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Athens Meeting 19-20 June 2003, Press Release by the CP of Greece
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From:
SolidNet, Wed, June 25 2003
=============================================================
The
Movements Against the War and the Capitalist Globalization,
and
the Communists?
19-20
June 2003, Athens
www.solidnet.org
Press Release by the CP of Greece
On 19th and
20th June, an international meeting of Communist and Workers? Parties on ?The Movements Against the War and
Capitalist Globalization, and the Communists? took place in
Athens, with the participation of 59 Communist and Workers? Parties. There were
some parties which despite their desire to participate, could not do so for
reasons related to the situation in their countries. They have sent greetings
and written contributions, which are also included in the material from the
meeting.
During the two day long
sessions, there was a creative exchange of views about the international
situation and significant experience from the growth of the peoples? struggle
and mass movements against the war and capitalist globalization was
presented.
Assessing the international
developments in this period, particularly the military intervention of US, Britain and Australia against the
people of Iraq and the occupation of that country, the participants
categorically condemned the dangerous escalation of imperialist aggressiveness
and the flagrant violation of the principles and rules of the international law.
This has led to an even deeper crisis in the UN, and its role in safe-guarding
peace and promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes between
states.
Some
participants speaking on trends and features of contemporary capitalism noted
that, under the current conditions, the neoliberal economic offensive is being
sharpened with severe consequences for the vast majority of the
wοrking people.
This offensive operating through international imperialist institutions also
aims to achieve the economic recolonization of the developing world.
As many speakers underlined, these
developments indicate that all peoples and their mass movements are facing the
threat of a global domination of monopoly capital, with the USA as the leading
power. Some participants expressed the concern that the current aggressiveness
is connected with developments that resemble fascistic trends. The participants
stressed the need for the parties and movements to develop the broadest and best
coordinated action possible in order to confront this dangerous situation
through a change in today?s balance of power on the national regional and
international levels.
The
participants deemed UN Security Council Resolution 1483/2003 of May 22, 2003 on
Iraq to be a very negative development, legalizing the aggression by describing
the invaders as ?occupation forces?; the acceptance of the doctrine of
pre-emptive war in the same resolution was also evaluated as very dangerous.
This doctrine has been supported since September 11,2001 by the USA, threatening
every force that in one way or an other oppose to its hegemony. Likewise
mentioned were the threats now being directed against Syria and Iran that the
war could spread.
The
participants expressed solidarity with the Iraqi people and their progressive
and democratic forces in their struggle to exercise their right to determine
their destiny with their own free will; putting an end to occupation and opening
up prospects for radical democratic change.
There
were mentions made that the United Nations should shoulder its responsibility,
in accordance its Charter and the Geneva Convention of 1949, to ensure
protection for the lives of Iraqi civilians and to prevent further violations of
their human rights by occupying forces.
The
threats by the U.S. administration against Iran threaten to engulf the entire
region in war and destruction. A US led military strike against Iran would be
catastrophic not only for the people of Iran, but also for the movement for
peace, progress and democracy the world over. The participants at the meeting
underscored that the future of Iran should only be decided by the Iranian people
and their progressive and democratic forces and no externally manipulated
alternative.
The
participants also took note of announcements made regarding the use of even
nuclear weapons and of the acceleration of the ?new generation? nuclear
armaments program of the USA, the ?National Missile Defense? (NMD) and ?Theatre
Missile Defenses? (TMD) in violation of the ABΜ treaty, reversing the earlier trends under the
SALT and START treaties towards gradual disarmament.
It was
underlined that the militarization of international relations is acquiring even
more dangerous features and that the threat of new military conflicts is growing
under the weight of rivalries and interventions.
Quite
a few speakers stressed the special role played by the decisions taken by the G8
in international politics, the role of the EU with the establishment of its own
interventionary ?rapid reaction force?. NATO with its new doctrine guided by the
concept of pre-emptive war and its new enlargement, in fact its turned into a
global policeman under the hegemony of US imperialism.
The
participants underscored that the whole of humanity is being targeted by
contemporary imperialism, which threatens peace, security and stability in many
regions of the planet.
At the
same time, it was stressed that despite the heightened aggressiveness of
imperialism after September 11, 2001, the great and hope-inspiring development
of this period has been the huge popular mobilizations and reactions against
imperialist wars (first, against the people of Afghanistan and now against the
people of Iraq). As many speakers noted, the new element in the case of Iraq has
been the mobilizations worldwide that took place before the imperialist
intervention putting forth the demand for this war to be prevented even in the case the UN approved it. A
good number of speakers referred as well to the specific demands made by this
movement in their countries that their governments refrained from taking part in
that war in any way whatsoever.
Quite
a few participants condemned the declarations and actions of imperialism against
Cuba and the achievements of the Cuban people, and against the DPR of Korea.
They expressed their solidarity with those countries, demanding that the
attempts to undermine them and the threats against their peoples
stop.
The
participants reiterated their support for the struggle of the Palestinian
people, rejected the labeling of this struggle as terrorist and consider the
Israeli occupation to be the source of violence in the region. Demonstrations of
solidarity with the just struggle of the Palestinian people to acquire its
independence and its own sovereign, viable state with East Jerusalem its capital
must become even stronger and expand all over the world, especially in the
conditions created by the occupation of Iraq, when US and through the so-called
?Quartet? (USA, EU, UN, Russia) wish to ?reshape? the whole region according to
their interests. The participants expressed their solidarity with the
peace-loving forces of Israel, with special attention given to the
manifestations of Israeli youngsters who refuse to serve in the army in occupied
territories, even at the cost of imprisonment.
The
participants condemned the ongoing occupation of Syrian and Lebanese territories
and demanded the unconditional withdrawal of Israeli troops and the return of
all refugees, in accordance with UN Resolutions 242, 338 and
194.
Several speakers stressed the
need for efforts supporting this struggle to be stepped up yet further in their
countries and for solidarity missions to be organized to the territory occupied
by Israel and to self-administered Palestinian areas. The participants
categorically condemned the flagrant violence committed by the Israeli
government on occupied Palestinian territory and the mass arrests and
imprisonment of Palestinians.
The participants expressed their solidarity and support to the struggle of the Cypriot people for a federal solution on the basis of the UN, for the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops, for the reunification of Cyprus and its people, which will contribute also to the peace in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Quite
a few speakers referred to steps taken that show an awakening and spirit for
struggle and resistance in the labor and trade union movement with the
reinforcement of the presence of class forces within it and the development of
new struggles putting forth their demands. Likewise stressed was the need to
develop action in the workplace and to further strengthen class forces in the
labor and trade union movement.
The
participants exchanged views regarding the movements against the war and the
capitalist globalization and the role of the communists in it. It was, moreover,
noted that the multiform movement against capitalist globalization has grown in
strength, as has the conflict within this movement with regard to its
orientations and the aims of its demand.
It was underscored that an
active policy of solidarity and support amongst CPs and WPs and also amongst
peoples? movements is needed. Quite a few speakers voiced the need for a number
of initiatives taken by various CPs and WPs or movements to be supported.
Amongst these, the following were mentioned
·
The campaign in solidarity with Cuba, also
demanding the release of the five Cuban patriots imprisoned in the US because
they fought against the terrorist groups of Miami, as well as campaigns for the
lifting of the US embargo against Cuba.
·
The initiatives against the plan for neoliberal
reconstruction of the economy of Latin America and the Caribbean that is expressed by ALCA, the Puebla ?
Panama Plan and its armed branch, the ?Colombia Plan?, which aims to confront
the resistance of every opposing social force, to isolate and eliminate the
guerilla movement of Colombia and subvert the legal and democratic Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela.
·
The coordination of actions against the plans
of the USA and EU to subjugate the economies of the Arab countries (Magreb ?
Mashrek)
·
The campaigns against the imperialist efforts
to recolonize ?third world? countries economically, culturally and
politically
·
The undertaking of active initiatives to
coordinate the action of our parties against the so-called capitalist
globalization, taking into consideration the new and growing movements against
the policies of imperialist governments and multinational enterprises.
The participants expressed the need for such
meetings of Communist and Workers? Parties to continue and increase in number,
while the need for broader meetings on the international level and meetings by
area and region focused on issues of interest was
stressed.
Also noted was the idea of seeking to hold
meetings of the parties in connection with large international events in order
to achieve a more collective elaboration of proposals and the most common
possible view and position. Such an opportunity will be offered during the World
Social Forum that will take place in Mumbai (India) in
2004.
It was, moreover, stressed by some
participants that the distinct presence, consultation and cooperation of
Communist and Workers? Parties constitute basic factors for the development of a
policy of alliances and cooperation. A policy with a positive impact which is
not in contradiction with the coordination and joint action of broader
democratic, anti ?imperialist, anti ? monopoly and patriotic forces as well as
of the multiform movement against capitalist
globalization.
It was noted that it is useful for the
discussion to be broadened and for views to be exchanged, with the development
of theoretical elaborations regarding the transformation of this society, and
the prospect for socialism under present
conditions.
Participants also mentioned the need to
further reinforce the internationalist solidarity of our parties with communists
and all progressive people and parties facing persecution and imprisonment and
whose activity is prohibited.
Furthermore, the need for solidarity in action against anti-democratic
discrimination and reactionary regulations targeting democratic rights and
liberties was expressed.
Athens, 20 June
2003
??????????.
List of Participants
Communist Party of Albania
Algerian Party for Democracy and
Socialism
Communist Party of
Armenia
Communist Party of
Australia
Communist Party of
Austria
Democratic Progressive Tribune ? Bahrein
Workers? Party of
Belgium
Communist Party of Brazil
Communist Party of
Britain
New Communist Party of
Britain
Bulgarian Communist Party «Georgi
Dimitrov»
Communist Party of
Canada
Colombian Communist Party
Communist Party of
Cuba
AKEL-Cyprus
Communist Party of Bohemia
Moravia
Communist Party in
Denmark
Communist Party of
Denmark
Communist Party of
Egypt
Communist Party of
Finland
French Communist
Party
Communist Party of Greece
Hungarian Workers?
Party
Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
(Marxist)
Tudeh Party of Iran
Iraqi Communist Party
The Workers? Party of
Ireland
Communist Party of Ireland
Communist Party of Israel
Communist Refoundation
Party
Party of the Italian
Communists
Workers? Party of
Korea
Socialist Party of Latvia
Lebanese Communist
Party
Communist Party of
Luxembourg
Popular Socialist Party of Mexico
Party of the Communists of Mexico
New Communist Party of the
Netherlands
Communist Party of
Norway
Portuguese Communist
Party
Romanian Communist
Party
Union of Communist
Parties-CPSU
Communist Party of Russian
Federation
Communist Workers? Party of Russia - Party of
Communists of Russia (RKRP-RPC)
Communist Party of
Slovakia
Communist Party of Spain
Communist Party of Peoples? of Spain
Sudanese Communist Party
Communist Party of
Sweden
Syrian Communist
Party
Syrian Communist
Party
Communist Party of
Turkey
The Party of Labor (EMEP)-Turkey
(observer)
Communist Party of
Ukraine
Union of Communists of
Ukraine
Communist Party,
USA
Communist Party of Vietnam
New Communist Party of
Yugoslavia
Parties that have sent written contributions and messages of greetings
Communist Party of Argentina
Communist Party of Bangladesh
Communist Party of Belarus
Communist Party of Bulgaria
Communist Party of Chile
Communist Party of China
FARC-EP
Socialist Party of Lithuania
Jordanian Communist
Party
Party of the Communists of Republic of
Moldova
Communist Party of Nepal (UML)
Communist Party of Palestine
Palestinian People?s Party
Communist Party of the Philippines ? PKP 1930
Communist Party of Poland
Socialist Labor Party of Romania
Workers? Party of Romania
Communist Party of Tadjikistan
Communist Party of Uruguay
*End*
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