Dear comrades,
Firstly, I would like to convey the militant greetings of the Central Committee of AKEL to the fighting progressive Youth forces –members of the World Federation of Democratic Youth- with the occasion of the 70 Years Anniversary of the Federation.
Today, more than ever, a counter-attack of the peoples and especially of the youth over the imperialist plans and the aggressive neoliberal policies, is a historical necessity. A necessity generated by the deadlocks created by the capitalist system and its aggressive and catastrophic consequences.
Some kilometers away from Cyprus, the peoples of the region are becoming the victims of a humanitarian catastrophe caused by a sequence of events related to the profound intensification of the contradiction and competition between the world's powerful centers. The American-inspired plan for a "New Middle East" is materialized over the graves of thousands of innocent civilians, the destruction of cities and civilizations, the creation of waves of millions of refugees and the continuing atrocities held by the most extreme fundamentalist forces we have ever witnessed. The fundamentalist monsters though, are not a historical accident. The Islamic State is an uncontrolled monster that grew up and fed by the US and its allies in the region and it is now enforced further by Turkey. But this is not a profound story. We have seen the same story repeated with Al-Qaida and Al-Nusra that have been transformed from allies to enemies so that the return of imperialism in the Middle East in the role of the “liberator” would always remain recurrent.
At this point, I would like to stress that AKEL opposes any plans that set Cyprus part of the current warfare in the region. In particular we oppose Cyprus being used by the British as a military and spy launching pad of operations for the whole of the Middle East, a fact which undermines the independence of Cyprus and enhances the danger for our country because of this indirect involvement in their criminal plans for the region.
At the same time we are fighting against the government's goal for Cyprus to join NATO or its offshoot, the so-called "Partnership for Peace", a development that would lead to new adventures, both for our people and the cause of the solution of the Cyprus problem. Also, our stable position on this issue lets to the prevention of any thoughts of the Cypriot right-wing to include NATO as part of a solution of the Cyprus Problem.
Dear comrades,
We witness an unprecedented militarization of the planet and of international relations, while the flagrant violation of International Law and the prevalence of the policy of double standards are being embedded further and the machinations for a subordination and, in some cases, of a substitution of the United Nations by the US, Britain and NATO are increasing.
The expansion of NATO to the east, the penetration of the EU in Eastern Europe, Obama's proclaimed "US turn to Southeast Asia and the Pacific" and the plans for the geopolitical encirclement of Russia and China respectively, reveal the intentions of the imperialist centres.
The pro-Western fascist coup d’état in Ukraine, with the support of the US, EU and the participation of neo-Nazis, was aimed at detaching the country from its historical relations with Russia and at annexing the country.
In Latin America, US interventions are encountering stiff resistance in most of the countries. The danger of a conservative setback - either through coup d'états or the waging of wars of attrition against progressive governments - remains. The recent results of the elections in Venezuela reveal the causes of the results of the pro-US reactionary opposition policies and actions. The left, anti-imperialist governments of these countries have carried out work to the benefit of their peoples, while at the same time regional cooperations (ALBA, CELAC) are opening up perspectives for the liberation from the American hegemony. In this framework, the socialist Cuba remains a shining beacon and a source of inspiration for the peoples of the entire world.
NATO is developing and expanding further its activities by strengthening its war machine. The US is further expanding the network of military bases all over the world and is continuing with the construction of a missile defense shield.
In Eastern Europe, NATO's military exercises have increased drastically, focusing on the Baltics, aiming at a permanent NATO presence in the region. The danger of nuclear destruction remains unabated, given that the NATO nuclear states are impeding the prospect for a global nuclear disarmament and at the same time are providing full cover to Israel which has a nuclear arsenal, in violation of the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Religious fundamentalism, nationalism/chauvinism, fascism, the fomenting of ideologies about a "war of civilizations" and liberal cosmopolitanism are tools for the manipulation of the masses in order to achieve their participation or consent of imperialist pursuits, as well as to suppress any political and popular force of resistance.
Fascism, extreme reactionary and racist organizations are on the rise, obscuring with their supposedly anti-systemic language the causes of exploitation and the crisis.
Anti-communism and the campaign to equate communism with fascism, is also a strategic choice of the national and transnational power centers, in order to repel the popular masses, and especially the young generation from the Communist Left, the force which can organize and give effective orientation to the struggles underway. At this period we have witnessed the recent unacceptable ban of the Communist Party of Ukraine by the fascist regime of Kiev. This issue must become further an affair with which the international solidarity could be expressed by all the progressive forces around the world.
AKEL supports for the denuclearization of the Mediterranean Sea as a correct step towards peace and stability. AKEL will intensify the enlightenment of the people and its struggle against the rise of reactionary and neo-fascist forces in Europe. AKEL expresses its solidarity with the persecuted Communist Parties and organizations, combats these trends and together with the international movement projects the historical truth.
Comrades,
The crisis of the system, the poverty it causes, the wars and instability it generates, are confirming the timeliness and necessity of socialism for humanity. This should always be our orientation in our struggles and political lines. At the same time, we have to propose alternative answers to the daily problems and challenges that the humanity and the peoples of our countries are facing. We should do our outmost in order to prevent the neoliberal and imperialist goals in all levels of our political tasks.
I would like to conclude by congratulating WFDY for the fighting spirit it spreads to the millions of young people belonging in the Youth Organizations-members all over the world. Let’s wish that the militant youth shall be the forefront for the international struggle for peace, prosperity and social progress.
Long live the Anniversary of the 70 Years of WFDY!
Long live the international solidarity!
ETKA PEO, 4th January 2016