The 18th International Munich Peace Conference 2020 is cancelled!!!
Communication to the media 16.1.2020
Cancellation of the International Munich Peace Conference 2020
Our intention with the 2020 conference was, among other things, to publicize and discuss the “Rethinking Security” scenario. The concept describes a political strategy on how Germany’s security can be achieved without a military.
In recent days, the accusation of anti-Semitism against the organizers of the peace conference has been raised implicitly and explicitly in the media. We have since firmly rejected these accusations and insinuations. Nevertheless, we had to fear a further escalation of the campaign against our event in the coming weeks.
We do not see ourselves in a position to carefully prepare the events of the International Munich Peace Conference, and at the same time and in a timely manner to comment on the many articles and comments in the media.
In the current situation, we cannot take responsibility for the safety of the speakers and participants. In our view, the trouble-free running of the event is no longer guaranteed
The supporting group of the Peace Conference has therefore decided to cancel the Peace Conference 2020 and today informed the Lord Mayor, Dieter Reiter, of the following:
- The main reason (for the cancellation) is the events surrounding the greeting by Councilman Marian Offman. We do not have the capacity to prepare for the peace conference and at the same time resolve this conflict satisfactorily for all.
- We see the integrity for all participants in the peace conference no longer guaranteed.
- We regret that our behavior was seen as an affront by you (Mr. Reiter) and Mr. Offman.
- We would also like to emphasize that prior to this decision (i.e. to cancel the conference) we had already decided to accept the city’s offer and have Mr. Offman deliver the city’s greetings.
It is not easy for us to cancel the event because the annual constructive contribution for peace and justice is important to us.
Yours sincerely, on behalf of the sponsoring group Gudrun Haas, Thomas Rödl
This statement was coordinated with the following groups of the sponsoring group:
Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft- Vereinigte KriegsdienstgegnerInnen, Landesverband Bayern;
pax christi in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising;
Natural Scientists’ Initiative Responsibility for Peace and Sustainability;
Network Peace Tax Bavaria Region;
Project Group “Changing the Munich Security Conference” e.V.;
Sunday Feb. 9, 11:30 a.m. Religious Peace Prayer. St. Anna Parish Hall (at Lehel subway station)
Jews, Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Bahai pray together for peace
Communication of the sponsoring group from 6.1. 2020:
At the beginning of 2019, Clemens Ronnefeldt, long-time moderator of the International Forum and Peace Advisor at the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, has been entrusted with his own series on Transparenz TV entitled “Peace Issues with Clemens Ronnefeldt,” for which he will produce a 45-minute interview every week.
In addition to his other duties for the Fellowship of Reconciliation, it was no longer possible for him in terms of time to continue as moderator of the International Munich Peace Conference, so that last year he told the preparatory team to look for a successor, who was found in Gerd Bauz.
At the 2020 conference, Clemens Ronnefeldt will be bid farewell.
planned focus of the cancelled 2020 Peace Conference:
Rethinking security – from military to civil security policy
a complete shift from military to civil security policy is possible – this is shown by a corresponding scenario of the Protestant regional church in Baden.
The scenario invites us to imagine a future in which we invest 80 billion euros per year in civilian crisis prevention instead of in the Bundeswehr. This is based on instruments of civil prevention that have already been tested and implemented, equitable economic activity, the promotion of sustainable development in the Middle East and Africa, and an economic and security partnership with Russia or the Eurasian Economic Union.
For example, the OSCE could be expanded into a police security organization for Europe, and the Bundeswehr could be completely transformed into a technical aid organization.
The scenario shows how we can consistently develop proven instruments of nonviolent crisis prevention and open ourselves to the possibility of an active nonviolent security policy. And it describes how a joint campaign by civil society and the churches could prepare for corresponding federal parliamentary resolutions in 2025 and 2035.
On Friday evening, Ralf Becker, project coordinator of the Evangelical Regional Church in Baden, will present the scenario and the planned campaign to implement it, which has been prepared by a 15-member team from 14 organizations since 2019.
Police forces in the “Security Rethinking” concept (Snd)
The current round on 15.2. is to deal more intensively with one aspect of the “Rethinking Security” scenario. The concept is to build the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) into a security organization that has police forces. These should be constantly operational and assertive. UN peacekeeping missions should generally be organized as police operations. These UN police forces are to be used in all cases of interstate conflict and crimes against humanity.
In its manifesto “Protecting Human Rights through Prevention,” the Munich Peace Conference Support Group outlined a concept for UN security forces.
http://www.friedenskonferenz.info/index.php?ID=50
There is much controversy in the peace movement about police forces in connection with the demand for the abolition of the military.
Furthermore, experiences with international police missions are to be brought into the discussion.
Greeting at the International Munich Peace Conference
Statements and communications on the cancellation of the peace conference
