The 21st Congress of AKEL is convening in a period where the imperialist new order is continuing and being consolidated with NATO and its closest allies, including leading powers within the European Union, seeking the maintaining and broadening of their global hegemony at all levels: economic, political and military-strategic. At the same time, globalisation led by the multinational companies is gaining in intensity. The imperialist forces have replaced to a large degree the pretext of the “communist danger” with the danger from terrorism, in the name of its combating they are attempting to “legalise” their criminal actions and policies. Where there are no cases of terrorism, they contrive them. AKEL condemns every form of terrorism that brings dearth to innocent people and victimises peoples and people. Terrorism does not promote the struggles of the peoples, but on the contrary is gives ammunition and pretexts to the imperialists to attack these struggles. The crimes of imperialism feed terrorism. Terrorism is combated through the eradication of its root causes that provoke it, such as poverty, hunger, destitution, diseases, exploitation, injustice, inequality and oppression that plague entire regions of our planet due to the imperialists themselves. Terrorism is combated through the respect of International Law, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country and the dignity of its people. In addition, under the pretext allegedly of democratisation, the subversion and/or overthrow of non-friendly governments and regimes not to the liking of the USA is being pursued. No country, however powerful it may be, has the right to impose its own views and way of life. It is the right of every people to choose their own path of development and wage their own struggles.

The imposition of the imperialist new order is taking place through the undermining of International Law and the imposition of the right of the mighty, double standard policies and practises, invasions and aggressive wars. It is being expressed through the attempt to control and substitute the UN through the adoption and promotion of dogmas such as the NATO dogma of “pre-emptive strike” and in some cases through certain so-called peacekeeping and “humanitarian” missions. It is being promoted through the growing militarisation of international relations, the escalation of the arms race, the constant attempt to expand spheres of influence, the expansion of the web of USA and NATO military bases, the cultivation of frictions on an ethnic or religious basis and the support of corrupt criminal regimes. It is being advanced through the instigation of so-called velvet or coloured revolutions, the curbing of human rights and freedoms and through the imposition of anti-terrorism laws.

In the modern world, inter-imperialist rivalries are also developing at the same time at all levels, that relate to group of states, separate states and international monopolies. The rivalries involve even allied states or group of states within alliances and coalitions.

The 21st Congress of AKEL condemns once again the so-called new world order and the globalisation of the multinational companies that are an expression of the “new order” in the economic field. We condemn the aggressive wars, interventions and the violation of International Law. We demand the respect of the Charter of the UN and the principles of International Law. We demand the dissolution of NATO that does not have any reason to exist. We express our unreserved solidarity towards the peoples who are struggling for freedom, independence, democracy and social progress.

The so-called new world order is on the one hand consolidating its positions internationally, but however, at the same time other developments underway on the international arena, which have their own increasing significance, should not be ignored. The “new order” is encountering resistance in various parts of the world. China is being elevated to a big economic and consequently political power that is upgrading its own presence in international developments. Russia is constantly growing in influence, strongly asserting the role of a superpower. The struggle of the peoples is complicating the advocates of the “new order” from implementing their plans in the way they would have wanted. In Latin America, developments of a revolutionary character are under way.

On the opposite side of imperialism, there is the progressive movement with the Communist and Workers movement struggling in the front line. The progressive movement is continuing its activity under particularly adverse conditions following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the community of Socialist states in Europe. The progressive movement in our times is characterised by ideological and political heterogeneity that in some cases is also extended within the interior of certain parties. As a result, the progressive movement continues to register the well-known deficits regarding ideological-political cohesion that in turn affect its effectiveness. Nihilism and levelling of socialism that is persistently cultivated by the establishment forces of the Right and Social democracy, which are exploiting mistakes and distortions in the countries of the former socialist community, must be combated. Regretfully, even some Communist and Left Parties are contributing to this procedure through their levelling criticism or/and self-criticism, which is being conducted in such a way as to be tantamount to the discarding their character.

The 21st Congress of AKEL addresses a warm comradely greeting to the progressive parties and movements fighting for national independence, democracy, social progress and socialism. It expresses its unwavering support and solidarity towards them. The Congress condemns in the most vehement way the historically ignorant attempts underway in Europe, and elsewhere, to equate communism with fascism.

The 21st Congress of AKEL reaffirms the position of our Party to continue working for the greatest possible cooperation, coordination and unity between the Communist, Workers and Progressive parties on a regional and international level, aiming at common actions and policies, where and whenever this is feasible and based on the respect of the peculiarities characterising each given party. We do not approve of any attempts adhering to the logic of exclusions, paternalism and the guardianship of the movement, the intervention in the internal affairs of other parties and the undertaking of hasty initiatives that can harm the effort to build the maximum possible unity between the parties of the Left. Of course, this does not negate the right of each party to hold a critical view concerning the realities within the spectrum of the Left, always of course within the framework of mutual respect.

Despite signs of recovery, the world economic crisis continues to plague the world. The economic crisis is a structural crisis of the capitalist system. Capitalism is developing productive forces and socialising production to the maximum. At the same time, however it is concentrating the wealth and power in the hands of a small minority that own the means of production and especially the multinational conglomerates. This fundamental contradiction constitutes the root cause of the economic crises of capitalism. The imposition of neo-liberalism on a global scale has resulted in the current economic crisis assuming unprecedented dimensions and being distinguished by its intensity and breadth. Working people all over the world are paying the heavy cost of the crisis. Millions of jobs are being lost. Capital, on the pretext of tackling the crisis, is curbing working people’s gains, waging an all-out attack on labour relations and working people’s rights. Bourgeois governments are searching for ways to overcome the crisis by putting even more burdens on working people’s backs. As a result, the class struggle is intensifying throughout the world. Millions of working people all over the world are struggling to defend their rights and gains. The apologists of capitalism and of the unfettered market system have been categorically refuted who talked about social prosperity for all, the end of history and class struggle. The world economic crisis has brought even more pressingly to the forefront the idea of socialism and the need for a society based not on exploitation and the drive for profit, but on the liberation from exploitation and social solidarity.

The 21st Congress addresses a warm comradely greeting of solidarity to working people all over the world who are struggling for their just causes and rights and fighting against capitalism, neo-liberalism and the anarchic chaos of big multinational capital, for social justice and socialism. The world economic crisis is shaking the foundations of capitalism; however, it does not mean that it also signals the end of the exploitative system. The resistance and endurance of the old world is still great. The propaganda mechanisms to control people’s consciousness are enormous. Many and great organised struggles will be needed so that the sun of real freedom and social justice will rise. The duty of the consistent class based forces and international workers and Communist movement is to be in the front line of these struggles, to rally through their policies broader forces and masses and open up perspectives for the future.