Yugoslavia: The war is over An Imperialist War: For a New World Order Nato Bombing Damages: A TU representatives visit report

Report of Trade Union delegation which visited Yugoslavia

A trade union delegation, which recently returned from a visit to Yugoslavia, has reported on the severe economic and social consequences of NATO bombing. The delegation consisted of Brother Freddy Huck, President of the Trade Unions International of Agriculture, Food, Commerce, Textile and Allied Industries and Brother Philippe Peuchot from the Federation of Food and Agricultural Workers of France (FNAF-CGT).

The delegation was received by Brother Zoran Malenovic, President, and Brother Danilo Markovic, General Secretary, of the Food, Tobacco and Agricultural Workers' Federation of Serbia as well as Brother Yvan Pavicevic, General Secretary of the International Department of the Trade Union Confederation of Serbia.

The Serbian trade union leaders informed the visiting delegation that over 600,000 workers out of a total labour force of two million are now unemployed because of the destruction of their working places by NATO bombs. Over 200 factories, several power plants, oil refineries and other installations have been destroyed. Serious damages have been inflicted on 190 educational institutions, 20 hospitals and 30 clinics. Sixty bridges have been destroyed and the country's transport infrastructure, including five civilian airports and most of the national highways, severely damaged. Ecological damage is colossal and widespread. According to an estimate, the financial cost of this wanton destruction would be equal to the total budget expenditures of the State for 33 years.

The Yugoslavian trade unionists thanked the delegation for their fraternal visit as an expression of international solidarity and appealed for all possible assistance and material aid to overcome the terrible economic and social consequences of the NATO bombings.