CPI(M) Greets 17TH Congress Of KKE

Following is the text of the fraternal greetings sent by the central committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to the central committee of the Communist Party of Greece on February 6, 2005 on the occasion of its 17th Congress which was held on February 9-12 in Athens. Harsev Bains represented the CPI(M) at the Congress.

THE central committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) conveys its warm fraternal greetings to all the delegates attending the 17th Congress of the Communist Party of Greece and through them to the entire membership of the KKE.

Your Congress is being held at a time when the Left and progressive movement the world over is faced with multi-faceted challenges. We have seen during the past decade, how exploiting the situation arising out of the dismantling of the Soviet Union, the United States has embarked on a quest of hegemony and total domination. The aggressive measures taken by the Bush Administration after the September 11 attacks have resulted in blatant onslaughts on the sovereignty of independent countries. It has promoted authoritarian and rightwing attacks on progressive movements and the rights of citizens. Neither the United Nations Charter nor international laws have any sanctity for it. The aggression and occupation of Iraq is the worst example of imperialist behaviour. But the people of Iraq are fighting back and putting up a brave and heroic resistance, proving once again that imperialism cannot suppress and subjugate a people forever.

The Communist Party of Greece has a glorious history of struggle and sacrifices. We note with pride the role played by the Greek Communists in the struggle against imperialism and its drive for global domination. We appreciate the effort made by your party in hosting an international meeting, year after year, with great success. At home, the Communist Party of Greece has taken upon itself the responsibility of uniting all the anti-imperialist and peace loving people of Greece in this struggle against imperialism.

Simultaneously, we also note, how your party has waged mass struggles on the issues arising out of the European Union and against the reactionary domestic policies. Your party has been in the forefront of the struggle to expose the real nature of European integration and the policies of economic domination.

We note with pride the activities of the Communist Party of Greece not just to oppose neo-liberal and imperialist globalisation but also to place before the Greek people an alternative path of development. We are sure that your efforts in this direction will receive much wider acceptance in the days ahead.

You are aware that in the elections held last year in India, the people of India delivered a crushing defeat to the right reactionary regime headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The CPI(M) had entered these elections with a three-fold objective: defeat the right-wing communal forces; install an alternative secular government at the centre; and increase the representation of the CPI(M) and the Left in the parliament. You will be glad to know that the CPI(M) has increased its strength from 33 seats in the last elections to 44 seats this time. It is the highest ever won by the Party. The CPI(M) is the third largest party in the Indian Parliament. The representation of the Left as a whole has increased. It has now a tally of 61 members in a house of 545.

The significance of this lies not only in projecting the growing strength of the Left and its increasing relevance but also the vantage position that it has acquired in Indian politics. The United Progressive Alliance government that has come in place is dependent on the support of the Left. The CPI(M) and the Left played a crucial role in putting in place this government.

While the Party has no illusions about the character of this government, the main task before the Party would be to keep the communal and reactionary forces in check. It would however, spare no effort in both defending and advancing the interests of the working class and the common people.

Once again, on behalf of the central committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) we convey our warm fraternal greetings to the 17th Congress of the Communist Party of Greece. We are confident that this Congress will be able to work out the correct strategy and tactics to meet the situation and rally all the progressive and democratic forces in Greece to carry forward the struggle for the establishment of a socialist society. While such a struggle will be long and arduous, on behalf of the CPI(M) we assure you of our solidarity and support.

The CPI(M) and the KKE have a long association of friendship and understanding. We are certain that this mutual trust and bonds of friendship will get further strengthened in the days ahead.

People's Democracy