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070107
General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL and
President of the House of Representatives com. Demetris Christofias speech
at the 15th Congress of EDON.
Young comrades,
The Central Council of EDON
(the progressive youth organisation of the Left aligned to AKEL) has handed
me the task to speak about the situation in Cyprus and the world today, as
well as about the position and role of the Left.
We do not live in isolation
here in Cyprus from the rest of the world. Even more so when in today's
contemporary conditions characterised by the rapid expansion of transport,
telecommunications, informatics, in general of the sciences and technology
but also of economic relations, the whole world seems much smaller than
ever. We are all witnessing the phenomenon of globalisation.
It is therefore quite
natural that what is developing in the world affects us directly or
indirectly. Consequently it is not possible to have a proper understanding
of the situation in our own country if we do not also have a correct
understanding about what is going on in the world in general and what
influence these developments have.
The Left has always been
identified by its internationalist character. AKEL is a component part of
the international radical Left movement. As a part of this movement we are
influenced and on our part we participate actively in the process of the
development and progress of the Left movement. Therefore we have a duty to
study the course of the Left on an international level, to think about its
present and future and to exchange ideas and share experiences, which every
party gains through the struggle for a better tomorrow.
Allow me therefore young
comrades to use the time given to me to share with you some ideas regarding
the contemporary world and also some thoughts concerning the role which the
contemporary radical Left is called upon to play in the current
international situation. And of course within the framework of this general
framework we should also look at our own role, our own course and our own
priorities here in our small and suffering homeland.
The 20th century began with
a great universal change: the outbreak and victory of the Great October
Socialist Revolution, which we shall honour its 90th anniversary this year.
The October Revolution and the transformation of socialism from a theory
into practise made its mark on the whole of the previous century. The
Russian October and the other socialist revolutions which followed it
changed the course of history. They showed that another different world, a
world of social justice, solidarity, labour, culture and peace is possible.
Despite all the efforts of all kinds of conservatives, reactionaries and
anti-communists, they cannot bury this great historical truth.
Unfortunately, the end of
the 20th century was accompanied by a tragic step backwards. The post-war
leaders and theoreticians of capitalism played a clever game. Fearing the
end they made sacrifices, exhibited adaptability and flexibility. They also
used aggressive methods by waging wars and by intensifying the arms race,
but also by utilising other more shrewd means through making manoeuvres and
by making concessions when they were in a tight corner. The leaderships of
the countries of existing socialism were lured into the abyss of an arms
race. Scientific and technological revelations of great and huge importance
were not used to modernise the means of production. Mistakes, shortcomings,
and distortions of the socialist idea in practise, dogmatic positions and in
the end the betrayal led to the restoration of capitalism in the most of the
countries which had taken the socialist path.
It is not the first time
that such a dramatic step backwards in the development of the world had
taken place. However, the history of mankind teaches us that regression and
mediaeval situations, however reactionary and terrible they are, in the end
retreat, because progress is a general law whilst the victory of the forces
of reaction is always a temporary phenomenon. Capitalism, which is based on
the exploitation of man by man and puts profits over people and culture,
cannot and should not be the eternal fate of humanity.
The dissolution of the
Soviet Union and the community of socialist countries in Europe were
accompanied by a full-frontal counter-attack of the old world. Capitalism in
its most reactionary and aggressive form, that is to say imperialism, is
attempting currently to sweep everything in its way aside. Big business,
especially the multinational companies, are trying to take their revenge
over the forces of labour. The counter-attack of reactionary forces is
developing on different levels. On the political level this is mainly
expressed through the so-called new world order; on the socio-economic level
through the all round promotion of the sub-culture of imperialism. The new
world order, neo-liberal globalisation and sub-culture are intertwined and
unfortunately represent to a large degree the reality of the contemporary
world.
The new world order is
nothing but the contemporary expression of imperialism. Since history should
teach us lessons, we remind everyone that Hitler also tried to impose his
own new world order which led to the holocaust of the Second World War. The
new world order reaffirms the aggressive nature of imperialism which, in
order to serve the interests of monopoly.-multinational capital of the
United States and their close allies, does not hesitate at all to cause
bloodshed all over the world. This is the case whenever great crimes have
been committed in the name of lofty values. Bush and his like constantly go
on about democracy, freedom and human rights. Behind these fine hollow words
they are camouflaging their insatiable thirst for world supremacy, for the
control of the energy resources of the planet and in order to produce even
greater profits for the multinational companies.
With or without any pretexts
the new world order is waging aggressive wars. The absence of an opposing
force enables them to play the game of war. Lenin is being daily vindicated
when a hundred years ago he pointed out that imperialism is synonymous with
war.
They allegedly liberated
Yugoslavia and the only thing they had achieved was to totally break up a
big country, revive chauvinism and push a proud people into the abyss of a
bloody civil war whose final act we have yet to see.
They allegedly liberated
Afghanistan and the only thing they have managed to achieve was to replace
the medieval regime of the Taliban with a new reactionary regime of the same
ilk.
They are allegedly doing
everything to impose a new state of affairs in the Middle East and all the
more they are causing untold bloodshed on the heroic people of Palestine and
the martyrdom people of Lebanon.
Whatever country dares to
resist or oppose the plans of the new World Order is put on the blacklist of
the forces of evil and is viewed as a potential target in the next
adventurous attacks of the United States and their allies.
However, let no one think
that it is only the countries of the so-called Third World which are
suffering from the new imperialist order. In Europe and the United States
themselves democracy is being curtailed in the name of the war against
terrorism. Human rights are being violated in the name of combating
terrorism. Once upon a time capitalism used fascist violence to solve its
contradictions. Today things are somewhat different. The element however of
violence, suppression, terrorism - perhaps in different forms and ways -
continues to be at the service of the old world and is being utilised.
Young comrades,
The new world order has made
the struggle of our people for the liberation from the Turkish occupation
and the reunification of our homeland even more difficult. The struggle of
our people was always difficult, due to the support given by imperialism to
Turkey. Since the beginning of the 1990's matters were made even more
difficult due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the community of
socialist states in Europe, the weakening of the Non-Aligned Movement, but
also due to the upgraded and enhanced role of Turkey in the strategic plans
of imperialism. It is in the reality of the new world order that one should
identify the true cause of the prolongation of the Cyprus problem, the
formulation of plans for the solution of the Cyprus problem unacceptable to
our people and the pressures being exerted on Cyprus to accept solutions
which serve foreign powers and forces but which will not be in the interests
of our people Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. All those who in a
calculated way put in one way or the other the blame on the shoulders of our
won side purposely or unwittingly decriminalise Turkey and the new world
order.
Given that the new world
order defines to a great extent the fate of the world what then do we do? Do
we perhaps simply give up and accept in a fatalist way whatever is presented
before us? Or do we go to the other extreme by putting aside all that has
been agreed upon up till today, refusing any kind of compromise with our
Turkish Cypriot compatriots and by pursuing a policy guided by illusions,
single-mindedness and "heroic" maximalism? For AKEL such a dilemma does not
exist, because both options lead to the same end result: the consolidation
of partition. We want to reunify our country. Hence, what is needed and
indeed must be our option is the continuation of the struggle with
determination, faith in our forces, consistency on principles and on what
has been agreed upon, but also with realism and a stance of compromise not
however with occupation but with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots. This is
the real, patriotic Left, if you like, policy followed by AKEL.
Comrades,
The second front of the
counter-attack of the forces of international capital is globalisation that
is closely tied to an unfettered anti-popular conservatism, which they call
neo-liberalism. I hasten to underline categorically that we as the Left are
not in principle against globalisation. Anyway it was the classical pioneers
of Marxism who had predicted and indeed they were the first to speak about
this process constituting an objective process in the development of human
society. We are however against the content globalisation has, which is
sacrificing progress and technological development in order to serve the
interests of the multinational companies.
The social gains in the
socialist countries, the strength of example transmitted by these countries
in combination with the struggles of the working people in the capitalist
countries themselves and the fear of a new wave of socialist revolutions,
forced the ruling class after the Second World War to make significant
concessions to the working people of the Western countries. Indeed in a
number of Western European countries, such as for example the Scandinavian
Peninsula countries, introduced institutions promoting a social state, which
really served the interests of the popular strata for several decades.
Now that the opposing pole
in the form of the socialist community does not exist, now that some believe
that the spectre of communism has ceased to hover over Europe, now that the
workers movement on a global scale is in retreat monopolistic capital
considers that the time has come to take back all that it was forced to
concede some time ago to the working people. In this way it intends to
greatly increase its all-round profits. This is in effect the essence of
neo-liberalism. This is in effect the essence of the widely publicised free
market which is aiming to dismantle and undermine the social state and make
the working people captives at the mercy of the employers and the unbridled
operation of the laws of the market.
The economic policy
emanating from Washington and to a large extent also from Brussels - through
the Lisbon strategy and directives such as the Bolkestein directive etc. -
is fully in line with the philosophy and objectives of neo-liberalism. Under
the pretext allegedly of modernisation the so-called flexible forms of work
are being promoted to the detriment of regulated and agreed upon labour
relations. Personal contracts are now replacing collective agreements.
Social and economic gains are being abolished or nullified. The example of
COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) is characteristic, which has been abolished
in nearly all the European countries. Great pressure is being put on the
trade union movement which is being weakened, resulting in damaging its
capacity to defend the rights of working people. Unemployment is kept at
high levels in order to be used as a means of blackmailing working people so
that they can accept cuts in wages, benefits and terms of work. The biggest
victims of neo-liberalism are young people. Rampant capitalism is killing
all that is best in mankind, the young generation and its dreams. That is
also why the heart of the young people beats on the Left.
All that we have referred to
above not only does not lead to modernisation, but on the contrary turn the
wheel of history back in time to an age of acute and merciless exploitation.
On the basis of these
current realities the skilful attempt which for decades had been conducted
to convince the people that the nature of capitalism had allegedly changed,
that we have entered into an allegedly post-capitalist society of the
harmonious coexistence of all interests is collapsing. Modern capitalism not
only has maintained but has intensified its exploitative nature.
The conservative forces in
our times have found in social democracy a powerful ally. Social democracy
in the past had contributed significantly to the development of a welfare
state. We should acknowledge this. Unfortunately currently, bar a few
exceptions, social democracy is fully aligned with the policy of
neo-liberalism. In this way it offers an alibi to big capital to present
neo-liberalism as a philosophy of common acceptance and consensus, as the
alleged contemporary outlook on society and the economy.
The countries which in the
past were colonies of the major capitalist forces or were dependent on them
today are paying the greatest price for globalisation. Colonialism has kept
these countries for decades in misery. When after many years of struggle and
with the support of the socialist community the peoples under colonialism
had gained their independence, they faced poverty, the absence of
infrastructure and a lack of capital and technical know-how. That is to say
that all the preconditions existed for the dependence on the former colonial
powers to continue. Consequently this dependence took the form of
neo-colonialism. In order that they could maintain their hold over the newly
independent countries the big imperialist states favoured or even organised
through military coup de etats the ascent to power of autocratic and corrupt
regimes and leaders, who only did everything but what their peoples actually
needed, that is to say to continuously import weapons and to use their
resources to conduct wars. The Third World spent billions on buying arms
from the big military industries, mainly those from the United States.
Neo-colonialism put a huge
debt on the shoulders of the Third World countries. These debts constitute a
time-bomb on the foundations of the planet. In the conditions of
globalisation the exploitation of these countries and peoples has
intensified even more. Today especially the countries of Africa are in an
even worse condition since they gained their independence. Wars and the
genocides committed are not even enough: hunger, destitution and illnesses
are decimating entire populations.
The misery existing in many
countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America forces millions of people to
search for a better tomorrow in the developed countries of the West. The
wave of immigration is continuously growing and is creating new problems.
The leaders of the economically developed countries are trying to tackle it
through prohibitions and by closing all the more the routes of immigration
flows. The solution to the problem cannot be prohibitions. The solution to
the problem is the development of these countries so that everyone can enjoy
a dignified existence and life in their own homeland.
Talking about economic
immigrants and because it is a problem which also concerns us here in Cyprus
and because many times we are faced by xenophobic phenomena and racism, I
believe its right to remind ourselves of certain things. It's right that we
remember that not a very long time ago tens of thousands of our own
compatriots, due to the misery and poverty prevailing in Cyprus, were forced
to take the journey to foreign lands. They found themselves in the same
position that the economic immigrants find themselves today in Cyprus. They
encountered many difficulties, suffered acute exploitation, the hardship
exercised by the authorities, social rejection and prejudiced treatment.
Therefore, the arrogance shown by some Europeans and which in turn enables
them to think of themselves as being superior and to approach with contempt
foreigners does not befit us and does not honour us, and above all else is
totally incompatible with the ideals which the Left stands for.
Young comrades,
The cultural front is not
something of less significance. Within the framework of the new world order
and neo-liberal globalisation attempts are being made to subjugate the
peoples not only through the waging of wars and economic robbery, but also
through the undermining of their culture. The subculture of imperialism, the
so-called American way of life is aiming to cut us off from our roots,
undermine the particular identity of every people and to transform us into
mere consumers not only of the products and services of the multinationals
but also of the "values" of modern capitalism. We the people of the Left are
consistent fighters of nationalism. We are passionate promoters of
internationalism; an internationalism however that respects and honours the
culture of every people and which has nothing whatsoever to do with an
American-inspired and imposed cosmopolitanism.
Young comrades,
We have outlined the
contemporary world by presenting a realistic picture. The glorification of
capitalism, the new world order and neo-liberalism, the exaltation of the
United States and the European Union have nothing to do with our own
position. This does not help in any way help peoples who wish to struggle to
achieve a better tomorrow. It is something alien for those people whose
ultimate goal is not to become integrated within the system but on the
contrary who seek to resist the system. As the slogan of your Congress so
eloquently says, "We change our lives by changing the world".
Pessimism is also something
that does not characterise us. It's true that the environment which
surrounds us is bleak, but this does not mean that we have somehow lost the
colours of life. Especially this does not mean that the colour red has faded
altogether, the red colour of hope but also of struggle.
We stressed before that
contemporary capitalism is not only maintaining but is also intensifying its
exploitative nature. One can also add another Marxist principle, which is
that modern global capitalism also reproduces its own contradictions. The
contradiction between capital and labour always remains the fundamental
contradiction. But it is not the only contradiction that exists. It is
complemented by the contradiction between the overwhelming I would say
majority of human society on the one hand and multinational capital on the
other. The interests of working people in the cities and countryside, the
middle strata, the people of intellectual labour, the self-employed in one
way or another find themselves in contradiction with the thirst of big
business to secure even more profit. There is also the contradiction between
war, whose agency is imperialism, and peace which is the desire of all
peoples. There is the contradiction between imperialism and all the poor and
oppressed peoples. There is the catastrophe surrounding the environment
brought on by the endless drive for profit and in that sense capitalism is
in contradiction with the very future of our planet itself. There are also
the contradictions between the imperialists themselves and which in the past
have led to two world wars. Even though today these contradictions may not
lead to world wars we are however witnesses to the waging of relentless
economic and political wars.
All these contradictions
give rise to and regenerate the class struggle, which we can see unfolding
in every corner of the world; even if some forces and people have announced
that it has alleged come to an end. All of these contradictions led to the
establishment of the world social forum and the movement against
globalisation, the regeneration of the peace movement and the solidarity
movement with the struggling peoples such as the Palestinian people or the
people of Cuba who are defending their revolution. These contradictions have
formed the movement for the defence of democracy and human rights, which are
under attack in the name of combating terrorism. All of these contradictions
have regenerated the revolutionary movement in Latin America, which is
transmitting messages full of hope to the whole world through the advance of
Left-wing governments in a number of countries despite the fierce reaction
of the United States.
Contradictions are therefore
the driving force of life and history. It is through this antagonism,
through struggle that the wheels of history are moving forward. Whilst
capitalism endeavours to present itself as victorious, life itself once
again brings to the fore the need to face barbarism, to open up the path
that will not lead to exploitation, wars and misery; that will lead to
social justice, real freedom and peace. In short, life and capitalism itself
with its contradictions once again bring to the forefront the need for
socialism.
It is precisely at this
juncture that the Left, and particularly the radical Left, is called upon to
play its role which is embodied with the great theoretical heritage and
invaluable experience of Marxism and Leninism. Hence the radical Left is
called upon to play a pioneering role so that this rage if you like
regarding injustice should be channelled into conscious organised struggle
for what is right, democracy, peace, for the ordinary man and woman, for
socialism. In order to achieve this it is not enough to simply condemn
capitalism, the new world order and neo-liberalism. What is also needed is
the elaboration of proposals that can offer answers not only to the big
questions but also to the day to day problems of people in every corner of
the planet. We need to gain the leading position in the daily struggles
through our own activities, because it is only though our daily struggle
that we can build the foundations to make history.
The Marxist Left does not
seek to monopolise the struggle. It does not strive to dominate the struggle
for democracy and socialism. It seeks to offer its services and enhance its
participation. It has the experience and the qualities to work in an
effective manner for the unity of all the progressive forces and the better
organisation of the struggle. It is characterised by firmness, conviction,
determination, endeavour and a great spirit. It is ready to make every
sacrifice so that we can open up new avenues for a better tomorrow.
We must acknowledge that the
international movement of the Left has a long way to go yet. The traumatic
experiences and the big blows given by our class opponents, the mistakes of
the Movement itself led to an introvert stand, disappointments, a decrease
in the influence and fragmentation of its forces. All of these developments
perhaps will not be so easy to overcome. However we have the duty to fight,
starting from the unity in action on issues that unite us all. I believe
that there are many such issues where our positions are identical or similar
and through a sincere comradely dialogue we can continuously enrich them.
We should put the issues on
international solidarity in the forefront of our struggle. Internationalism
was and remains one of the fundamental pillars of our own outlook.
Internationalism was and is our force and pride. It should not however be a
mere theoretical declaration but put into practise and develop unity in
action. Cuba needs us. Palestine needs us. Cyprus needs the solidarity of
its friends.
Young comrades,
In Cyprus we are fortunate
in having a powerful Party of the working people and a broad mass-based
People's Movement of the Left with very clear ideological orientations. The
position that the Left holds in Cyprus was gained through struggles waged
over eight decades, many sacrifices and invaluable services to our homeland
and people. We also went through trying times at various periods of time. We
have always managed to fight against the hardships and in coming through the
adversities to be stronger than ever. This represents a great success: a
victory on which we can base our further course of struggle on.
Taking into account what is
going on today and the general attack on the progressive movement and the
gains of the working people we must assess correctly our own position.
Irrespective of any possible mistakes or shortcomings we must assess the
fact that not only have we managed to maintain our strength and influence,
but in addition we also have a continuously more substantive intervention at
all levels of Cypriot life. Our people embrace us with affection and show
their trust in us, which is renewed at every election contest. Our Party is
one of the main forces that shape and form Cypriot reality. Foreigners and
locals, friends and opponents all recognise that without AKEL a proper
solution of the Cyprus problem cannot be found. We are in the front line and
the protagonist of the rapprochement between the two communities. We stood
and stand as the force of resistance to neo-liberalism. Even during the
administration of the Rally Party we stood as an obstacle to the plans to
sell off of the semi-governmental sector, abolish the Cost of Living
Allowance, throw the savings of the Social Providence Fund into the "black
hole" of the Stock Exchange and undermine the gains and rights of working
people. We were the main lever for the achievement of Change. Today AKEL is
participating in the administration of the country. We are one of the main
factors in the policy being followed in favour of working people. We are
struggling for the further consolidation and enhancement of the social state
both inside and outside of Parliament, both inside and outside the
Government, in the mass popular movement and in all the organised bodies.
We appreciate the measures
being taken by the government for the upgrading of the social state. We
continue however to believe that the improvement in the financial situation
of the state enables the implementation of a more generous social policy and
we shall continue to work in this direction. More concretely we shall
amongst other things work for the introduction of the institution of the
Easter extra benefit for the pensioners with aim of introducing an extra 14
month payment of pension, for the restoration of the way the Cost of Living
Allowance is calculated, for the granting of the benefit to mothers to be
given to pensioned mothers with large families, for the improvement in the
way the child allowance for families with three children is granted, for the
provision of a benefit to single-child families based on wage criteria, for
the increase in the tax-free amount and the re-adaptation of the tax scales
on the basis of the inflation rate, for the reduction of the consumer tax on
heating petrol.
Talking here in front of you
all I would like to repeat emphatically that AKEL is opposed to the
extension of the retirement age, especially in the education sector. We
shall continue with consistency the struggle until the recognition of the
right to school student unionism within schools. We shall continue with
consistency our common struggle for the implementation in practise of the
Educational reform, for the satisfaction of the additional demands of the
student movement. Together we must continue our common desire to promote the
problems of young workers and to attract them to join the ranks of EDON.
Bearing all of this in mind
our first concern should be the safeguarding, defence and further
strengthening of our Party and the Popular Movement in general, of which
EDON is a component part, precisely because they represent the force which
can in turn effectively defend the interests of the country, the Cypriot
people and working people.
The safeguarding and
strengthening of our Movement is achieved through comradely dialogue, the
deepening of democracy, but also through the respect shown to our moral
values and organisational principles. This year we shall be called upon to
take important decisions of decisive importance regarding the future of our
country but also of the Left in this country. Some have hastened to
anticipate these decisions. They are not concerned of course either about
the well-being of the country, or about the well-being of the Left. They are
attempting to ferment trouble and divisions within our ranks. We won't do it
for their sake, we shall disappoint them.
We shall wage a discussion
at all the levels of the party structure. We shall also develop our thinking
throughout the whole spectrum of the Popular Movement. We shall do the same
with our friends. We shall discuss in a composed manner, with respect to
every opinion expressed and by having at the centre of our thoughts the good
of our country and people. Our only aspiration is for the Left to offer even
more services to the country. We shall take our decisions democratically.
From the moment we take our decisions we will give all our forces as one in
the struggle to implement these decisions: without any wavering, without any
grumbling and without looking back. As I have said on many occasions, when
the cadres and members of AKEL, when the cadres and members of EDON, when
the people of the Left in Cyprus set their minds on a goal, they can achieve
successes.
Young comrades,
In the period that has
passed we have rightly honoured the 80th anniversary of the Communist Party
of Cyprus - AKEL. We have honoured our veterans, our history, the sacrifices
and struggles of this great Party and fine Movement of the Left. The
celebrations in honour of these 80 years may have reached a climax, however
the milestone of the 80th anniversary will be a shinning beacon which will
guide our thoughts, steps and struggles.
The founding fathers of the
communist movement and the members and cadres of AKEL who took their place
and joined the movement had only one aspiration: To struggle for the freedom
of Cyprus, to fight for the common man and woman so that the vision of
socialist change can become a reality also in our own homeland.
Today, all of us are
continuing the struggle in the same direction. We are struggling to
vindicate our Cyprus; we are fighting to make the life of ordinary working
people better; we are fighting to bring the day of socialist change nearer.
There are no better noble and more glorious visions and ideals. They all
give a meaning to our life. Do not allow anyone dear comrades to throw a
dark shadow over these visions and ideals. Do not allow anyone to lead you
away from the road of struggle today within the ranks of EDON and tomorrow
within the ranks of AKEL. However difficult the conditions may be in the end
we shall be victorious, because the Left is synonymous with life, a vehicle
for progress and the pioneer of the future.
Side by side with AKEL we
intensify our struggle; we change our lives by changing the world!
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