“The International Meeting of the Communist and Workers Parties in Cyprus” by Costas Christodoulides, Head of the International and European Affairs Department of the Central Committee of AKEL
30TH June 2014
AKEL hosted on 21-22nd June the Working Group of the International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties in Cyprus. The Meeting was attended by 24 parties,16 of which are participating in the Working Group.
It is no exaggeration to say that AKEL is appreciated within the international movement. This appreciation has been gained over time through the AKEL’s international activity and its policy with regards international relations. It is the result of its practical contribution with its presence in all the international meetings, through the increased attention it attaches to its bilateral relations, the legacy of historical and ideological struggles waged together with its fraternal parties for the rights of the peoples, for socialism. AKEL made sacrifices in the struggle against fascism in Spain and in Europe during the Second World War. AKEL made sacrifices in the resistance to fascism in Cyprus all the years prior to 1974 and afterwards. In addition, this appreciation is also due to its correct policy in general, as well as the maintaining of its leading social and political role.
The 16thInternational Meeting(IM) will take placein Ecuador. Around 80 parties are represented in the meetings.The IM is an established convention for the discussion ofinternational developments, the coordinationandjoint action that was initiated in2004 inAthens. Since then, these meetings continueon an annual basis. TheWorking Groupis responsiblefor the organization ofinternational meetings, theagendaand formeachmeeting will assume.
The theme of the IM in Ecuador will deal with the objective conditions which humanity is confronted with, namely the on-going capitalist crisis and exploitation, the imperialist interventions that together provoke wars and create the conditions for the growth of reactionary and fascist organizations. On the opposing pole, is the struggle for the rights of workers and peoples for national and social emancipation, for socialism. These burning issues are being highlighted everywhere in different forms. Barbarism characterizes today’s conditions in general. What is the role of the political factor/force in these conditions? How do the Communist and Workers Parties respond to this foreseeable setback? These are the issues that the IM is called upon to discuss and which have been agreed upon in Cyprus. Furthermore, the next IM will also discuss a joint program of action focusing on solidarity, but also on resistance, as well as on the enlightenment of the people. Within a context of anarchy and the reign of big capital, the struggle for workers’ rights for the right to work, health and education and housing is a priority of the Communists. Capital, together with its political representatives, is leading to the outbreak of wars to exploit natural resources and the “wealth of nations”, as the renowned bourgeois economist Adam Smith used to say. In the rivalries that are developing, the peoples are the victims of the division and on-going redivision of the world into spheres of influence, into new colonies, or if this is not feasible, control through the economy and dependence of the rich productive resources, which the imperialists always want to conquer in order to maximize their private wealth, relying on the power the system gives them.
Besides, for what reason did the U.S. support the coupist government in Ukraine last February? Why was the EU following and now and again interfering, with contradictions and fluctuations, in Ukraine? They did so in order to drag the country into the West’s sphere of influence, to exploit its crucial geopolitical role in order to encircle its competitor and the richest country in terms of gas reserves in the world, namely Russia. In Iraq, which has experienced the US intervention, the same cycles that were supported by the US, are spreading terror in the country. Iraq is to be torn apart in 2-3 smaller states. In Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, the interventions or the support these same circles provide accordingly, strengthen reaction and weaken peace and progress. In essence, International Law is being fiercely attacked to undermine it and for every breach of the law by the powerful forces to be covered within it so that the greed of the select few is tolerated.
The Working Group sent a message of solidarity with the Communist Party of Ukraine which is being persecuted and outlawed by the fascists who have the upper hand in the country. It condemns the massacres committed in the country and calls for peace to be given a real chance with the termination of the military intervention of the country’s authorities and for a ceasefire. The parties participating in the IM are in solidarity with the democratic forces struggling for a solution that will ensure the rights of the people of the country and peace. They warned that the U.S. and EU intervention is threatening the outbreak of an even bigger war.
Thelong-sufferingPalestinianpeople, like the Cypriot people, are still struggling inverydifficult conditionsfor their freedom and for peace. Syria is advancing towards a new periodgiven thatworst developments as expressed bytheIslamicfanatics are currently being repulsed. Much has still to be donefor peace to prevail, as well as the rightof the peoples todevelopmentand prosperity. The plan for theso-calledNew MiddleEast (invented by the Bush administration) providing for a developmentfriendly towardsthe plans of US governmentsthat acceptsthe presenceof their interests inthe region, is encounteringdifficulties, contrasts, contradictions and resistance. Thepartiesthat participatedin themeetingsendwarm militant greetingsto the peopleswho are resisting, providing practical support by all means, enlightening their countries with the means at their disposal and exerting pressure on their governments for peace and justice.
It is with great pleasure that AKEL agreed to host this session of the WG. It was not surprising that the parties involved in the meeting agreed with pleasure to the briefing made by Andros Kyprianou, General Secretary of the C.C of AKEL A. Kyprianou, given that they support the political struggle of our people for freedom and the reunification of our country and people.
The only available path is unity in action, the exchange of views, respect and struggle. For humanity, the only way forward is socialism which of course draws lessons from its mistakes, and not the barbarity that is creating poverty, inequality and alienation. Today the forces of real progress are fighting on the side of the unemployed, workers, and those who are being crushed by the millstone of neo-liberalism. The peoples can and indeed must rely on these forces.
