Contents: Introductory Words

Kosovo Statements,  Discussion Lines,  Position Papers,  Action Drafts

Uwe Morawetz
Chairman of the Society of Founders of the International Peace University

Worldwide increasing ethnic, political, religious and social conflicts and the helplessness to respond to them without further stimulating the spiral of violence make clear to us: Peace is no natural good. It has to be constantly learned, experienced and elaborated anew.

Through a culture of dialogue which shall enable non-violent conflict solutions the Society of Founders of the International Peace University helps to initiate new forms of co-operation between science, politics, economy, culture, religion, and the media. With a pluralistic network it wants to develop instruments for encounter and models of communication for a creative approach to difference. The work of the Peace University goes beyond a strictly academic and scientific framework and addresses a general public to participate in and strengthen civil societies with socially responsible and ethical ways of acting.

The Vienna Peace Summit 1999, held with the support of the European Commission, the Austrian government, the municipal authority of Vienna and various national and international partners, brings together opinion leaders and youth to jointly develop non-violent strategies for the various areas of conflict in Europe. Six months prior to the event the participants have started the dialogue-oriented work to draft a discussion base of 1,200 pages about the Summit`s topics.

The Foundation for the International Peace University to be established on July 3, 1999, at the Imperial Palace shall guarantee the implementation of the Summit`s results and will focus it`s work on three major levels:
 

1. Individual level: Creative cultures of learning and continued education for all people through interdisciplinary study, training and research:
 
Therefore a semester shall be offered for personal orientation to seek an authentic link of profession and vocation and to develop innovative forms of work that correspond to the talents and capacities of the individual and can be connected with an experience of sense. The semester will be held at the future US-campus of the International Peace University, the former 2nd world war ship "Golden Bear" based in Oakland/California, as well as at the future European campus, the former benedictine monastery "Abbaye de La Grasse" in the South of France founded by Charles the Great in 798.

2. Political level: Ethical action plans for governments, the European Commission and the United Nations:
 
A permanent Civil Societies Board of Experts for Creative Conflict Management shall be created to act as an "early warning system" offering intelligent conflict prevention and conflict solutions. It`s work shall be available and transparent for the public through the www and lead to the establishment of an independent media network promoting ethical values to contribute to peaceful transformations of conflict.

3. Networking level: Fostering new forms of co-operation between private and public institutions, unions, companies and governments:
 
The foundation shall act as a fundraising pool offering it`s network of organizations, Nobel laureates, artists and leaders in all parts of society to support peace and education projects of existing national and international institutions with funds, contacts and knowledge. It shall sensitize a broad public for the work of these institutions and will help to enable synergies as an independent mediator.
 

To implement the results of the Vienna Peace Summit 1999 the Foundation for the International Peace University will focus on a close co-operation with the 17 Nobel Peace Laureates who serve as the foundation`s common patrons and with the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan who will personally receive the results of the Summit on his visit to Vienna on July 18, 1999. We kindly invite everybody to contribute to the foundation`s work which effectiveness will depend on the support and commitment of many people from all walks of life.

For making the Vienna Peace Summit 1999 possible I thank all participants, presenters and artists who waive their honorarium for the benefit of the event, all sponsors and partners for their donations, the volunteers of the organizing staff who serve in an honorary capacity and all the Summit`s guests joining to step towards peace through a culture of dialogue in 1999 in Vienna.
 
 

Dr. Thomas Klestil
Federal President of the Republic of Austria

It is with great expectations that I look forward to the „Vienna Peace Talks 1999“, which will be attended by a large number of outstanding personalities and decision-makers in the political, scientific, economic and cultural fields and of various religious communities as well as the media. Well in advance of this event I extend to all participants a warm welcome to Vienna.

The search for peace has become particularly urgent in the light of the recent hostilities in Yugoslavia and the killing and ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. This terrible catastrophe in South-Eastern Europe has made it also clear that we have not yet succeeded, even after the great changes of 1989, in securing permanent peace in Europe.

Your general topic „Vision Europe – Strategies of Change“ raises perspectives of vital significance on the eve of the new millennium and in a crucial phase of growth of the new, larger and more peaceful Europe. The vast majority of people in Europe want to live together in peace regardless of national borders, they cherish the value of our many different cultures and traditions, they welcome the opportunity for cross-cultural encounters and they ask for sharing more fairly the goods of this Earth. Only through a real dialogue for peace, where everyone listens to what the others have to say and where all jointly search for solutions, will „Vision Europe“ become reality.

I am delighted to see that you have succeeded to include the Austrian federal capital in the great tradition of the Potsdam Peace Talks and I wish the „Vienna Peace Talks 1999“ every success.
 

Victor Klima
Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria

Peace is the ultimate goal of any statesmanship. In this context, "peace" does not merely mean the absence of war, but rather a condition founded upon mutual understanding, acceptance, and tolerance. The more fairness, solidarity, and understanding a society possesses, the more peacefully and prosperously it can develop. In Austria as well as in the European Union this concept dominates the actions of those politically responsible. This is why fighting against the unjust and intolerable state of unemployment has become the most pressing goal of our endeavours.

Above all, however, peace necessitates dialogue. For without dialogue there can be no mutual understanding. The events in our immediate vicinity of former Yugoslavia dramatically bring home to us just how fragile and delicate peaceful coexistence is. It is going to take a long and intensive dialogue among the conflicting parties in order to reach at least a stable condition of mutual tolerance. Difficult though this dialogue may be, it is nonetheless the only option for all those involved.

As Chancellor of Austria it fills me with great pleasure and satisfaction to have the peace talks of 1999 take place in Vienna. The Austrian capital, and, indeed, Austria as a whole, can look back on a long and successful history of peace negotiations and conflict prevention. The title of the conference "Vision Europe - Strategies of Change", the  contents presented, and especially the list of highly distinguished participants, all provide me with the assurance that innovative strategies and ideas will encourage peaceful coexistence and cooperation throughout Europe and beyond.

I would like to wish all participants and organizers of this extremely beneficial conference much success.
 

Dr. Michael Häupl
Mayor of Vienna

Over the past decades the Austrian capital has seen a remarkable development
to becoming a place of international meeting. Vienna today is one of the three
UN Centers, seat of more than forty international organizations and institutions, as well as one of the most important conference and congress places worldwide. The Danube metropolis in the heart of Central Europe perceives itself as place of rapprochement and dialogue between East and West, between North and South, between people of all colours and origins, irrespective of race or religion. This makes Vienna a city of peace –
even from a historical perspective: Here is where Bertha von Suttner, pioneer of
international peace negotiations, lived and worked. Her work "Die Waffen Nieder"
(Weapons Down), which has been translated into several languages, and which
is disturbingly topical even today, won her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1905.
The spirit of this great personage continues to live on in this city.

In this sense I would like to welcome all participants of the Vienna peace talks of 1999 to the Austrian capital. May the talks prove to be a step in the direction of a more peaceful future, where people might be spared from the turmoils and suffering of wars such as have occurred in this – now concluding - century.