Peace and Solidarity Movement
The struggle for peace is the most basic and pressing duty of our epoch. The struggle for peace cannot be detached from the struggle against the biggest enemy of peace, imperialism, which gives rise to and reproduces unjust, adventurous and criminal wars, triggering conflicts, provoking national and international clashes and conflicts. As a result of imperialist policies implemented by states, union of states, international organizations and multinational monopolies, poverty, exploitation, inequalities and democratic deficits are accelerating, whilst an unprecedented wave of unemployment has developed all over the world which is leading to the creation of acute social problems. All these problems undermine the foundations of stability and security throughout the whole world.
The unrelenting barbarity and the tactics of war, which the American inspired “New World Order” is based on, must be resisted through mass and militant struggle in order to save human existence and civilization. The struggles of the peoples were always the most effective weapon against war. Today, when imperialism appears invincible, the struggles of the peoples are a necessity, constituting the only answer and opposing pole against it.
The international anti-war movement is increasingly assuming a more anti-imperialist character and is today growing day by day. These can be observed through the uprisings all over the world against the war campaigns waged by the USA, NATO and even sometimes with the support of the European Union too, but also by the very successful anti-imperialist forums the World Peace Council, World Federation of Democratic Youth and others are organizing.
The international peaceful movement, now more mature, bigger and organized, is not only promoting effectively issues relating to peace and solidarity with struggling peoples, but is also the question of poverty, exploitation, equality, ecology, democratic deficit and the falsification of History. All these, set the struggle for peace on solid foundations, strengthen the ranks of the peace movement and contribute to the struggle of the Left for a qualative better world.
The World Peace Council is once again leading the struggle for peace and solidarity, which the last 5 years continued its reorganization and restructuring, significantly recovering its lost prestige. It has grown in numbers, become more effective and is reaching out to broader masses in society. New national Councils and Committees have joined its ranks. It has forged alliances and is now developing significant and notable actions on a global level.
The peace movement should be dynamic, broad-based and polyphonic. The Left supports and participates in it, contributing to its better organization, correct orientation of its goals and in the content of its activity. AKEL fulfils this duty in practice by being in the front line of the struggle for peace and anti-imperialist solidarity. The anti-imperialist, anti-war aspect of AKEL´s activity stems from its ideology, character and represents a fundamental part of its general policy.
AKEL participates and supports the activity of the Pancyprian Peace Council (PSE), with whom it has developed strong relations of solidarity that were forged in the common struggles and mobilizations over many years for peace in Cyprus and the world for; nuclear and general disarmament; the abolition of the foreign military bases and full demilitarization of our island and for the development of solidarity with the struggles of people for freedom, national independence and social progress.
AKEL supports the Pancyprian Peace Council in the great efforts it has made during the past five-year term for its reorganization and upgrading, so that it shall become more broader, stronger in numbers, effective with a notable multifaceted national and international activity. The Party shares the basic parameters of the struggle PSE is waging; anti-imperialist struggle, the struggle for youth and people not only to love peace, but to also learn to fight for it, the struggle against war for a peaceful and just solution of international and national problems and the struggle for complete nuclear disarmament. For AKEL is also clear that the defense of world peace and the prevalence of justice passes through the consistent and decisive support and defense of the principles of the International Law and the international organizations which service it, and above all the UN.
Today, when many peoples are under attack, the expression of solidarity with these peoples is imperative, as our own people also is in need of solidarity for our own struggles. Solidarity must be conveyed and assume a practical character, not only in the cases of imperialist aggressions and violation of human rights, but also even in the cases of natural catastrophes.
In order to forge the better coordination in the field of solidarity, the Solidarity Committee (EP.AL) is active and developing its activity within the framework of the Peoples Movement with the participation of AKEL, PEO, EDON, EKA and POGO. Throughout the 37 years of its existence and activity, EP.AL has been on many occasions the agency for solidarity with the struggling people of Africa, Asia, Palestine, Cuba, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Iraq and others. Nevertheless, there is always more scope for improving the functioning of EP.AL, it’s more prompt and timely response on issues life, and international developments bring to the fore.
The existence of EP.AL does not impede our participation in broader solidarity initiatives, as long as these are in line with the principles of the Peoples Movement and respect its entity.