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International chronology of the Radical Party: 1990 AUGUST - DECEMBER |
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1 AUGUST - USSR: Baku - Radical Association Office Ali Rasizade, Rouslan Sadirkhanov and Aleksandr Kabakov announce that they have founded a Radical Association in Baku, with offices at Iskenderov Street 4 2 AUGUST - Hungary: Budapest - Assembly At the assembly held by Hungarian Radicals it is decided to organize meetings with Croatian and Romanian members of the RP. 2 AUGUST - Yugoslavia: Zagreb - Gulf Crisis Demonstration held by Croatian Radicals against the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and for the freezing of economic relations with Baghdad. 5 AUGUST - Yugoslavia: Zagreb - Antimilitarism In the space of a few days over 4,000 signatures are collected on a petition, addressed to the Yugoslav Government, for the passing of a law legalizing civilian service as an alternative to military service. 8 AUGUST - Italy: Rome - Radio Radicale The Italian Parliament approves a law that recognizes Radio Radicale as an enterprise broadcasting information in the public interest and declares that it is eligible to receive from the State a financial contribution of 20 billion Lira, before the end of 1992. 10 AUGUST - Czechoslovakia - Petitions Signatures are collected in a number of prisons in Prague, Brno and Zdar, on five petitions concerning issues established at the 15 June seminar, and a sixth calling for the introduction of the "first past the post" electoral system in Czechoslovakia. 15 AUGUST - USSR: Moscow - Death Penalty The Association against the Death Penalty in Russia is founded with the active participation of Radicals Irina Podlesova, Assia Lachtchiver and Nadejda Bogatikova. Dedicated to Andrei Sakharov, the association will campaign for the abolition of the death penalty from Soviet law. 16 AUGUST - USSR: Moscow - Antimilitarism, Petition Irina Podlesova, Andrei Kousine and Feodor Tchoub set up the first table in the streets of Moscow to collect signatures on the petition for the recognition of the right to conscientious objection and for the introduction of an alternative civilian service. One hundred and eighty-two citizens from 78 cities sign the text addressed to the Supreme Soviet and to the Russian Soviet. 17 AUGUST - Czechoslovakia: Prague - Radical Association The Radical Association for the United States of Europe, with offices in Prague, is legally recognized. Jaromir Soukup is elected Secretary, and Richard Stockar, Treasurer. 23 AUGUST - Italy: Chamber of Deputies - Gulf Crisis Four amendments presented by Radicals are incorporated in the motion on the Gulf crisis, approved by the Chamber. The amendments call for a control of the sale of armaments by the European Community; the formulation of an EC oil policy; the convocation of the Intergovernmental Conference; the convocation of an extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament. 24 AUGUST - Italy: Rome - Esperanto Speaking at the Congress of the "Federazione Esperantista Italiana" (Italian Esperantist Federation), Marco Pannella proposes campaigning to have the European Commission accept, in an EC directive, the Esperantists' request to have Esperanto considered as a second language. 1 SEPTEMBER - USSR: "St. Petersburg" (formerly Leningrad) - Conference About one hundred people attend the Conference entitled "The Transnational Radical Party for Democracy and Human Rights". The President of the St. Petersburg Soviet, deputy Pavel Koshelev, takes part in the debate. Five petitions are presented for: a law recognizing the right to conscientious objection; the abolition of visas and free movement of persons; the protection of the environment; the abolition of the death penalty; and the exploration of the possibilities of a federalist Europe by the EC and Soviet Union. 1 SEPTEMBER - Italy: Rome - Gulf Crisis Demonstration with the slogan: "Stop Saddam Hussein with a Helsinki [Conference] for the Mediterranean and the Middle East". 2 SEPTEMBER - USSR: St. Petersburg - Human Rights Over 1,500 people from all over the world attend the Second International Conference on Human Rights (the first was organized by Solidarity and Wolnosc i Pokoj in Cracow in 1988), which was originally scheduled to take place in Vilnius, but subsequently banned by the Soviet authorities. A Radical delegation composed of Senator Lorenzo Strik-Lievers, Federal Councillor Marino Busdachin, Irina Podlesova, Nikolaj Khramov, Sasha Pronozin and Czechoslovakian Pavel Timco takes part in the proceedings, opened by Lithuanian President Landsberghis. Strik-Lievers argues that the rule of law is the key to democracy, not only in the Soviet Union but throughout the world. 4 SEPTEMBER - Hungary: Budapest - Meeting Ivanescu, Lensi and Dupuis meet with a delegation from the Romanian Environmentalist Humanist Party at the Radical headquarters, where they agree to collaborate on environmental and federalist projects at the European level. 5 SEPTEMBER - USSR: St. Petersburg - Human Rights Radicals take part in the closing demonstration of the International Conference on Human Rights, held outside the Winter Palace. A photo of the Radical banner appears in all the major newspapers. 5 SEPTEMBER - CUBA: Havana - Death Penalty At the UN Congress Against Crime, the delegation from the Italian Government proposes a three-year moratorium on executions throughout the world. "The proposal was a simple cover-up for the delay in the application of a previous parliamentary mandate," comments Federal Councillor Pietrosanti. 7 SEPTEMBER - EP: Strasbourg - Gulf Crisis In a letter signed by over 100 MEPs, Marco Pannella asks the President of the European Parliament to convene an extraordinary session and to pronounce itself on the Gulf crisis and on German unity in relation to the construction of the European Union. 17 SEPTEMBER - ITALY: Rome - Repression in Kosovo During a meeting of the Political Commission of the European Parliament with Giulio Andreotti, the then President of the EC, Marco Pannella asks the EC to intervene in favour of Kosovo which has been the object of fierce repression at the hands of the Serb Government, in the form of mass dismissals, isolation of villages, confiscation of food aid. 19 SEPTEMBER - Italy: Rome - Conference on Kosovo At a press conference Pannella cannot comprehend the harsh political repression exerted by the Serb Government on the miners who held strikes in Kosovo. "There is an increasing danger that the nationalistic policy implemented by the Government will result in Serb citizens being deprived of the few political and civil democratic liberties that are still formally granted to them." Pannella stresses the need to relaunch the Radical initiative on this front, and announces his forthcoming visit to Belgrade. 21 SEPTEMBER - Yugoslavia: Belgrade - Conference Belgrade Radicals organize a Conference at the Youth Centre, attended by Marco Pannella, film director Lazar Stojanovic, leader-writer Slobodan Lang, Vito Cesmadziski and Marino Busdachin of the RP Federal Council. MEP Pannella addresses over 200 people, stating "We are here to defend human rights in Kosovo...because we want a democratic Yugoslavia in the United States of Europe..." and we must "demand that dialogue be established, and put a stop to politics that are bringing Yugoslavia to the edge of destruction and civil war." 22 SEPTEMBER - YUGOSLAVIA: Belgrade - Press Conference Marco Pannella holds a press conference. 23 SEPTEMBER - Yugoslavia: Zagreb - Meetings A Radical delegation led by Pannella meets Drazen Budisa, President of the Croatian Social Liberal Party. 24 SEPTEMBER - Yugoslavia: Zagreb - Meetings Pannella, De Perlinghi, Cesmadziski, Rexhepi and Busdachin meet with leaders of the Party for Democratic Renewal - League of Croatian Communists, and with President Ivica Racan, Branko Caratan and Zdravko Tomac. Pannella proposes the setting up of "work meetings" between the RP and Slovenian and Croatian reformist parties (former communists), on the themes of the Yugoslavian Federation, human rights in Kosovo and on the process of constructing the United States of Europe. Racan and Caratan volunteer to follow up contacts. 26 SEPTEMBER - Italy: Rome - Gulf Crisis Radical deputies in the Chamber present an agenda engaging the Government to present a proposal at the next European Summit "to extend the competence of the EC and its organs in the areas of security and defence" and to ensure that the EC has a permanent representative at the UN Security Council. 28 SEPTEMBER - Luxembourg - Death Penalty On the initiative of Marco Taradash, the ACP-EEC Assembly passes a motion requesting a three-year moratorium on executions. 7 OCTOBER - USSR: Moscow - Antimilitarism Despite the ban imposed by local government, about a thousand young people demonstrate outside the Ministry of Defence, in favour of the bill on conscientious objection drafted by the RP and other organizations. Aleksandr Kalinin, deputy; Maria Kirbassova, President of the Mothers of Soldiers Committee; Andrei Issaiev, member of the Anarchist Labour Federation; and Dmitri Kuzmin, member of the Socialist Party, also take part. 9 OCTOBER - Europe: Various Capitals - Abortion in Poland Protests are staged outside the Polish embassies in Brussels, Budapest, Moscow, Prague and Rome, in support of Polish women and their right to abort and against recent proposals to restructure the Polish Senate. In Prague Radicals are supported by Nobel Literature Prize-winner Milosz Caslav, who was attending a reception in his honour at the Polish Embassy. 10 OCTOBER - USSR: Moscow - Antimilitarism Zolotuhin, deputy of the Supreme Soviet, presents the Radical bill for the right to conscientious objection and civilian service in Russia, in the Soviet. 10 OCTOBER - URSS: Moscow - Civil Rights Evgenia Debranskaja, leader of the Libertarian Party and RP Federal Councillor, organizes a demonstration for the civil rights of prostitutes, in particular the right to medical aid and the guaranteed supply of contraceptives. 11 OCTOBER - EP: Strasbourg - Kosovo Approval of a resolution presented, with strong Radical support, by all political groups, asking that the Serb authorities cease repressive military intervention in Kosovo; the European Commission make trade talks with Yugoslavia dependent on the respect of human rights in Kosovo; a delegation for relations with Yugoslavia be sent to the region. 11 OCTOBER - Czechoslovakia: Prague - European Federalism For the first time, more than one thousand people take part in a Radical torchlit procession in favour of Czechoslovakia's entry into the European Community and for the United States of Europe. Prince Carl von Schwarzenberg, representing President Havel, receives the marchers in the courtyard of the Castle. The initiative is given ample TV and press coverage. 12 OCTOBER - USSR: Moscow - Meetings Busdachin and Podlesova meet with Viaceslav Pcenitcnikov, CPSU leader and deputy, at the Central Committee headquarters, with regard to the drafting of the law on political parties. 14 OCTOBER - USSR: Moscow - Antimilitarism Soviet television broadcasts a reportage on the October 7 demonstration, entitled "The Transnational Radical Party for Civilian Service", featuring interviews with Radicals Kalinin and Pronozin. 17 OCTOBER - Italy: Rome - Debate At the Radical Party headquarters a debate is held on nationalism and federalism, in which about 15 Russian personalities, who were either dissidents or supporters of Gorbachev, take part. They included Vladislav Fronin, editor of Komsomolskaja Pravda, and writers Vladimir Bukovskij and Vladimir Maksimov. 21 OCTOBER - Czechoslovakia: Prague - RP Members' Assembly At the Congress held by RP members in Czechoslovakia it is decided to relaunch the six-petition initiative. Emma Bonino underscores the fact that the Radicals will be in the front line when it comes to affirming a woman's right to decide matters of conscience, especially in the light of the current attempt to curtail the right to abortion. 22 OCTOBER - USSR: St. Petersburg - Mass Media Radical exponent Feodor Tchoub takes part, along with 17 other parties and movements, in a televised round table to present the various political groups. 24 OCTOBER - Czechoslovakia: Prague - Mass Media Lidova Democracie, the newspaper of the Czechoslovakian People's Party, attacks the recent RP Congress. Federal Councillor Pietrosanti responds harshly. 25 OCTOBER - USSR: Moscow - Antimilitarism One hundred and fifty people demonstrate outside the recruiting office in Moscow, calling for a law on conscientious objection. Moscow's military Commissary Major-General Bespalov listens to the requests of a group of demonstrators, including Aleksandr Kalinin. 25 OCTOBER - USSR: Moscow - Membership Fifteen or so Soviet Radicals urge members of the Italian Communist Party to join the RP "to campaign for a United States of Europe; for a new democratic nonviolent form of association founded on federal principles and on the respect of human rights; for the association of European peoples, including those of Eastern and Central Europe and the Soviet Union". 25-28 OCTOBER - ROMANIA: Timisoara - Doru Braia Conference Emil Iovanescu, Antonio Stango, Violetta Barascu, Eduardo Rozsa, Olivier Dupuis and several Romanian Radicals take part in the proceedings of the First Conference on Human Rights in Romania. During the meeting the news arrives that Doru Braia, invited to attend the Conference, has been stopped at the Romanian-Hungarian border, and has begun a hunger strike to protest against the unjust action. Nine people at the Conference, including Dupuis and Rosza, join the hunger strike and send a letter to Baron, President of the European Parliament. After the visit of a delegation from the Conference, the Ministry of the Interior informs Braia by telephone that he can collect his passport. 1 NOVEMBER - Czechoslovakia: Prague - Media The daily Lidove Noviny publishes an appeal made by Radicals to prevent the disbandment of Civic Forum, the organization of which the most important democratic movements are part. Civic Forum had always supported Radical activities in the country, also with small financial contributions. 2 NOVEMBER - USSR: Moscow - Conference Marino Busdachin speaks at the Conference held by the Liberal Group in the Moscow Soviet, in favour of the institution of the rule of law and against sectarianism. 3 NOVEMBER - USSR: Moscow - Antimilitarism The RP promotes, together with several humanitarian and youth movements, the setting up of an Organizing Committee for the campaign to demilitarize the Soviet Union. 5 NOVEMBER - U.S.A.: New York - Antiprohibitionism Emma Bonino and Marco Taradash are arrested for distributing sterile syringes at the end of a press conference held outside City Hall. They report that in New York, where there are 175,000 HIV-positive drug addicts, it is only possible to buy syringes on prescription. The two Radicals are sent for trial. 6 NOVEMBER - Europe: Various Capitals - Human Rights in Romania Demonstrations are held outside the Romanian embassies in Budapest, Brussels, Moscow, Prague and Rome to protest against the fact that Doru Braia's passport has been taken away again. President Iliescu is asked to intervene. In Rome, Stanzani and Stango are received by the Romanian Ambassador who announces that a positive solution will be reached within ten days. 7 NOVEMBER - Hungary: Budapest - Human Rights in Romania Twenty or so people, including Braia, and many journalists demonstrate outside the Romanian Embassy to remind the authorities that it is their duty to uphold legality and the law. The First Councillor receives a delegation. A Magyar TV news programme covers the event and broadcasts an interview with Braia. 9 NOVEMBER - Czechoslovakia: Prague - European Federalism A two-day initiative, including the collection of signatures, for Czechoslovakia's entry into the European Community and for the United States of Europe, is organized by the ARSUE (Radical Association for the United States of Europe) with the support of the Civic Forum and other organizations. 9 NOVEMBER - ROMANIA: Timisoara - Assembly About 80 people attend the first meeting organized in the city by the Radical Party. Olivier Dupuis and Emil Iovanescu are the principal speakers. The subject of federalism in Romania - usually taboo - is explored in depth. 10 NOVEMBER - Czechoslovakia: Karlovy Vary - EC Membership ARSUE (Radical Association for the United States of Europe) and the Civic Forum, organize another two-day initiative for Czechoslovakia's entry into the EC. It includes a meeting at which the speakers are Aleksandr Kalich, Federal Assembly deputy and President of the Civic Forum of Eastern Bohemia, Milan Kozelka and Lev Havlicek, members of the RP and local election candidates on the Civic Forum lists, and Paolo Pietrosanti, Federal Councillor of the RP. 11 NOVEMBER - USSR: Baku - Radical Assembly About 60 people take part in a meeting with Busdachin, Khramov and Pdlesova, calling for nonviolent Radical politics in the Caucasus. Twenty-seven Azeri citizens join the RP. In the afternoon a RP delegation lays flowers on the monument for the 500 victims of the repression carried out by the Red Army in January 1989. 12 NOVEMBER - USSR: Baku - Meetings A Radical delegation (Ibrahim Zeinal, Samir Javad Zade of the Radical Association in Baku, and Marino Busdachin) meet with Agayev, Vice-President of the Azerbaijan Communist Party. They have a further meeting with "MUSSAVAT", the pro-independence nationalist party . 13 NOVEMBER - USSR: Moscow - Antimilitarism While President Gorbachev is discussing military issues with deputies of the Soviet, a group of them present him with the bill on conscientious objection and on civilian service, drafted by the Radical Party and others. 12 NOVEMBER - Romania: Bucharest - Official Meetings Visit of the EP delegation for relations with Romania, led by Adelaide Aglietta and including Marco Pannella. They meet with President Ion Iliescu, Prime Minister Petre Roman and many other authorities. 13 NOVEMBER - Romania: Bucharest - Media The daily Romania Libera publishes a long interview with Marco Pannella, entitled "The Tolerant Revolution". 14 November - Romania: Bucharest - Assembly Press Conference Crowded press conference is held by Pannella. Numerous questions are asked about the politics of the Romanian Government and the authorities' involvement in recent incidents. Pannella believes that it is necessary, above all, to identify the parties interested in destabilizing the country. In the afternoon Pannella illustrates the most important Radical campaigns at a meeting, held at the Hotel Park, attended by about 70 people. Alexandru Rosu, Vice-President of the environmentalist party joins the RP. 15 NOVEMBER - USSR: Tbilisi - Meetings Natalia Mirimanova, Podlesova, Khramov and Busdachin meet with leaders of the Greens in Georgia, agreeing to collaborate on petitions. More meetings-conferences are held with Mamuka Tsagarelli, national deputy of the alternative Georgian Parliament, and member of the RP, and with the National Democratic Party and the Democratic Party for the Independence of Georgia. 16 NOVEMBER - USSR: Moscow - Antimilitarism Over 50 activists belonging to the Mothers of Soldiers Committee, the RP, the Moscow Students' Union, ECHO and other independent bodies picket, nonviolently, the entrance to the main recruiting office, to obtain the immediate introduction of civilian service and the cessation of violence within the Red Army. Seven picketers are arrested and Radical deputy Kalinin is kicked and clubbed. The widely-circulated magazine New Time, published in various languages, prints the petition drawn up by the RP and the "Mothers of Soldiers", for the introduction of civilian service as an alternative to military service. 17 NOVEMBER - USSR: Moscow - Media/Antimilitarism Pravda violently attacks the RP and its antimilitarist activities, and comments ironically on the recent demonstration. The daily Vecernjaja Moskva publishes various reports on the picketing of the recruiting office. 20 NOVEMBER - Hungary: Budapest - Death Penalty In a letter to Pal Szomahazi Attila of the Radical Coordination against the Death Penalty, Hungarian President Arpad Goncz states that he is wholeheartedly in favour of the abolition of capital punishment, and hopes that the Coordination's activities would be one hundred percent successful. 20 NOVEMBER - Hungary: Budapest - Human Rights in Romania Doru Braia, the Romanian citizen residing in the Federal Republic of Germany whom the Romanian authorities have forbidden to enter his country, is given a new passport at the Romanian Consulate in Budapest. Braia returns to Romania immediately. 20 NOVEMBER - Yugoslavia: Zagreb - Radical Assembly Cesmadziski and Jiricin, Secretary and Treasurer respectively of the Radical Association for the United States of Europe, resign because of internal conflict. The assembly postpones the election of new organs until the Congress, and the enrolment of the required 40 members. 20 NOVEMBER - Italy: Rome - European Federalism Approval of a resolution by the Commission for Foreign Affairs in the Chamber. The resolution, presented by the Radicals, engages the Italian Government to support the modifications of the Treaties, which will come up for discussion at the Intergovernmental Conference on European economic and monetary union, and on political union in December, only if approved by the European Parliament. 20/22 NOVEMBER - Germany: Frankfurt - Antiprohibitionism During an international conference entitled "European Cities at the Centre of Illegal Trade in Drugs", organized by the Municipal Council of Frankfurt, an important antiprohibitionist resolution advocating a health policy focusing on "harm reduction" and the minimization of repressive intervention, presented by representatives from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Zurich and Hamburg, is approved. 23 NOVEMBER - Czechoslovakia: Brno - Assembly Press Conference International forum organized by the LIA (International Antiprohibitionist League), on the various ways of legalizing drugs. Many experts from the Americas, Central and Western Europe take part. 22/24 NOVEMBRE - Greece: Athens - Antiprohibitionism Radicals take the floor at the first meeting organized by Amnesty International in Russia. Pronozin suggests collaborating on the initiatives aimed at obtaining the right to conscientious objection and the abolition of the death penalty. 24 NOVEMBER -Romania: Gheorghe Sfintu - Assembly About 15 people attend an informative meeting organized by the RP. Dupuis and Iovanescu answer questions raised by participants. NOVEMBER - EP: Strasbourg - European Parliament Adelaide Aglietta is elected President of the Green Group in the European Parliament. 26-30 NOVEMBER - Italy: Rome - Parliamentarians' Conference In response to the Radical initiative for the Etats Généraux d’Europe, and following Mitterand's limiting proposal, a meeting is held by the Conference of the EC Parliaments, an assembly of the members of the 21 parliaments of the twelve and of the European Parliament. While the attempt to transform the Conference into a permanent body answerable to national governments fails, the final document confirms the positions already expressed by the EP in favour of a European Union based on a federal structure and the drafting of a European Constitution. 2 DECEMBER - Czechoslovakia: Trebic - Esperanto Jaromir Soukup, Secretary of the Radical Association for the United States of Europe, participates in the Congress of the Czechoslovakian Esperantist Union, in Moravia. 8 DECEMBER - Czechoslovakia: Prague - Convention Radical Deputy Alessandro Tessari and Paolo Pietrosanti take part in Radical activities in the country with the Central Committe of the ROI (Czechoslovakian Rom Party). All the ROI leaders - Emil Scuka, President; Ondraj Gina, member of the Czech national parliament; Geiza Orlet; Vladislav Suchanek - are members of the Radical Party. 10 DECEMBER - USSR: St. Petersburg - Antimilitarism Formation of Coordination Group linking the RP, Christian Democrat Union and other movements, to support the rights of soldiers and conscripts. 11 DECEMBER - USSR: Moscow - Democracy Led by deputy Kalinin, Soviet Radicals take part in the meeting organized by the Supreme Soviet and democratic parties, concerning the drafting of the new Federal Treaty of the Soviet Union. 14 DECEMBER - USSR: Moscow - Death Penalty Aleksandr Kalinin speaks at the Congress of the Deputies of the Russian People against the death penalty. 14 DECEMBER - Italy: Rome - Federalism Demonstration staged by the RP and the Federalists on the occasion of the European Summit. 17 DECEMBER - ITALY: Rome - Media/South Africa When interviewed by South African State television, Negri comments positively on the lifting of the ban on European investments in South Africa and draws attention to the fact that the Radicals were in part responsible for this.
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