The 24th International Meeting Communist and Workers' Parties convened in Havana, Cuba. The meeting will be held from 7-8 August, coinciding with the centenary of Fidel's birth.
24th IMCWP convened in Havana
Hosted by the Communist Party of Cuba in the lead-up to the 100th anniversary of Fidel Castro's birth, this year's meeting is being held under the theme: “Defending and honouring the legacy of the Cuban Revolution on the centenary of Fidel’s birth; deepening solidarity with socialist Cuba; strengthening our joint actions; and uniting our forces for peace and against imperialist aggression.”
The meeting has brought together more than 100 delegates representing 49 communist and workers' parties from around the world. The opening session was attended by Miguel DĂaz-Canel, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic of Cuba; Roberto Morales Ojeda, member of the Political Bureau and Secretary for Organization of the Communist Party of Cuba; and Bruno RodrĂguez Parrilla, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Representing the Communist Party of Turkey, which hosted the previous IMCWP, General Secretary Kemal Okuyan took his place on the presidium alongside the leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba in recognition of TKP's contribution to the preparations for the meeting, and delivered the opening address. Roberto Morales Ojeda followed with his intervention in the name of the Communist Party of Cuba.
Following the two opening speeches, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno RodrĂguez gave an informational speech on the US blockade against Cuba and its consequences, while Jorge Luis Broche Lorenzo, a member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and head of the Department of Economic Productivity, gave an informational speech on Cuba’s recently announced economic package.
Kemal Okuyan emphasizes “Fidel’s three principles”
Kemal Okuyan began his remarks by thanking the leadership and all party cadres of the Communist Party of Cuba for hosting the meeting and bringing them together in Havana despite the enormous difficulties created by the blockade imposed by US imperialism, which has now become an open crime of genocide.
“The theme of this meeting also encompasses the political and intellectual legacy of the great revolutionary Fidel Castro, whose 100th birthday we are celebrating. Over the past few months, I have started rereading Fidel Castro’s writings and speeches. Undoubtedly, his life went through different periods, each determined by its own circumstances and objectives. However, all these periods had three defining characteristics in common: never submitting to the enemy, never abandoning revolutionary ideals, and maintaining an extremely strong moral stance. Fidel Castro defended these three principles by pushing to their limits the possibilities offered by the circumstances in which he found himself.”
“Multinational monopolies, NATO, imperialist wars and exploitation provoke revolutions”
Addressing what he described as a lie repeatedly promoted by US imperialism, TKP General Secretary Okuyan said that the claim that Cuba conducts subversive activities in other countries, including the United States, was “a great, very great and extremely dirty lie.” He noted that similar baseless accusations had been directed at the Soviet Union decades ago, adding that the history of the Cuban Revolution demonstrated precisely the opposite. He stressed that the Cuban Revolution had nothing to do with supposedly Soviet plans.
Okuyan emphasized that genuine revolutions are products of internal dynamics and argued that those who constantly look for the involvement of foreign powers should first examine their own actions. “Because those who provoke revolutions are multinational monopolies, NATO, imperialist wars, exploitation, and the dictatorial regimes supported by imperialists,” he said.
He stated that communists are the only force that defends genuine independence in their own countries and opposes interference in the internal affairs of other countries. “Yes, we are internationalists in every sense; however, the revolutionary struggle in every country requires an independent vanguard party capable of making its own decisions and implementing them. The victorious movement created and led by Fidel is a real and successful example of this principle.”
“It is the working class that must break its chains”
Reflecting on the dark period currently being experienced and asking whether there is a way out, Okuyan said that defensive tactics would continue to be developed in order to repel and reverse the attacks and prevent further losses of ground.
At the same time, he argued that the catastrophe would become even greater as long as capitalism continued to be given time and room to maneuver. He stressed that he was referring not to individual policies or merely to a few countries at the top of the imperialist system, but to capitalism as a social system that must be overthrown.
“There is no reason to believe that capitalism will one day enter a more stable, orderly or peaceful period. All economic and political indicators point in the same direction. Capitalism has broken free from its chains.
“Yet it is the working class that must break its chains.”
“Long live communism! Long live Fidel!”
Referring to the TKP’s history of struggle, Okuyan concluded his speech by saying that, in an 85-million-person country, they must do whatever is necessary to save even a single unemployed young person driven to the brink of suicide by the darkness created by the bourgeoisie, to restore the will to live of even a single pensioner waiting for death in despair, and to enable workers to overcome their sense of shame and become conscious of their own strength.
He argued that the value of a revolutionary stance is sometimes understood only years or even decades later. Under a capitalist system that produces such enormous crises and contradictions, he said, no politics is more realistic or genuinely revolutionary than preparing for a historical rupture.
He concluded with the slogans:
The blockade and aggression against Cuba must end!
Hands off Cuba!
Long live communism! Long live Fidel!
Ojeda: “These decisions are based on the theoretical foundations of Marxism-Leninism, MartĂ’s thought and the legacy of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz”
Following Kemal Okuyan, Roberto Tomás Morales Ojeda, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba, delivered the meeting’s second opening speech.
Morales Ojeda stated that the gathering was taking place under extremely complex conditions. Cuba is subject to an economic, commercial and financial blockade that severely restricts access to fuel, medicines, food, spare parts, investment, credit and other essential resources required for the country’s development.
He condemned the extraterritorial coercive sanctions imposed against Cuba, saying that they were intended to weaken the national economy and increase pressure on the country.
Speaking about the recently adopted economic measures, Ojeda said: “These decisions have been taken on the basis of the theoretical foundations of Marxism-Leninism, MartĂ’s thought, the legacy of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, and the teachings of Army General RaĂşl Castro Ruz.”
“Always toward victory! Socialism or death!”
Ojeda said that the transformations currently being implemented were being carried out with complete commitment to Cuba’s independence and sovereignty. Their aim, he explained, was to strengthen the revolutionary government’s ability to defend the interests of the people and continue building socialism in accordance with Cuba’s specific conditions and the limitations it faces.
He stressed the continued importance of Fidel Castro’s ideas and teachings, particularly his determination to defend national sovereignty, condemnation of the aggressive aims of imperialist powers, and calls for unity among left-wing and progressive forces.
Ojeda said that the meeting should be dedicated to further strengthening unity among communist and workers’ parties in an increasingly unequal world. Quoting JosĂ© MartĂ, he called for their ranks to be closed so that the “seven-league giant” could not pass through, for their ideas to be defended, and for them to uphold the truth as a powerful weapon that has always accompanied revolutionaries.
He concluded: “Always toward victory! Socialism or death! Homeland or death, we shall win!”
RodrĂguez: “The US report is superficial, unreal and inconsistent”
After the opening speeches, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno RodrĂguez addressed the nature and consequences of US aggression against Cuba.
RodrĂguez said that the current international environment was characterized by the weakening of international law, the erosion of respect for state sovereignty, and the spread of practices aimed at establishing hegemony through the use of force, military attacks and interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
Referring to what he described as a renewed McCarthyist offensive in the United States, RodrĂguez called a recently published US State Department report targeting Cuba “superficial, unreal and inconsistent.” He rejected the accusations contained in the document and said its purpose was to “criminalize expressions of genuine solidarity with Cuba” and discredit causes such as social justice, civil rights, the struggle against racism and the defense of peace.
“No issue concerning the Revolution’s fundamental principles will be negotiated”
The Foreign Minister said that US policy toward Cuba continued to cause severe economic and social damage. He also pointed to continuing efforts to further restrict Cuba’s access to fuel, technology and essential inputs vital for electricity generation and other strategic sectors.
RodrĂguez stated that Cuba remained open to bilateral dialogue “on the basis of mutual respect,” but emphasized that the country’s constitutional order, national sovereignty and the fundamental principles of the Revolution were not subjects for negotiation.
“The government of the United States and the Republic of Cuba will never negotiate on Cuba’s internal affairs or on the principles of the Cuban Revolution,” RodrĂguez said.
Lorenzo: “The 176 transformations represent continuity in the Revolution’s principles, objectives and strategic direction”
As part of the informational sessions at the meeting, Jorge Luis Broche Lorenzo, a member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and head of the Department of Economic Productivity, presented the 176-point economic measures package.
Lorenzo said that the 176-point transformation package represented continuity in the Revolution’s principles, objectives and strategic direction. At the same time, he explained, it introduced changes in the instruments, powers, management mechanisms and pace of implementation in order to confront the economic and social difficulties facing the country.
The presentation emphasized that the measures were intended to increase production, strengthen state enterprises, develop new economic actors and preserve social justice. Their objective, he said, was to update economic management without abandoning socialism.
The gathering of communist and workers' parties in Cuba, who continues to face the United States' blockade and sustained campaign of aggression widely condemned as a policy with genocidal consequences, sends a powerful message of solidarity with socialist Cuba and reaffirms the commitment to strengthening the anti-imperialist struggle.
The meeting will continue on 7–8 August, with contributions from all participating parties.