Speech given by Heather Cottin at The Hague demonstration on June 28, 2003
I greet you today with solidarity from the International Action Center in New York, founded by Ramsey Clark.
This wonderful demonstration shows how important is international solidarity. We come here today from two continents to fight for truth and for the liberation of Slobodan Milosevic. We continue to struggle for the liberation from NATO/US occupation and oppression.
We are part of a world movement. Because we know that the illegal US invasion, bombing and occupation of Iraq really began with US/NATO destabilization, bombing and occupation of Yugoslavia.
My late husband, Sean Gervasi, died in Belgrade seven years ago. He
worked tirelessly in solidarity with the Serbian ...
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... is driven by . . . tensions between socialism and capitalism. . .
[but also] between independence and recolonization."
Yugoslavia, the Serbian people, and President Slobodan Milosevic tried to keep their economy, their independence, and to resist colonization, just as the Iraqi people are doing. This was their crime against United States hegemony-and they paid dearly.
The International Action Center worked hard in the 1990s to build solidarity
with Yugoslavia. My late husband worked ...
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... States guilty of violating international law and of crimes against
peace. We organized a march on Washington in June of 1999.
The IAC published three books on Yugoslavia, "NATO in the Balkans",
"Liars Poker" by Michel Collon and "Hidden Agenda ...
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... Committee to defend Slobodan Milosevic, the Pasti Foundation, the
PTB, the New Communist Party of the Netherlands and others.
In a recent interview in Junge Welt Ramsey Clark said, "People who want peace can't be taken in by propaganda that makes them think that by [demonizing people] you can find peace and human rights. You'll find instead war, injustice, and indignity."
It is against war, injustice and indignity that Slobodan Milosevic and those in solidarity with him stand today.
As the international anti-imperialist movement grows, we see millions rising up against war and occupation. This means we have work to do.
Already at a conference last month organized by the International Act
Now to Stop War and End racism (ANSWER) coalition ...
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... The people now understand the media lies. They are beginning to understand
U.S. militarism, globalization and imperialism.
The anti-imperialist movement must take up the cause of president Milosevic, must see how the demonization of the Serbian people only served the interests of U.S. hegemony. They need to see NATO as the military arm of globalization and privatization.
Slobodan Milosevic has alone put NATO in the dock! But he is not alone. We join with him against the illegal NATO court.
Tonight, in New York at the IAC, we are having a meeting in solidarity with this important demonstration. We are joined against all illegal wars and the occupation of Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Iraq.
Sloboda means freedom! Yugoslavia!
Heather Cottin
International Action Center
NY, New York, USA