Message of AKEL to the 11th Congress of the Lebanese Communist Party
AKEL has sent a message to the Lebanese Communist Party with the occasion of its 11th Congress. The main part of the message follows:
“AKEL addresses militant and comradely greetings to the 11th Congress of the Lebanese Communist Party, an important landmark in the difficult period lived by your country and people in the framework of the overall situation in the region.
Our two countries share the legacy of a colonial past, of imperialist interventions, and the external fostering of internal divisions. Both our countries are situated in the troubled region of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean, where imperialist plans with unprecedented consequences are being implemented and which have furthermore paved the way to the most severe aggression by forces exploiting religious fundamentalism. The struggle against these plans and policies remains part of our parties’ common struggle.
For years our two parties have struggled against the imperialist and reactionary plans to create internal tensions among our respective people based on ethnic and religious divisions. We opposed to that with our work to promote the unity of the working class and to achieve conditions of peace and prosperity in our countries and the region as a whole.
As your Congress is taking place, we witness the consequences of a catastrophic war in Syria with far-reaching consequences. The spillover of this war is a permanent threat to Lebanon. Moreover the country already contributes immensely to the humanitarian relief of the thousands of refugees that have found shelter in Lebanese territory. Democratic militant forces, including your Party, have been fighting to prevent the expansion of ISIS and other extremist forces in the region. Our Party AKEL stands by the Syrian people demanding the respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and in the effort to alleviate the humanitarian crisis caused by the war. And AKEL stand by you in your struggle to safeguard the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon and resist sectarian divisions.
What concerns Palestine, we once again denounce the continuous Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people; we demand the immediate end of the occupation and the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital. The international solidarity of the progressive forces of the region are more important than ever.
In the international scene, the peoples live the impact and consequences of the ongoing undermining of progressive and anti-imperialist governments and forces in Latin America, the anti-communist hysteria in Eastern Europe, the imposition of neoliberalism and anti-labour policies in the European Union member-states and elsewhere as well as the expansion of global inequalities at all levels worldwide.
In Cyprus, almost 42 years on, we still face the consequences of the continuing division of our island and people brought about as a result of the imperialist plans, executed by nationalist-chauvinist local forces and the aggressive policy of Turkey that invaded in 1974 and still occupies 37% of Cyprus. Our Party is in the forefront of the struggle for reapprochement of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots aiming to the unity and joint struggle of the people of Cyprus towards the reunification of the island and the prevalence of lasting peace and prosperity. In this respect we would like to express our gratefulness for the consistent solidarity of the LCP to the struggle of AKEL and the Cypriot people.
In this framework, our two historical Parties, need to oppose on a bilateral and collective level the challenges caused by the global neoliberal capitalist rule both related with the developments in our countries and the globe. We highly appreciate your contribution to the international communist and workers’ movement and we pledge to continue our close cooperation in this respect for our common ideals and principles. The further development of exchanged between our two Parties will further assist in this direction.
The Progressive Party of the Working People of Cyprus-AKEL, wishes successful and fruitful deliberations to your 11th Congress and expresses its confidence that it will contribute to the materialization of your political goals for the sake of peace, workers’ rights and the social progress of the Lebanese people.”
