The International Humanist and Ethical Union deplores the intense inter-communal hatred and warfare that have been unleashed in the former states of Yugoslavia. We grieve at the senseless violence and bloodshed and the murder, rape and pillage of helpless women, men and children.

We wish to point out that much of the destructive hatred among Serbs, Croats and Bosnians has its roots in religious chauvinism, as three major faiths -- Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Islam -- vie for hegemony and power. Unfortunately, the mass media have not made it clear that religious animosities as well as nationalistic and ethnic passions are responsible for much of the hatred and that in the name of religious tradition, people often feel justified in murdering others. Many of these same people are now at war with each other had been living together in peace and harmony only a few short years ago. Yest when religious dogma and creed separate them they are prone to narrowly define individuals in terms of religious criteria.

This congress calls on the leaders and peoples of the states formerly known as Yugoslavia to cease their active hostilities and seek to resolve their religious and nationalistic differences through peaceful political means.

Cultural and ethnic diversity is a source of strength within society when differences are mediated by political processes. Such diversity and process are characteristic of the European democratic state. Alternative means of resolving conflict are unworkable, unacceptable, and impoverishing to the richness of society.

One of the main goals of the International Humanist & Ethical Union is the attempt to establish an honest and peaceful world.

Whereas in 1990 we were hopeful to reach this goal within a shorter period than expected, the developments in 1991 (Gulf War) and 1992 (Chaos in the Commonwealth of Independent States and in the Balkans) are cause for great concern.

To the Presidency of Yugoslavia

To the Presidency of Serbia

We have been informed that Mr Miodrag Milic was arrested on 25th July 1986 and is - as of 28th July 1986 - serving an eighteen month sentence.

The imprisonment of Mr. Miodrag Milic is in violation of the articles 166, 167 and 169 of Chapter 3 of the Constitution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

As the rights laid down in the articles of Chapter 3 of this Constitution are also to be found in the United Nations Covenant on Political and Civil Rights of which your country is a State Party, Mr Milic imprisonment constitutes a violation of this International Covenant.

The President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

On August 8, 1985 the Supreme Court of Serbia reduced the sentences against Miodrag Milic and Milan Nikolic to 1.1/2 years' and 8 months' imprisonment respectively. In spite of the more lenient character of this judgement, this act still continues the conflict for the realisation of the specific rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic (art. 166-169) and disregards international conventions (UN Charter, UN Declaration of Human Rights and the Helsinki Treaty).

The Honourable Cvitjetin Mijatovic, President
SFR Yugolsavia
The Presidency
Belgrade, Yugslovia

Dear Sir,

The IHEU wishes to register an emphatic protest against the treatment of one of its chairmen, Mihailo Markovic, and six of his fellow-professors at the University of Belgrade.

The institution of suspension and dismissal for political reasons is in contradiction with the international legal obligations of Yugoslavia, by signing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1975 Helsinki Covenant on Security and co-operation in Europe, and the Covenant of the International Confederation of Labour no. 111.

The Honourable Cvijetin Mijatovic
SFR Yugsloviva
The Presidency,
Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Dear Sir

We have just learned of the further actions taken with respect to our colleagues Mihailo Markovic, Ljubomir Tadic, Zagorka Golubovic, Svetozar Stojanovic, Miladin Zivotic, Dragoljub Micunovic, and Nebojsa Popov. These persons were, from our point of view, improperly suspended from teaching in 1975. As in the past, when we corresponded with President Tito, we call again to your attention the concern of the international Community with this matter. We do so because the rights and liberties of any person anywhere are a concern for all of us. Hence, we urge you to intervene in order that these seven teachers be restored to their classrooms and be granted the full rights of academic freedom and economic security which they ought to have.

The Marshall Josip Broz Tito, President of the Federal Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia

Mr. President

For the third time in two years I fell compelled to call upon you in defence of the Yugoslav tradition of socialism with self-government.

I had hoped that after the solution, reached to all appearance in last summer's consultations with the Philosophical Faculty at Belgrade, the conditions had been created for a fertile and constructive development Marxist humanism in your country. However, information which has reached me through the newspapers makes me fear that the socialist freedom, attributed to the social system in your country is no longer safeguarded. I need not repeat how this undermines the hope of many progressive people in the world and how this contributes to the doubts about the genuineness of the Yugoslav experiment.

This congress supports freedom of speech and ideas in the service of human progress. We deplore all attempts to restrict the development of the Humanist revolution and to impose orthodoxy of thought. We particularly regret the pressures and restriction put upon humanists in Yugoslavia. These have constituted a threat to the universal principle of academic freedom and have threatened to betray the basic Yugoslav principle of self-government.

The Marshall Josip Broz Tito,
President of the Federal Socialist Republics of Yugoslavia

Mr. President,

One year ago I wrote to you a letter expressing my concern about certain repressive measures that were undertaken during the Fall 1972 against some internationally known Yugoslav scholars and expressing my hope that you would see to it that Yugoslavia's reputation of a country that made impressive efforts to build up a new, more democratic form of socialism would not be damaged for any conceivable small, inner political gains.