The 18th Pancyprian Congress of EDON which was held from the 2nd until the 4th of January 2016 in Nicosia, after an in-depth discussion on the situation in Middle East, concluded:
A. The importance and the control of energy resources and routes in the area of the Middle East, have always been among the priorities of imperialism, have taken grate role due to the antagonism and the need created by the global capitalist crisis.
B. The invasion and occupation of Iraq by NATO and the US, was only the beginning of the machinations for redeploying the area and implementing NATO’s plan for the creation of the so called “New Middle East”. The chain of events following the -so called- "Arab Spring", where also followed by the intervention of the NATO, the EU and its allies in the region (Turkey, Israel and the Arab Gulf States in particular), in order to obtain a share in the control of the newly formed situation. The expansion of NATO’s influence in the region is being implemented, spreading death and the uprooting of the peoples. The redrawing of borders is being carried out through with the shedding of the blood of the region's peoples, mostly civilians, women and children and the thousands of migrants and refugees are drowned in the Mediterranean Sea.
C. Within this framework, by supporting extreme fascist groups and similar elements, the US and E.E. intervened in Libya causing an ongoing chaos. Using the same methods they proceeded to the intervention in Syria, which resulted to a civil war out of any control. They equipped, trained and financially supported dangerous groups and organizations, in order to use them for further destabilizing the area.
D. In this way they have set free the forces of “Islamic State”, which have committed gruesome crimes against the local populations, and recently against civilians in other countries (Lebanon, France, Turkey and Russia). NATO’s and its allies’ plans in the region are linked to the armament and the indirect support to the “Islamic State”, nevertheless as they realize that the situation is out of hand and that the “Islamic State” consist a great danger to their own countries as well. Now they are rushing to deal with this situation, as they themselves have admitted to the creation, armament and training of the “Islamic state”. In fact, the actions of the “Islamic State” in the region, serve their interest, as these actions contribute significantly in destabilizing the situation and creating chaos, mainly in Syria, so as to take advantage of the energy resources of the country, by making direct military interventions, which will face weak resistance.
E. Middle East and South Africa still consist a vast battle field. Libya is still in a chaos situation, with internal conflicts among the various religious and other groups. Iraq is in danger of being divided in three areas.
F. The people of Syria exhausted by the civil war and the cruelty of “Islamic State”, are driven to abandon the country in masses and become refugees, facing racism and xenophobia, among others. The war in Syria affects neighbouring countries as well, such as Lebanon, who has to deal with constant Israeli threads. At the same time religious and sectarian conflicts, which were supported by NATO and especially their allies (Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey) are spread all over the region. The bombings in Yemen by Saudi Arabia forces, have lead the country to a dead end, and at the same time progressive and democratic forces find no response to their appeal for solution through political discussion.
G. Palestinian people continue to struggle against the Israeli occupation, under the constant threat of war in the area. The State of Israel has consolidated the “status quo” of the occupied Palestinian territories. Through the escalation of colonization and the murderous attacks against Palestinians, Israel undermines all efforts to create an independent and viable Palestinian state, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Η. Under these conditions, international problems (Cyprus, Kurdish and Palestinian) continue to exist in an increasingly complex situation, both internationally and regionally.
Taking into consideration the abovementioned situation, the 18th Pancyprian Congress of EDON, concluded to the following:
1. In this context, the mass struggle of youth against the imperialist plans is more necessary than ever, for an immediate end to all interventions in the Middle East that reproduce violence, chaos and bloodshed and create the worst conditions for the peoples of the region.
2. We make an appeal to the youth to follow the path of organized struggle and forge a front of resistance against any reactionary, obscurantist, fascist and fundamentalist force. Young people should support and actively participate, at national and international level, in the anti-imperialist peace movement, which is struggling against imperialism, the system that creates war, occupation, fascism and exploitation.
3. We firmly believe that the future of the peoples and the youth cannot dependent on imperialist plans of any kind, inter-imperialist contradictions and rivalries. We call on the peoples and the youth to take the future into their own hands and fight for lasting peace, in a society that will guarantee freedom, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and social justice.
JANUARY 2016, NICOSIA