Participants in "Books or Bombs" Seminar Call for Peaceful Approaches to International Conflict Settlement
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Alexandria—
Ambassador Ali Maher, Director of the Institute for Peace Studies (IPS) of the Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement (SMWIPM), hosted at the BA on Sunday, 11 November 2007, the annual seminar entitled "Books or Bombs? Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development", organized in cooperation with the International Peace Bureau (IPB), and attended by several dignitaries from the world.
In his opening speech, Ambassador Ali Maher, stated that the world today is swarming with disputes and conflicts, and that security should be attained by means of peace and provision of basic humanitarian needs within a certain society and not by power. He stressed that economic, political, social, and educational development eventually lead to harmonious relationships between peoples of the world, and eliminate poverty, which is the main reason behind violence.
Ambassador Maher referred to the issue of military spending, which amounted to US$ 1200 milliard in 2006—20 times the amount spent on developmental purposes, and called for military spending reduction against the allocations for sustainable development.
Ambassador Maher stated that disarmament could have several economic benefits, resulting in a new age of social and economic prosperity, and a more secure world.
Tomas Magnusson, IPB President, stated that the world is now facing a deteriorated situation regarding peace and security, adding that the IPB issued last week two statements on the Iranian Nuclear file and the steps taken by some countries in the Security Council in this respect; and the state of emergency declared in Pakistan.
Magnusson stressed the importance of solving the Iranian nuclear file by means of negotiations and via diplomatic channels. He added that the Iranian people should be reassured that the Islamic Republic of Iran would not be attacked by any country, referring to the settlement of the North Korean nuclear issue by peaceful means. Magnusson condemned what he called "coup against democracy" by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, and claimed the release of activists in the field of human rights, civil societies, lawyers, and media men. He called upon President Musharraf to lift the state of emergency and apply the constitution and the law.
Dr. Talaat Abdel Malek, Economic Consultant, Egyptian Ministry of International Cooperation, on behalf of Minister Dr. Fayza Abu El-Naga, congratulated the IPS and the BA on this crucial event and added that the only alternative for conflicts is negotiations. Dr. Abdel Malek stated that poverty is the main cause leading to increase of violence and terrorism, and recommended paying more attention to eradicate the roots of the problem, and enforcing disarmament to achieve peace and sustainable development.
As part of the seminar, Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala, IPB Honorary President, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs was awarded Sean Macbride Prize, which is a special prize awarded every year by the IPB to a person or organization that accomplished outstanding work for peace, disarmament or human rights.