Message of AKEL to XV Congress of the Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia
16 January, 2015
On behalf of AKEL – the Progressive Party of the Working People of Cyprus, accept warmest comradely greetings of solidarity and support in your struggles in favour of the working people.
As you meet in Barcelona, the working people of your country as well as of many EU member-states are suffering the brutal results of the systemic crisis of capitalism, with the destruction of the social state built thanks to the work and sacrifices of generations of working people. They pay the price while those that caused the crisis are been awarded further benefits from the IMF, the ECB, the EU, hence winning from the crisis.
We feel that particularly in these conditions the existence and work of the Communist Party and class-based trade unions and organisations are of paramount importance. We all have a responsible role to play in the struggle to resist austerity and the course of social destruction which are coupled by authoritarianism and curtailing of democracy.
At the same time, the world is faced with increased militarism, interventionism and wars due to the imperialist policies pursued by the US and their European allies. Unfortunately, the EU, especially following the beginning of the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, is aligning its external policies to a constantly greater extent with the US, causing further militarisation of its external relations and pursuing increase of defence expenditure at a time when expenditure for health and education are cut sharply.
Cyprus, still suffering for over 40 years the Turkish military occupation of 37% of its territory, now faces also the violation by Turkey of the sovereignty of its Exclusive Economic Zone. Turkey violates once again international law trying to stop the Republic of Cyprus from exploiting the hydrocarbons discovered in its sea bed.
This exacerbates further the high tensions in the area of the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Our response is the continuation of the struggle for the reunification of our country and people in a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with single sovereignty, single international personality, single citizenship, where the human rights and freedoms are guaranteed for both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. We aspire to make Cyprus a bridge of peace in the region and not an unsinkable aircraft carrier as imperialism wishes it.
In these struggles we need each other’s solidarity.
Dear comrades,
we wish every success to your Congress and strength and unity for your struggles.
