LEITERS
To the Editor:
The experience gained in the few
years since the departure of the "old
regime" has demonstrated that the
transition to a true democratic order
is a difficult path on which danger–
ous temptations lurk: uncontained
national intolerance finally plunged
us into a bloody civil war and
brought about the painful dissolu–
tion of the country. The unrestrained
ambition of national leaders, assisted
by the shameless efforts of many,
among whom were those in the best
position to raise their voices against
such lunacy, caused the death of tens
of thousands of people, the destruc–
tion of towns and villages, unprece–
dented crimes, the displacement of
hundreds of thousands of people, and
extensive poverty and hunger. A
feeling of shame, fear, and helpless–
ness has filled all those who are
thinking at all soberly and who
refuse to be caught up in the wave of
hatred.
Conscious of their intellectual,
moral and civil responsibility, a
number of writers, artists, and scien–
tists have felt the need for some time
to
engage in public action and to
gather together in a way that tran–
scends the narrow frameworks of the
existing political parties and profes–
sional organizations. The govern–
ment's desire to subordinate scientific
and cultural institutions, universities,
and the media, particularly television,
to its short-sighted and risky policies
in the name of ostensible national
interests must be opposed by a form
of association that enables
intellectuals to defend not only the
517
right to independent creative work
but also basic democratic values.
In establishing the Belgrade
Circle as an association of indepen–
dent intellectuals who in these
difficult times have not betrayed the
basic principles of tolerance, justice,
and truth, we are thus endeavoring to
open the space for the reciprocal
interaction and collective efforts of
all those involved in creative work in
the various fields of literature,
science, and art - regardless of
national, religious, or political
affiliation.
The Belgrade Circle will pro–
mote the consistent construction of a
democratic, secular, and open society,
full freedom of thought and expres–
sion, the free circulation of people
and ideas, and respect for the profes–
sional rights of all those involved in
creative activities. It will attack the
abuse of science, culture, and public
speech. The Belgrade Circle is
against political trials but will seek
to hold accountable those politi–
cians, soldiers, and intellectuals who
are responsible for inflaming na–
tional hatred, militarizing society,
instigating war, crimes against hu–
manity, the destruction of cultural
and historical treasures, the displace–
ment of people, and the forced exile
of many prominent creative
individuals and young intellectuals.
Through such activities, the Belgrade
Circle hopes to contribute to the
creation of a true democratic,
political, and intellectual culture.
The Belgrade Circle
Belgrade, Yugoslavia
