Address by Yiorgos Koukoumas, member of the Central Committee of AKEL to the 1st National Congress of Italian Communist Party

Dear Comrades,

On behalf of the Central Committee of AKEL we express our warm comradely greetings to the members, militants and friends of the Italian Communist Party. We express the hope that the 1st National Congress of the Italian Communist Party, which is taking place in difficult international and local conditions, will contribute towards the process of regrouping, rallying and strengthening of the Italian communist and workers movement, or the rights of your country’s working people and the cause of peace and socialism.

Our countries, Italy and Cyprus, as member states of the European Union, are suffering from the deadlocks with which the capitalist integration of our continent is confronted with. The warnings issued by the Marxist Left about the European Union – as it has been defined by its Founding Treaties and advanced with the policies of the Right and social democracy – have been proved correct. Today, the peoples of Europe are counting the number of unemployed, poor and the homeless by the millions. Labour relations are being abolished. Social services and goods are being privatized and perceived as commodities. Nonetheless, the EU is channeling billions of euros to rescue banks, promote militarization and a “shift in investment” in the arms industry, for the growth and enforcement of a “fortress Europe” in order to prevent refugees from approaching the continent.

The crisis in the EU has revealed in a dramatic way all its problems and has demonstrated that these policies are inherent symptoms of its nature. For this reason, the forces of the system in each country invoke various choices so that the capitalist character of the Union, neoliberalism, militarism and its structurally undemocratic over-centralization remains intact. Some of these forces with the slogan of “more Europe” are not projecting a different path or a different Europe, but a multi-speed scenario with which the EU of monopolies, NATO and Directorates will continue to be strengthened. On the other hand, not only is the nationalist “Euro-skepticism” of the ultra-right not an alternative, but constitutes the most reactionary face of capitalism, reminiscent of Europe’s darkest eras. We know that in Italy today, your Party and, more broadly the progressive radical forces of the country, are waging a hard struggle against the two faces of the system.

Faced with this situation, it is imperative that the organization and struggles of the class-oriented trade union forces of each country are strengthened. At the same time, the Communist and Workers’ Parties, together with other progressive, workers’, left-wing forces in Europe, have a duty to exploit every arena of action to develop coordination and joint action on our continent so that we can resist anti-social measures and contribute towards working people’s struggles for their rights and just cause.

• For a Europe that will serve those who generate the wealth produced and drive the economy, that is to day the working people; that will ensure permanent, full and dignified employment for every citizen; that will build a socio-economic model of development that must guarantee education, housing, health and social insurance for each and every one.

• For the dissolution of NATO, the end of the militarization and interventionist policies of the EU; for the liberation of Europe from nuclear weapons, the reduction of military spending and the disengagement of our countries from PESCO. For resistance to ongoing imperialist wars and interventions that are uprooting the peoples. For solidarity with the struggling peoples of the world, such as the peoples of Palestine and Cuba.

• For the implementation of a policy of solidarity and humanity towards immigrants and refugees. For an end to the inhumane policy of letting refugees drown in the Mediterranean Sea, trapped in the slave-trade in Libya, becoming victims of acute exploitation by employers, state repression and fascist violence

• To fight fascism that is remerging in Europe; to resist the unhistorical and defamatory anti-communism that the EU is gradually institutionalizing in conjunction with the falsification of modern European history. To remind that the peoples have the power – as shown in the 20th century too – to crush fascism and the ultra-right forces again which the system deliberately permits to spread the poison of racist hatred, xenophobia, chauvinism, sexism and homophobia.

Dear Comrades,

We want to stress from this podium that AKEL wants to continue and strengthen the comradely relations of cooperation between our two Parties, both bilaterally, as well as within the framework of the international communist movement and in particular of the International Meetings of the Communist and Workers’ Parties. We strongly believe in the unity of action of the Communist and Workers Parties as the maximum expression of internationalism, solidarity and the common struggle of the world’s working people. Especially in view of the elections to the European Parliament, we believe that the Communist and Workers parties in each member state must be reinforced so that the Confederal Group of the Left (GUE/NGL) in the European Parliament is strengthened. GUE/NGL is a valuable arena of cooperation and action at a European level of forces, who with respect for their diversity, history, national and political traditions, perceive their duty as representing the voice of working people, social justice, democracy, solidarity, peace and progress within the European Parliament.

Comrades,

We would like to underline with this opportunity how important it is for us as well the international solidarity of the world communist movement with the struggle that AKEL and the Cypriot people are waging to end the 44-year Turkish occupation of 37% of the territory of our homeland and the division of our people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, with the force of arms. Moreover, we are going through a period when Turkey’s aggression against its neighboring peoples is intensifying, while the Turkish Navy’s provocations in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus are ongoing which constitute a violation of our country’s sovereignty. In these conditions, solidarity with the struggle for the liberation and reunification of Cyprus and its people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, is of particular importance. A just solution to the Cyprus Problem will be a milestone in the struggle against imperialism, but also for the cause of peace in the suffering region of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Dear Comrades,

The Communists and left people of Cyprus know that Italy’s modern history is characterized by the militant and revolutionary traditions of the workers’ and communist movement. Looking with respect, but also with optimism at the history, but also at today’s contribution of the communists of Italy, we express our solidarity with the actions and struggles of the Italian Communist Party. We express with you that our belief in humanity’s socialist future is not some wishful thinking or romantic utopia. Socialism is, above all, a just goal, both necessary and achievable. Despite the ups and downs, as well as setbacks, the wheel of History always moves forward.

With these thoughts in mind, we wish every success to the work of your National Congress.