NO TO SOFA AGREEMENT

Reports in the local media are speculating that the Maltese Government will be signing the SOFA agreement (Status of Forces Agreement).  This had coincided with the US Secretary of Defence to Malta.

Malta’s signing of this agreement will go directly against the Neutrality Clause in Malta’s Republican Constitution, and will also undermine Dom Mintoff’s historical legacy.

No amount of US aid by the US will make good for this. Once part of Malta’s Sovereignty is lost, it will be gone forever.

The Communist Party of Malta is sure that the present Social Democratic Administration will not yield to any pressure that may be put by the US side and neither any amount of remuneration will tempt the Maltese Government.

Failure by the Maltese Government by signing of this agreement will put Malta into hot water, as this may open grounds for further whims by the US.

All progressives and left minded activists, within and outside the Labour Party, stands firm along with the Communist Party in their will to oppose this agreement.

 

Joint Statement of the Parties of the European Communist Initiative

 On May 10, 2020, a teleconference of the parties of the European Communist Initiative was held at the initiative of the KKE, under the theme: "The struggle of the communist and workers' parties in the conditions of the pandemic and the new capitalist crisis". 

The introductory speech at the teleconference was given by Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the CC of the KKE. The teleconference was attended by 24 communist and workers' parties from Austria, Bulgaria, France, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Croatia, Latvia, Belarus, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Hungary, Ukraine, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Sweden and Turkey.

The teleconference took place a few days after the celebration of Labor Day and May 9 - the 75th anniversary of the Antifascist Victory, which this year were honored by the parties under special circumstances. The parties of the European Communist Initiative honored the countless dead of the workers' struggle and the anti-fascist victory of the peoples, led by the Red Army, the Soviet people, and the Bolshevik Party. 

During the teleconference, the communist and workers' parties that participated exchanged information regarding the health systems and labor rights in the European countries, the measures of the bourgeois governments, the EU, and the attack of the capital. 

During the discussion, it was proved that the CoVID-19 pandemic revealed the huge problems of the public health systems in capitalist countries. These problems are caused by the long-lasting anti-popular policy of underfunding, under-staffing, and degradation of public health infrastructure, in favor of the commercialization and privatization of health, to support the profitability of the monopolies. The situation in the health sector, which has been formed for the benefit of capitalist profitability, on the one hand leads to the intensification of doctors and nurses' work, and on the other hand is unable to substantially meet the contemporary needs of prevention and healthcare of the people, confirming that capitalism is the real "virus". 

In addition, the current situation has highlighted the contradictions between capitalist countries and the monopolies for the patent of the new vaccine, the treatments, and the necessary medical supplies. 

The parties of the European Communist Initiative have conveyed their experience from the consequences of the new capitalist crisis that followed the slowdown in the economy that took place in the previous period and is taking on great proportions in the conditions of the pandemic. They denounced the attack of the capital manifested on all fronts and the antilabor measures of the bourgeois governments, which at the same time provide huge amounts of money to support monopoly groups. 

It was proved that there is a general trend towards rising unemployment, flexible forms of employment, new anti-labor measures, and a suspension of trade union rights. It is becoming clear that once again the working class and other popular strata will pay for the capitalist crisis.  Under these circumstances, the representatives of the communist and workers' parties of the European Communist Initiative (ECI) discussed the positions of the parties and their actions to protect people's health and workers' rights against the impasses of capitalism. 

First of all, during the teleconference, the parties expressed their warm thanks to the doctors and nurses, the hospitals and health units' staff who gave the battle and are still fighting against the pandemic, facing great difficulties. 

The ECI parties also expressed solidarity with those affected by the CoVID-19 pandemic and wished them a speedy recovery. 

Moreover, they saluted Cuba's solidarity action with the most affected countries. 

The parties agreed to reinforce the struggle for:

 Immediate strengthening of public health systems, recruitment of permanent medical and nursing staff with full rights, the meeting of all needs in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and infrastructure required for the full operation of public health care and research services. 

Immediate provision of all the necessary means of protection (masks, gloves, disinfectants, etc.) to the people by the state free of charge and fight against profiteering. Immediate provision of all protection measures to the healthcare personnel that gives this battle. 

The communist and workers' parties in Europe noted that they will lead the struggle against the attack of the capital, which in the face of the new crisis proceeds to widespread layoffs and tries to further crush wages, working hours, leaves, and other labor rights. They expressed their solidarity with the class-oriented trade unions that struggle in order for the workers not to pay the consequences of the capitalist crisis. 

They spoke out against the imperialist plans of the USA, NATO, and the EU, as well as against sanctions and economic exclusion measures that are criminal and make people's lives difficult. 

The parties that attended the teleconference noted that the current situation shows the deep impasses of the capitalist mode of production (crisis, unemployment, the impoverishment of the working class, the commercialization of social needs such as health, imperialist wars, etc.). 

Under these circumstances, the slogan "Socialism or barbarity" is more timely than ever

COMMUNIST PARTY GERMAN (DKP) – COMMUNIST PARTY OF PEOPLES OF SPAIN (CPPS) – COMMUNIST PARTY OF VENEZUELA (CPV)

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GENERAL APPEAL REGARDING THE HEALTH INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY –Covid 19

WORKERS AND COMMUNIST PARTIES AGAINST BLOKCADES AND  IMPERIALIST WARS

The Communist and Workers' parties that suscribe the present APPEAL declare:

1. The serious international situation which has come from the unstoppable global capitalist crisis - now expressed as a health emergency that spreads throughout so many countries - requires strong and decisive social and political action that puts the needs of the working class, of the different people's of the world and of human kind above everything else.

2. The insufficient scientific resources, as well as the robbery of public health services, carried out by the capitalist countries under neo-liberal adjustment policies in the interest of the world's large monopolistic capital, which are imposed by the EU, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, etc, bring with them greater difficulties concerning the urgent and much needed measures which should be taken immediately to defend both the health and the lives of the working class and the people.

3. The degradation suffered by the capitalist societies, which are based on individual self-interest, consumerism and social Darwinism, adds even greater difficulties to efforts to deal with this health crisis, that requires values of solidarity, sharing and social justice: the values present in all of our revolutionary political projects aimed at socialism-communism.

4. Currently, capitalism takes advantage of the current health crisis as a perfect alibi to unleash a new attack against both the working class and all peoples, strengthening financial capital and monopolies and adding new cuts to salaries and to the rights of the working class. The inter-imperialist conflicts contribute to the spiraling rise of violence and social predation that, at the end, will be paid for by people and workers alike.

5. The international working class, along with the people, must react to this situation – today under the control of world oligarchies – for the health emergency will bring short time terrible consequences. It is necessary to show further evidence of the present historical wreckage of capitalism at its imperialist stage, as well as the urgent need for socialist construction in order to face the beginning of a new historical stage so much claimed by the current and extraordinary development of the productive forces.

6. That is why we send out a massive appeal in order to start as many actions as possible so that the peoples and the working class raise their flags of struggle.

a. For the complete stop of imperialist blockades imposed against Cuba, Venezuela, Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Nicaragua.

b. For the immediate end of imperialist military aggressions in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Mali, Iraq, Libya.

c. For the immediate end of occupations and for the recovery of the national sovereignty of the Arabic Republic of Sahara, Palestine, Puerto Rico.

d. For the immediate end to the repression of social movements in Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, Honduras.

e. For the right of the working class and the working people both from the cities and rural areas, to fully exercise their freedom and union organization, to collective bargaining, to strike, job stability, and sufficient wages to live with dignity.

f. For the socialization of the large and strategic means of production, financial and essential services for society, under workers, peasants and popular control.

7. Finally, we make an APPEAL to advance in the coordination of all the workers', peasants and popular anti-imperialist struggles and forces in a Global Front, capable of organizing political and social mobilization for the defense of people´s sovereignty, against imperialist war, and against all blockades; for an international social order for the benefit of social majorities – for the whole of mankind - , under the conditions given by the current development of productive forces, able, as it is well known today, to cover all social demands.

The organizations hearby signed up to this APPEAL will work together to add up our strength to, and to go further, in the above mentioned aims.

FOR THE WHOLE OF THE HUMAN KIND

FOR THE WORKING CLASS

FOR PEACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

FOR SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM!!!

FIRST SIGNATURES:

NUMBER	COUNTRY	PARTY
1	AUSTRALIA	COMMUNIST PARTY OF AUSTRALIA
2	BAHRAIN	DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE TRIBUNE
3	BANGLADESH	COMMUNIST PARTY OF BANGLADESH
4	BELGIUM	COMMUNIST PARTY OF BELGIUM
5	BRAZIL	BRAZILIAN COMMUNIST PARTY
6	BRITAIN	COMMUNIST PARTY OF BRITAIN
7	BRITAIN	NEW COMMUNIST PARTY OF BRITAIN
8	CROATIA	SOCIALIST WORKER'S PARTY OF CROATIA
9	CUBA	COMMUNIST PARTY OF CUBA
10	CZECH REPUBLIC	COMMUNIST PARTY OF BOHEMIA AND MORAVIA
11	DENMARK	COMMUNIST PARTY IN DENMARK
12	ECUADOR	COMMUNIST PARTY OF ECUADOR
13	EGYPT	EGYPTIAN COMMUNIST PARTY
14	FINLAND	COMMUNIST PARTY OF FINLAND
15	GEORGIA	UNIFIED COMMUNIST PARTY OF GEORGIA
16	GERMANY	GERMAN COMMUNIST PARTY
17	HUNGARY	HUNGARIAN WORKER'S PARTY
18	IRAN	TUDEH PARTY OF IRAN
19	IRELAND	COMMUNIST PARTY OF IRELAND
20	ITALY	ITALIAN COMMUNIST PARTY
21	JORDAN	JORDANIAN COMMUNIST PARTY
22	MALTA	COMMUNIST PARTY OF MALTA
23	MEXICO	POPULAR SOCIALIST PARTY - NATIONAL POLITICAL ASSOCIATION
24	NETHERLANDS	NEW COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE NETHERLANDS
25	PAKISTAN	COMMUNIST PARTY OF PAKISTAN
26	PALESTINE	PALESTINIAN COMMUNIST PARTY
27	PERU	PERUVIAN COMMUNIST PARTY
28	PHILIPPINES	PHILIPPINE COMMUNIST PARTY (PKP-1930)
29	ROMANIA	SOCIALIST ALLIANCE PARTY
30	SPAIN	COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE PEOPLES OF SPAIN
31	SYRIA	SYRIAN COMMUNIST PARTY (UNIFIED)
32	USA	COMMUNIST PARTY USA
33	UKRAINE	COMMUNIST PARTY OF UKRAINE
34	UKRAINE	UNION OF COMMUNISTS OF UKRAINE
35	VENEZUELA	COMMUNIST PARTY OF VENEZUELA

75th. Anniversary of the Victory over Nazi-fascism

In the name of freedom, peace and truth

— Against fascism and war

The victory over Nazi-fascism in the Second World War is a major event in History, the memory of which must be preserved and defended in the face of repeated attempts at historical falsification aimed at making us forget the decisive role played by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, by the communists and by anti-fascists from around the world.

Generated by capitalism, Nazi-fascism was the most violent and terroristic manifestation of monopoly capital. It was responsible for the outbreak of this war of aggression and plunder that caused close to 75 million deaths, of which approximately 27 million were Soviet citizens, and for the immeasurable suffering and horror of the Nazi concentration camps. The peoples can also not forget dark pages, such as the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the USA, without any military justification, which represented a display of power and of their world-wide hegemonistic ambitions.

The Second World War (1939-1945) was the result of increasingly acute inter-imperialist contradictions and, at the same time, of the intention to destroy the first Socialist State, the USSR, which was namely expressed in the support and connivance of the United Kingdom, France and the United States with the rearmament and expansionist ambition of Nazi Germany.

In commemorating the 75th anniversary of the historic Victory on  May 9, 1945, the undersigned communist and workers' parties, certain in the knowledge that they portray the feelings and aspirations of workers and peoples from all over the world:

- Pay tribute to all those who gave their lives on the battlefields against the Nazi-fascist hordes and in particular to the heroism of the resistance movements and anti-fascist fighters and to the heroic Soviet people and Red Army, led by the Communist Party, whose contribution, written in heroic pages such as the battles of Moscow, Leningrad and Stalingrad, was decisive for the Victory over barbarism;

- Consider that the Victory over Nazi Germany and its allies in the Anti-Comintern Pact was achieved thanks to the decisive contribution of the USSR, to the class nature of the Soviet power with the participation of the masses of the people, to the leading role of the Communist Party, to the superiority which was displayed by the Socialist system. That victory is an enormous historical legacy of the revolutionary movement;

- Value the outstanding advances in the social and national emancipation of the workers and peoples that the Victory and the resulting advancement of the forces of social progress and peace made possible, extending the sphere of socialism within the countries of Europe, Asia and Latin America, creating the conditions for the advance of the labour movement in capitalist countries, the sweeping development of the national liberation movement and the resulting liquidation of colonial empires;

- Denounce and condemn the campaigns that aim to belittle, distort and even deny, the role of the USSR and of the communists in the defeat of Nazi-fascism and also to unjustly and falsely blame the Soviet Union for starting the Second World War, to expunge the responsibilities of big capital and the governments at its service in the promotion and rise of fascism and in unleashing the war, and whitewash and rehabilitate fascism, while destroying the monuments and memory of the liberating Soviet army, promoting anti-communism and criminalizing communists and other anti-fascists;

- Denounce and condemn the EU’s anti-communist resolutions and the slanderous historical falsification which attempts to equate socialism with the fascist monster;

- Warn that the most reactionary and aggressive sectors of imperialism are increasingly viewing  fascism and war as a “way out” of the deepening crisis of the capitalist system, whose inhuman character becomes particularly obvious when, even in the face of the very serious epidemic outbreak of Covid-19, imperialism, the USA, NATO, the EU and its allies capitalist powers, continue a criminal policy of blockades and aggressions against countries and peoples;

-  Consider that the struggle for peace, social progress and socialism are inseparable; and make a commitment  to seek a stronger common action of the working class, of the workers and peoples of the world, of the political forces engaged in blocking the path to fascism and in the struggle against imperialism, imperialist aggressions and a new war of tragic proportions.

The situation with which the workers and peoples of the world are confronted underlines the importance of strengthening the struggle against imperialism, for the sovereignty of the peoples and the independence of States, for the rights of the workers and peoples, as leading forward to the revolutionary overcoming of the capitalist system, a system which breeds fascism, war, the injustices, dangers and contradictions of the present. As it was 75 years ago, it is today the struggle of the communists and all those facing capitalist exploitation and oppression that will open the way for the future for Humanity.

Communist Party of Argentina
Communist Party of Armenia
Communist Party of Australia
Party of Labour of Austria
Communist Party of Azerbaidjan
Communist Party of Bangladesh
Communist Party of Belarus
Communist Party of Belgium
Communist Party of Brazil
Communist Party of Britain
New Communist Party of Britain
Communist Party of Canada
Communist Party of Chile
Colombian Communist Party
Socialist Worker’s Party of Croatia
Communist Party of Cuba
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
The Progressive Party of the Working People - AKEL
Communist Party in Denmark
Egyptian Communist Party
Communist Party of Finland
French Communist Party
Pole of Communist Revival in France
Communist Revolutionary Party of France
Unified Communist Party of Georgia
German Communist Party
Communist Party of Greece
Hungarian Worker’s Party
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Communist Party of India
Tudeh Party of Iran
Iraqi Communist Party
Kurdistan Communist Party - Iraq
Communist Party of Ireland
Workers’ Party of Ireland
Communist Party of Israel
Italian Communist Party
Party of the Communist Refoundation – European Left (Italy)
Socialist Movement of Kazakhstan
Workers’ Party of Korea
Socialist Party (Lithuania)
Communist Party of Luxembourg
Communist Party of Malta
Popular Socialist Party – National Political Association (México)
Communist Party of Mexico
Party of the Communists (Mexico)
New Communist Party of the Netherlands
New Communist Party of Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Communist Party of Macedonia
Communist Party of Norway
Communist Party of Pakistan
Palestinian Communist Party
Paraguayan Communist Party
Peruan Communist Party
Philippine Communist Party (PKP - 1930)
Portuguese Communist Party
Communist Party of the Russian Federation
Union of Communist Parties - CPSU
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
New Communist Party of Yugoslavia
Communist of Serbia
Communist Party of Slovakia
South African Communist Party
Communist Party of Spain
Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain
Communists of Catalonia
Galizan People's Union
Communist Party of the Workers of Spain
Galician Nationalist Bloc
Communist Party of Sri Lanka
Sudanese Communist Party
Communist Party of Swaziland
Communist Party (Switzerland)
Syrian Communist Party
Syrian Communist Party (Unified)
Communist Party of Turkey
Communist Party of Ukraine
Union of Communists of Ukraine
Communist Party USA
Communist Party of Venezuela

The joint statement is open to other subscriptions.

!Long live International Workers' Day

STATEMENT OF THE INITIATIVE´S SECRETARIAT  

We extend warm class greetings to all the workers of the world, to the young men and women of the working class. We pay tribute to all the dead of our class.                                                                                

    May 1st is a day - a symbol for workers around the world, a symbol of the struggle of the peoples against capitalist exploitation and barbarism, against the imperialist war. Especially this year amid a pandemic, workers will celebrate Labor Day in every possible way. Even wearing a mask, the working class can be loudly heard.                                                          In this year’s May1st we must stand up and struggle, raise our fists and demand measures to protect workers' lives and rights! We denounce the lack of precautionary measures in the workplaces and the tragic shortages of permanent staff and infrastructure in public hospitals. We devote our efforts to strengthen workers' struggle, in order not to pay the burdens of the new crisis of the capitalist system once again. We call on the working class and the peoples to struggle against the aggressive plans of the USA, NATO, and the EU, against the imperialist wars caused by imperialist contradictions and competitions.                                           

Under the pretext of the pandemic, governments seek to deal a new harsh blow on the remaining labor rights by supporting employers' unaccountability in the workplace. Along with "Marshall plans", huge subsidies, tax exemptions, and very cheap loans, they provocatively support business groups, while making the workers pay the bill of the crisis, along with passing new anti-labor measures, reactionary mechanisms, and measures to limit trade union action.                          We are inspired by the heroes of the bloody Chicago strike on May 1, 1886, aiming to establish the 8-hour day. The working class rose and with its heroic struggles managed to impose the 8-hour day as a starting point for a series of gains in the 20th century, which today are taken away one by one. Against the sermons about “national unity” and the calls on the workers to align themselves with the interests of the capitalists that exploit the pandemic and the forthcoming capitalist crisis, we declare that we will not take a step back from our rights and our demands to meet the contemporary needs of the working class and the other popular strata!                                                                                                

The pandemic has proved that the barbarity of capitalism, which is a rotten, exploitative, and outdated system that only causes crises, suffering, wars and refugees are incurable.                                 

The superiority of the new world, that is socialism, where the working class will have the power and will be able to enjoy all the wealth it produces, emerges more necessary and timely than ever.                    

Long live Labor Day