PRESS RELEASE 2000-03-23

One year after the bombing of Yugoslavia started, an appeal calling for an end to the sanctions against Yugoslavia was published in Sweden, signed by 70 prominent people, among them sportsmen, ex-ministers, bishops including the archbishop of Sweden, trade union presidents, members of parliament, scholars, representatives of the business community and from the cultural sector. In their appeal they point out the fact that those who suffer the most in Yugoslavia are old people and children but because reconstruction after the devastation is hampered, everybody in the population is suffering. They request the Swedish government to work for an end to the sanctions against Yugoslavia..

The appeal and the names follow.

Opinions and information: <erikgoethe@post.utfors.se>

“END SANCTIONS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA!

The sanctions against Yugoslavia have been going on for nearly ten years, inflicting tremendous supply problems and suffering upon the Yugoslav people, particularily after last year’s bombing raids. They now try to endure with small food rations, and lack of medicins and fuel. Those who suffer the most are old people and children, and because reconstruction after the devastation is hampered, everybody in the population is suffering. Yugoslavia also has to bear the heavy burden of taking care of one million refugees who have fled to the country as a consequence of the wars in the Balkan.

It is the traditional policy of Sweden to maintain normal inter state relations with all countries in agreement with the United Nation’s rules and decisions. That principle should apply also in relation to Yugoslavia.

The sanctions currently upheld against Yugoslavia are not decided by the United Nations. Sweden participates in these sanctions as decided by the Council of Ministers of the European Union.

Humanitarian reasons as well as efforts to create peaceful conditions in Europe, and respect for the UNO Charter make it urgent to re-establish normal relations with Yugoslavia in all fields.

We therefore request the Swedish government to work for an end to the sanctions against Yugoslavia..”

ROY ANDERSSON, film director
STEN ANDERSSON, MP (Moderate Party)
LENNART ASPEGREN, ex-judge of UNO war crimes tribunal
THORSTEIN BERGMAN, author, composer
ANDERS BJÖRNSSON, editor of “Samtider”, Svenska Dagbladet daily (indep. mod.)
LENNART BODSTRÖM, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs (Social Democratic Party) ambassador
TOMAS BOLME, actor, president of Swedish Actors’ Equity Association
AL BURKE, chairman Society for a Living Future
KNUT CARLQVIST, cultural editor Finanstidningen
CURT CARLSSON, reporter Arbetet daily
BICKY CHAKRABORTY, hotelière
ANNA CHRISTENSEN, professor of civil law
PETER CURMAN, author
MALTE ERIKSSON, president of the Sw. Graphic Workers’ Union
BJÖRN VON DER ESCH, MP (Christian Democratic Party)
GUNNAR FREDRIKSSON, author
JONAS DE GEER, editor of the Conservative Cultural Magazine Salt
GÖRAN GREIDER, chief editor of Dala-Demokraten daily (Soc. Dem.)
LOTTA GRÖNING, chief editor of Norrländska Socialdemokraten daily (Soc. Dem.)
JAN GUILLOU, author
BENGT GÖRANSSON, ex-minister of Cultural Affairs (Social Democratic Party)
JAN HAGBERG, chefaktuarie, Dr. of Technology
ROLF HAGEL, party leader (Swedish Communist Party), ex-MP
MOHSEN HAKIM, university teacher
BIRGITTA HAMBRAEUS, ex-MP (Centre Party)
K G HAMMAR, archbishop of the Swedish Church
PETER PAUL HEINEMAN, Dr. of Medicin, “Mr. radio doctor”
C H HERMANSSON, ex party leader (Left Party), ex-MP
TOM HEYMAN, MP (Moderate Party)
JOACHIM ISRAEL, professor emeritus
LENA ISRAEL, universitety lecturer
THURE JADESTIG, ex-MP (Social Democratic Party)
NINEL JANSSON, president of the Commercial Employees’ Union
REIDAR JÖNSSON, author
GUN KESSLE, artist, photographer
KALLE LARSSON, MP (Left Party)
CARL LIDBOM, ex-minister of Justice and Foreign affairs (Social Democratic Party) ambassador
SVEN-ERIC LIEDMAN, professor of science history
MARTIN LIND, bishop diocese of Linköping
JENNY LINDAHL, chairwomen of the Young Left,
TAGE LINDBOM, Dr. Phil.
TANJA LINDEBORG MP (Left Party), chairwomen of the Swedish Parliament Law Committee
KJELL MAGNUSSON, peace researcher
SAID MAHMOUDI, professor of international law
JAN MYRDAL, author
MARGARETA NORLIN, journalist
NEBOJSA NOVAKOVIC, football player AIK
ANDERS R. OLSSON, journalist, author
LARS OHLY, MP and party secretary (Left Party)
SUZANNE OSTEN, filmdirector, professor of the Dramatic Institute
DAG SANDAHL, assistant vicar
LASSE SANDLIN, sports columnist Aftonbladet daily
HARRY SCHEIN, managing director
BENGT SILFVERSTRAND, MP (Social Democratic Party)
RIGMOR STENMARK, MP (Centre Party)
MAJ-BRITT THEORIN, MEP (Social Democratic Party)
HANS TOLLIN, Preacher of the Royal Court
TORBJÖRN TÄNNSJÖ, professor of practical philosophy
CECILIA VENNERSTEN, singer
LJUBOMIR VRANJES, handball-player
DAN WAERN, 1500-m runner
HANS WAHLSTRÖM, president of the Swe. Transport Workers’ Union
MAJ WECHSELMAN, film director
KARIN WEGESTÅL, MP (Social Democratic Party)
SÖREN WIBE, professor of Forest Economy and ex-MEP (Social Dem.)
ERIK WIJK, author
CLAES-BERTIL YTTERBERG, bishop diocese of Västerås
MIRO ZALAR, track and field coach and ex-pole-vaulter
MARGARETA ZETTERSTRÖM, author
JAN ÖBERG, peace researcher, director Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research

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