INTERNATIONAL MEETING
of Communist and Workers' Parties
21-23 June 2002, Athens "The New Situation in the World
after September 11th

Press Release
From 21st to 23rd June, 2002, Communist and Workers'
parties met in Athens. The 62 parties which are listed
below participated in the meeting entitled: "The new world
situation after September 11, 2001". There were some
parties which, against their wishes, could not participate
due to reasons related to the situation in their countries.
They have sent greetings and written contributions which
are also included in the material from the meeting.

During the three day long sessions, there was a creative
exchange of ideas about the international situation and
significant experience from the peoples' struggle and mass
movements in their countries was presented.

Evaluating international developments, the participants
condemned the terrorist actions of September 11. They also
unequivocally condemned the dangerous escalation of US and
NATO aggressiveness and the measures of state terrorism
that followed. They concluded that all peoples and their
mass movements are threatened by the potential global
domination of monopoly capital, with the USA as the
leading force.

The parties noted that the September 11 events also
constituted an pretext to launch an unprecedented offensive
against the freedoms and rights of the peoples on the
pretext of declaring war on terrorism. Imperialists label
as terrorist every resistance movement which struggles
against capitalist globalization and the decisions against
the interest of the people taken by international
organizations (such as IMF, World Bank, WTO, EU, etc.),
anti-imperialist movements which struggle against
imperialist interventions and wars and against NATO, as
well any social and national liberation movement and
struggles against dictatorship and fascist regimes.

The participants pointed out and underscored that the
struggle of peoples and movements for social liberation,
national independence, peace and democracy has nothing to
do with terrorist methods. From their lengthy experience,
communists especially know very well the way that
imperialists and reactionary forces set about slandering
these movements.

The participants condemned terrorism. Only the most
reactionary, inhuman, racist imperialist forces hostile to
the people, benefit from terrorism.

At the same time they stated their full support for the
peoples' struggle for their social rights and for national
independence.

The participants condemned the war against Afghanistan, the
threats to expand the war , Bush's statements about the
"axis of evil", the threat to use nuclear weapons and the
acceleration of the armament programs and the National
Missile Defense (NMD). The militarization of international
relations is acquiring even more dangerous features and the
danger of new conflicts is growing under the weight of
rivalries and interventions.

NATO, with its new doctrine and its new enlargement, is
transforming itself into a world policeman under the
hegemony of US imperialism.

The participants underscored that the whole of humanity is
facing a dangerous plan by contemporary imperialism which
threatens peace, security and stability in many regions of
the planet.

The intensity of imperialist aggression in the name of
combating terrorism, which is growing in the context of
the heightened economic crisis within the centers of the
imperialist system, does not confine itself to
international relations and the military sector, but
embraces all spheres of social life. It accelerates
capitalist restructuring both in the economy and in the
workers' standard of living. It turns against workers'
rights and gains. It influences the political system,
acquiring even more reactionary political and ideological
characteristics in culture and in workers' leisure time.

A new, more reactionary institutional framework is being
formed by international imperialism, which tramples on
fundamental popular freedoms and rights and deploys new
repressive mechanisms.

Many speakers stressed the promising fact that despite
imperialism's growing aggression after September 11,
popular demonstrations and resistance have increased in a
number of cases.

Mobilizations against the imperialist war on the people of
Afghanistan have multiplied, as has the opposition to fresh
interventions against the people of Iraq and other
countries which US imperialism includes in the "axis of
evil".

The participants reiterated their support for the struggle
of the Palestinian people, rejected the labeling of this
struggle as terrorist and consider the Israeli occupation
to be the source of violence in the region. Demonstrations
of solidarity with the just struggle of the Palestinian
people to acquire its independence and its own sovereign,
viable state with East Jerusalem its capital have become
stronger and have expanded all over the world. The
participants condemned the ongoing occupation of Syrian and
Lebanese territories and demanded the unconditional
withdrawal of Israeli troops and the return of all
refugees, in accordance with UN resolutions 242, 338, 194.

Many speakers stressed the need for efforts supporting this
struggle to be stepped up yet further in their countries
and also the need to organize solidarity missions to the
territory occupied by Israel and to the self administered
Palestinian areas. The participants categorically condemned
the flagrant violence committed by the Israeli government
on occupied Palestinian territory and the mass arrests and
imprisonment of Palestinians including leading cadres of
the Palestinian liberation movement. The need for a broad
campaign demanding their release was stressed, and support
was expressed for the initiative to form a "human shield"
in Palestine on June 28.

The participants expressed their concern for the continuous
violations of the principles and resolutions of the UN and
of the international law.

Quite a few speakers referred to steps taken that show an
awakening and spirit for struggle and resistance in the
labor and trade union movement with the reinforcement of
the presence of class forces within it developing new
struggles putting forth their demands. Likewise stressed
was the need to develop action in the workplace and to
further strengthen class forces in the labor and trade
union movement.

It was, moreover, noted that the multiform movement against
capitalist globalization has grown in strength, as has the
process of determining orientations and demands within this
movement.

It was underscored that an active policy of solidarity and
support amongst CPs and WPs and also amongst peoples'
movements in general is needed. Quite a few speakers voiced
the need for a number of initiatives taken by various CPs
and WPs or movements to be supported. Amongst these, the
following were mentioned:
The campaign for international mobilization demanding the
release of the 5 Cuban patriots that are imprisoned in the
US because they fought against the terrorist groups of
Miami, as well as the campaigns for the lifting of the US
blockade against Cuba.
The initiative being taken by the CP of Bohemia-Moravia in
Prague in November 2002 against the enlargement of NATO
The initiative against the plan of neoliberal
reconstruction of the economy of Latin America that is
expressed by ALCA, the Plan Puebla Panama and its armed
branch, the "Plan Colombia", which aims to deal with the
resistance of every opposing social force, to isolate and
eliminate the guerilla movement of Colombia and subvert the
legal and democratic Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
The initiatives against the plans of the USA and EU to
subjugate the economies of the Arab countries (Magreb
Masrek)
The undertaking of active initiatives to coordinate the
action of our parties against capitalist globalization,
taking into consideration the new and growing movements
against the policies of imperialist governments and
multinational enterprises.

The participants expressed the need for such meetings of
Communist and Workers' Parties to continue and increase in
number, while the need for broader meetings on the
international level and meetings by area and region on
issues of interest was stressed.

Also noted was the idea of seeking to hold meetings of our
parties in connection with large international events in
order to achieve a more collective elaboration of proposals
and the most common possible view and position.

It was, moreover, stressed that the need for the distinct
presence, the consultation and cooperation of Communist and
Workers' Parties constitute basic factors for the
development of a policy of alliances and cooperation, a
policy with a positive impact which is not in contradiction
with the coordination and joint action of broader
democratic, anti imperialist, anti monopoly and patriotic
forces as well as of the multiform movement against
capitalist globalization.

It was noted that it is useful for the discussion to be
broadened and for views to be exchanged, with the
development of theoretical elaborations regarding the
transformation of this society, and the prospect for
socialism under present conditions.

Participants also expressed the need to further reinforce
the internationalist solidarity of our parties with
communists and all progressive people and parties facing
persecution and imprisonment and whose activity is
prohibited. Furthermore, the need for solidarity in action
against anti-democratic discrimination and reactionary
regulations targeting democratic rights and liberties was
expressed.

Athens 23/06/2002