
TFF PressInfo # 94 (in Swedish)
UD slopar stöd till TFF - och fördelar miljoner utan redovisning
Petter Larsson, Arbetets ledaresida 26 maj 2000
Mot en snävare debatt - om TFF och den svenska debatten
Jonathan Power
Clinton WILL miss his historic opportunity at Moscow Summit
Daisaku Ikeda, TFF associate, Pres. Soka Gakkai International
Peace Through Dialogue: A Time to Talk - Thoughts on a Culture of Peace
Sören Sommelius, TFF associate
Oh What a Lovely War!
Evelin G. Lindner, TFF associate
Love, Holocaust, and Humiliation
Ken Coates, TFF associate
Will This Be the Short Millennium? - on the Russian nuclear strategy
Jonathan Power, TFF associate
In Sierra Leone the UN is Battling for Itself
Jonathan Power, TFF associate
Forthcoming Elections in Peru and Mexico Will Not Clarify Latin
America's Direction
Since we don't think we are perfect, you'll see improvements on the site
from one visit to the next!
Yours,
TFF
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
Dr. Jan Oberg
Director, head of the TFF Conflict-Mitigation team
to the Balkans and Georgia
T F F
Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research
Vegagatan 25, S - 224 57 Lund, Sweden
Phone +46-46-145909 (0900-1100)
Fax +46-46-144512
Email
tff@...
http://www.transnational.org
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
(TFF), che ha sede in Svezia [ http://www.transnational.org ],
si e' vista tagliare i fondi statali dal Ministero degli esteri svedese
- che pure elargisce cifre consistenti ad organizzazioni non-governative
anche in assenza di adeguata documentazione - e rischia cosi' di dover
interrompere la sua attivita'.
La motivazione e' chiaramente politica, visto che la TFF e' molto attiva
nella analisi e prevenzione dei conflitti nello scenario balcanico, dove
si e' guadagnata un ruolo di primo piano tra le tante organizzazioni
straniere presenti, la maggior parte delle quali dimostrano di avere
solo un ruolo "ancillare" alla penetrazione occidentale nell'area.
Viceversa, la TFF ha avuto il coraggio di vedere e far vedere il ruolo
perverso troppo spesso giocato dalle organizzazioni internazionali
(OSCE, UE, NATO, ecc.), parlandone ad esempio nel recente opuscolo
"Preventing Peace" (Prevenire la pace) nel quale vengono elencati una
sessantina di episodi in cui la "comunita' internazionale" ha
letteralmente cecchinato possibilita' di interruzione dei conflitti
oppure ha aggravato pesantemente la situazione sul campo, fino a
diventare essa stessa parte in conflitto. L'opuscolo, in inglese, si
puo' ordinare seguendo le istruzioni riportate sul sito della TFF.
Alla TFF va tutto il nostro sostegno morale... Quello materiale,
purtroppo, non siamo in grado di offrirlo. I mezzi in tal senso, ahinoi,
ce li ha solo la controparte.
Coordinamento Romano per la Jugoslavia, giugno 2000
---
On http://www.transnational.org from May 27, 2000
Please forward this to someone you think would like to receive the TFF
PressInfos;
to subscribe send a request to <TFF@...>
T F F P r e s s I n f o # 9 4
*********************
T H E S W E D I S H M I N I S T R Y O F
F O R E I G N A F F A I R S D E P R I V E S T F F O F
I T S A N N U A L O R G A N I S A T I O N A L G R A N T -
A N D D I S T R I B U T E S M I L L I O N S
W I T H O U T D O C U M E N T A T I O N
Lund, Sweden - May 27, 2000
Breaking News
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
For the past nine years, TFF has received an annual organisational grant
from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This year, however, the
Ministry has withdrawn this support with immediate effect and without
prior consultation or explanation. The aim seems to be to silence an
independent, critical voice in the field of international conflict
management.
TFF is the only non-governmental centre of peace and security research
in Sweden. It is also the only one in the field of research and
information whose funding has been cut to zero. Since 1991 TFF has
built an internationally respected competence, with particular regard to
the Balkans.
In a period when Sweden's engagement in the Balkans is larger than ever,
with a Swedish battalion in Kosovo/a and considerable aid programs to
that province as well as to Bosnia and the Stability Pact, one would
believe that an organisation such as TFF would have its grant increased
in order to contribute more effectively with comprehensive analyses and
views concerning the fields of peacebuilding and reconciliation.
The organisational support is given to some 15 NGOs in Sweden to secure
continuity and a broad debate about international affairs. No strings
shall be attached. The annual grant TFF has received hitherto is a small
one in the larger scheme of things: a bit more than US$ 30.000. This is
a lot, however, for the foundation; it pays rent, copying,
telecommunication, paper, website maintenance, library, newsletter and
pays helpers on an hourly basis. Some 60 experts and NGO leaders make up
TFF's global network.
All funds raised are used directly for activities. The foundation is
not-for-profit and runs on considerable idealism as no one associated
with it is permanently employed or has a permanent salary. This also
applies to the founders, Christina Spännar and Jan Oberg.
Decision-making minutes postdated, "not public document"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
A Preparatory Committee appointed by the Ministry processes the annual
applications and recommends to the minister how to allocate the funds;
it shall that no political considerations influence who gets how much.
But it is the minister/government which finalises the decision. For the
year 2000, some 10 million Swedish kronor (a little more than 1 million
US$) was granted to 15 NGOs, movements, institutes and foundations.
As TFF was dropped, its chairman requested a copy of the minutes from
the Preparatory Committee meeting at which the fatal recommendation was
made. For reply the Ministry sent a "memorandum" (promemoria) dated five
weeks after the meeting took place, informing us that the PrepCom
recommendations were regarded as personal memory notes, not archived and
not considered public documents.
- Indeed, it is a spicy story that the Ministry hands out money without
keeping dated records of the official decision making process. Without
such documentation, it is impossible to maintain and prove that the
PrepCom is independent and that there is no ministerial rule or other
political pressure or lobbying, says TFF director Jan Oberg. One
hypothesis I have after my conversations with various parties is that
someone has told the PrepCom something to the effect: here you have 100
dollars to allocate to 5 organisations, however four shall have 25
dollars each - and TFF is the fifth.
- I have a hard time believing it when high-level ministerial staff tell
me that TFF lost its grant because the ministry has to reduce costs.
Other NGOs got what they had last year, some even more. The Ministry can
convince nobody that the Swedish government which pours out billions of
dollars on military security and other research institutes could not
find this tiny sum, if it had the slightest respect for or appreciated
TFF's work. Punishment for criticism of Sweden's, the European Union's
and NATO's policies?
- The cut is incomprehensible if you take into account that the
foundation works idealistically for the values and principles you find
in analyses and policy papers from the Ministry itself: conflict
analysis, early warning, violence prevention, negotiations, civil
policies and initiatives for civil society, assertion of the rights of
small countries, emphasis on international law and respect for the norms
and the Charter of the UN.
- But, of course, almost 20 TFF associates around the world voiced
criticism of the international community's (and Sweden's) handling of
the Yugoslav-Kosovo conflict last year. TFF's network, website and TFF
PressInfos served as a leading source of information and debate. CNN and
hundreds of media turned to us for comments. We no doubt influenced the
views of quite a few people.
- Currently, the Swedish government is aiming for a systematic
adaptation to and acquiescence with the European Union as well as with
NATO/the US. When many countries are forced to adopt the same foreign
and security policy - which is predominantly decided anyhow by the
larger players - ruling circles presumably find that independent,
alternative analyses and proposals are more or less of a nuisance - also
for Sweden's image abroad.
- Be this as it may, we perceive the Ministry's decision as a proof that
we have a non-negligible impact in Sweden and abroad to such an extent
that the Ministry evidently seeks to stop our activity. That won't
happen. If ruling circles are permitted to step-by-step limit pluralism
in analyses and debates about these extremely important issues, we will
end up in a dangerous silliness called the 'policy of the only way' -
which is incompatible with any concept of democracy. There is never only
one way to go. So, if governments behave like that, it is the duty of
non-governmental organisations to speak up. If they don't they become
near-governmental instead, politically correct and part of the problem,
not the solution.
- In fact, continues Jan Oberg, there is hardly anything strange about
this type of authoritarian rule. If you don't like the message, kill the
messenger! We are for non-violence and peace by peaceful means, so is
the UN and many others whose influence is reduced these years.
Throughout history advocates of nonviolence have been threatened and
some - like Gandhi and Luther King - have been eliminated for that
commitment.
- Hundreds of billions of dollars are allocated worldwide to violence,
to killing and maiming. The sad misproportions between the forces of
peace and those of violence are also upheld by Sweden: its battalion in
Kosovo costs 3 times more than its contribution to the UNHCR as a whole;
it's support for Swedish peace NGOs makes up a 3-4 thousands (0/00) of
its national military defence budget. And its development aid as
percentage of GNP is falling while its per capita arms export remains
very high.
Background to TFF - and a positive end note
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This Lund-based foundation, established in 1986, has become
internationally respected for its work to promote nonviolent
conflict-resolution, particularly for its analyses, mitigation and
mediation and peace education efforts in all part of former Yugoslavia
since 1991.
It has cooperated with governmental and non-governmental organisations
including the UN, the European Council, the Swedish International
Development Authority (SIDA) as well as with dozens of local and
international NGOs and university centres. It has some 60 experts and
NGO leaders in its global network. It's first report about Kosovo was
published in 1992, Preventing War in Kosovo.
In 1996 it published the result of four years of mediation between
Belgrade and Kosovo. Today it works with the Institute for International
Policy and Economics in Belgrade and trains former KLA soldiers in the
Kosovo Protection Corps, a UN/KFOR program operated by the International
Organisation for Migration.
TFF has conducted some 40 missions, interviewed more than 3000 people in
all the conflicts, conducted seminars with ethnically mixed youth, NGO
and women's groups in Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia and is
supervising a project in Eastern Slavonia, Croatia, initiated by TFF
after the departure of the UN from that region.
Last year it developed a peace and reconciliation training plan for the
Burundian Ministry of Education, to be implemented as soon as Nelson
Mandela has succeeded in mediating a peace agreement.
Over the years it has also conducted analyses in Georgia, Abkhasia and
South Ossetia. Its networkers have published some 60 TFF books and
reports and contributed articles to as many and hundreds of articles,
among them to the UN 50th Anniversary book, to the World Bank, CNN, the
Carter Centre, textbooks, international conferences etc.
- We'll find a way, we have many supporters, says Jan Oberg. We are
going to disappoint those who want TFF to close shop. But it is a bit
hard to face the fact that not only do genuine peace workers have to
struggle hard for peace, we also have to struggle to keep alive and
waste time and energy that could have been devoted to those most in
need. - But let's look at the bright side of life: isn't it encouraging
that idealism, Gandhianism and nonviolent thinking put together in a
shoestring operation like TFF seems to be so frightening in the eyes of
ruling elites?
© TFF 2000
Please reprint, copy, archive, quote or re-post this item, but please
retain the source.
---
On http://www.transnational.org from May 31, 2000
Please forward this to someone you think would like to receive the TFF
PressInfos;
to subscribe send a request to <TFF@...>
T F F P r e s s I n f o # 9 5
*********************
A C T I O N R E Q U E S T -
S U P P O R T T F F
Lund, Sweden - May 31, 2000
From the founders, Christina Spannar and Jan Oberg:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
- We are really moved by all the support letters we have received in
response to PressInfo 94 in which we told you that the Swedish Ministry
of Foreign Affairs has withdrawn its organisational support for the
foundation with no prior consultation, no explanation and no
documentation but with immediate effect.
To those who worry: we will not close down. TFF means too much to too
many.
But the transition period will be tough. We will find ways to fly in the
future...
Most of you ask what you can do to help us now the Ministry of Foreign
has withdrawn its support.
We think the best you can do to help TFF is to:
1. MAKE A DONATION
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
We serve people who want to practise non-violent conflict-resolution. We
help people in conflicts and war.
Our dream has always been to be as people-financed as possible. You can
help us by making a donation.
If 350 people each donate 100 US$ - or 1500 donate 25 US$ - you have
replaced the ministry's grant!
Tell others!
Go straight to: http://www.transnational.org/tff/friendfm.html
or click the cash register on
http://www.transnational.org/sitemap.html.
2. WRITE TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Minister of Foreign Affairs Anna Lindh
E-mail: registrator@...
(write "Attention, the Minister")
Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Jan Eliasson
E-mail: jan.eliasson@...
Other relevant individuals and departments:
anders.bjurner@...
sven-olof.petersson@...
lars-hjalmar.wide@...
ud@...
ud-gs@foreign. ministry.se
Postal address, the same for all
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
S - 103 39 Stockholm, Sweden
Fax +46 (0)8-723 11 76
Phone: +46 (0)8-405 54 60 or 405 10 00
E-mail: registrator@...
3. WRITE TO SWEDISH PARLIAMENTARIANS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Here is a list of selected MPs in Stockholm who have already been
informed about the situation and may need your support to put pressure
on the government:
Email: carina.hagg@..., lars.ohly@...,
yvonne.ruwaida@..., marianne.andersson@...,
karl-goran.biorsmark@..., holger.gustafsson@...,
birger.schlaug@..., birgitta.ahlqvist@...,
lars.angstrom@..., berndt.ekholm@...
Letters
To the MPs - their names are the ones before the @domain above. Thus,
e.g.:
Carina Hagg
Riksdagen (The Parliament)
100 12 Stockholm, Sweden
4. WRITE TO THE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
This Committee of the Swedish parliament's is chaired by Ms. Viola
Furubjelke <viola.furubjelke@...>
Postal address: Riksdagen, 100 12 Stockholm
We would appreciate a copy sent to TFF.
5. TELL OTHERS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Circulate this action request, perhaps with excerpts from our PressInfo
- on your website
- in your organisation's Newsletter
- announce it in your e-group and network
- suggest that sympathisers write to the minister
Thank you very very much.
Yours truly
Christina Spannar & Jan Oberg
Founders
© TFF 2000
Please reprint, copy, archive, quote or re-post this item, but please
retain the source.
---
Dear media, policy-makers, NGOs, TFF friends and associates, link
partners, OneWorld, and others around the world.
TFF P e a c e B r o w s e r alerts you to
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
a) analyses by TFF associates;
b) analyses and columns by others;
c) texts of important agreements, and
d) TFF's "WIRE"
- thinkpieces: a selection of the best critical and constructive
materials on global developments;
- a service that SAVES A LOT OF YOUR TIME since we have browsed the
Internet for you.
Latest news & highlights on the site
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit http://www.transnational.org/sitemap.html
or http://www.transnational.org/new/index.html
TFF PressInfo # 95
ACTION REQUEST - Support TFF
TFF PressInfo # 94
The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deprives TFF of Its Annual
Organisational Grant - and Allocates Millions
without Documentation
TFF PressInfo # 94 (in Swedish)
UD slopar stöd till TFF - och fördelar miljoner utan redovisning
Petter Larsson, Arbetets ledaresida 26 maj 2000
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Clinton WILL miss his historic opportunity at Moscow Summit
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Oh What a Lovely War!
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Love, Holocaust, and Humiliation
Ken Coates, TFF associate
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Jonathan Power, TFF associate
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Jonathan Power, TFF associate
Forthcoming Elections in Peru and Mexico Will Not Clarify Latin
America's Direction
Since we don't think we are perfect, you'll see improvements on the site
from one visit to the next!
Yours,
TFF
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
Dr. Jan Oberg
Director, head of the TFF Conflict-Mitigation team
to the Balkans and Georgia
T F F
Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research
Vegagatan 25, S - 224 57 Lund, Sweden
Phone +46-46-145909 (0900-1100)
Fax +46-46-144512
tff@...
http://www.transnational.org
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
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