Former Yugoslav leftist parties declare regional solidarity

The Social-democratic Union from Serbia, Workers Front and New Left from Croatia and the Left from Slovenia, signed the declaration, saying it would work on the solidarity among the countries created following the disintegration of Yugoslavia, and on the active engagement of progressive social and political forces, their statement said.

It added the fundamental principles included social justice, gender, sexual, national and ethnic equality, preservation of the environment, antifascism, cooperation and peace, empathy and mutual aid.

"The last 30 years were marked with nationalist conflicts, mass sufferings, general impoverishment, privatisation of social and public resources, austerity measures, hostilities and competition among peoples," the statement said.

According to the leftist parties, capitalism brought deepening inequality among social groups, migrations and depopulation.

"Neoliberal policies jeopardised the health system standards and infrastructure, increased personal cost of treatments, a higher number of fatality and massive migration of medical staff."

The initial signatories to the declaration include people from political and social areas, literature, culture, sciences and sports from all over former Yugoslavia who confirmed they followed and promoted the key principles in their activities.