Press release dated February 1, 2023
Munich Security Conference chief Heusgen: Escalation of the war in Ukraine “would be in accordance with international law”
The sponsors of the International Munich Peace Conference, the alternative event to the Munich Security Conference with qualified content, are concerned about the rhetoric coming from circles associated with the Security Conference. “If the Ukrainians were to use weapons against military installations in Russia, this would be in accordance with international law,” Christoph Heusgen, head of the Security Conference, recently told the Bayern media group. He made no mention of the additional human suffering and destruction—including the potential use of nuclear weapons—that such an escalation of the war would entail. Peace Conference organizer Maria Feckl commented: “Heusgen is once again demonstrating the fundamental disregard for human security on the part of the organizers of the so-called ‘Security Conference.’”
Feckl also criticizes the lack of willingness to engage in nonviolent conflict resolution and diplomatic initiatives. According to Heusgen, no representative of the Russian government was invited to the security conference, allegedly so as not to provide them with a platform for propaganda. This means that no (informal) diplomatic talks between Russia and NATO countries or Ukraine are possible at the security conference, says Feckl. “Instead, Heusgen himself is engaging in propaganda by presenting it as an inevitable fact that Russia will attack the Baltic states next.”
“Unfortunately, this rigid militarism once again confirms the necessity of the demonstration against the ‘Security Conference’ and the alternative event, the International Munich Peace Conference,” said Feckl. “At this year’s peace conference, representatives of civil society (including Last Generation) will have the opportunity to contrast their political priorities with the war course and arms race mania of the ‘insecurity conference.’” In addition, there will be a workshop on the concept of social defense, as well as lectures on war interests and war narratives in Afghanistan and Ukraine.
More information at www.friedenskonferenz.info
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Contact:Maria R. Feckl, Project Manager, Munich International Peace Conference, and local contact person, Mobile: +49 (0)160 97 50 20 28, E-mail: office@friedenskonferenz.info
Organizations in the supporting group:
DFG-VK
pax christi Diocese of Munich and Freising e.V.
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War / Physicians in Social Responsibility e.V. (IPPNW)
Greenpeace e.V.
MSKverändern e.V.
Peace Tax Network
NatWiss Responsibility for Peace and Sustainability e.V.
Helmut-Michael-Vogel Bildungswerk e.V.
IFFF International Women’s League for Peace and Freedom
