p Dear Comrades,

p On behalf of the Central Committee of the Paraguayan Communist Party, I should like to begin my intervention with a statement that may seem formal, but is in fact of substantial and fundamental significance. We heartily appreciate the fact that the work of the Preparatory Committee and the working groups that prepared this historic International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties so thoroughly in Budapest, Berlin, Warsaw and Moscow, was unfailingly marked by exemplary collectivism in full conformance with Marxism-Leninism. The doors were open for all fraternal Parties, and the work proceeded in a spirit of fraternal and candid exchanges of opinion, on the basis of complete equality and mutual respect, and was concentrated on resolving the vital tasks of the anti-imperialist struggle, on uniting the action of the Communist and Workers’ Parties and the other anti-imperialist forces.

p This fruitful work, combining the experience and collective intelligence of the Communist and Workers’ Parties in line with the scientific Marxist-Leninist principles, yielded draft documents submitted for discussion to this International Meeting attended by delegates of 75 Communist and Workers’ Parties, that is, the vast majority of the forward detachments comprising the world comrmmist movement.

p Representatives of the Communist Party of China are not taking part in these collective efforts. Instead of joining the common effort of uniting and rallying all Communist and Workers’ Parties and other anti-imperialist forces in the fight for the common interests and aims, its present leadership is busy attacking the leaders of the world communist and working-class movement. Their stand, one of opportunism and bourgeois nationalism, is hostile to communism; they are busy organising factional and divisive activity in the ranks of the communist movement, and mounting provocations on the borders of countries belonging to the socialist community. This causes deep concern in the ranks of our Party and, no doubt, among all Communists of the world. If this had not happened, our movement and all anti-imperialist forces would have had fewer difficulties to cope with, would have advanced more successfully and rapidly, striking new smashing blows at imperialism.

p On behalf of its Central Committee, the delegation of the Paraguayan Communist Party has already declared, and now renews, its unqualified support of the Main Document, the appeal "Independence, Freedom and Peace for Vietnam!", the Appeal in Defence of Peace and the address of the Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties on the Centenary of the Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the immortal genius of our revolutionary epoch and recognised leader of the international working class.

p The draft of the Main Document contains a correct, all-sided analysis of the present international situation, an objective and accurate appraisal of the world balance of forces, an evaluation of the dangers implicit in imperialism’s aggressive policy and the new expanding opportunities of the three great revolutionary forces of our time for making headway and achieving new imposing victories over imperialism, reaction and war.

p The draft of the Main Document shows clearly and unequivocally the conditions essential for translating these opportunities into reality.

p In- that sense, the draft of the Main Document indicates forcefully that the historic confrontation between the forces of social progress and reaction, between the forces of socialism and imperialism, is growing more acute; it indicates that this confrontation extends throughout the world, bearing out the validity of the Marxist-Leninist thesis about the character, content and basic tendencies of our epoch, the epoch of the transition from capitalism to socialism; it shows, too, that the socialist world system is the decisive force in the anti-imperialist struggle and that the outbreak of a new world war has been prevented thanks to the increasing economic, political and military power and peaceful foreign policy of the Soviet Union and other socialist countries, thanks to the actions of the world proletariat, the fighters against imperialism and the broad peace movement. The aggressive imperialist strategy is aimed, first and foremost, against the socialist countries. However, imperialism is no longer able to regain the historical initiative and turn back the development of the modern world. No longer can it decide at will upon the destinies of peoples. That is the implication of the Vietnam experience, which clearly revealed the gap between imperialism’s aggressive plans and its capabilities. The present stage is marked by greater opportunities for striking fresh blows at imperialism and by fresh successes of the revolutionary and progressive forces. After indicating this, the Main Document goes on to stress the dictates of the present situation: fidelity to Marxism-Leninism, the need to fight national exclusiveness and Right and “Left” opportunist deviations in theory and policy, and to combat revisionism, dogmatism and “Left” sectarian adventurism. United action and cohesion of Communist Parties is an all-important factor for the unity of all the antiimperialist forces, a guarantee that the alliance and joint action of the three great factors—the socialist world system, the international working class and the national liberation movement—will grow stronger.

p Comrades, on behalf of our Central Committee our delegation declares herewith that it will be happy to sign this Marxist-Leninist Document calling for unity and cohesion and responding to the urgent demands of our epoch.

p As for the call, "Independence, Freedom and Peace for Vietnam!", our delegation holds that it is an important document that will help merge the efforts 92 of the peoples in a powerful and active movement of solidarity with heroic Vietnam, in the fight against the criminal US imperialist war and for peace in Vietnam through securing the inalienable right of the Vietnamese people freely to shape its own destiny.

p We shall be pleased to sign this Document as well.

p The same applies to the Appeal in Defence of Peace, which points out rightly that world war is no longer fatally inevitable, that effective opportunities have come to hand to realise the peoples’ aspirations for peace, thanks to the consistently peaceful policy of the Soviet Union and other socialist countries, the upswing in the struggle of the working people in capitalist countries, the growth of the national liberation movement, the actions of broad democratic groups and the peace movement.

p We shall be glad to sign that Document as well.

p As for the Address on the centenary of the great Lenin’s birth, we, as Communists, declare with deep feeling that it is a remarkable synthesis of the immortal ideas of the leader and teacher of the international working class, whose scientific character imparts world-wide significance to them. Marxists-Leninists in all countries do not doubt that Lenin’s brilliant ideas are still fully valid and hold that real good work is possible only if one takes guidance in the inspired revolutionary principles of Marxism-Leninism.

p We shall be glad to sign this Document too.

p Comrades, in conclusion I should like to say that the above-mentioned documents reflect the international situation in character, content and in the basic trends, and, at once, conform fully with the fundamental interests and demands of the struggle waged by the working class and people of Paraguay for the overthrow of Stroessner’s dictatorial regime, for national liberation, social progress and peace. These documents will serve as an invaluable compass for the Paraguayan Communists and all the anti-imperialist and progressive forces of Paraguay in preparing an armed popular uprising, a process taking place under our Party’s leadership, enabling them to align their national tasks with the common struggle of the Communist Parties and all the anti-imperialist, democratic, progressive and peace-loving forces of the world.

Long live united action by Communists and all anti-imperialist, peace-loving forces!