p Greater unity of the socialist camp on the basis of proletarian internationalism is an indispensable condition for the further successful development of the socialist countries. This unity is incompatible with nationalism and national exclusiveness, which harm the interests of the socialist community and the world communist movement.

p The need for closer unity springs from definite causes. The fact is that the objective, natural trend of socialist countries to draw closer together is not always painless 64 and smooth. Contradictions and new complex problems arising from practical reality sometimes come between them. These problems require a creative approach, an exchange of experience and views, on the tested foundation of Marxism-Leninism. The common aim of the socialist community is to combat imperialism for the triumph of socialism and communism on earth, but to reach this goal the socialist nations have to surmount difficulties and settle outstanding issues.

p The formation and development of the socialist community is a protracted and complex process. The very fact that the community consists of countries with different levels of economic, social and cultural development, with different histories, customs and traditions makes this a complex process. Another reason for its complexity is that the relations that have to be built up between these countries have no precedent in history. Anything new and unexplored is always difficult and involved. Besides, in the very process of drawing closer together the peoples have to overcome survivals of the past, particularly survivals of bourgeois nationalism, which are always extremely tenacious. Hence the need to educate the people in the spirit of proletarian internationalism, of solidarity among socialist nations.

Unify and solidarity multiply the strength of socialism. Unity knits together their efforts to promote economic and cultural development and raise the standard of living, gives a sounder foundation for their political co-operation, makes the superiority of socialism over capitalism more convincing and striking and increases the influence of the socialist system over the course of world history.