STATEMENT FOR THE PRESS

NATURAL LAW PARTY SUMMIT OFFERS EU LEADERS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY OF DEFENCE TO MAINTAIN PERMANENT PEACE AND SECURITY

Helsinki, 10 December 1999

Timo Lahtinen, leader of the Natural Law Party of Finland

The European Union heads of government meeting in Helsinki have today been offered a raft of radical new solutions to the most serious issues on their agenda - the war in Chechnya, the proposed new Rapid Reaction Force, and EU enlargement. The offer comes from the leaders of the European Natural Law Parties who are holding their own summit in Helsinki discussing how to implement scientifically proven solutions to the most serious problems of the EU.

"The war in Chechnya is not only a humanitarian disaster but a potential flashpoint for new international tension and conflict," said Dr Geoffrey Clements, leader of the Natural Law Party of the UK. He pointed out that the current policies of the EU allow it to do little but stand and watch, or make ineffectual statements of disapproval.

At a news conference in Helsinki this morning, Dr Clements said there is an urgent need for a practical scientific solution that the EU can present to Russia which will enable the EU to be seen as a friend rather than a threat.

Three-point proposal to resolve conflict in Chechnya

Dr Clements outlined the Natural Law Party's three-point proposal for EU leaders:

1. Encourage Russia to set up in the vicinity of Chechnya a "coherence-creating" group of 7,000 experts in Maharishi's Transcendental Mediation and TM-Sidhi programme, including the Yogic Flying technique. Published academic studies conducted on conflicts such as the Lebanese civil war provide clear evidence that establishing such a group would lead to a marked reduction in the conflict and a rise of positivity and integration in society. Dr Clements, a physicist, said that a group of people practising Transcendental Meditation and Yogic Flying together every morning and evening would create a powerful "field effect" on the level of human consciousness which would dissolve the stress and tension in the region's collective consciousness that is fuelling the conflict.

The group of 7,000 could come form any section of the community, but the Natural Law Party suggests that Russia could immediately arrange for 7,000 of its troops to learn this technology of consciousness. They would thereby form a "prevention wing" of the military capable of averting the birth of enmity and conflict.

The Russia government could also make arrangements for the hundreds of Russian citizens in Moscow who have already learned Transcendental Meditation and Yogic flying to practice these techniques in a group in order to create more integration and harmony in national consciousness.

2. Propose to the Russian government that the EU will pay for this exercise if necessary. This will also be in the interests of the EU itself since it will help to create more stability in and around Europe. It will also help avert a new East-West Cold War.

3. The EU should set up its own permanent peace-keeping groups of experts in this technology of consciousness. This will be an effective long-term strategy to avert any future crises.

"Rapid Reaction Force" should be pro-active and utilise higher intelligence

Timo Lahtinen, leader of the Natural Law Party of Finland, made some hard-hitting points about the EU's proposed 50,000 strong Rapid Reaction Force which is intended to deal with any future regional conflicts in Europe. "We congratulate the EU for wanting to be independent of the USA and establish a force under its own control. However, such a force will only be viable if it utilises the latest technology of defence, rather then relying on outmoded destructive technologies as used in Kosovo," Mr Lahtinen said.

He said that the 50,000 should be trained in Maharishi's Vedic Technology of Defence, which includes Yogic Flying. "This technology goes far beyond superficial man-made technologies of destructive defence, utilising higher intelligence – the nourishing power of Natural Law – to transform enmity into loving friendship."

Mr Lahtinen pointed out that it is estimated that the Rapid Reaction Force will take four years to set up and train, and it will then take sixty days to respond to any given situation. "It would take less than sixty days from now to establish a permanent peace-keeping group of Yogic Flyers," he said. "We should be pro-active now to create peace, stability and growth in Europe with this new technology, rather than waiting for four years and sixty days before we can react. We must have a permanent Pro-Active Prevention Force rather than a so-called Rapid Reaction Force."

Mr Lahtinen added that with this peace promoting role for the force, the smaller militarily independent countries of Europe, such as Ireland, Austria, and Finland, will no longer have any hesitation in participating.

A new approach to EU enlargement

The Natural Law Party also has a unique stand on EU enlargement "In the acceptance of new member states there must be two pre-requisites," said Dr Reinhard Borowitz, leader of the Natural Law Party of Germany. "The first is that Natural Law Party programmes are applied within each member state in order to create a harmonious, prosperous and integrated Europe; and the second is that the same programmes should be applied in applicant states before they join.

"Our scientifically validated programmes will enliven the support of Natural Law for each country, bringing economic growth, reduced crime, and improved health, education, and national security. They will support national sovereignty and self-sufficiency at the same time as promoting harmonious international relations. Only on the basis of developing these qualities can new countries join the EU without any damage of weakening the integrity and economic stability of existing EU member states."

Commenting on the wrangling of EU leaders over voting rights in an enlarged EU, Dr Borowitz said that this would not be an issue in a Natural Law-based administration. "We believe that national sovereignty should come first, and that for every EU treaty each country should have the freedom not to participate, or do so at a later date, as has already happened with Economic and Monetary Union. With this approach there would be no problems with the voting system, irrespective of the number of member states. A harmonious and well-functioning European Union will only become a living reality if none of its sovereign member states are forced to accept a treaty or directive from the Union at any time."

Dr Paulo Menoni and Benoit Frappe, leaders of the Natural Law Parties of Italy and France, summarised the benefits of the party's wide ranging and proven policies which offer a bright future for everyone – a crime-free, disease-free, pollution-free, problem-free Europe.

For further information contact : Timo Lahtinen Tel: + 358-40-508 1920

Hannu Heikkilä Tel: + 358-40-5423 423