By Maria Cernat, World BEYOND War, November 15, 2025
On November 6 members of World BEYOND War and peace activists protested both in Cluj and Bucharest, calling for the resolution of conflicts through dialogue and cooperation. In Bucharest, activists demonstrated in front of the Marriott Hotel. Their initiative opposes the NATO Industry Forum event, held at the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel. The event was intended to bring together over 800 participants from 26 NATO and partner states, as well as more than 300 companies from the war industry.
On this occasion, the peace activists sought to affirm their commitment to working for a better world through diplomacy and dialogue, and they launched a manifesto that brings together their shared convictions.
MANIFESTO
Security through cooperation, not through armament!
1. Security means more than armament
A world full of weapons is not a safer world. True security is comprehensive and shared. It also includes political, economic, and environmental aspects, as well as
respect for human rights — in accordance with the Helsinki Accords (1975) and the Paris Charter (1990).
2. Diplomacy instead of threat and violence
Governments and NATO are pouring billions into tanks, missiles, and fighter jets instead of investing in dialogue and cooperation. Real defense and safety result from the ability to prevent and resolve armed conflicts peacefully.
3. Armament brings war closer
The arms race in Europe, fueled by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, but also by NATO and the EU, does not protect us — it turns us into targets. We do not want to be anyone’s target — especially not in a war that is not ours, but one of transnational elites clashing for money and power!
4. Armament impoverishes the many
Money for weapons comes from our pockets: fewer hospitals, fewer schools, fewer homes, lower wages, and greater debt. Wars are expensive — peace is cheap.
5. Armament enriches only a few
Corporations in the arms industry make billions from fear, hatred, and mass killing. What perversity! Wealthy sociopaths push us toward a new world war for profit!
6. Common disarmament saves lives
Common disarmament does not mean naivety or weakness, but responsibility and wisdom. Fewer weapons mean fewer wars, fewer victims, less hatred. We have only one life, and we want to live it in peace and safety!
7. Common disarmament frees up resources
We need jobs, hospitals, schools, housing, and affordable green energy. We can have them only if we stop blindly buying tanks, planes, and missiles!
8. NATO serves the hegemony of a few, not peace for all
NATO is not a neutral alliance, but an instrument through which, primarily, the USA imposes its selfish interests. NATO promised us security but delivered new conflicts and dividing lines in Europe. We no longer want to live under anyone’s domination, but in mutual understanding and good neighborliness with all!
9. NATO’s credibility is also compromised
Both Russia and NATO and the USA have a long history of illegal interventions, false-flag operations, and mass manipulation. The pretext: exporting democracy, freedom, and human rights. Enough with lies and hypocritical slogans! We have the right to truth in international politics!
10. The solution: an OSCE Summit for Peace
We propose organizing a new OSCE Summit — in the spirit of those in Helsinki (1975), Paris (1990), Istanbul (1999), and Astana (2010). Only a pan-European peace conference can end the proxy war in Ukraine by creating a new inclusive security architecture — from Vancouver to Vienna, Warsaw, and Vladivostok.
Bucharest, November 6, 2025
World BEYOND War — Chapter Romania
Signed:
Maria Cernat — [baricadaromania@substack.com]
Vincze Enikő — [eniko.vincze10@gmail.com]
Hans Hedrich — [hanshedrich@gmail.com]
George Epurescu — [gepurescu@gmail.com]
Stefano Mensio
Christian Popescu
Irina Ciovarnache
CONTEXT / ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The tragedy of Ukraine urges us, in Europe, America, and Russia, to return to the peaceful resolution of conflicts, in accordance with the principles and norms of the UN and the OSCE. Therefore, only a few days after the UN-supported Disarmament Week (October 24–30), we launch today — on the occasion of the NATO Defence Industry Forum in Bucharest — a message for disarmament and for the creation of a new, inclusive security architecture in Europe and beyond.
We propose holding an OSCE Summit for Peace, in the tradition of the Helsinki Final Act (1975) and subsequent agreements — Paris (1990), Budapest (1994), Istanbul (1999), Astana (2010). The CSCE (Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe) contributed, during the Cold War, to significantly reducing the risk of armed conflicts and misunderstandings or miscalculations regarding military activities in Europe.
After 1990, the CSCE/OSCE continued to play an essential role in Europe’s disarmament and in strengthening mutual trust and security as part of a comprehensive and shared system of security for participating states. Examples include the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (1990), the Open Skies Treaty (1992), and the Framework for Arms Control (1996). Instead, NATO expanded eastward. Instead of a balance between OSCE and NATO — as repeatedly proposed internationally — the two organizations became competitors, with NATO emerging as the “winner.” NATO’s intention to include Ukraine and Georgia contributed to escalating tensions and violence between these countries, NATO, and Russia.
Regaining diplomatic balance among all states directly or indirectly involved in the war in Ukraine represents, in our view, the only way to end the conflict in our neighboring country and to prevent new major wars on the European continent. Thus, as citizens of Europe and members of its nations, we will contribute to strengthening a world order based on international law, respect for the legitimate interests of all states and peoples, nonviolent conflict resolution, and lasting peace through common disarmament.
2 Responses
Volle Unterstützung!
I completely agree