"Together for peace and fighting against neo-fascism."

International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) prepares its congress

What are the tasks of the generation of former resistance fighters and today's generation to fight against neo-fascism for peace and democracy? This question has to be answered at the 14th regular congress of the International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) at the end of October 2007 in Athens.

On Saturday 22nd September the executive committee of FIR held its executive committee meeting in Athens as guests of the POAO.

The meeting discussed the organisational and political preparation of the conference. In the living debate about the proposed political declaration for the congress it was underlined that we have to name not only the problems, but also the political basis of the danger for peace, the policy of the imperialism. The members of the executive committee from Belgium, Germany, Greek, Hungary and Russia found solutions for the personalities, and the political event "20 Years – FIR Peace messenger of United Nations". To the congress will be expected delegations from round about 20 European countries and Israel. There will be delegates from differend generations. As guest will be invited international federations of civil and social groups, the parlamentarian groups of the European Parliament and from the United Nations.

At the end the executive committee debated about an International Youth meeting in Spring 2008 at the memorial concentration camp Buchenwald. More than 1000 young people together with veterans and former political prisioniers will commemorate the day of self-liberation.

The meeting of the executive committee was in a very friendly atmosphere because of the hostileness of the Greek veterans federation. The president of FIR, Michel Vanderborght, thanked the Greek member federation for their good work and gave the slogan for the 14th regular congress: "Together for peace and fighting against neo-fascism."

Dr. Ulrich Schneider
General secretary