Message of AKEL to the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam

 

 

Dear comrades,

 

The Central Committee of the Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) of Cyprus on the occasion of the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam conveys to our fraternal Party, to the communists and people of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, our most sincere, warm and militant comradely greetings. Your Congress is undoubtedly an important landmark in your country’s course for peace, social progress, all-round development and transformation in a socialist orientation. The members and cadres of AKEL wish every success to your Congress that will define the guidelines, goals and duties for the coming years.

The very theme of your 12th Congress sets out the heavy responsibilities and tasks of your Party, which stem precisely both from its vanguard role in all the long struggles of the Vietnamese people for peace, national independence, sovereignty and freedom, but also from its indispensable leadership in the effort to combat shortcomings and long-standing problems, tackle the contemporary challenges for strengthening socio-economic progress, developing the productive forces, harnessing all the potential to build the foundations of a modern developed and socialist Vietnam. We look forward to studying with great interest your assessment of the 30 year process of renewal, as well as the Congress decisions and resolutions on the future path of Vietnam. Your own evaluations represent at the same time a valuable contribution to the world communist movement’s experiences and a source of creative study.

 

Comrades,

It is no exaggeration to say that the monumental struggle above all of the truly heroic Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and comrade Ho Chi Minh, together with the support and strength of international solidarity, against US and French imperialism became and indeed still represents a source of hope and inspiration for all the struggling peoples all over the world – even more so for small countries, such as our own. National independence and freedom, liberation and the right of a sovereign people to decide their own fate are incompatible with the attempts by imperialism to impose their own will and interests on the peoples. AKEL and the communists of Cyprus, who highly appreciate and have strong feelings towards your heroic struggle and great anti-imperialist Victory, will always keep the memory alive of this huge contribution to the people’s struggles.

AKEL on this occasion expresses its continuing solidarity with the victims of Agent Orange who are still to this day suffering the consequences of the imperialist barbarity and crimes committed.

 

Comrades,

The international situation is characterised by imperialism’s ongoing aggression against the sovereignty of states, its manifold interventions under the guise of so-called “humanitarian interventions”, in flagrant violation of every aspect of International Law and the UN Charter. This global offensive in essence to control and determine the very destiny of peoples and sovereign states also constitutes an expression of the global crisis of capitalism which seeks, inter alia, through neo-liberal globalisation and policies, its control over international financial institutions, its numerous military interventions and global network of bases to serve the interests of big capital and multinational companies. Never before has humanity faced so many dangers. These very interventions and policies have given rise to the phenomena of fanaticism, fundamentalism and bigotry with disastrous consequences, as witnessed, inter alia, in the cases of Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. While shedding hypocritical tears about human rights it conveniently keeps silent about the plight of many suffering peoples, such as the heroic Palestinian people. US imperialism’s declared goal of strengthening its presence and interventions in the area of Asia is just one example of this constant drive to impose its domination on the peoples of the region.

In the face of this situation, we believe it is more than ever before imperative to build a broad and mass organised peace and solidarity movement, defend and uphold the basic principles of International Law, promote joint actions and initiatives and forge a front of resistance to this barbarity unfolding all over the world. The further militarisation of international relations, the drive for military solutions and the issuing of threats of war do not and have not solved regional conflicts and eased hotbeds of tension, but exacerbated them. The peoples of the world must rise up and raise their voices. We appreciate Vietnam’s role in upholding fundamental principles promoting world peace, national independence and the sovereignty of peoples. Communist Parties are called upon to play a decisive role in these struggles, leading by example and being in the forefront.

 

Comrades,

Forty two years on and Cyprus is still suffering from the results of the NATO-engineered fascist coup d’état and subsequent Turkish invasion and occupation of our island. Turkey continues to violate numerous UN resolutions, colonising the occupied areas and consolidating its manifold presence. A section of the international community is still tolerating this unacceptable situation, thus seeking to serve its own geo-strategic interests in our volatile area. Currently negotiations are ongoing under UN auspices to solve the Cyprus problem. AKEL is making its own decisive and constructive contribution for the reunification of our country and people, for the withdrawal of the occupation troops, for a solution based on principles that would above all serve the interests of the Cypriot people, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. AKEL is struggling for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution, for a united state with a single indivisible sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship. We will not under any circumstances accept any foreign guardianship and guarantees. AKEL as always counts on your consistent solidarity and support.

 

Comrades,

In expressing its wishes for a successful and productive Congress, AKEL reiterates its strong desire to further deepen the fraternal and traditionally close bi-lateral relations between our Parties, but also between our peoples at all levels. We also look forward to continuing and enhancing our joint work within the framework of the international communist meetings.

 

Best comradely greetings,

The Central Committee of AKEL