Majority of FIBA Europe members call for change
9 hours and 9 minutes ago
Divisions between the rivalling sides of FIBA Europe and its members seem to be deepening as time goes and new guns are drawn. On Monday, the 28 national federations, which form the majority inside FIBA Europe that is in favour of an Extraordinary General Assmebly and new elections, have released a public announcement, signed by all countries.
Here is the full text of the announcement:
On May 19, 2012, during FIBA Europe General Assembly, 28 National Basketball Federations signed request for an Extraordinary General assembly and new elections of the FIBA Europe President and The Board members.
Announcement
Date: 28/05/2012
Two years ago the elections at the FIBA Europe 2010 General Assembly resulted in quite a number of countries being left outside of the management circles of FIBA Europe.
As a result of this, an unexpected and harmful division was created within FIBA Europe, which has - and is continuing to - undermine unified basketball development within our continent. Europe provides the highest basketball potential among all FIBA zones, not only for top level excitement and generated basketball value, but also for player development procedures going all the way down to the grassroots level.
The observation of the existing division(s) is certainly not a personal issue – it is not based on, for, or against anybody in person. It is based on basketball. The outcome is reflected in a basic evaluation of proven basketball experience and accumulated management inside and outside of management platforms of FIBA Europe. This capacity can be easily evaluated in already established national platforms in leading basketball countries of Europe.
It is clear that the present situation has led to distinct divisions within european basketball: divisions between ‘large and small’ countries, divisions between ‘western and eastern’ Europe and probably yet others which are clearly felt in many basketball acitivites. Such divisions diminish our potential.
The current situation continues to be a threat to the unity of Europe since countries of considerable basketball capacity, experience and legacy have found themselves out of the management circles of European basketball. We are all sufferring from the results of this unprecedented situation.
It is obvious that any kind of division is harmful for unity. European basketball must find a solution that can create unity by putting an end to all such divisions.
The best procedure for unification, not only for FIBA Europe but for any/all transparent democratic institutions, is to lean back and give the word to the highest platform and its members (which is the Extraordinary General assembly and the national federations in this case of European basketball) Renewing our management platforms by free elections appears to be a duty provided to us by our regulations. We must give the national federations of Europe the opportunity to speak. For this to happen, we need to organise democratic elections as per the regulations of FIBA Europe.
Extraordinary elections are also an undisputedly official and respectful way for the renewal of confidence for existing office holders and most effective possibility for the unification of Europe.
Majority of FIBA Europe members – National Basketball Federations
Serbia, Lithuania, Turkey, Russia, Portugal, Ireland, Slovenia, Moldova, Israel, Latvia, F.Y.R. of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Azerbaijan, Gibraltar, Andorra, Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Romania, Montenegro, Ukraine, Malta, Estonia, Hungary, Wales, Georgia, San Marino, Austria.
